Get your engines ready, hunties, because our favorite reality show, RuPaul’s Drag Race, is revving up its engines for Season 8 in two weeks. To coincide with its premiere, they had a huge event last night at the one and only Stage 48 to showcase the 12 new queens vying for the title that have helped legends in the making from Sharon Needles to Raja win and go on to bigger and better things. Our guest writer, the handsome and talented Matt Belvedere, covered the event for Manhattan Digest, and got the inside scoop from all the new queens, and the old (I mean really old) ones including Bianca Del Rio (hehe). Check it out.
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Drag Race RuCap: Brush Up Your Shakesbeard
Previously on Drag Race, the gods made us birds, so we could fly. Fly far far away. Apparently, it didn’t work because we’re back, only Sasha Belle isn’t!! [Read more…] about Drag Race RuCap: Brush Up Your Shakesbeard
Rupauls Drag Race- Bianca Del Rio For The Win
Bianca Del Rio should win more than any other queen… ever
So another season of RPDR is making it’s way to the finish line where one of the remaining 3 queens will snatch the title of America’s next drag superstar. In my opinion the show peaked in S4 with the best cast any season has had this far, and really hasn’t been as interesting as it used to be since then. This season’s queens for the most part were quite professional and even when they threw shade it looked forced and was just something for the camera (Minus Ms. Lake. Shady Elephant).
Now that we have the final 3 girls- Adore Delano, Courtney Act and Bianca Del Rio, it is semi up to the fans to pick who should win this season overall. Whereas I think Courtney should be switched out for Ben (stupid move on Ru’s part but I guess she will win Miss Congeniality so it’s all good) it is beyond clear cut to me who will and SHOULD win this season. And that is my New York City queen Bianca Del Rio. There are many facets & reasons as to why this is true, and here is why-
Best Of Both Worlds-
When it comes to the overall judging of style and personality, Bianca reigned supreme over the rest. Whereas she only had minor faults fashion wise this season (I didn’t think any of the outfits for the Glitter Ball were gag-worthy) she made up for it loud and proud with her fierce sense of humor, witty persona and the ability to read a bitch but back it up with factual info (Laganja anyone?).
The other two really don’t live up to her-
I love Courtney and Adore, they are great on the show and I’ve met both in person and feel the same emotion there. But it’s apples and oranges in my opinion. Courtney is more of a female impersonator and not a drag queen. Nothing she did besides the Broadway challenge really impressed me, and she already is a known singer so that should’ve been an easy one in the first place. She’s this seasons Chad Michaels- great and seasoned but not unique enough to win something like this.
Adore really was a huge pain in the ass in the beginning that I thought would’ve went home early due to her immature attitude and inability to do the basics a drag queen is supposed to do like sow & work well in group challenges. Her smartest moves were distancing herself from Laganja and Gia and really excelling where she needed to to get her to the end. At the same time, we’ve seen the campy young queens win the last two years, and it’s getting redundant, so it’s time for a change.
On another level-
I don’t think there has ever been a queen that has had this much smooth sailing (Ben’s term but she had a point) since Raja in S3 or Tyra in S2. There was never a point where she was at risk to lip sync, and even if she did they wouldn’t have sent her home as she is far superior overall than many of her competitors. The only queen this season that I felt was semi on par with her was Dela but she got stuck in this Minnie Mouse meets Dita Von Teese costumey thing that led to her demise. Darienne’s strong points was her humor, and Trinity was by far the best fashion wise this season but her excuses ruined her, just like Darienne’s inability to hear anything else besides her cockiness and next meal choices (hehe). Bianca never really got deep enough criticism to have to shift anything, and in a way didn’t even need this show to gain publicity as she was already pretty well known. Yet I’m glad she did and represented NYC to the fullest.
Tomorrow night we will see who will be crowned. Who is your choice to win S6? Check out the official site to vote and learn more about the queens. Oh and side note if Sean Morales is reading this- hit me up boo.
Phi Phi O’Hara- The “Bitchy” Queen Speaks Out
Phi Phi O’Hara- Learning From The Past & Working On The Future
RuPaul’s Drag Race has slowly become one of the best reality shows on television. In order for a show like this to work, there has to be a particular formula that the viewers can feed off of. Things such as intriguing competitions, the handful of contestants that you root for to ultimately win, and the one or two people deemed the villains that you love to hate, or hate to love. The latter couldn’t have been any truer than season four finalist Phi Phi O’Hara, who was truthfully the first queen ever on that show to have so much controversy and outright public anger than ever before. [Read more…] about Phi Phi O’Hara- The “Bitchy” Queen Speaks Out
Rupaul’s Drag Race Recap- Snatch Game Redeemed
RPDR: Battle Of The Seasons @ Paramount Tomorrow Night!
