‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Gets Dragged To ‘Breastworld’ [RECAP and RANKINGS]
What happened to our girls? After last week’s dynamic Cher Rusical, slap-happy mini-challenge and glitterific runway, last night’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race felt like everyone spiked their Absolut berry acai cocktails with a hefty helping of Ambien. (Or at least Flaccida.) It was an off-week for even the strongest competitors, yielding a middling episode up until a thrilling lip sync for your life.
The episode starts strongly enough. We’re treated to a hilarious cameo appearance from late-night host (and political humor zaddy) Stephen Colbert spouting off drag lingo like a drunk, straight white girl at brunch after too many micheladas. It’s a short, but effective clip to clue the girls in that this will be another acting-focused week.
But(t) first, a min-challenge: Pants Down, Bottoms Up. It’s one of those Drag Race staples that forces the extended Pit Crew family to come in, drop trou and test the ladies’ recall ability while binging on cakes. Each queen takes turns calling out a Crew member, getting a peak at their Rounderbum (#spon) undies, then attempting to pick the other Crew member wearing the same color/style.
Aquaria manages to snag the win (though I think Asia had the best time playing), and the prize is a big one. She gets the power to cast the roles in this week’s maxi-challenge, a parody of HBO’s Westworld titled Breastworld. (You get it?! You get it.) However, she immediately whiffs the opportunity by letting the ladies pick their roles based off the description, not the script.
The result is most of the queens, Aquaria included, not being happy about having too many or too few lines in the script. Asia in particular is confused by this strategy, reminding viewers how Nicole Kidman wouldn’t just sign on to play a housewife that drives a yellow car; she’d want to see a script and wait six months. (The things you learn on this show!)
Ru’s visit to the workroom feels like a pipebomb. Every interaction seems to cut right to the heart of what’s holding each queen back, and you could see it shake a few of the gals already feeling a little insecure. She criticizes Aquaria’s decision to relinquish her advantage assigning roles for the sake of sparing people’s feelings. Ru encourages Monet to kick up the glamour a bit with bigger wigs (to balance out that bigger booty). Eureka needs to keep her momentum going by continuing to stand out. Kameron needs to be likable, which seems like the deepest read in the room. And Ru could see Cracker getting too in her own head during her performances. It’s too rehearsed.
The only person that seems energized by Ru’s chat is Asia. Coming off last week’s lip sync, Ru gives her some coaching to remember who she is and turn it out. It brings out some obvious emotion in Asia. (And, since it reminds me a little bit of the emotional climax of Moana, it also sparks a lot of emotion in me.)
The filming of Breastworld is a tough watch. Monet manages to play at the top of her intelligence as a fun-loving lady trying to get her uptight friend to loosen up. She comfortably ad libs lines and seems the most at ease on set.
Aquaria delivers another surprisingly good comedic performance as a robot hostess. (Cold and emotionless seems to be her sweet spot.) But boy are a lot of the gals struggling. Kameron is tasked with playing Monet’s conservative travel companion, and her interpretation of the character is a lot of shrieking.
One might expect Kam to have a hard time in an acting challenge, but it’s tougher to understand why Eureka is having such a rough go. As the big, bawdy bingo hostess, you’d think Eureka would be a natural. But her energy is way off. She comes off exhausted, fails to sell the physical humor, and, worst of all, she can’t even nail the iconic IVYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY WINTERSSSSS! required. Cracker also crumbles upon the first note from Michelle and Ross.
Thank goodness Asia comes marching in as Parah Sailin, barely a caricature of the former Wasilla mayor. Instead of channelling Tina Fey as Palin, Asia brings her angry Beyoncé energy to the character, and it’s a breath of fresh air after watching so much flailing on set.
By the end of filming, even Michelle can’t hide her frustration, telling the queens, “Unless the set falls over this is our last take. I don’t want to do this anymore.”
This week’s runway theme, Silver Foxy, allows us to glimpse what these queens will look like in 50 years. The judges, including Ru’s Broad City co-stars Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, are gagged for Cracker’s ripped from the pages of Runway Magazine, Upper East Side editrix. Michelle and I are both perplexed by Asia’s aged showgirl, which is working at the very top and the very bottom, but it’s a bit of a mystery in between. Monet takes a much more straightforward interpretation with an IV and comically sagging breasts, but the judges read her for a lack of eleganza.
