♪ MTV
Previously on "RuPaul's Drag Race"...
You'll be starring in the "Snatch Game of Love Island."
all: Oh!
Get your hands off my man
before I maul you like a jaguar.
What's your type? - I like all kinds of guys.
Okay, but not a type O, type A negative?
Yes.
Mia Starr.
Ru was literally handing you the joke,
and you were missing it.
Kenya Pleaser.
Have you ever fucked one of them?
You could have given her just layers
of something to work with.
Nini Coco.
My anaconda do.
You had Ru laughing almost the entire time.
Condragulations.
You're the winner of this week's challenge.
Wow.
Kenya Pleaser, shantay, you stay.
Oh, my God!
Mia Starr, sashay away.
Mia has just left us.
I'm having a lot of feelings.
Mia is such a big part of my family, so it's a hit to me.
And I know it's a hit to Juicy.
"Big backs take over.
"Kenya, I love you.
"Athena and Juicy, take it home.
Love, Mama Mia."
Aw.
I sent my good sister, my mother Mia home.
One of the most positive fucking people
to have in your corner, and that's a real-ass bitch.
Mia literally had my back in the Rate-A-Queen.
And I loved Mia so much.
I know Mia's presence is going to be missed
in this competition for sure.
I'm going to miss her so much here.
But I can't wait to see that bitch on the other side.
She's going to text Mandy right after this.
She's going to say, Briar went home.
You won that lip sync.
Mia, we love you.
You galvanized, sister. You galvanized tonight.
- You galvanized. - You galvanized yourself.
And you did not squabble that opportunity, bitch.
I did not squabble it, honey.
From this point on,
Mia, I'm going to do this for you, bitch.
I want to make Mia proud.
Kenya is here to play, bitch.
- Juicy. - Juice-ica Simpson.
- Yes. - So who are you?
- No, okay-- - Tough question.
So RuPaul did ask a very tough question to Juicy.
At this point in the competition,
we need to see you.
Like, who are you?
That one question did hit me hard because it is something,
like, I've personally struggled with
and probably haven't, like, voiced as much.
And, like, I had been dealing
with, like, a bit of a drug addiction,
and I did kind of lose myself for a while.
This may be your comeback, then.
I know how hard it was to pull yourself
out of that dark space,
and I'm so happy and so blessed to be here with you
for your comeback.
I love you, and I'm proud of you.
It is a very dark thing that I went through.
Athena was...
She was fighting so hard
to try to get me out of it, crying to me.
Like, I don't know how to help you anymore.
I guess people try to, like, see me
and see that I have this "perfect life."
But, no, there's so much darkness
that comes with all of that.
And light has to come from darkness.
Well, Nini, congratulations, Snatch Game winner.
I guess I'm funny now.
You better watch out. - Watch out!
If the girls didn't think I was a threat before,
I'm definitely a threat now.
I was making Ru laugh with everything that I said.
I'm feeling phenomenal.
I mean, to get top critiques on Snatch Game,
that is an accomplishment.
They loved the Drew. I'm proud of myself.
After the Rate-A-Queen,
I feel like a really nice, like, flame is under my ass.
They didn't love the character shoe...
Can we do a shoe cam?
No, no shoe cam, no shoe cam.
Can we do a shoe cam?
Jane, your Snatch Game, it was also amazing.
How are you feeling?
I'm mostly feeling good.
I mean, you know, I have been in the top every week.
Eight weeks in a row.
Jane Don't Bottom.
So I'm just kind of, like, would really love to finally
just, like, pop again and get a win.
Well, we have two queens with two wins--
Juicy and Nini--
three queens with one win-- myself, Athena, and Jane.
And then Darlene, Kenya, and Discord
are soon to be on the board.
Now that we have two people in the room that have two wins
under their belt, I'm a little like...
Miss Jane, we need to hurry this shit up.
I am quickly feeling like I'm falling a bit behind the pack.
Oh, my God.
Her having on real panties.
Who wants my panties?
Y'all, first of all, look how tiny her fucking panties are.
- Wait. Kenya, you put them on. - Wait. Give me your panties.
Kenya, put them on.
It's about to get real nasty in here.
I'm going to have to level my pussy up.
Oh. What the fuck?
I need to give it some sauce, some razzle-dazzle.
I need to bedazzle the mother fucking. I need to do something.
From this point on, Kenya Pleaser is a top.
I can't believe I just said that.
Take those off now, you fucking cunt.
♪ "RuPaul's Drag Race" ♪
The winner of "RuPaul's Drag Race"
will snatch an official makeup collaboration
with Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics
and a cash prize of $200,000,
courtesy of "RuPaul's Drag Race
Match Queen,"
with extra-special guest judge Benny Blanco.
