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RuPaul's Drag Race: You Gotta Have Style!

Written by Lauren Cheal

Wednesday, 18 April 2012 14:31

Frock The Vote Group Shot

RuPaul's Drag Race: Frock the Vote

Last week, Willam won the challenge, but was kicked off the show for "breaking a rule" of the show. We don't know what said rule was, but she is outta here. We won't find out what rule was broken until the reunion show, which is a damn shame.

This week, we are getting political up in the race. SheMail informs us of basically nothing (as usual) and gives some vaguely political puns. The mini challenge sees the girls decorating platform shoes. Absolut Vodka representative Jeffrey Moran is here, giving us our first indication that this is the sponsor's episode. The girls are designing platform shoes that are based on a "signature" Absolut cocktail. It is fairly lame. The shoes are all garish and ridiculous (which was the point, of course), and Phi Phi takes the win.

The main challenge this week is a Frock the Vote Presidential Debate. Suddenly I am sad that Jiggly isn't here…can you imagine what kind of crap she would come up with? Nor can I! During the workroom time, everyone works on their speeches and questions. Phi Phi takes the opportunity of Willam's obnoxious absence to really step it up and fill that void. She spends a bunch of time belching and then bragging about how she "was going to be a lawyer". Idiot.

The other guest judge this week is Dan Savage, the founder of the It Gets Better Project, that you may have heard about. The project advocates support for LGBT teens who face bullying and abuse in their communities. The most famous aspect of the project is a series of (awesome) YouTube videos where LGBT adults relay stories from their lives and share how it does, in fact, get better. Dan and Ru visit the girls in the workroom to give them feedback on their progress so far. Dan's visit to the workroom shows that he is taking this challenge very, very seriously, and none of the ladies are. The tone of the whole challenge is a little bit strange. Dan is talking about legitimate policies and laws, and the ladies are trying to create characters and catch phrases. It just doesn't quite fit.

Frock the Vote Debate

Dida Ritz: Dida is focusing on how people who work in drag don't get paid as well as others. She really struggles in the debate, and she comes off a bit dull as usual.

Phi Phi O'Hara: Phi Phi's slogan implies that she will boff anyone who asks, and then her plan is to make factories that produce wigs. Phi Phi's character is supposed to a southern lady, but her accent is actually not great. In the actual debate, she is an annoying southern version of herself, and her attempts at humour are lost. She also makes the terrifying choice to call Latrice Royale and Dida Ritz "the help", which is both offensive and not funny. Latrice's reaction? "I'm from Compton, bitch. I will whip your ass". I would love to see it.

Sharon Needles: Sharon is working on a campaign that will get a man/woman in the office. During the debate, she is the only one who navigates the serious/not serious tone of this strange challenge. She also has a hilarious line about Drag queens having the right to divorce.

Latrice Royale: Latrice wants more funding for HIV and AIDS patients, but doesn't want to cut anything else. The most notable thing about Latrice's debate performance is his terrible make up. It is just getting worse, I think! He also doesn't make any of the points about his actual political points, which makes him seem dumber than he is. Latrice's hair in the debate is also not good. It is sort of a bun, but it is too small for her large head/face.

Chad Michaels: Chad seems to be in trouble early, as he is trying to create a funny, wacky character for what seems to be a sort of serious challenge. Chad's stage character is supposed to be a trailer-trash person, but the things she says are not always coherent. She isn't really funny either, so that is points off.

Big points to the production of this episode for the title cards they posted during the debate. They picked out some real gems from the ladies' incoherent speeches and highlighted the truly ridiculous side of any debate. One example? "Sharon Needles: I'm a girl of the streets".

Mainstage

Unsurprisingly, Ru is a damn vision on the mainstage again. A neon/pastel caftan with bold vertical stripes? Are you kidding me? It is amazing stuff, as always. She is joined by standards Michelle Visage and Santino, and guest judges Absolut's Jeffrey Moran and Dan Savage. It is worth noting that Michelle Visage's boobs are practically in their own seat tonight. The ladies are asked to bring their inaugural ball looks to the mainstage tonight.

Phi Phi O'Hara: Phi Phi's look is a form-fitting white mermaid-style dress, and no first lady would be caught wearing that at the inauguration. Her make up is back to not great, but it isn't the worst we have seen it.

Dida Ritz: Dida's runway look is a little more red carpet than inaugural ball, but at least it has sleeves (unlike Phi Phi's). Her hair is back to that unattractive black with bright blond highlights, and it is not fancy enough for the occasion.

Chad Michaels: Chad is the only girl who really nails the runway theme. He has presidential hair, as well as a ridiculous emerald green gown that I think Laura Bush has for sure worn at some point.

Latrice Royale: Good lord, does Latrice miss with this outfit. He has really been slipping in recent weeks, and I am afraid for him. He is wearing a tight black jersey dress with a terribly-fitting bejewelled girdle over the middle of it. It doesn't sit right under his cans, and it makes him look really lopsided. This thing is an absolute mess. Also, his bra strap just full-out showing, and that is not good.

Sharon Needles: Sharon does something smart and manages to fit the runway challenge into her personal style, and goes for a presidential look "of the future". Her look is all nude pantyhose, but in a classy way. This competition is really hers to lose at this point.

In the judging we learn that most of the panel found Chad Michaels to be hilarious, which is not really what I saw, but I trust them. There is also debate about whether Phi Phi O'Hara crossed the line with her "help" comment, and the panel is divided. Chad Michaels is safe, and Sharon Needles wins the challenge. Phi Phi is also safe, though by a slimmer margin. Up for elimination this week are Dida Ritz and Latrice Royale. The girls are lip syncing to "I've got to use my imagination" by Gladys Knight. You have to give homefield advantage to Ms. Latrice, and she channels big soul sisters everywhere. Dida takes off her gown immediately, and looks like a dude dancing to Gladys. Why do so many of the girls strip during their lip syncs? It just doesn't make sense to me. Latrice is told to shante, and stay. Dida Ritz is sent sashaying away.

After the elimination, Ru announces that Michelle and Santino (aka the producers) get to choose one eliminated contestant who will get a second chance at the competition. They include Willam in the list of possible re-borns, but they can't possibly ask him back, can they? Him aside, I don't really want to see any of the other queens return, but if I had to take one, it would be my adorable dumbo, LaShauwn Beyond.

Hidden Gems

"I wasn't just gay. I was, like, gay and weird"- Sharon Needles on her high school experience. I really enjoy her.
"She had gravitas"- Dan Savage. Ru's response: "There's an ointment that can clear that up". I laughed right out loud, people.
It is all in the delivery, but this gem from Sharon Needles in the debate bears repeating: "Drag queens should most definitely be able to get married. We should also have the right to get divorced. I too would like to be an unhappily married woman, and then receive my alimony cheques to pay for my young lovers and vacations. Thank you, Dan". - her political debate cadence was really outstanding.
"I feel like that republican lady the politician can take to the ball, but he can take her back home and she's a whore in bed" - Chad Michaels
With the amount of times Jeffery Moran was referred to near the Absolut corporation, I wouldn't be surprised if he has undergone "corpohumanization" - See the most recent episode (Pillow Fight Part 2) of Community for more details.
Last word goes to my Peanut Gallery, "You gotta have style! Girl didn't have an eye for fashion, fit or proportion. Also, the janky wigs have gotta go!".

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