The panel is also a bit perplexed by Aquaria’s punk rock senior, inspired by Michelle Lamy, but it’s working for me! Look no further than sexy septuagenarian Debbie Harry, who is still serving lewks today.
Kam comes out swinging, launching down the runway in full facial prosthetics. She gives her funniest performance of the entire season hobbling down the runway only to turn into a dancing machine once she pops some pills. And she does it all while looking like a dead ringer for Yetta from The Nanny. It’s great.
Meanwhile, the worst look to come down the runway is shockingly on Eureka. Ross says it best: “She looked like Paula Deen dressed like a witch.” There’s none of Eureka’s usual bounce or over-the-top sparkle. There’s not even a big, gray loaf. Huge disappoint.
The actual Breastworld video plays out as expected based on what we’ve seen from filming. The only surprise is the appearance of internet darling Randy Rainbow. Asia’s strong Parah Sailin (such a good drag name) snags her the win, while Monet and Aquaria are safe. Cracker escapes the bottom two, leaving Kam and Eureka to lip sync.
They truly turn it out to Patti LaBelle’s “New Attitude.” Kam in particular delivers one of the best lip syncs this season. After a strong showing from both queens, Ru pulls the rare double-Shantay, allowing both girls to stay.
Next week: It’s makeover time! The queens will be turning “social media stars” (ugh) into fierce queens. The downside is that means Frankie Grande is involved (UGH), but the upshot is we get true superstar Lizzo on the judging panel.
We’ve only got three more episodes before the finale. (There’s no episode on May 31, and June 21 is the reunion.) Let’s see where our queens stand ahead of the final stretch in our rankings below!
1. It’s easy to pigeonhole Aquaria as merely a fashion queen, but now she’s knocked two comedy challenges right outta the park. Given her strong aesthetic sense, she’s poised to slay the makeover as well. Although her runway didn’t connect with the judges, I still think she gave the best comedic performance in Breastworld.
2. I’m glad to see Asia surging again. Perhaps her lip sync last week really did galvanize her. I was truly confused by her runway look, but she at least committed fully to the character, munching on chips as she shuffled along the mainstage. She’s a pro, and it’s looking like she may outlast a few other queens en route to the finale.
3. What happened to Eureka this week? Her performance was not up to par, and her runway was a snooze. Even the lip sync didn’t sit right with me. Her bag of tricks and cheerleader dance moves felt like they could’ve been set to any track. She didn’t seem to connect to the song the way Kameron did. I feel like her top three placement is a forgone conclusion, which is why Ru had to spare her despite, in my opinion, Kameron’s clearly superior lip sync.
4. I hate to say it, because I adore her, but Monet is not going to win this thing. When her time is up, I can’t be sure, but her comedic performances are just not strong enough to compensate for such lackluster lerks. She was fun in Breastworld, but it wasn’t exactly a stretch for her.
5. Oh, Cracker. The sharp comedy queen has been steadily slipping for weeks. There wasn’t really a joke or choice to be found in all her time on-screen in Breastworld. She had the most to do, and she did the least with it. I liked her runway, but it didn’t feel as striking as Kam or even as creative as Monet. It’s not clear what’s not clicking with Cracker, but as it stands, she’s at risk of going home before the finale.
6. Kameron really surprised me with that lip sync. Harkening back to her strong showing in the PharmaRusical, I guess it makes sense, but man! That was a fun performance! Based on the lip sync alone, I think Kameron was the clear winner. Does she have more potential to win this whole competition? Probably not. She is also so deep in her head, I worry she won’t be able to get over herself. (She was unbearable on this week’s Untucked, beating herself up to such an extent I didn’t know whether she deserved a hug or the Golden Gloves.) If you don’t believe you’re a star, no one else will either.
How would you rank the remaining queens?
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‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Gets Dragged To ‘Breastworld’ [RECAP and RANKINGS]
Rainbow Tinies 18th May 2018 Extra cake
pienitiny posted a photo:
Rainbow Tinies with DJ Story today Friday 18th: 12Noon-2pmSLT. Also birthday stuff. Come for cake, stay for da pawsome tunes! Pics updated during event: pienisl.blogspot.com/2018/05/rainbow-tinies-with-dj-story… SLurl: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mieville%20Doyle/128/219/54 #SLtinies #SLevents #SLdinkies
Congratulations to Peggy and Jim from Plainfield, Illinois!
