AntManBee

I did not care too much for the talent show. Roxxxy and Tatianna were the clear standouts, mostly because their routines were both retro-but-modern takes on unconventional performances. All of the singing queens performances really began to blend together by the end. I do love the elimination twist -- if only because it is different. It throws a wrench into the meta game that many of the queens came ready to play. The lip sync to Shake It Off was much better than I expected too. Roxxxy and Tati were like polar opposites of the same queen: dark vs. light colored, blunt vs. soft hair, bold vs. sultry movements... it was pretty amazing. Both of them did well, but I think Roxxxy deserved the win. She does this little movements in the lip sync (and burlesque number) that are so fantastic. like wiping the nape of her short haired wig after the reveal, a simple side shimmy early in the lip sync, a Charleston-like two step, or simply brushing off her shoulders, that are so feminine and understated, yet mesmerizing. This may have been the best lip sync since season 5, and certainly blew away anything from seasons 7 or 8. I really wish we had a runway show though. Regardless, it's a positive start to the season.

Ok. I've come to the unpopular conclusion that I want Ana to win. Not that I think she will have the best show, but I do find her attitude to be the most refreshing of all the contestants left. Plus, she appears to at least know how to prepare interesting, tasty, and new-to-me recipes. I also enjoy her very dry sense of humor -- which I too have been accused of having. I also give her mad props for taking the dessert course and wanting to push herself. A sharp contrast to Erin pushing herself by making a cookie that she makes daily and help pay her bills. Plus, I made the same facial reaction as Ana when Erin claimed her guilty pleasure decadent desert was going to be an after school snack. Tregaye will probably win though. Erin's meltdown was oddly rewarding. She frustrated me so much at the judges table, but its refreshing to know that there is some other emotions buried underneath the facade of constant peppiness. But as a baker, how does she get off calling whatever she made a cookie? I have never seen a cookie that had to be baked in muffin tin. Maybe that was Erin using another hack. Jernard is beginning to strike me as someone who tries to hard to prove how heterosexual he is. Ironically Valerie B. told Penny to not mention sexiness when she should just exude it naturally, but this doesn't seem to apply to Jernard as the love chef. His speaking, even in jest, about having more children with the judges after his aphrodisiac entree was a bit disgusting. Domiano is cute and all, but I really want to see him de-Vanilla Ice his hair. ETA: Fantastic shade cast by the Food Network Star editors at the very end with Erin proclaiming that we will see her smiling face again -- followed by her coldly slamming the door on the way out while the other contestants stand awkwardly. Perfection.

I am in the minority, but I find it hard to hate Derrick. I almost feel bad for him. I get the sense that he is used to being a mega-star in Vegas, and has been known for years as THE Britney Spears impersonator, and it's becoming clear through RPDR that it might be all he is comfortable doing. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but not exactly what the show is looking for in crowning a champion. He must also surround himself with people who get, and/or accept, his awkward personality. It's not as gregariously extroverted as Thorgy or Bob (or at least the persona Thorgy and Bob are portraying in the show...) Nevertheless, wearing a Nebraska shirt on a makeover challenge really takes the self-referential cake. Which gets to my semi-negative reading of Bob this episode. Something about him is too ON, all the time. His reading (in the episode and bonus) began to feel a bit like Rodney Dangerfield or Joan Rivers insults. Groaners we've heard before, humorous only when told in rapid succession. The way he also spouts off the same Paris is Burning line is getting a bit repetitive. Robbie was also guilty of this. Still, Bob tried to stir drama and insert himself into the conversation during Untucked. Being Bob, maybe his character is always running, in or out of drag, but I agree its getting tiresome. Naomi looked fantastic on the runway. It was inventive, different, and smart. No other queen came close. Kim Chi wins me over simply for Untucked. Calling out Bob's Rainbow Couture, while also noting that it was a design and makeover challenge to subtly jab Bob were the best reads on the Library is Open episode. I don't watch the Little Women LA show, but from it seems like the women were purposefully matched with some Oz characters and specific drag queens. I am genuinely excited for this group of Top 6.

I know it's unpopular, but I don't really dig that Bob did two different people in Snatch Game. It's almost a cop out, as if she ran out of jokes/references for one impression and jumps ship for another. Drag for the ADHD. Also a little disappointed that so many went with kimono Madonna looks. Out of Everything Madonna has done? If I was one of those queens, I'd hodgepodge a a quick Ray of Light outfit, done a nude sex book look (maybe only Naomi could get away with that), or pile on accessories and go Lucky Star. It's not that difficult to pull nearly anything together to make a different, yet relavent, Madonna look.

