Image Credit: LogoAs a run-up to next week’s two-and-a-half-hour finale extravaganza — that’s one hour of the actual show, one hour of reunion, and a half-hour of spin-off Untucked — last night’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race wasn’t just a regular installment of main stage action, of course. Rather, it was “The Main Event Clip Show,” a sprite look back at the highs and lows of the season. In that vein, rather than just a straight-up recap here on PopWatch, let’s take a look at the highs of last night’s episode. Because, honestly, can you truly recap what was essentially a recap show itself? Here goes:
• That dramatic opening! Talk about, as RuPaul would say, an “eleganza extravaganza”! J’adore the ridiculous heightened-ness of it all — RuPaul amongst balloons, belting diva anthem “Main Event” from her latest album. It was the perfect launch, dripping with silly decadence. But honestly, RuPaul is always werquing in some product placement, what with it being her own song, right? A gurl’s gotta eat, but more on that in just a second…
• Pandora’s casting tape! Of course, the episode featured clips from the audition tapes of the nine eliminated queens, but whose am I going to single out as the most entertaining? C’mon, that’s not even a question if you’ve been following my coverage of the show this season! Pandora Boxx’s, of course! Which was drop-dead hilarious. As if the fact that Pandora began interviewing herself weren’t funny enough, I died when she smeared the screen with Vaseline, playing off the long-running joke that RuPaul has her camera lenses doused in the stuff so she always looks amazing. That joke — it’s true! — will never get old. And neither will you, Pandora.
• The return of Ongina, Chanel, and Bebe Zahara Benet! RuPaul enlisted three of her favorite queens from the inaugural season to help her count down the season’s “Top 10 Unforgettable Fits and Fashions.” I was living for the spotlight on Mystique’s split-tastic run on the show; Tyra’s delightful three-in-one country outfit; and the bit on Tyra vs. Tatianna, the season’s infamous take-down on the main stage. But I thought it was most hilarious, and fitting, that the number one spot on this Top 10 list was RuPaul herself! The three returning queens slotted her in the top spot for her runway fashions, which were truly to die for. (That rocker-chick look from a few episodes back — OMG!)
• The discovery of Bebe Zahara Benet’s single! During the Top 10 portion of the show, Bebe Zahara Benet — prompted by RuPaul, of course — mentioned her own single, “I’m the S—.” I must have missed it when it was released late last year, but goodness, it’s quite a dooooooozy.
• The catchphrases! Of course, no recap show of Drag Race would ever be complete without at least a quick spotlight on the show’s genius catchphrases. They hit on all the long-running faves — “Don’t f— it up!” and “The time has come for you to… lipsync for your life!” — but I’ve become more obsessed with a new one that has seemed to emerge this season: “Are you going through some psychological changes in your life?!” I can’t even begin to try to get the intonation of of the phrase right with words, but if you saw the show, you get it.
• Jujubee, Tyra, and Raven’s backstories! Now, I’m not sure if an exclamation mark was appropriate there because in the show’s focus on the three finale-bound queens, we delved into their rather sobering backstories, including the death of Jujubee’s father and Tyra’s childhood in the Orlando projects. But, I think what made this part of the show fascinating is how, despite adversity, Jujubee, Tyra, and Raven (pictured above during next week’s reunion special) have so managed to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and fab themselves off. Kudos to them all. That does, indeed, deserve an exclamation mark!
• RuPaul’s final pimping of her products! I said I’d circle back around to this, but again, RuPaul is the most masterful when it comes to shilling her own products. I don’t know why, but it tickles me so. Maybe because she’s so upfront about it? Like, it’s not some veiled attempt to work her book and music into the show that fails — she just straight-up told the viewers that they should buy her stuff, ending the show with a tweak on her usual denouement catchphrase: “If you can’t love yourself,” she said deeply, “then how in the hell you gonna buy my album and my book?” Well played, sista!
What’d you think of the clip show, Drag Racers? Living for RuPaul, as always? Loving the deep-dive into the season? Or, are you just going through some “psychological changes in your life“?!?
Tanner on Twitter: @EWTanStransky
More on RuPaul and ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ on EW.com:
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ recap: ‘And then there were three…’
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ recap: Drag mamas, Cloris Leachman, and the season’s most controversial elimination!
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ recap: The queens throw shade and shill books
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ recap: Is Pandora Boxx the ‘Susan Lucci of this competition’?
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ recap: It’s either Team Tyra or Team Tatianna
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ recap: The queens drag out smashing versions of Carol Channing and Britney Spears
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ recap: See who did her last splits
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ recap: Talent wins over charisma this week
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’: Werq it out with the Dragulator!