Peggy and Jim just celebrated their 4 year date anniversary. She writes: “I met my husband on Zoosk. Our first date was on May 3, 2014 and we got married on September 16, 2017. We had a beautiful wedding, and now, share a wonderful life together. When we first met, we lived an hour away
The post Congratulations to Peggy and Jim from Plainfield, Illinois! appeared first on Zoosk.
about.zoosk.com/en/blog/success-stories/congratulations-peggy-jim-plainfield-illinois/
At Least 8 Dead in Texas High School Shooting
At least 8 fatalities have been reported at a school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas. Santa Fe is 30 miles south of Houston.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez confirms one suspect, believed to be a student, is in custody. A second person has been detained.
The gunfire was first reported before 8 a.m. Friday. Witnesses said at least one suspect came into the school and opened fire in an art class. Some students also said the shooter was throwing explosives into a classroom.
As of 9:45 a.m. law enforcement was sweeping the campus for the possibility of explosive devices, a threat they said they were taking “very seriously.”
Tyler, a senior at the school, told KHOU-TV that his friend saw “some kid” with a gun. A fire alarm was pulled. When teachers and students were outside, shots were fired, Tyler said.
“As soon as the alarms went off, everybody just started running outside,” 10th grader Dakota Shrader told reporters, “and next thing you know everybody looks, and you hear boom, boom, boom, and I just ran as fast as I could to the nearest floor so I could hide, and I called my mom.”
The situation is still unfolding…
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Singer Morgxn on his anthemic, heartfelt alt-pop
“I think music comes from that space of questioning and searching within yourself and trying to parse the pieces of you that don’t quite make sense.”
Demi Lovato and Clean Bandit’s Break-Up Bop ‘Solo’ is About Pleasuring Oneself
Coming soon to a dance floor near you, Clean Bandit and Demi Lovato have teamed up for the bouncy new summer self-love anthem “Solo”.
Sings Lovato on the track: “Since you’ve been gone/ I’ve been dancing on my own/There’s boys up in my zone/but they can’t turn me on/Cause baby you’re / the only one I’m coming for/I can’t take no more – no more – no more. I wanna fu-woop woop woop, but I’m broken hearted. Cry-cry-cry but I like to party. To-to-touch but I got nobody. So I do it solo.”
Our new single is out! “Solo” by @cleanbandit and me! Check it out here: t.co/R1PJOoxEaa pic.twitter.com/OJm39IMbfO
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) May 18, 2018
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Demi Lovato and Clean Bandit’s Break-Up Bop ‘Solo’ is About Pleasuring Oneself
#AM_Equality Tipsheet: May 18, 2018
INVESTIGATION REVEALS TROUBLING DISCRIMINATION AND BULLYING IN OREGON SCHOOL: An alarming report by the Oregon Department of Education found “substantial evidence” of discrimination by school officials and extreme bullying against LGBTQ students in the North Bend School District. Writes the New York Times’ Matthew Haag (@matthewhaag), “In the hallways of a rural Oregon high school, gay and lesbian students were taunted with homophobic slurs. In the cafeteria, students pelted a transgender student with food. And when gay and lesbian students got into trouble, the school’s principal assigned a specific punishment just for them: readings from the Bible.” The findings underscore the need for LGBTQ-inclusive schools — even in states with nondiscrimination protections like Oregon. More from the New York Times.
⚠️ Alarming news from Oregon that an investigation by @ORDeptEd found “substantial evidence” of discrimination by school officials against #LGBTQ students in the North Bend School District.⚠️ t.co/AyzLmcf2lb
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 18, 2018
HRC REMEMBERS PEARL BERLIN, NORTH CAROLINA MARRIAGE EQUALITY PIONEER: Today, HRC responded to the tragic news that Pearl Berlin, wife to Lennie Gerber, has passed away. Pearl and Lennie were intimately involved in the fight for marriage equality in North Carolina. The couple was together for more than 50 years; this June would have been their 52nd anniversary. “Pearl Berlin was a fierce advocate for same-sex couples in North Carolina, and a force so dedicated to change that she and her wife Lennie were able to bring marriage equality to the Tarheel State,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “We at HRC are saddened by her loss, but we are deeply grateful to have been able to know Pearl during her extraordinary life and through her tireless fight for equality. All of our thoughts and prayers are with her wife Lennie, and Pearl’s family.” Read more from HRC.