LOGO’s very own “Rupaul’s Drag Race” is one of the hottest reality shows out there today, and has truly put not only LOGO on the map but several of its stars over the past five seasons. The show has also birthed many spin offs, including “Drag U” where women get made over by past drag contestants, and an “All-Star” edition where some of the best contestants compete for the title at hand. Now the show is going on tour across America and is stopping in Huntington at the Paramount Theater tomorrow night for it’s “Battle Of The Seasons”.
The show will be hosted by head judge and Rupaul’s bestie Michelle Visage who came into the show on Season 3 with a roar and a much larger (and better in my opinion) presence than her predecessors. We even did an interview with her a couple of months ago shortly after Season 5 finished. You can check it out here.
Some of the other contestants who will be lighting up the stage and dazzling you on Saturday night include past winners of the show including Season 5’s Jinkx Monsoon and the “Spooktacular” Sharon Needles. Also on hand is Sharon’s boyfriend and Season 5 runner up Alaska Thunderfuck, who came out of the woodwork in her season to prove that she can stand alone in her season and not just be a Sharon knock off. Fellow Season 5 competitor and runner up Detox will also be there, who became quite famous for “Boy Is A Bottom” a parody version of Alicia Keys “Girl On Fire” which she did with Season 4 contestant Willam and fellow drag queen Vicky Vox.
New York Natives Ivvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvy Winters and Phi Phi O’ Hara will also be on hand as well as Jersey girl Carmen Carrera and Mimi Imfurst, who is good and lifting fellow queens. Hehe. All in all, it should be a great time if you are a die hard Drag Race fan like me. Check out Paramount’s website for more information. This should be one that is not to miss!
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Pre-Finale Interview with Michelle Visage
If there ever was such a thing as a “Triple Threat” and then some, Michelle Visage truly exemplifies that. Starting her career off in the wildly talented girl group Seduction back in the late 80’s, she has consistently worked with the changes in the pop culture and environment and remained relevant and successful at the same time. Since her girl group days, she has gone on to a talk show with none other than RuPaul, provided lead vocals to the song “It’s Gonna Be A Lovely Day” off of the Grammy Winning Bodyguard soundtrack, and a slew of radio gigs throughout the years. Now, she sits as one of the two main judges beside Project Runway alum Santino Rice on the hugely popular LOGO television show “Rupaul’s Drag Race”, which had it’s recap episode last night. As the live finale approaches next Monday night LIVE at 9/8 central, I sat down with our favorite judge to an e-lunch over some e-tic-tacs. Take a look! [Read more…] about RuPaul’s Drag Race: Pre-Finale Interview with Michelle Visage
RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap: The Gworl from Impanema
At the beginning of tonight’s Drag Race, Ivy’s gone and everyone has a sad. Jinkx is devastated. Alyssa feels confident about performing, but still makes snaps about coco. People think that means that Alyssa isn’t working. More after the jump. [Read more…] about RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap: The Gworl from Impanema
RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap- And None For Gretchen Weiners
Last time on “Rupaul’s Drag Race”, Ivy won the singing challenge and Jade and her hair went home. Backstage, Jinkx is yammering about wanting the win, but how pretty Ivy looks. Roxxxy is already over it, and I’m a little over her already. Coco and Alaska both set up the We Haven’t Won a Challenge Club. Alaska complains about being in Sharon’s shadow. More after the jump.
Alaska says she’s taken Michelle’s advice and is really reconsidering not being a part of the whole RoLaskaToxx thing. Roxxxy starts out being miffed, but is interrupted by SheMail. It quickly becomes apparent we’re reading each other. Detoxx starts and Alyssa’s quickly the butt of most jokes, but is a good sport. Everyone reads Roxxxy, who tries to turn it around in a boring manner. Coco comes out with a swipe at Jinkx’ porkpie hat. Ivy makes a GREAT comment about Coco’s tang colored highlighting. The library is now closed, and Alaska wins the mini-challenge.
Ru comes to tell everyone that the main challenge is that they’re going to roast RuPaul. Uh-oh, it’s hard to be funny on cue. The Pit Crew serves drinks and everyone is told to let Ru have it. The gworls will be coached by Bruce Villanch, Nadia Ginsberg and Deven Green. Alaska, as the winner, gets to decide the order. She’s actually really nice about it and asks the other girls when they want to go and tries to accommodate everyone, which ends up leaving her as the opening act. Coco says that’s the hardest, but I think that the middle is where you get ignored.
