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

yay!

Also Leee's point on how more Alaska would have been even better = A+. I still like how season 3 ended after Shangela's departure more on a note of fun competition instead of angst (at least until actual sashays away).

otm

Alaska was a legit fun, good-spirited competitor who could throw out the bitchy one liners without actually trying to draw blood like Roxxy et al

I do wish there had been more Alaskatimez, she's such a treat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfpojo_xcD8

Meantime, I was in Seattle when this went down but I had no chance to go. Ah well!

http://www.newnownext.com/jinkx-monsoon-as-american-as-apple-pie-in-freedom-fantasia-show-photos/07/2013/

Finished S4: I like Sharon, but Willam 4 ever, she pretty much sustains the early parts of the season -- her horse laugh is 2 DYE 4 -- and what an exit. HERE'S ONE FOR THE ROAD. (Working my way through Willam's Beatdowns, wonder if she ever gets around to making fun of this makeup toot.)

Now here is a challop: Phi Phi is pretty run-of-the-mill reality villain, I don't get the over-the-top vitriol directed at her? I mean, yes, she tries sabotaging her competitors (and the novel thing is it works once why because stupid), but everything else (e.g. picking fights, attention-seeking) is pretty tame stuff? I'm probably immunized to this sort of hijinks, especially when it's not directed to newborn kittens like Jinkx.

Anyway, just started S2, really amazed at the lousy production values over here: the soundtracked music mixed way too low, lots of dead air, vaseline on the camera lenses, most of the queens being earnest and not playing a Reality TV Character whenever they're on camera, etc.

BTW, is S1 worth tracking down?

S1 is definitely worth it - Bebe needs to be seen to be believed.

I had a problem with PhiPhi mainly because a lot of the attacks she levels at her competitors are really personal. Like it feels like she legit HATES Sharon and Willam, and is trying to really do damage verbally. I mean, she's young so maybe that's a lot of it, but especially towards the end of that season she just lost control I think and it just seemed incredibly ugly to me

Will do!

Having started with S5 and then S4, it's eye-opening to see the amount of fishiness on display in S2. That said, IMHO I'm fishier than Jujubee.

lol I love Jujubee

Pretty sure the only queen I'm fishier than is Phoenix.

hahaha

More a side question about Drag Race along the way but a great interview with Lady Bunny

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/03/lady-bunny-take-me-up-high_n_3672603.html

An old Coco interview, which explains her "good thing I'm Dominican" remark from the first episode: http://voices.yahoo.com/coco-montrese-classy-flair-12045288.html

Also, watching first season, I keep thinking that Bebe's last name is Neuwirth.

PS Nina Flowers 4ever.

Man that's a great interview with Coco there.

I wish Ongina could be my drag mother, I'd call myself Wongina.

Big ol' new interview with her Jinkxness

http://www.towleroad.com/2013/08/towleroad-interview-jinkx-monsoon.html

Finished S1 save for the reunion -- sounds like I should watch it for the SHADE OF IT ALL?

um YES

also Tammy lets loose

With that creepy creepy forehead/eyebrow combo of hers? <_<

"Downtown" Tammie Brown.

she looks like a depression-era homemade doll. she gives me nighmares

Oy, that headband covering Tammie's eyebrows doesn't help.

i like the idea behind what she's doing, and I love that era but she's just so terrifying with the lips & the scary eyebrows

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8hqnb0wPq1r1emlm.gif

This is why you need to see the reunion:

"You all called me losers and I don't see you out there walking children in nature." -Tammie Brown ...

She looks like an alien!!

I'm watching it right now! Shannel shaves her butt!

OMG Santino vs. Shannel.

shannel is kinda terrifying too, for different reasons

lol

OK Ru's speech in response to the Tammie thing is pretty powerful.

Also: Ongina b-boying!

yeah ru lost her SHIT with tammie.

Seriously, her message there is something I want to internalize. Pls teach this str8 boi 2 b feerce.