2/ Pearl and her wife Lennie were intimately involved in the fight for marriage equality in North Carolina, as plaintiffs in a landmark case that brought the right to marry to all North Carolinians. The couple was together for more than 50 years. pic.twitter.com/peugVZaRgy
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 18, 2018
FEEL-GOOD FRIDAY — QUEER WOMEN ARE REMAKING THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY: Several restaurants owned and operated by female couples are serving up a new way to run notoriously grueling businesses. Ligaya Mishan (@ligayamishan) writes in the New York Times, “As restaurants helmed by queer women thrive in American cities, so too does a new paradigm for less brutal, more collaborative, professional cooking.” More, including photographs of delicious food, from the New York Times.
HRC’S SARAH MCBRIDE HONORED BY NATIONAL CENTER FOR TRANSGENDER EQUALITY: Last night, HRC’s Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) was honored with the Andrew Cray Award by the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) at its 15th anniversary event. The award is named for Sarah’s late husband, who was a fierce fighter for LGBTQ equality, particulary in expanding access to health care. Congratulations, Sarah!
We’re so proud of transgender trailblazer @SarahEMcBride, who was presented tonight with the Andy Cray Award at @TransEquality‘s annual event. Proud to call Sarah a member of the @HRC family. #TransEqualityNow2018 pic.twitter.com/KiBPyKpGxZ
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 18, 2018
INSIDE THE WAVE OF CHILD WELFARE LICENSE TO DISCRIMINATE BILLS: The Daily Beast’s Samantha Allen (@SLAWrites) dives into the push for legislation licensing discrimination against LGBTQ people by child welfare agencies. Governor Mary Fallin (R-OK) recently signed into law the first explicitly anti-LGBTQ bill of 2018. It allows adoption and foster care agencies to turn away qualified Oklahomans seeking to care for a child in need, including LGBTQ couples, interfaith couples, single parents, married couples in which one prospective parent has previously been divorced, or other parents to whom the agency has a religious objection. More from The Daily Beast.
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION REVERSES DECISION TO REMOVE LGBTQ RESOURCES ON WEBSITE: Following complaints from activists and members of Congress, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has decided to republish an LGBTQ resource page on their website for LGBTQ-owned and operated small businesses. The resource page had been removed after Trump’s inauguration. Representatives Nydia M. Velázquez (@NydiaVelazquez) and Yvette Clarke (@RepYvetteClarke) wrote a letter of concern to the SBA Administrator last week, saying, “It is important that all federal agencies are inclusive and work proactively to serve the needs of all Americans.” More from the Advocate.
HRC RECOGNIZES NATIONAL ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HIV & AIDS AWARENESS DAY: Though Asians and Pacific Islanders (API) account for approximately two percent of new HIV diagnoses in the U.S., an examination of data reveals the barriers that prevent API people from accessing vital HIV & AIDS services, writes Peter Cruz, Associate Director of the HRC Foundation’s HIV and Health Equity Program. According to the CDC, API people living with HIV have the longest delay in HIV diagnoses compared to all other race and ethnicity groups, posing significant risks for undiagnosed individuals. Read more about advocates working to provide HIV & AIDS services for API and other affected communities at HRC.
HRC.ORG CITED AS A BEST BLOG ON LGBTQ PARENTING: Healthline just published its annual top blogs list. More from Healthline.
GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS
POLITICAL AND BUSINESS LEADERS, CELEBRITIES AND ADVOCATES JOIN IN HONORING INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA AND BIPHOBIA: Read more about how they marked IDAHOTB at HRC.
Ugandan authorities shut down an International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (#IDAHOTB) event in Kampala. @HRC continues to stand in solidarity with the Ugandan #LGBTQ movement. ��️������ t.co/M4WjMVnXkM
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 17, 2018
INDONESIAN LGBTQ ACTIVISTS FIGHT BACK AGAINST STATE-SPONSORED HOMOPHOBIA: The action comes after recent anti-LGBTQ statements and actions by the Indonesian government, including the West Java Social Affairs Agency posting a sign designating “LGBT” as a “societal illnesses.” More from The Jakarta Post.
HONG KONG BEGINS OFFERING VISAS TO SAME-SEX COUPLES: The move follows a High Court decision last year. Read more from Gay Star News.
READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
Gay Star News reports on a sports day held for transgender people in Pakistan;
Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to #AM_Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!
www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-may-18-2018?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed
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