I disagree, as I previously posted. There are plenty of circumstances that allude to reasonable doubt. Foremost in having a lead detective who has perjured himself in the same court, previously alluded to framing African-Americans, freely using racial epithet, and refuses to deny that he has manufactured/planted evidence in the case. Then having DNA experts torn apart on the stand doesn't help the prosecution, let alone having a glove that doesn't fit (when suggested the defendant try it on by prosecution, without the explanation of how a leather driving glove should fit, could shrink, or might awkwardly fit over latex gloves). The suggestion that this was all drug related because of the Colombian necktie/necklace is inconsequential. The point of the prosecution is to eliminate reasonable doubt, but instead, they opened the prospect of it upon themselves. Anyways, suggesting that Ron was chivalrous means nothing. From what we've been shown in testimony, or the show, is that he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Perhaps he was returning glasses, at the insistence of his employer. Or, perhaps, he was Nicole's latest, youngest boyfriend of the moment. I don't exactly see how he was chivalrous beyond and attempt to try and paint him as more of an altruistic victim. That he was a victim of an extremely vile crime is bad, but there is no need to try and elevate the character of Ron through invalidated accolades.

I know its easy pickings to say the jury was stupid or racially motivated in their decision, but this series, if anything, has shown that there was so much reasonable doubt in OJ's defense that no reasonable jury could possibly do anything but acquit him. We also have to remember that the jury isn't privy to all the same information that we get, but hearing a lead detective in the case plead the fifth in regards to planting evidence leads one to imagine, possibly, much more unscrupulous circumstances than actually happened. Also, this show is brilliant.

It just occurred to me, that excluding winners, JuJubee, Alexis Mateo, and Willam are all undefeated at lip syncing for their lives. It's all the more interesting, in the case of JuJu and Alexis, that they each defeated three queens in lip sync battles during their seasons, only to be excused from the final lip sync when down to the final three queens. Neither of them really lost on All Stars either, as JuJu was once again excused and Alexis was interrupted by Yara Sophia with the she-mergency button (and, clearly did a worse job than Alexis in her half of that interpretation of "Don't 'Cha." Now that Ru likes to have the final 3-4 queens lip syncing in the last episode before the finally/reunion, we may never see this again...

That was season 1, but they didn't even get to go to Mood to get zippers and whatnot, but rather to "Daytona Braids and Trimming." In season 1 they designers didn't get to go to Mood, or actual fabric shopping, until episode 4. [Ep. 1 was the supermarket; Ep. 2 was the cotton provided to them; Ep. 3 fabric was provided by Banana Republic.] Season 1 did have some really interesting challenges, that often were very "basic" compared to what we see now: create a collection using second hand clothes, create a stage look for a singer, create a wedding dress for a client, create a swimsuit/cover appropriate for a party, re-envision a public services uniform... The first season of Project Runway Canada had a similar challenge for the designers on the first episode also. Before they were 'officially' on the show, the designers had to design a dress all using the same materials (white cloth, random notions, a tape measure), while at a yacht party, in some insane amount of time (I'm thinking like only half an hour.) The eliminated designer was booted off the boat, and didn't even get to see the work room.

While watching this episode it struck me that if the jury was really treated as crappy as they were by the county, and felt that they too were the subject of racism from the guards/county, it becomes easier to identify with the supposed racism argument presented by the defense. Also, if I were that pissed off while being sequestered on the jury, I might start thinking of acquitting just to stick it to the prosecution. Also, why couldn't they watch both Seinfeld and Martin, or get two TVs and borrow a second conference room?

RuPaul recently gave an long, and extremely interesting, interview with vulture.com. Check it out at http://www.vulture.com/2016/03/rupaul-drag-race-interview.html My favorite takeaway: Ru has no time for nonsense.

The UnTucked Dorian Corey reference/read of Acid Betty immediately made ChiChi my favorite queen, perhaps ever. Derrick, for all his issues, really came off like the diplomatic Ms. Corey, and I am beginning to appreciate him more because of it as well.

