Channel Guide ContributorWell my darlings, we’ve come to the end of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars edition. Who will enter the Drag Race Hall of Fame? By the way, if I need to say it, if you haven’t watched the episode and want to be surprised, you maybe should come back to this post at a later time.
The teams are now broken up – each contestant will be competing on their own. This is not RuPaul’s Best Friends Race anymore! #AllStarsFinale. RuPaul comes up with a devilish day filled with multiple events, each with a mandatory different outfit & wig.
First, the contestants will be interviewed by Marc Malkin. Second, they go to an ‘appearance’ where each will receive an award and have to give a little acceptance speech. Finally, the 4 All Stars will be headlining at The Comedy Store. In order to come up with their comedy routine, each contestant gets to work with Cheri Oteri.
Comedy expert Cheri Oteri gives each dragtestant her honest feedback. The editing makes me believe that none of them do well. It’ll be interesting to see how they actually do in the performance.
Time for the race! In order to get around town and change at the same time, the girls need a ride. For fun, past contestant Delta Work is driving Shannel and Jujubee. Ongina is driving Raven and Chad. That’s awesome. I miss me some Ongina. I wonder if those former contestants were chosen for their ability to drive a Ford conversion van? That’s some serious car there – especially in heavy traffic. Ongina also seems to be driving a little erratically, which is fun when you’ve got drag queens in the back trying to put on makeup. Throw some T & shade & fishtail the car!
First challenge is the interview with Marc Malkin. Jujubee is having a bit of a problem getting her two cents in. Raven starts off with a big old f-bomb. Shannel keeps talking. Essentially, they’re all being themselves.
Next it’s time to go to Hamburger Mary’s – a burger is being named after them. Hooray! I wonder if I’ll be able to get said burger at my local Hamburger Mary’s. Shannel tells me that the signature burgers will be available nationwide. Yay! Sure wish the Hamburger Mary’s web site were updated to indicate that. *Cough* *Subtle hint* Much naughty eating of burgers ensues. I expect animated gifs from the Interwebs, stat! I can’t wait! This challenge seems to go really well for all of them.
And now we’re off to The Comedy Store. The dragtestants seem to get ready really quickly. Traffic picks up & the queens get nervous that they will be late. Total editing drama though; they all show up fine. Jujubee goes up first and takes a page from the Margaret Cho playbook by channeling her grandmother. Can’t go wrong with that.
Chad Michaels goes next and focuses on plastic surgery. She goes slightly over time. Don’t know how much that will affect her in the end. Raven talks about relationships and jail. Shannel wraps things up and keeps the white man in a black woman’s body line Cheri Oteri warned her about. She seemed to do well, but also seemed to get less audience reaction. Again, with the editing it’s hard to tell who actually did well.
While getting ready for their final runway, Shannel tells the other queens that she deserves the crown because she can ride a unicycle. Among other talents. As Jujubee said, record scratch? Huh?
The final runway is filled with fabulous outfits – very different styles for each of the contestants. Chad is in essentially a catsuit with cutouts down the side. Shannel goes, as she put it, Cirque du Soleil realness. Mixed with a lobster – that’s my addition. Jujubee is very girly & flirty with a light blue ruffly number. Raven caps the runway in lingerie with a sheer ‘cover-up.’ For modesty.
Chad gets high marks from the judges almost universally. Jujubee gets a little ding on her interview performance. Shannel’s stand-up gets critiqued as messy. Raven’s makeup at Hamburger Mary’s is deemed too shiny. These are high standards kids.
Ru has made her decision. All are her legendary children America’s Next Drag Superstar, and entry into the Hall of Fame is… (please imagine the long, pregnant pauses here, full of slo-mo, long looks and drawn-out suspenseful music) not Shannel or Jujubee.
So now it’s down to Raven and Chad Michaels. They will have to lip-synch against each other for the crown. To a RuPaul song, of course. Her new single Responsitrannity, available now on iTunes!
Finally, the winner is announced — Chad Michaels. Yay Chad! Disappointing for the rest of them, of course, but well deserved.
Do you agree with Ru’s selection for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Hall of Fame?
