Legendary (TV series) explained
Legendary is an American voguing reality competition television series, exploring the world of ball culture. It premiered on HBO Max on May 27, 2020.[2] [3] The series follows LGBT house members—predominantly from eight to ten houses—as they navigate through nine balls (dancing/voguing/walking events), with US$100,000 prize for the winning house. As such, the series was praised by GLAAD for featuring queer and trans artists "from the New York ballroom scene."[4]
In July 2020, HBO Max renewed the series for a second season.[5] It premiered on May 6, 2021.[6]
In June 2021, HBO Max renewed the series for a third season.[7] It premiered on May 19, 2022.
In December 2022, HBO Max canceled the series after three seasons and removed it.[8] [9] On January 31, 2023, it was announced that the series will be released on The Roku Channel and Tubi.[10]
Cast
Each episode features a fashion and performance coaches responsible for polishing the houses' looks and moves on the dancefloor.
- Dashaun Wesley as Master of Ceremonies
- MikeQ as DJ
- Johnny Wujek as Fashion Coach (seasons 1–2)
- Tanisha Scott as Performance Coach
- Jamari Balmain as Assistant Choreographer (season 2)
Format
See also: Legendary (season 1), Legendary (season 2) and Legendary (season 3). The contestants compete in groups named Houses, from which members perform individually or in groups in pre-assigned categories in front of a panel of judges. For seasons 1 and 2, each House is allowed to include five members, including a leader called the Mother or Father of the House. The panel is composed by four permanent judges and a fifth guest judge that changes on each episode.
Most categories involve a qualifying round, in which the member or group representing each house first perform for the judges, who according to ballroom terminology show their approval by giving them a "ten", or their disapproval by giving them a "chop". To advance, a contestant must receive no chops from any judges. In the second round, contestants face each other in knockout battles until only one of them remains, who is named the winner of the category. The winner of each battle is decided by a majority of the votes from the judges.
As an exception, when a category involves all the members of a House, instead of a qualifying round and a battle round each house performs in front of the judges and receives critiques, and then a winner is determined by consensus from the judges.
After all categories are judged, the judges deliberate to decide which House had the best performance overall and name them the Superior House of the Week, and which two Houses had the worst performance. The Mother or Father of each House in the bottom names a member of the House to participate in a vogue redemption battle to be decided by the judges. The House of the winner of the redemption battle is allowed to remain in the competition, while the House of the loser of the battle is eliminated.
In the second season, a format change was introduced, with judges scoring each performance and the sum of the scores from the judges being used to determine the standing of the Houses.
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | |
---|
| Critics' Choice Real TV Awards | Best Competition Series: Talent/Variety | Legendary | | [11] |
GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Reality Program | | [12] |
Guild of Music Supervisors Awards | Best Music Supervision – Reality Television | Matthew Hearon-Smith | | [13] |
MTV Movie & TV Awards: Unscripted | Best Competition Series | Legendary | | [14] |
Best Fight | Law Roach vs. Dominique Jackson | |
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program | Jerilynn Stephens, Kimi Messina, Dean Banowetz, Kathleen Leonard, Suzette Boozer, Dwayne Ross, Tamara Tripp, and Johnny Lomeli | | [15] |
Outstanding Contemporary Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program (Non-Prosthetic) | Tonia Green, Tyson Fountaine, Silvia Leczel, Jennifer Fregozo, Glen Alen Gutierrez, Sean Conklin, Valente Frazier, and Marcel Banks | |
Realscreen Awards | Competition – Talent & Studio-Based Competition | Legendary | | [16] |
Television Critics Association Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming | | [17] |
Webby Awards | Top Television & Film (Series & Campaigns): Social | HBO Max for HBO Max's TikTok #LegendaryChallenge | | [18] |
Top Diversity & Inclusion (Series & Campaigns): Social | HBO Max's Legendary Voices | | [19] |
| Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | Best Streaming Reality Show or Competition Series | Legendary | | [20] |
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards | Best Contemporary Makeup in a Television Special, One-Hour or More Live Program Series or Movie for Television | Tonia Nichole Green, Tyson Fountaine, Glen Alen, and Valente Frazier | | [21] [22] |
Best Period and/or Character Make-Up in a Television Special, One-Hour or More Live Program Series or Movie for Television | Tonia Green, Tyson Fountaine, Silvia Leczel, and Jennifer Fregozo | |
Best Special Make-Up Effects in a Television Special, One-Hour or More Live Program Series or Movie for Television | Tonia Nichole Green, Tyson Fountaine, Sean Conklin, and Marcel Banks | |
Best Contemporary Hair Styling in a Television Special, One-Hour or More Live Program Series or Movie for Television | Jerilynn Stephens, Kimi Messina, Kathleen Leonard, and Dean Banowetz | |