The problem I have with this whole interpretation is that drag is more than about creating a look. It is not static. It is not a sculpture or a painting. Drag is, if you want to use your artistry term, a performance art. There are elements of visual aesthetics ascribed to this, just as much as there is physicality, wit, humor, and an element of ephemeralism. You seem very quick to reduce drag to simply pure aesthetics, and at that, aesthetics which are rooted in traditional forms of upperclass, western, beauty. This leaves little room for butch queens, camp queens, or booger drag. But when you reduce queens to simply being a visual art-form and then judge queens by your standards of beauty, one that is a first world, enfranchised, display of wealth/health, such as good teeth, you are employing a classist critique. There is nothing wrong with this. You are entitled to this. However, if I said Bob the Drag Queen would be better if she were exactly the same, only white-skinned, I can hide behind aesthetic preferences, but really its a racist critique. When I said "Don't watch Paris is Burning," I was poking fun at your aesthetic value placement of the importance of good teeth in your appreciation of drag. I also work at an art museum, and frequently enjoy hearing people's interpretations of art and the personal reflections and life experiences they bring to this. However, it is also common to hear that abstraction isn't real art, or that "my kid could paint that." While these are personal opinions on aesthetics, which they are entitled to, they also would be derided by anybody who spent time learning about art history, artists' intentions, or cultural mores that fostered the art which was created. So, yes, there are other avenues where you are judged based on your history and understanding of a medium. That doesn't mean you aren't entitled to an opinion, but it does help understand the value and merits of your opinion. So if you say something on a forum such as this, you can also expect it to be challenged, or at least be asked to clarify. Likewise, I also suggested that everyone who likes RPDR or posts here should see the film because it is a fantastic documentary which I think fans of the show would enjoy. It also gives a greater understanding of the drag movement, ball scene, and history of drag in an era when RuPaul was just breaking out. Plus, many of the references that are used on the show will make more contextual sense. Bob brings it to you every episode because Kim Pendarvis brought it to you at every ball, imperfect teeth and all. It is great that RPDR has brought in so many new fans to the drag scene, but its equally important to understand there is a long history of drag beyond what has been presented for the last 8 seasons.

Wow, we are all over the place here. If you thought I was genuinely suggesting you do not watch Paris is Burning, then my sarcasm has failed us both. You should watch Paris is Burning. Everyone who posts on this forum, and sees fit to comment on drag queens, should watch it. Although, its undeniable when watching it that many of the interviewees/participants have imperfect teeth. Is it distracting? Maybe, if you place sole value of drag on the look. I would not even say Paris is Burning is about sheer artistry, but more about experience, illusion, and fantasy. Especially considering that many of the queens featured in that film had struggles with family acceptance and poverty, compounded by the fact that they are continuously confronted by affluent, straight, white culture. A culture that always seems out of grasp. My statement on classism is not a condemnation that you, yourself, are classist. But rather that the nit-picking on aesthetics of teeth implies that you hold all these queens to a standard that is only achievable by the lucky or affluent. You cannot really compare Derrick Barry, whose drag is all about emulating a wealthy, white, entertainer, with someone like ChiChi, whose drag (from my perception) is much more about escaping her cloistered, rough, upbringing. The art-form of drag is based on look, yes, but its also based on attitude, creativity, performance, social and cultural critique, parody, gender roles, aspiration, and character creation. So to claim that you cannot see any of these other attributes in a drag performance because the teeth are not perfect enough is to pigeon hole a queen because of her background, upbringing, or wealth. It's a lot easier to make/buy a fancy dress, change up make up or wigs, or nail down a dance routine than it is to fix dental work. Thus, the focus on teeth, and expecting all queens to come into the competition with HD ready smiles is a bit classist. That's not to say it cannot be done, as shown by Tyra Sanchez and Sharon Needles, who both had their teeth fixed after winning large sums of money.

I am amazed there is so much chatter about queen's teeth this year. If you find it to be a distraction, don't ever watch season 4... then Sharon, PhiPhi, Latrice, and Jiggly all had dental imperfections, but that was hardly what made them lovable (or unlovable, in PhiPhi's case). Don't ever watch Paris is Burning either. You might become too distracted by teeth to appreciate why lower-income, socially marginalized, people gravitate towards drag and ball scene. I can't help but worry that this is a side effect of Ru's casting for the series last season. The queens were so much more look influenced that their teeth were hardly an issue. In just the 2nd episode we already have a consensus that the casting is much better this year, with people, like myself, already worried about who will go home next, since I sort of love them all. There is no obvious cannon fodder. That some of them have less than perfect teeth does not distract from the appreciation of their talents. That we expect drag queens to have perfect teeth, the loving/doting/wealthy families that nurtured them growing up, or the current income to afford them is disappointing. I think it reveals more about he audience and somewhat classist attitudes, rather than the actual queens themselves. Anyways, I find ChiChi's and Kim Chi's dental imperfections kind of endearing.

