Trixie Motel Debuts on Discovery+
It is no secret that the gays love a good home renovation show. So, how do you improve on this tried-and-true television format, specifically for the gay community? Well, you add a drag queen to the mix of course!
That is what Discovery+ did with its new series Trixie Motel, which debuted on the streaming service on June 3rd. The reality series will follow skinny legend and drag royalty Trixie Mattel as she expands her ever-growing empire into the hospitality industry, erecting the “gaggiest, most iconic motel that has ever existed”. Ok, it’s not a home renovation, but a motel renovation is close enough and frankly, Trixie can make watching paint dry entertaining.
The eight-episode series will follow Trixie, her partner and property co-owner, David Silver, and her team as they tackle the massive overhaul of a ramshackle mid-century motel in Palm Springs, California. After spending nearly two million dollars to buy the dilapidated property, Trixie and David will recruit a slew of spectacular helpers to complete the project in time to kick off Pride Month with a grand opening extravaganza.
To help out with the epic undertaking, Trixie secures “free labor” from friends, including hospitality mogul Lisa Vanderpump, comedian Nicole Byer, actor and musician Zooey Deschanel, Property Brother Jonathan Scott, and drag queen/partner in crime Katya. More famous friends lend a hand during the season, including award-winning actor Leslie Jordan, musician and model Iggy Azalea, actor and television host Jonathan Bennett, and musician Belinda Carlisle.
“When I first walked into the dark and dingy motel, I was disgusted, horrified and I just wanted to take a match to the place,” said Trixie. “But then I thought about how a little paint and glitter can turn a 32-year-old bald man from Wisconsin into a Hollywood darling, and I knew with our talented team and some strategic reconstructive surgery, we could turn this dump into a dazzler!”
Tucking into the renovation, we join Trixie in the first episode as she is touring the motel. Having only previously seen the property online, she got a shocking reality check. The property is in dire need of a full facelift. The guestrooms are all antiquated and rundown, with dark wood paneling and shag carpeting as far as the eye can see. The motel’s electrical wiring is completely shot and needs replacing. The existing HVAC is virtually non-existent. The swimming pool is completely ruined. The landscaping needs a massive rehaul, and the list goes on and on.
To get the motel up to par, Trixie and David enlist the services of fashion and interior designer Dani Dazey, who brings her maximalist, elevated kitschy style to each space, alongside no-nonsense Palm Springs project manager David Rios.
Later in the episode, Trixie welcomes Lisa Vanderpump to the motel with open arms, hoping for sage business advice and an inspirational shopping trip that will get the renovation started on the right foot. The pair find a set of flamingo lamps when inspiration strikes, and we are off to the races!
The show is a great blending of the traditional reno and design elements we are already accustomed to, with the great addition of camp and drag sensibility. Trixie shines in the show as she gets to show a more vulnerable side to her personality and showcase her relationship with David. She also displays her trademark wit and sarcasm to great effect. Each episode features the renovation of one space and the results are truly jaw-dropping. The spaces are transformed into bold, colorful, over-the-top versions of themselves, much like Trixie herself. I can’t wait to book my stay!
You can stream new episodes of Trixie Motel over at Discovery+.
