'...and DON'T *bleep* IT UP!' -- the RuPaul's Drag Race thread

About time for this, I figure! Fifth season premiered yesterday.

condragulations

Quite right!

this show is kind of fascinating in a "gender is all performance!" way - everyone congratulating each other (incl the judges) on how well they achieve some kind of archetypal female-ness

Okay come on, I KNOW I'm not the only person on here watching.

I promise to start now.

Marilyn Monroe should've been in the bottom. She didn't do anything.

Yeah that was an epic flop. I like Ivy well enough but that made me go "Whuh?"

Jinkx, Alaska and Roxy were the best overall, but Jinkx just owned it period.

I like Ivy too and I think she was lucky she didn't have to lipsynch against Lineysha. I didn't expect her to do so well (but her Celia Cruz was unforgiveable).

Deep clusterfuck, that. Also what WAS Detox thinking.

um hi I just started watching season 5 online having never watched and omg I'm hooked

I'll be caught up in no time :D

Don't forget to watch Untucked, an essential part of this show!

Yeah I just figured that out...gotta love these bitchy girls. MORE drag homework? *twists arm*

Very good. Join us, join us...

Shanté, you stay!

Season 2 still the best so far, I think.

I just binge-rewatched season 3 over the weekend on Netflix and I might have to vote for that one. Then again I just like Raja a hell of a lot, so.

Yes for Raja and Manila. But the rest, not so interesting. Yara-Sophia maybe...

It actually came down to the right final four I thought, Alexis was a character in her own right. But yeah Yara (Xara?) was next level.

I still haven't seen season four! For some stupid reason it's not on Netflix -- it was for about two seconds and then went away again without explanation. (Already know who won, obv., but I'd like to see it happen.)

Wait what!! Can't you watch it on logo online or something? We can't in Canada but I thought you could in the US.
Season 4 was pretty good, although they tried to create too much unnecessary drama. But I'll let you see by yourself.

You can see the Untucked episodes from season 4 on the site but not the main shows. Since you can buy all the shows from iTunes maybe they want to go that route? Who knows!

Makes sense. If RuPaul had a dollar everytime she mentions iTunes...

Hey, house payments are probably up there. (And I don't begrudge Ru ANY success and trappings.)

I don't either. At least she's very upfront and funny about it.

Fun fact we learned during the All Stars season: Jujubee's real name is actually Airplane!

Hahaha yeah I remember thinking "Wait, what?"

I also love that Manila's real name is the none-more-Minnesota Karl Westerberg.

Lol wow

Almost caught up on S5 now yay!

Every single time Alyssa glams up for the runway all I think is JOAN COLLINS JOAN COLLINS JOAN COLLINS

I don't know why but I think I like Detox. Jinkx is great but I dunno if the unglam thing is going to hold out for her or not. I love her for it, but it could wear thin.

I will say this, have started following her on FB -- win or lose she seems to be having a blast and is booked for other live appearances and things and more this year already, so I like to think of her as winning already!

Meanwhile, it's a little surprising to see such a mostly white group at this point. Not that I think the show is biased, appears to be more luck of the draw season by season in terms of who survives.

that little edie impersonation was fuckin awesome in the last ep. too bad her fashion totally sucks.

I found s2 streaming on Amazon Prime, so yaaaay

Meantime:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/02/27/drag_race_grey_gardens_and_jinx_monsoon_why_the_queens_need_camp.html

I do have to quibble with some of the assertions there -- while Sharon's success in 4 is great, in 3 Raja was more than a little disruptive herself -- as was Manila really; if anything Alexis was the one let go at the end precisely for being full pageant.

I haven't watched all the seasons, but I don't get the impression that they are only seeking pageant or necessarily favoring that. And while I noticed the lack of "camp history" in the S5 girls, isn't there an argument that maybe a lot of queens are trying to let go of that, like that cliche of teens not wanting to know about older music? I mean, I'm bummed that they don't know who Little Edie is but maybe when they see Jinkxs win they go find out. And it doesn't mean they're any more terrible for what they don't know of their history. If anything, it's kind of fabulous that they all came to that same place *without* it.
I dunno. That article seemed a little too buttclenched.

Related but I think better expressed post, linked off the official site

http://www.newnownext.com/drag-race-jinkx-monsoon-snatch-game-little-edie/02/2013/

Oh and in checking Twitter Alyssa DID apologize to Ms. Perry.

Also this exchange is interesting (notice it's everyone else BUT Jinkx and Michelle who get riled up -- and as Michelle notes, in noting the obvious, there's always editing).

https://twitter.com/JinkxMonsoon/status/306550634079977473

This is better than what they showed on the show:

http://www.newnownext.com/jinkx-monsoon-little-edie-rupauls-drag-race/02/2013/

My Top 5 Snatch Game contestants from all seasons:

1. Sharon Needles as Michelle Visage
2. Pandora Boxx as Carole Channing
3. Tatianna as Britney Spears
4. Jinkx Monsoon as Little Edie
5. Alexis Matteo as Alicia Keys

Only three eps in (S5; no previous exposure to the show). Anyone care to rank the hottest queens out of drag? So far from S5 I'm into Lineysha and, oddly, Ivy.

xpost I just watched the S2 Snatch Game, Pandora's Carol Channing was hysterical, so good.

