Draft:Cross-dressing in American television

Cross-dressing or drag in American television has followed a long history of female/male impersonations on television.

The most notable franchise involving cross-dressing in television is RuPaul's Drag Race, which is often credited for bringing cross-dressing into the "mainstream" media. With the competition series gaining attraction, it spawned over ten adaptations, involving over 500 contestants competing for a cash prize and the title of their country's next drag superstar.

Comedy
Netflix, a streaming service announced in May 2018, a series order consisting of ten episodes, starring American drag queen RuPaul as the executive producer and writer for the series. The first season of AJ and the Queen premiered on 10 January 2020, the premise showcase drag queen Ruby Red travels throughout the United States with recently orphaned Ariel-Jasmine (Isabella Gaspersz), where two cons are after them. In March 2020, it was announced the series was canceled.

Documentary
Sasha Velour starred in her series with streaming platform Quibi, showcasing her monthly revue highlighting the performers' personal stories and their creative process, premiering on April 6, 2020. The second season of NightGowns was renewed in August, until its streaming service was abruptly shut down in October of the same year. The future of its series is still unknown.

Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O'Hara, and Shangela participated in six-part series announced by pay-television network HBO in November 2019. We're Here documents drag performers traveling across the country recruiting small-town residents to participate in one-night-only drag shows. After three seasons, it was revealed that Jaida Essence Hall, Priyanka, Sasha Velour, and Latrice Royale would replace the original cast for its fourth season.

Trixie Mattel announced that she will have her television series with Discovery+ documenting the renovation of a rundown motel in Palm Springs, California with her partner. Trixie Motel premiered in June 2022 featuring various drag performers and celebrities helping the drag artist. The motel cost around $1.9 million to purchase the space and $500,000 to renovate it, enlisting designer Dani Dazey to collaborate on the project.

Reality
RuPaul's Drag Race premiered its first season through basic cable channel Logo TV, on February 2, 2009; RuPaul acted as host and executive producer. Every season, various contestants are given a main challenge where they get to showcase their charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent. The notable reality competition series is credited for bringing cross-dressing into the "mainstream" media, which spawned over ten adaptations, involving over 500 contestants competing for a cash prize and the title of their country's next drag superstar.

The Boulet Brothers were revealed to be co-hosts and co-executive producers for a seven-episode pilot series of The Boulet Brothers' Dragula, released on October 31, 2016. The contestants are competing to be "The World's Next Drag Supermonster" and they are given a main challenge where they get to showcase their alternative drag varying from filth to horror, and glamour. The lowest scoring competitors are put up for "extermination" which are fear-based physical and psychological tests created to push the competitors to "face their fears" to remain on the series.