Best Period Hair Styling and/or Character Hair Styling in a Television Special, One-Hour or More Live Program Series or Movie for Television | |
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Contemporary Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program (Non-Prosthetic) | Tonia Green, Tyson Fountaine, Sean Conklin, Marcel Banks, Jennifer Fregozo, Silvia Leczel, and Glen Alen | | [23] |
Television Critics Association Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming | Legendary | | [24] |
Dorian Awards | Best Reality Show | Legendary | | [25] |
| Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards | Best Contemporary Makeup in a Television Special, One-Hour or More Live Program Series or Movie for Television | Tonia Green, Tyson Fountaine, Silvia Leczel, Sean Conklin | | [26] |
Best Period and/or Character Make-Up in a Television Special, One-Hour or More Live Program Series or Movie for Television | Tonia Green, Tyson Fountaine, Jennifer Fregozo, Glen Alen | |
Best Special Make-Up Effects in a Television Special, One-Hour or More Live Program Series or Movie for Television | Tonia Green, Tyson Fountaine, Marcel Banks, Sean Conklin | |
Best Contemporary Hair Styling in a Television Special, One-Hour or More Live Program Series or Movie for Television | Jerilynn Stephens, Kimi Messina, Dean Francis Banowetz, Lalisa Turner | |
Best Period Hair Styling and/or Character Hair Styling in a Television Special, One-Hour or More Live Program Series or Movie for Television | Jerilynn Stephens, Kimi Messina, Johnny Lomeli, Suzette Boozer | |
GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Reality Competition Program | Legendary | | [27] |
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External links
Notes and References
- News: Hadadi . Roxana . HBO Max's Legendary puts the ballroom community in the spotlight . June 6, 2020 . AV Club . May 21, 2020 . June 5, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200605162457/https://tv.avclub.com/hbo-max-s-legendary-gives-the-ballroom-community-a-deli-1843546721 . live .
- Web site: Watch the Trailer for HBO's New Voguing Competition, 'Legendary'. 2020-04-21. www.out.com. en. 2020-04-25. 2020-04-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20200425141356/https://www.out.com/television/2020/4/21/watch-trailer-hbos-new-voguing-competition-legendary. live.
- Web site: Jameela Jamil Replaced By Dashaun Wesley As Host Of Voguing Competition Series 'Legendary' – Update. Petski. Denise. 2020-02-05. Deadline. en. 2020-04-25. 2020-05-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20200506192354/https://deadline.com/2020/02/hbo-max-orders-unscripted-voguing-design-competition-shows-1202732868/. live.
- . 2021 . Where We Are on TV: 2020-2021 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20210115060919/https://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/GLAAD%20-%20202021%20WHERE%20WE%20ARE%20ON%20TV.pdf . January 21, 2021 . 2021-01-15 . 42 .
- Web site: Otterson. Joe. 2020-07-09. 'Legendary' Renewed for Season 2 at HBO Max. 2020-07-09. Variety. en. 2020-07-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20200711163225/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/legendary-renewed-season-2-hbo-max-1234702188/. live.
- Web site: Bosselman. Haley. 2021-04-17. HBO Max's 'Legendary' Season 2 to Premiere in May (TV News Roundup). 2021-04-18. Variety. en. 2021-04-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210418052208/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/first-look-couples-therapy-new-season-exclusive-1234952917/. live.
- Web site: 'Legendary' Ballroom Competition Series Renewed For Season 3 At HBO Max. Deadline Hollywood. White. Peter. June 17, 2021. June 18, 2021. June 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210617222729/https://deadline.com/2021/06/legendary-ballroom-competition-series-renewed-season-3-hbo-max-1234777141/. live.
- Web site: White . Peter . 'Legendary' Canceled At HBO Max After Three Seasons . Deadline Hollywood . December 6, 2022 . December 6, 2022 . December 6, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221206211820/https://deadline.com/2022/12/legendary-canceled-hbo-max-three-seasons-1235190344/ . live .
- Web site: 'Raised by Wolves' & 'The Time Traveler's Wife' Among Other Titles Being Removed from HBO Max as Warner Bros Discovery Lines up FAST Plans . 14 December 2022 . 14 December 2022 . 3 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230103003945/https://deadline.com/2022/12/raised-by-wolves-the-time-travelers-wife-among-other-titles-being-removed-from-hbo-max-as-warner-bros-discovery-lines-up-fast-plans-1235199433/ . live .
- News: Spangler. Todd. Roku and Tubi to Launch Warner Bros. Discovery Free, Ad-Supported Channels, Featuring HBO's 'Westworld' and More. January 31, 2023. Variety. January 31, 2023. January 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230131155322/https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/roku-tubi-warner-bros-discovery-free-fast-channels-westworld-1235507747/. live.
- Web site: Critics Choice Real TV Awards: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Leads With Five Nominations. June 2, 2021. July 23, 2021. The Hollywood Reporter. Hilary. Lewis. April 20, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130420011814/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2021-critics-choice-real-tv-awards-nominations-list-nominees-1234961864/. live.