Who was it from a later season that clowned on Tammie's "walking the children in nature" line?

ru did :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzWDjQ5GbsI

...annnd Jinkx's show finally made the NYT in full

http://theater.nytimes.com/2013/08/12/theater/reviews/in-drag-for-90-years-vaudevillians-at-beechman-theater.html

An interesting thing catching up with all the seasons after watching Season 5 first is that Alaska has been haunting the show since the beginning in a very real way. I don't remember, but is the second season the only one where she isn't shown onscreen (whether in an audition video or in the audience cheering on Shannon Needles)?

And a neat Alaska interview: http://www.whatsuppub.com/arts_culture/stage/article_b7aea012-04f8-11e3-8e54-0019bb30f31a.html

Rupaul drives Henry Rollins to pick up some Clash swag.

Cryptic Willam tweet: https://twitter.com/willambelli/status/372178776748081152

I love just reading that in his professional Willam voice.

An interesting thing catching up with all the seasons after watching Season 5 first is that Alaska has been haunting the show since the beginning in a very real way. I don't remember, but is the second season the only one where she isn't shown onscreen (whether in an audition video or in the audience cheering on Shannon Needles)?

I think so -- and haunting is right! (Haus of Haunt, after all.)

My friend invited me to a drag show on Friday night and I just looked up who's going to be there -- Honey Mahogany's on the lineup!! :D

Gods help me, I might be a fan of Tammie's now that I've watched some of All-Stars.

Jinkx at the summit meeting:

http://d3rm69wky8vagu.cloudfront.net/article-photos/large/1.167291.jpg

And a message from La Jinkx:

Not every Drag Race winner takes the same path...

Each one of us have had careers distinctly different form one and other, fitting into what we are truly passionate about.

I was fortunate enough to have one of my long time dreams come true, starring in a 6 time extended, off broadway show in New York City- performing for countless audiences and many people of note.
Theater is not every drag queens dream, but it's mine, and thanks to mother RuPaul and RuPaul's Drag Race, I got to live out this dream this year.

I know that this has made me appear less visible in the drag world while I was singing my heart out in the underworld of Hell's Kitchen, but my devotion to my community is stronger than ever.
I have tried, in my way, to shine a positive light on where we are as a community. To show that personality, love, and positivity can still trump adversity and narrow mindedness.
This year I tried to prove that a drag queen is every bit a legitimate artist and entertainer for every community, not just in the gay bar scene. I have tried to build a bridge between "us" and "them" with comedy, music, and heart.

I feel proud of our community, that we are STILL fighting for equality and our right to be heard and recognized.
Our community is worldwide. We fight not just for ourselves here in America, but we fight for our family in Russia, Brazil, and anywhere they tell you that you can't be who you were born to be. We continue to defy the world leaders who want to squash us, and show them that as a community, we are stronger than they could have ever imagined.

My year as the reigning Drag Race winner may be coming to a close, but my efforts to change this world for the better are only gaining momentum.

I have many projects that have been in the works, just waiting for the right time to release unto you all, and they are right around the corner.
I am excited about the work I am doing with OraQuick, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research center and the HIV Vaccine Trial Units, and of course my future Projects with World of Wonder and Logo TV.

Jinkx Monsoon has not "Vanished" and she is far from done with the work she is doing for all the queer little ducks out there. Monsoon season is still in full effect, so stay tuned for all that's in store.

Season 6 not till Febtober. :(

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEygyfpawDQ

A monthful of Jinkx started today: http://www.logotv.com/video/misc/983419/31-days-jinkx-monsoon-december-1.jhtml

Annnnd the posting of upcoming season 6 contestants has begun:

https://www.facebook.com/rupaulsdragrace

http://www.instagram.com/logotv

And elsewhere, I suppose.

And we got full trailer

http://www.newnownext.com/rupauls-drag-race-season-6-supertease-get-into-it-watch/12/2013/

Feb. 24: http://www.dragofficial.com/10/post/2014/01/rupauls-drag-race-season-6-premiere-date-finally-announced.html