Detox makes fun of Alyssa’s creative process and its damn on point since Alyssa is cracking herself up. Michelle comes in and everyone gay screams. First, Alaska, who starts out with a pretty good joke that has Michelle laughing. However, Michelle warns her that she’s being too nice. Roxxxy says that reading is something that she’s always done, but is warned to keep it funny. Ivy has nothing. Coco plans on just being herself. Alyssa is talking about reading as well and seems to be doing the same nonsense that Roxxxy’s doing.
Our guest judges are Leslie Jordan and Jeffrey Moran of Vodka fame. Oh, and it’s going to be live. We get a glimpse of Jinkx’ narcolepsy. The other queens find it hilarious.
Rehearsal time! Jinkx comes out and fucks the chicken during rehearsal. Ivy plays it very very very safe and is boring. Bruce looks weird tonight. Is he wearing a corset? Alyssa’s jokes are all out of place and way too mean. Coco’s playing it from the hood and is being another mean queen. Alyssa is the only person laughing. The judges don’t like her mean streak.
Elimination Day! Alyssa is super nervous and you can tell. Coco’s already being bitchy. Roxxxy, again, says she doesn’t believe in Jinkx.
Ru comes out looking like a giant, fabulous lime Jell-O shot. Leslie Jordan is scared; Jeffrey Moran is pretty and bland. Let the roasting begin!! Alaska is actually pretty damn funny. She opens with a joke about how Leslie’s slept with more gay men then Michelle and ends with a joke about the number of xs in Roxxxy’s name. Roxxxy comes out and attacks everyone and it’s just not funny. Coco comes out in character and has RuPaul on floor. He actually turned it around and does a damn good job. Jinkx is pretty solid. Ivy’s not bad, but certain will not be in the top. Alyssa makes everyone uncomfortable. Detoxx tries to not recycle jokes and fails and says the f-word a lot, but has some good moments.
Judges Critique!
Alaska is funny and it’s tough to go first, though her look is getting predictable. Leslie Jordan lovingly calls her knock kneed. Ivy looks good, but was unsure on stage and read her cards the whole time. Jinkx killed the judges (which we didn’t see as much of) and Michelle is genuinely impressed with the runway look. I’m happy. Detoxx was mean but had a twinkle in her eye the whole time, so it’s ok, but she screwed up too much. It should have flowed more. Alyssa was trying too hard and could have been a LOT funnier. In general, it was boring and humiliating but Leslie thinks she’s the prettiest girl in the bunch. Coco had a great concept and knocked it out. Roxxxy needed a much faster pace, bigger hair and was way too in her head.
Coco wins this one, which good for her! Roxxxy and Alyssa are in the bottom, lip synching to Whip My Hair. Roxxxy immediately takes off her pants and goes to take off her wig revealing ANOTHER WIG. Alyssa turns it out on stage. Afterwards, Roxxxy breaks down because she’s never been wanted. Ru says she’s wanted and tells them both to stay. Now we’re evened out and we’re the seven sisters! It’s like the Seven Samurai, only without the swords.
Check back here next week for another “Rupaul’s Drag Race” recap!
RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap: Do They Know It’s Christmas?
Did you all been having the incredibly bad Monday that everyone else I know have been having? Well, let’s end it with RuPaul’s Drag Race! Last time, it was the Snatch Game and everyone sucked, except for Jinkx. LIneysha ended up sashaying away. Afterwards, everyone has good things to say about Lineysha which is weird. Jinkx feels let out. Coco’s not into the RoLaskaToxx thing and I almost agree with her. Jinkx knocks out.
Alyssa walks in wearing a Zelda shirt and my roommate freaks out. You’ve Got Shemail! We’re gonna give till it hurts, and everyone looks confused for a moment. Ru comes in and talks about putting on her make up in adverse situations, and then turns off the lights. The queens have to put on their make up in the dark. Shade is thrown in the dark, and we see that Alyssa’s doing her face and Coco’s probably not blending. The dolls come out in beekeeper hats, hiding their faces. Alyssa’s all over herself and Coco didn’t bother to blend. Alaska put it all over her face. Detoxx wins and gets to choose the groups for the main challenge.