- Web site: GLAAD Media Awards: 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom,' 'Happiest Season' Among Nominees. The Hollywood Reporter. January 28, 2021. July 23, 2021. Trilby. Beresford. July 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210723052451/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/glaad-media-awards-ma-raineys-black-bottom-happiest-season-among-nominees-4122368/. live.
- Web site: 'Promising Young Woman,' 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' Among Guild of Music Supervisors Awards Nominees (EXCLUSIVE). February 25, 2021. July 23, 2021. Variety. Jazz. Tangcay. March 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210310221438/https://variety.com/2021/music/awards/guild-music-supervisors-awards-nominations-1234914709/. live.
- Web site: 2021 MTV Unscripted Movie and TV Awards: Complete List of Winners. May 17, 2021. July 23, 2021. TheWrap. Samson. Amore. July 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210723052452/https://www.thewrap.com/2021-mtv-unscripted-tv-awards-complete-list-of-winners/. live.
- Web site: Legendary - Emmy Awards, Nominations and Wins. July 23, 2021. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. July 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210723052451/https://www.emmys.com/shows/legendary. live.
- Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20210723075047/https://awards.realscreen.com/winners/winner/2021. Realscreen Awards 2021 Winners & Nominees. July 23, 2021. July 23, 2021. Realscreen.
- Web site: 2021 TCA Nominations: TV Critics Embrace 'Ted Lasso' and 'I May Destroy You' — Full List. July 15, 2021. IndieWire. July 23, 2021. Libby. Hill. July 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210715190654/https://www.indiewire.com/2021/07/tca-nominations-2021-ted-lasso-wandavision-full-list-1234651418/. live.
- Web site: HBO Max's Tiktok #LegendaryChallenge. Webby Awards. July 23, 2021. July 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210723052454/https://winners.webbyawards.com/2021/social/social-content-series-campaigns/television-film-series-campaigns/174474/hbo-maxs-tiktok-legendarychallenge--legendary-season-1. live.
- Web site: HBO Max's Legendary Voices. Webby Awards. July 23, 2021. July 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210723052452/https://winners.webbyawards.com/2021/social/social-content-series-campaigns/diversity-inclusion-series-campaigns/174470/hbo-maxs-legendary-voices--legendary-season-1. live.
- Web site: Verhoeven . Beatrice . 2022-07-07 . 'This Is Us,' 'Succession,' 'Severance' Lead 2022 HCA TV Nominations . 2022-07-08 . The Hollywood Reporter . 2022-07-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220707225346/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2022-hollywood-critics-association-broadcast-cable-tv-nominations-1235176458/ . live .
- Web site: 'Suicide Squad,' 'Coming 2 America' and 'Eyes of Tammy Faye' Lead Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Nominations (EXCLUSIVE). Variety. Jazz. Tangcay. January 11, 2022. January 11, 2022. January 11, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220111145203/https://variety.com/2022/artisans/awards/makeup-hairstylist-guild-nominations-2022-1235150838/. live.
- Web site: Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards: 'Coming 2 America', 'Cruella', 'Being The Ricardos' Lead Film Winners; 'SNL' Tops TV. Deadline. Patrick. Hipes. February 19, 2022. February 21, 2022. February 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220220063523/https://deadline.com/2022/02/make-up-artists-hair-stylists-guild-awards-2022-winners-list-1234957052/. live.
- Web site: Juried Award Winners Announced for 74th Emmy Awards . . August 11, 2022 . August 11, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220811210410/https://www.emmys.com/news/awards-news/juried-winners-220811 . live .
- Web site: 'Abbott Elementary' Tops 2022 TCA Awards . Hailu . Selome . August 6, 2022 . . August 6, 2022 . September 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922034433/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/tca-television-critics-awards-2022-abbott-elementary-1235335161/ . live .
- Web site: 'Abbott Elementary,' 'The White Lotus' and 'Yellowjackets' Among Top Winners at LGBTQ Critics' Dorian TV Awards . Coates . Tyler . August 17, 2022 . . May 29, 2023 . March 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314234925/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/abbott-elementary-yellowjackets-lgbtq-critics-dorian-tv-awards-1235200722/ . live .
- Web site: Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards Nominations: 'The Batman', 'Elvis', 'The Whale' & More. Deadline. Erik. Pedersen. January 11, 2023. January 11, 2023. January 11, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230111143113/https://deadline.com/2023/01/makeup-artists-hairstylists-guild-awards-2023-nominations-1235217389/. live.
- News: GLAAD Announces Nominees For The 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. Valerie. Complex. Deadline Hollywood. January 18, 2023. March 31, 2023. January 18, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230118174456/https://deadline.com/2023/01/2023-glaad-media-awards-nominations-film-tv-journalism-nominees-34th-edition-1235224677/. live.