Reality Check: Sharon Needles knocks 'em dead; 3 local singers to compete on 'Idol'
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Pittsburgh's Sharon Needles, left, takes to the wrestling ring with Milan for Monday's episode of "RuPaul's Drag Race" on Logo.
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Sharon Needles' debut on "RuPaul's Drag Race" was dead-on.
The season 4 premiere Monday was the highest in Logo history for a series, a 50 percent increase over last season's opener. It scored a 0.6 rating in the premiere adult 18-49 demo, with 481,000 total viewers across various broadcast and social media platforms.
The star of the show -- and she must be loving it -- was Sharon Needles, who in everyday life is Aaron Coady of Bloomfield. Entertainment Weekly's Tanner Stransky posted his online Popwatch review the next day:
"No one served more than Sharon Needles from Pittsburgh. Her runway walk, complete with pocked sores on her face and creepily flailing arms and blood spilling from her mouth was -- in the apparent catchphrase of the season -- totally 'sickening.' "
"... the show's hostess commented at the time: 'It's a disco bloodbath!' And Needles followed that up by telling the judges panel later, 'Oh, I felt drop-dead gorgeous!' "
"Sharon, more like drop-dead genius."
Because she took first place in the "RuPocalypse" challenge, Sharon Needles won immunity. The next episode is all about WWE-style wrestling.
The show, which wrapped in August, was an eye-opener for Mr. Coady, who said recently, "I was shocked by how not-bitchy it was."
He said they formed a bond of sisterhood, but of course the season was not without its drama.
"You could take 12 nuns and lock them in a room with 2,000-watt lights and toes literally bleeding at the heels [and there would be fights]."
On social media, the program got a big boost. The "RuPaul's Drag Race" Facebook page saw an 89 percent increase in "Likes" over last season, and eight trending topics on Twitter -- including Sharon Needles and three other contestants -- were "Drag"-centric that night.
"American Idol" begins its Hollywood rounds next week for the lucky singers who brought home golden tickets from September's auditions. Among those in the mix are Adam Brock of Washington, Pa., who brings a jazz sensibility to a church-gospel background; Malachi Nibbs, an R&B singer from Braddock; and Xavier Callicott, a senior at Upper St. Clair High School.
Randy Jackson, the only "Idol" judge who's been with the show all 11 seasons, was asked at a press conference about contestants who aren't featured in the Hollywood rounds but do well in the live shows. Former winner Kris Allen was an example. Mr. Jackson said he isn't aware of what makes it onto the Fox broadcast because he rarely watches the show.
"My ego is really good. I don't need to watch myself on TV. Like some others -- maybe Ryan [Seacrest] loves watching himself back," he said. "I've heard rumors that he gets a bowl of popcorn and says, 'Oh my God! I'm good there. Oh my God! Look at my teeth!' Or, whatever."
The show airs at 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. For audition photos and videos, visit AmericanIdol.com.
First Published February 4, 2012 12:00 am