Lineysha's gorgeous. Ivy's not a crazy answer either, that bone structure really is something else. I was thinking about her terrible Marilyn and found myself wondering why the hell she didn't do Joan Rivers. Eh. Hindsight

Yes she would've been a great Joan Rivers!

Yeah, I know this is probably the exact rongest angle to take on the show, but I'm finding it very interesting navigating my impressions/levels of attraction to certain contestants when they're in drag vs. when they're not in drag.

Alyssa's *almost* attractive but it's like her lips are too big for her and she keeps tripping over them when she talks. Beautiful eyes though.

Coco's blue contacts freak me out. I keep expecting them to shoot lasers

Haha Alyssa looks like Will Arnett in AND out of drag.

Hottest out of drag:

S1: Jade
S2: Tyra, Raven
S3: Raja, Carmen, Mariah
S4: PhiPhi, Lashauwn
S5: Lineysha

xp otm

Well, actually, in drag he often reminds me of Hugo Weaving.

xpost elmo otm! Defnitely Will Arnett out of drag. In drag as mentioned upthread I just get constant Joan Collins, lol

If Shea Coulee gets a win and they bring in Sasha as the assasin

And Sasha shows up wearing a flower pot on her head.

Well, not Sasha last night, but Alyssa indeed. Shea pretty much owned the entire episode and made it seem easy, which is probably why we got so much Ongina meltdown and Cracker heel turn.

this season seems pretty clearly Shea's to lose, like she is just on a completely different level than everyone else. I could totally see another Manila situation where she gets sent home for being too big of a threat. That lip sync could easily slide into the GOAT canon.

I could totally see another Manila situation where she gets sent home for being too big of a threat.

As much as Naomi saying "Life's not fair" was iconic, this is where the format fails for what the show's trying to do. But so long as it doesn't end in another tie, fine.

I just realized the last 2 seasons of All-Stars had the clear winners going home way too early

Exactly. In the old-school All-Stars, Ben and Manila would be in the pantheon.

It's like Cracker never got over Asia saying that she's not a star -- the first opportunity that Cracker got to turn the tables, she greedily dished it out. At least she seems to have the self-awareness to know how she's coming across.

Alyssa coming in after the vote to comfort Ongina was sweet.

Alyssa seemed kinda low enery (for her) on that lipsync? both of them were awesome though, obv. I need Alyssa’s gold boots in my life

Shea’s runway though! Jaw drop, heart stop, iconic.

Yes, Alyssa didn't seem like her usual self. I wondered if the outfit she had on was not comfortable, or was about to fall apart. Or if she just wanted Shea to have $20,000? Not to take away from Shea, though, who was fantastic. Her runway look was timely, fashionable, and funny but dignified. And her lipsync was well worth $20,000.

I do wonder tho, like what is driving the lip sync assassins? they're not competing for a prize and nothing's at stake for them

TV exposure, brand awareness, plus theyre getting paid

Sure, that gets them on the stage, but once they’re there they’re not really FIGHTING for anything, you know?

hmm yeah i guess that’s true!

it’d be cool if the assassin watched the whole episode backstage and then was arbitrarily given their own vote #ChaosRule

Just caught an ep of AS2 on Pluto and, man, they'll never accumulate a season with a bench of talent that deep ever gain.

Seemed to me me like Alyssa was asked to phone it in on purpose. Shea slayed it anyway.

Sad my little Ongina couldn't find her confidence back.

Just caught an ep of AS2 on Pluto and, man, they'll never accumulate a season with a bench of talent that deep ever gain.

― Dirty Epic H. (Eric H.), lundi 15 juin 2020 13:17 (two minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

Yeah biggest cast ever. Imagine if Ben had accepted the invitation and had been there instead of Coco.

AS5 in comparison does seem like Some Stars (save a few obvious superstars).

Ohhh some drama!
So is Alexis gonna steal Cracker’s lunch money next week? Stuff her into a locker? She is gagging for a fight

The challenge felt a bit weird & dumb but Juju was cracking me up so I am glad she won.

Loved the Untucked scene between Juju, Blair & Mayhem talking about struggles with addiction & alcohol. it was v moving to see Mayhem open up to them. I like it when this show can do that

Alexis as a circus tent on the runway made me think of Beetlejuice
https://i.gifer.com/2LBe.gif

I knew when they showed not one but two people picking [redacted]'s lipstick that they were trying to build up some big-time drama about sending [redacted] home way earlier than expected. I've watched this show enough that I wasn't worried.

