Kerri Colby says each bracket of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 10 filmed in just 7 days. Here’s what that means for the queens — and the future of the show…
The queens might have been lip-syncing for their legacy, but behind the scenes, it sounds like they were racing the clock too.
At a recent Roscoe’s Tavern viewing party in Chicago — now basically the Drag Race fandom’s de facto press room — Kerri Colby casually revealed how long it actually took to film each bracket of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 10. If you blinked, you might’ve missed it. But for those of us obsessed with the show’s behind-the-curtain logistics, it was a rare glimpse into the machinery behind the glitter.
What Kerri said about the All Stars 10 schedule
During the live recap of Episode 6, Kerri Colby joined Willam as a guest at Roscoe’s. When the topic of filming came up — specifically how long each bracket (or “group,” in the show’s new tournament structure) took — Willam pried with a simple question: “Was it six or eight days?”
Kerri hesitated at first, joking, “You want me to get in trouble, auntie!” But then, she said it plainly:
“It’s a week. It’s literally seven days from getting there to your hotel to getting back home.”
Seven days. That’s it. Wow.
In one sentence, Kerri gave fans a clearer timeline than most contestants usually do. While it’s long been rumored that Drag Race episodes are filmed at a lightning-fast pace — about two or three days per “episode” — Kerri confirmed that this bracket format condensed the entire group’s arc into a single week. That includes entrance looks, challenges, lip-syncs, and eliminations. It’s a lot of drag in a very short amount of time.
Why this detail matters more than you think
For the casual viewer, one week might not seem like a huge deal. But for longtime fans — especially those paying close attention to All Stars 10‘s format shift — this confirms that what we’re seeing on screen is practically a speedrun of drag excellence.
Each bracket functions like a mini-season: six queens enter, compete in three episodes, and three make it out. Multiply that by three brackets, and suddenly you have an entire All Stars season shot in less time than it takes to film one cycle of The Bachelor.
It also contextualizes the tone and energy of the season. If some performances feel rushed or some queens seem frazzled, there’s a reason: they are. With seven days to film three episodes — and barely any downtime in between — the stakes weren’t just high, they were compressed.
What the bracket format really offers the queens
Kerri also touched on the emotional toll and strategic potential of this format. “You get so much more of each girl — if they’re giving it — per week,” she explained. “It’s more intimate… but it’s also, like, you gotta think fast.”
That intimacy is part of what’s made All Stars 10 feel different. With only six queens in each bracket, there’s more space for personalities to shine — or unravel. For someone like Kerri, who didn’t make Top 6 in her original season (Drag Race Season 14), it was a chance to stretch, be seen, and get more face time with the judges.
But it’s also a double-edged sword: there’s no room to stumble. One off week can be fatal — and when your entire competition lasts just seven days, every moment counts.
What this means for the future of Drag Race
It’s worth noting that fans have had mixed reactions to the bracket format. Some miss the longer arcs and evolving dynamics that come with a full cast all season long. Others love the freshness and fast pace of the tournament twist. But hearing how little time queens actually had makes it clear: this isn’t just a new structure, it’s a new tempo.
In a post-pandemic TV landscape, where production costs and scheduling constraints are tighter than ever, a format like this is a producer’s dream. It lets Drag Race film more queens in less time — and creates multiple mini-narratives that are easily packaged for streaming and international markets.
And if Kerri’s tea is accurate (and let’s be real, it probably is), then we may be looking at the new standard for All Stars moving forward.
Which queens from Kerri’s bracket advanced?
Spoiler alert for Episode 6 — but if you’re reading this, chances are you already know. In Bracket 2 (aka Group Pink), only three queens advanced to the semi-finals: Lydia B. Kollins, Mistress Isabelle Brooks, and Jorgeous.
That left Tina Burner, Nicole Paige Brooks, and yes, Kerri Colby herself, eliminated just before the next phase. It’s a tough blow, especially considering how little time they had to prove themselves. But in classic Kerri fashion, she’s taking it in stride — and giving us just enough behind-the-scenes insight to keep us talking.
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