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ premiere recap: Should Mystique Summers Madison have sashayed away instead?
‘Workin’ It’ with RuPaul: Eight essential bon mots from the drag legend’s new book
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Exclusive: Meet the season 2 cast and watch them werq!
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’: LOGO greenlights season 2
RuPaul on ‘Drag Race’: Five rules for a killer comeback
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ on the Must List
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’: Winner Bebe Zahara Benet gets the documentary treatment!
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Exclusive: Meet season 2′s first queen, Jessica Wild
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’: Nine suggestions for staying fresh in season 2
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ casting begins: What’s your audition song?
I am thinking that it’s going to come down to Raven vs. Tyra or Raven vs. Jujubee. I highly doubt the latter will happen, but I am hoping since hearing Tyra talk makes me cringe. If Raven and Tyra go head to head, it will be a more interesting race. But I think Tyra has the edge because he constantly keeps talking about how she wants to make a better life for her son. Uggghhh! Pandora should’ve been crowned the moment she walked in the door!
i vote for the juju vs raven. i can’t stand tyra. i know raven is a b!@ch and all but raven works his butt off to look good and show his own style..as does juju..tyra copies beyonce e_e i’m so tired of hearing about beyonce. i don’t want the next drag superstar to be a beyonce clone..i want a drag queen with a sense of freaking self
if copying Marilyn Mansons mannerisms equates uniqueness then you can go there cause that is just what she does
and she isnt JUST a bitch she is a ungracious winner
agree!!!
I enjoyed it, but quickly tired of seeing Mystique do the splits the eighth time before a half hour was over. Pandora Boxx rocked!
Last night was fun, but I can’t wait until next week. I need Jujubee to win.
this is better than Americas Next Top Model!
For entertainment value – the top 3 should have been Pandora, Jessica & Jujubee – that would have been a GREAT final 3….Pandora WAS my Favorite of the season and the only one that I would actually tip……
I really hope Juju takes home the crown, if not her than Tyra. Someone who sits around at complains about one other queen anytime she’s not on stage doesn’t need to be the next drag superstar.
And I must love myself because I bought RuPaul’s album and it is really, really catchy.
gurl i know what u mean juju was my fav i wish she wuld of took it home i think that she desvid it all and she was rite about her teeth lol hopeful she could be on the next one and then hopeful she wins i hope
CAMAROOOOOOOOOON
I comletely agree!
I loved Santino riffing on Tyra’s deep voice, lol.
Ru always is pitching something of hers which is pretty funny. Heck, last year after being memorized by this show, I downloaded CoverGirl. Anytime I hit a wall during my walks, I play that song to get me going. Oh, how I miss Bebe, Shannel & Ongina. You can honestly tell they did get along (unlike this cast). As for catchphrases, there are none that stick out this season. Last year we had the divine Miss Nina with LOCA and Extra-va-ganza and of course CAMAROOOOOOOOOON. I said it once and I’ll say it again, there should be a spin off with Bebe, Shannel, Ongina & Nina called the Real Drag Queens.
One more thing. I think it would be PURR-FECT if Shannel took Tatiana under her wing. I loved Tati. Since almost everyone thought she was too inexperienced to be the winner then Tati needs to learn from one of the very best. Shannel can give her makeup lessons, improve her walk and teach her how to dress. Shannel is the mentor and Tati is the student. OH! Bebe, Ongina, Nina and Shannel can help put the base in her walk and bring out that fierce Drag Queen she can be!
I wish they would have expanded on Raven’s backstory, really don’t know alot about her like they did with Jujubee and Tyra. Santini imitating Tyra’s voice was hilarious and that one judge saying she would give him $4000 to shut up.
LMAO when Tatianna was sent home – when Ru and Tatianna kept saying “thank you” – well Tatianna says it more like “think you” Hilarious. JuJu FTW!
I thought the re-cap made it pretty clear that A) Pandora Boxx more than deserved to be in the final 3 and that B) Raven deserves the win. Sure Tyra looks like a porcelain doll every week, but America’s Next Drag Superstar needs a little fire behind those sultry eyes – and seeing Raven’s look and performance week to week, I think she’s got it! Pandora should have Tyra’s spot.
Pandora should have been in the final three. I loved Tati and Jessica too…hmmm oh well. I hope it comes down to JuJu and Raven. I think Ru really likes JuJu so she may have that going for her. I’d be happy with either of them winning, just not Tyra! I want to like Tyra, but there’s something a little…off…
There is no question Raven should win. Her looks and taste are the best each week. But if Juju wins, I would be happy as well.
Raven’s nuts popping! How could hat have escaped the highlights? Funniest part of the entire recap show.