Yeah no way THAT result was going to happen. Still mildly surprised at who did go, though.

Loved the Untucked scene between Juju, Blair & Mayhem talking about struggles with addiction & alcohol. it was v moving to see Mayhem open up to them. I like it when this show can do that

Yes, that was notable. (Mind you, I think they used every last variation of the 'sad piano music' they have for those sequences.)

This elimination hurt, because the queen who left is so classy and wise. Like, I wish she could be my mentor!

Yeah, I was not thrilled with any of the outcomes of this ep tbh, outside of Juju finally getting a main challenge win!

Sad to see Mariah go for sure

Bob the Drag Queen said in his recap show that he wishes these original queens like Mariah & were elevated more for making the show what it is now, for inspiring so many queens to DO drag after their seasons

I wanted India to get the chop, she’s SO bland

You said it so I don't have to. I don't disagree with her winning week 1 but I think we've seen the full extent of her talents.

Hard agree. Ugh.

Here's my power rankings from who's currently left...

Shea
Jujubee
Alexis (tho she's poised to plummet thanks to workroom buffoonery; still wins me over with shit like losing the aerosol can's cap)
Blair
Cracker
India
Mayhem

I have heard stories about my last-placer from people who've worked with her (or, rather, tried to), and her unabashedly picking you-know-who's lipstick this week was the final straw confirming what I'd heard.

Agree with yr top 2 for sure
I dunno if Alexis is top 3 - she’s insanely talented but her taste level is her worst enemy.
But, maybe she is.
i dont really care at all about Blair.
while I love Cracker I think she is beginning to spiral. If there is a god, she’ll pull out of the freefall & make it into top 3. But I dunno. Alexis is def hungrier.

... Mayhem feels like she coasts too much on the esteem she supposedly has in the drag world without actually living up to the talent they say she has. Or maybe tv just fucks with her head too much.

India must go. Please. If there is a god

I've always looked at Cracker and said "potential." But it more often than not ends there.

Fair

This season feels like it's Shea's to lose, nobody else seems to be coming close to her

Jujubee is funnier, but I think that's the only area where anyone beats Shea.

I actively dislike Cracker at this stage. She is so me-me-me that I just can't stand it. Instead of concentrating on the challenge, all she does is concentrate on how she's coming across in the challenge.

I can see that. I personally find her neurosis relatable & give her more rope because of it. She’s SO funny to me though as a performer.

y'all this lip sync was SO bland, I could not believe how bland it was!!!! It felt like neither of them were trying and I definitely wondered if Juju was losing on purpose so she didn't have to be the bad guy who sent someone home, like that's how lifeless it was

yeah it was pretty underwhelming

that's not the first time Alexis has been compared to beetlejuice iirc!!

in her original season, Alexis was described by Michelle as looking "like Beetlejuice" with her hair pulled back, but the context led me to believe she actually meant this character from beetlejuice

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wqfsk6DGsG8/WOReJ_kSVxI/AAAAAAAAADM/tE6J-BdKb5wXHneKSg4XBuA37c10-fYZwCLcB/s1600/Images-for-beetlejuice-shrunken-head.jpg

omg lol

Roffle.

As we get ready for tonight: the new season of Werq the World is three episodes in, all pretty good. Asia O'Hara's was more a fun slice of life, but the Yvie and Detox episodes got really heavy -- Detox with extended thoughts and footage about returning to Orlando and visiting Pulse, Yvie with blunt talk about her condition and the pain it causes. Something that really sunk in with me in light of this year is that -- maybe, hopefully not -- that tour might have been Yvie's only chance to really showcase what she does nationwide, all depending on whatever happens with how long it takes live shows to come back and how quickly things will start to affect her.

Lighter note -- so it turns out Race Chaser now has a related spinoff show The Chop which will cover Canada's Drag Race and it's hosted by Manila and Latrice, which, of course (and I'm guessing it may just also become their own podcast for all kinds of things). First episode on Monday, probably just covering the run up to next week's premiere.

Color me tickled that [this week's winner] could turn out a lip sync like THAT!

Yeah that I did not expect!

I also gotta say them being totally butched up bros for the SheMZ studio part was goddamn hilarious.

I just realized that the lipsync assassin ruveal reminds me of The Chase.

IIRC this week's winner competed with a broken foot in her original season.

None of the groups were any good, though I laughed the most with Alexis (stepped-on lines and all).

The runway was much better though! Who knew that India could pull off editorial? And Blair's mug!

Blair looked like a couture version of being the tree in the school play lol

Lipsync was so good!! I could watch Morgan slay every day

Something that's baffling me is how India isn't catching any votes.

i feel like maybe it's because people don't see her as a threat?

she's also getting generally good critiques

Nothing India's done so far has struck me as egregiously bad, either.