The main challenge is going to be writing and recording a song. RoLaskaToxx is together, and Alyssa and Coco are put together. This leaves Jinkx, Jade and Ivy. It’s going to be an 80’s flashback wear, like some sort of drag Band Aid. There’s more shade throwing and the verses get doled out in traditional bitchy manner.
Alyssa starts up by wanting to change the lyrics, which Coco’s not really down for. Alyssa spins around in jorts and does a bad Glee impression. Ivy, Jade and Jinkx have some good harmonies going. Over with RoLaskaToxx, Alaska is annoyed that the other dolls aren’t doing anything but goof off. Ru comes in.
Alyssa and Coco are first. Who’s a good singer? Coco’s gonna try to take it to church and Alyssa’s gonna try to take to Jack in the Box. Ru tells them to make it fun and walks away. Ivy, Jade and Jinkx are next. Who sings? Well, they all do, to some extent. Jade’s the most boring of the three and gets warned that she needs to steal the spotlight. Last, we have RoLaskaToxx. The rest of the teams don’t understand what message is in the song.
The judges for tonight will be the Pointer Sisters and Latoya Jackson, who will be on the show for the third time. Before that, the dolls have to record. Let’s save the world with drag. Coco comes in and is immediately bitchy, talking about Detoxx. This leads to her messing up, which, in turn, makes Alyssa screw up. Everything is off about these two. Jade joins them in being off key, and spends her entire time looking down. Ivy’s pretty good, and Jinkx has some good notes and some good pipes. Roxxxy’s over it, though, and thinks it’s all a gimmick. That is, right before showing that HE can’t sing and doesn’t know how to say “sequined dress.” Detoxx keeps messing up, but rolls with it, and RoLaskaToxx ends up going off and modulating in their own little worlds. The song ends on some freestyle notes where everyone is pretty much the same as they were before.
Backstage, Detoxx inserts herself into the conversation and there’s more arguing. The queens talk about what parts they’re showing off and Detoxx is showing off his whole body, which, as we find out, is made entirely of silicon, putting him in the same rank as Cher and Joan Rivers. Out of nowhere, Jade gets some sob story about coming out and I’m pretty sure I know who’s going home.
Ru has a nice look on for the main stage. I’m not saying she normally looks like garbage, but sometimes she looks classier than others. Today is somewhat understated, and I like it. There’s lots of “sequences” Coco comes out wearing a leotard that looks like it opens up to show her heart. Seems weird. Alyssa is showing legs and wearing a caftan. Jinkx, pay attention, because this is how you do Boho chic glamour. Jade’s wearing something that looks like a tie dyed version of Janice from the Muppets. Either that or Cher mated with a rainbow. Ivy wears a dress made of her headshots. Jinkx *almost* gives us glamour. Honey, you know I love you, but you really need to step up the pretty for this. It’s what got Pandora knocked off and I don’t want to see you go. Roxxxy’s all about the big tits and hair. Alaska wanted assless chaps but had to settle for a clavicle showing mermaid dress. Detoxx is wearing a super simple dress until she turns around and you can see her crack through the ribboning. HA!
Now, we get to see the video for Can I Get an Amen. Ru is not in drag and it looks weird. Coco’s off key. Alyssa is singing her little heart off and it’s horrible, but she’s diving right into it. Jade is boring. Ivy’s got some good notes and is mugging for the camera. Jinkx does a great job, but ivy’s look outshines her. Roxxxy is terribly off key and doesn’t care. Detoxx is wearing Jem’s wig. Alaska is better than she lets on.
Judges Critique!
Coco didn’t get what was going on and got lost in being bitchy. She’s also wearing too much highlighter.
Alyssa’s very pretty but her singing was awful. However, she knows that and plays it up. She also points where she’s walking to.
Jade was a big letdown and Michelle doesn’t get the look. She missed on so many levels and is totally forgettable.
The judges love Ivy’s dress and she made a good impression on everyone. She was creative and added some nice harmonies.
The judges loved Jinkx’ long note, but think she was a mess on the runway. Michelle tells her not to contour so hard.
Roxxxy was peanut butter and the outfit was super-hot. Michelle warns the group that cliques can be dangerous.
Detoxx phoned the song in but got by on her dress. She’s warned not to rely on crutches like that.
Alaska is starting to bore the judges and needs to not hold back or hide behind characters. Alaska gives us a “show you the real me” speech and cries. She’s safe.
The winner is Ivy and Coco and Jade have to lip synch. Called it. It’s to the Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited.” Jade’s not bad, but Coco really pulls it out. Shantay Coco stay. Jade calls Coco her close friend and I go “what?” and the show’s over. Join us next week!