Yes, it’s another “Drag Race” related post: Shangela cast in pilot for new NBC series starring Don Johnson!

D.J. Pierce and his alter ego, Ms Shangela Laquifa Wadley.

I know some of you are groaning, “Oh Cheesus, ANOTHER Drag Race related story!” but for every non-fan there’s probably two BIG fans, so you’ll enjoy this bit of poo…Entertainment Weekly just posted that Shangela, the recently booted and controversial contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season Three, has been cast in a regular, supporting role in the pilot for a new television series starring Don Johnson called, A Mann’s World. Even more interesting, the project is from a big network, (NBC) and was created and will be produced by Sex and the City helmer, Michael Patrick King. The show focuses on a fiftysomething Beverly Hills straight male hair stylist, (Don Johnson) as he deals with his midlife crisis, his crazy family and the demands of staying on top in the dog eat dog world of the celebrity based world of a top L.A. salon, (any similarities to the Warren Beatty film Shampoo are probably entirely coincidental, cough, cough…)

Shangela, under his real name of D.J. Pierce has been cast as “Snip, one of three fabulous, top-tiered stylists who come into Mann’s salon…” Besides, Mr. Pierce and Mr. Johnson, the cast includes Ellen Barkin, out gay comedian Mario Cantone, best known for Sex and the City, and Internet sensation Chris “Leave Britney Alone!” Crocker as another stylist in the salon. That’s a whole lot of gay for one show…

This really isn’t that major of a shock. Shangela/D.J. has already scored acting roles in other productions prior to his “Drag Race” fame with guest appearances on FX’s Terriers in November of last year, as well as an episode of ABC’s Detroit 1-8-7 that aired in February. But, snagging a regular gig on a potential series is a big step up the ladder of Hollywood success. If the pilot is green lit for series and becomes a success, you can imagine the screams of envy coming from his “Drag Race” competition…he’s a newbie in TV Land but he should be earning at least $25k a week as a series regular; that’s a lot of “Ha-Lay-Lou”…Can you cover up seven shades of green with pancake make-up?

If you remember in our sneak peak in our interview with Shangela/D.J. we mentioned that we had been trying for weeks to get access to the starlet. Ms Thing’s manager told us, “We’re so sorry this has taken so long, but Shangela has been busy filming.” Now, I took that to mean that Shangela was probably working on RuPaul’s Drag U which is coming back this summer for Season Two and maybe she WAS working on that, but she might also have been filming A Mann’s World. I think it’s time we tracked down Ms Wadley/Mr. Pierce for another interview…

Meanwhile, it behooves us to mention that tickets still remain for Shangela’s upcoming gig at LeFaux on April 8 & 9 at Julia’s on Broadway. Get them before they’re gone.