I don't think they are fundamentally flawed, but it does work into a RuNarrative that queens need to know more about their history and how they got to where they are today. It is an attribute she seemingly admired in Violet Chachki, Jinkx Monsoon, and even Tyra Sanchez. The Sam Smith faux pas at the Oscars is another example of modern LGBT community members not fully understanding how real the struggle has been for gays for decades, allowing them to be as out and open and accepted in the mainstream as they are. "I Will Survive" is a quintessential gay anthem, and perhaps the most ubiquitous song for drag queens ever performed on Drag Race. Its themes of empowerment, self actualization, growth, and determination ring true for both women and gays, and make it a perfect song for a drag queen to interpret in many levels. I doubt any queens would scoff at in performing "Born This Way" or other modernly adopted anthems, but to scoff that they don't do disco, or aren't familiar with the song is problematic. You don't have to love the song to know its importance within the community. The whole LSFYL I was wondering, how would Latrice Royale, JuJuBee, or Trinity K. Bonet turn this out? All have different styles and methods of lip syncing, but I don't doubt any of them would have torn the house down with such an opportunity.

I state this only as anecdotal evidence: I watched this episode with a 30 year old white, married, woman who loves Britney Spears and has never seen Drag Race. She knew of Derrick Barry only because she really, really, loves Britney Spears... his presence this season was a big instigator for getting her to watch (that and knowing RuPaul from the 90s and her work on the Good Work/Botched after show). Anyways, she continues to love Derrick, and said she was giving strong Britney Snow realness... so I guess the Britney recreation is not limited to spears. . She also loved Naomi Smalls and her loooooooong legs. She also immediately picked up that Kim Chi cannot walk in heels, even if she liked her personality.

I'm gonna have to defend a queen here for a second. Not everybody has been fortuitous enough to have the exposure to proper dental care and orthodontia, especially a drag queen who may not be making good money or receive good dental plans from her place of full time employment. There is nobody this season who is as jacked as season 4, and nobody deserves to have their BBQ cancelled. While there are some queens whose smiles may not be their most stunning attribute, I think condemning them for what is essentially a first world luxury is bit harsh.

I know it's petty and all, but these "naturalists" must have re-committed themselves to the cause célèbre of nudity after seeing the atrocious outfits Mitchell and Sam were wearing on the first day. I didn't have much of a problem with Georgina comparing Sam's outfit to Salvation Army. Sam was supposed to create something new, unique, and fashionable for his model. The allusion that it looked like something that was bought second hand and not, initially, intended for that specific person is an apt critique. I don't think she intended to imply that second hand shopping is inherently bad or gauche, but that it was not was asked for in the challenge.

I would not consider either of those two as real fishy queens. Manila would never pass for a woman, her stature was too large, hair and costumes too camp. She wasn't trying to look like a woman so much as a charactature of one. Willam was more real, but also would occasionally not pad, show her man chest/nipples through a costume, etc... And the beard... Came off almost as genderfuck. Ironically the fishyist queens tend to eventually come out as trans. Monica B Hillz, Carmen Carrera, and Kenya Michaels for instance.

This show is such a trainwreck. Yet, I continue to watch weekly with my friends while we drink a bottle of wine and play arm chair psychologist. Nevertheless, NONE of the these people were all that likable this year. The show, and it's "experts" are all jokes. Maybe I watched a different show last night. I thought David storming around the house, cleaning his stuff out, asking inane questions about who wants a picture frame, etc, was sort of childish. While he was summarily rejected by Ashley, I think she could tell that he was acting temperamentally and by asking him to talk, she wanted him to stop buzzing around and address his pent up emotions. For such an emotive guy who spent weeks needling Ashley about opening up more, he shut down very quickly. Something about Neil really bugs me. Sam at least is up front about her being a bitch. Neil seems too calculated. Tres and Vanessa are too boring to care much about. These experts need to be more forthcoming about why these candidates were selected for show, and why they were matched. More than "they're both bi-racial, so we matched them because they are similar! They bring out the qualities the other lacks, we matched them because they are opposites! They both agreed to be on the show, we matched them because they were available and signed the waivers!" I'm upset that the reunion looks to be more one-one/two interviews by Dr. Pepper (arguably the most inane expert). The best part of the reunion last year was seeing the experts sitting in shock as all the marriages fell apart in front of them.

I've been following Sam's blog since Tom and Lorenzo basically turned their backs on PR. [Maybe TLo have turned back, but once they said they were going to stop blogging PR episodes, I stopped visiting...] Sam provided witty commentary and lots of opinions about each week's episode of PR, which made his blog an easy visit after episodes aired. Anyways, Sam usually has a good critique of each episode and I tend to agree with his weekly rankings. Meanwhile, I thought Mitchell's pompom hat was kind of cute. Maybe a little twee, but also slightly adorable. It was cuter than Victor's pompom hat from Season 3 of All Stars, the cocktail drink/dress episode... So I don't know whose side I'm on. (Actually, I'm on Stella's side, always!)