This week, our remaining RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars were tasked for bringing their best celebrity tributes to the stage for the “Hall of Fame Halftime Show”. After dazzling the judges, they all slipped into their frilly runway finest. Who ran for a touchdown and who got benched? Let’s take a look at a very entertaining episode.
When the queens returned to the werk room after Silky Nutmeg Ganache’s elimination, we found out that four queens voted to send A’Keria home (Silky got six votes). This was too close for comfort for A’Keria C. Davenport. In addition to her worry, Jan admits she’s getting frustrated that she hasn’t been able to stand out in the challenges.
RuPaul informed the queens that for this week’s challenge, they would be participating in a star-studded half time show that was really “a musical tribute to all divas…but mostly RuPaul”, as the queens performed covers of Ru’s tunes by sound-a-likes (who were actually quite good.) At least Ru displayed her sense of humor when telling the queens they’d be lip syncing tribute versions of her songs.
In the show, Ginger Minj pays tribute to Fergie, Eureka O’Hara is Madonna, Ra’Jah O’Hara is Diana Ross, Jan is Lady Gaga, A’Keria is Prince, Kylie Sonique Love is Steven Tyler, Trinity K Bonet is Beyoncé, Scarlet Envy is Katy Perry, and Pandora Boxx takes us back to the very first half time performer (and revives one of the best Snatch Game characters ever) Carol Channing. We also get a shout-out to Drag U (one of the “sponsors” of the halftime show), which made me sad and gave me just a tinge of hope that they will bring it back (so I can finally get my makeover.) The standouts were Jan’s Mother Monster, Kylie’s Steven Tyler (I never thought the Aerosmith singer was sexy…until now), Pandora’s Carol Channing (duh) and Trinity’s killer take on the queen of the Beyhive.
The theme for the runway this week was “The Frill of It All” and the queens once again brought the looks. Ginger served up Gone with the Wind realness, Eureka cowboy-ed up, Kylie was a unicorn goddess fantasy, Pandora was a living doll, Yara brought back her hair windmill, Ra’Jah was a fairy princess, Scarlet was ready for the cover of Southern Vogue and Jan stunned in her “Moulin Ru”, “can-can Jan” look. While Jan’s look was amazing, A’Keria gave us three looks in one with her beautiful flower ensemble.
Ru declared Ra’Jah, Scarlet, Kylie (who I felt was in the top) and Pandora (who is never going to catch a break, is she?) safe and gave the week’s top honors to Jan…finally! A’keria and Yara found themselves in the bottom two and Jan went up against this week’s lip sync assassin, season two’s Jessica Wild. Jan’s weirdly robotic moves (as pointed out by Pandy in the confessionals) were no match for Jessica’s…umm…wild (sorry) performance and the “tip” once again rolls over. Jessica reveals the lipstick of the queens voted to be eliminated and, sadly, we have to say “adios” to Yara Sofia. Of course, as with all of the previously chopped queens, Ru asks her if she wants to play the still undefined “game with a game”, so there still may be a chance for us to hear “Echa pa’lante!” once more.
So, who made the MVP cut this week? Obviously, this week’s champion, Jan, finally got her first win. Ever. While her portrayal of young Madonna in the Rusical on season 12 should have gotten her a “W”, it did give us the face crack that launched 1,000 memes. Her Lady Gaga killed in the halftime show, but it was her saloon gal glam that pushed her past Trinity for the victory.
Speaking of our Atlanta queen, Trinity slayed her performance as Beyoncé, finally killing the “Bey curse” and earning a co-MVP spot for the week. Her pageant eleganza on the runway was beautiful and in her quest to make it just a little more “RuPaul’s Best Friend Race” this season, brought us this most delightful exchange with A’Keria and Ra’Jah.
(By the way, Honey Davenport will always be the trade of every season of Drag Race, even if she’s not on. Just saying.) Oh, and honorable mention to Scarlet Envy for being the cutest left shark in the sea.
Next week, the queens sit down and get real for a “Pink Table Talk” and we will see another fierce queen sashay away. Until then, remember that if you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else? Can I get an “amen”?