♪ "RuPaul's Drag Race" ♪
♪ May the best drag queen win, best drag queen win ♪
- Here we go. - Top eight.
- Eight. - It's a new day, though.
This competition is dwindling down.
There are only eight girls left in the room,
and only a few of us will make it to the finale.
I have a question for the group here.
Out of the departed queens, who is the one
that you're the most surprised isn't here with us still today?
- Vita. - Vita.
- You're the reason. - Yeah.
Vita knows who she is.
So that's kind of her distinction.
all: Nini!
What the hell, Nini?
- Nini. - Nini got the gun.
- Nini's got the gun. - Nini has a gun.
We say that Nini has a gun because everyone just kind of
is catching strays with Nini.
Sometimes everyone's sort of, like, having a fun time,
and Nini will come out of nowhere and be like,
and that's why your mom's dead.
Hello, hello, hello.
You kitties want some ice cream?
Yes, please!
You know, at this point in the competition,
it's time to delve deep into your charisma,
uniqueness, nerve, and talent.
For today's Mini Challenge,
we're going to play a game we call...
Grindr? I Hardly Know Her!
Ooh.
Oh, Pit Crew. all: Oh!
Hey! Hey!
Bryce and Javin are going to help us keep score.
They're zero miles away.
Now, here's how the game works.
I ask a question,
like, which queen is most likely to steal your man?
Then you all vote.
Each time your answer matches the majority, you get a point.
And in the end, the queen with the most points wins.
Okay, first question--
which queen is most likely to lie
and say she's verse?
All right, expose yourself.
Oh, fuck.
Looks like that would be Athena.
- The woman who wears a caftan. - There you go.
Screams "top" to me.
Okay, so, Myki, Jane, Darlene, and Kenya,
you all have a point.
Next question--which queen is most likely to hook up in drag?
- Jesus Christ. - One, two, three, reveal.
Ooh! I'm sensing a pattern here.
Athena.
All right, so which queen is most likely to lie
about her age on her Grindr profile?
Oh, God almighty.
One, two, three.
Unanimous.
It is unanimous.
It still says, 30, yes.
My God, Juicy.
Everyone gets one point.
All right, which queen has the lowest body count?
Not me.
Oh, okay. It looks like Darlene.
And do we have the Lord to thank for that?
- Yes. - Okay.
Which queen is most likely to have masc for masc
on her profile?
Oh.
Okay.
Five queens voted for Nini. - God damn.
Nini, do you know something that we don't?
All right, next question--
which queen is most likely to be on Grindr at a funeral?
Hmm.
A somber mood has dropped over the proceedings.
One, two, three.
Kenya.
There's a lot of rich people at funerals, girl.
All right, final question, and it's worth five points.
- Ooh. - Oh.
Which queen is most likely to disappear off the grid?
As in, who's going home next?
Looks like Myki is ready, with remorse.
Y'all ready?
Oh, my gosh.
Kenya is the choice.
Kenya, you chose yourself. - Oh, yes.
I knew how they were going to vote.
That's not going to happen in the name of Jesus Christ.
But you know I had to play the game, child.
Nini and Athena said Discord.
- Ooh. - Oh.
Now, Nini, you chose Discord. Why?
She's been chronically safe.
- Oh. Okay. - Wow.
I may have only been safe,
but I have never been in the bottom.
There are some girls here who have been in the bottom a lot,
so the logic ain't "logicking," girl.
Okay, queens, the winner of today's Mini Challenge is...
Discord and Kenya.
It is a tie.
Condragulations.
You'll split a cash prize of $2,500,
courtesy of Grindr. both: Ooh.
Honey, last season
everybody voted for Jewels to go home next,
and look what happened.
She ended up in the top two.
Now, ladykins, when you're stuck with a day
that's gray and lonely, you can bet your bottom dollar
that there's going to be a Rusical challenge.
Let's go!
So this week you'll be acting, singing,
voguing, and "noguing" in the Rusical,
"Fannie: the Hard Knock Ball."
- Yes, bitch! - Okay.
It's the drags-to-riches story of Fannie,
a young orphan with big dreams
and an even bigger ass.
Okay.
I am so happy we are finally down to the Rusical,
because that means choreography.
I've had two bad weeks back-to-back,
and I want to finally have another good week.
Now, I'll let you decide which roles you'll play.
Now, to help you get into character,
we will be providing the costumes,
as well as the hair, courtesy of Wigs and Grace.
The one challenge in all of "Drag Race" herstory
that I am the most nervous about.
Racers, start your engines,
and may the best drag queen win.
- Yes! - Yes!
Broadway!
♪ La, la, la, la, la, la, la ♪
all: Broadway!
So now it is time for us to pick our roles
for "Fannie: the Hard Knock Ball" Rusical.
It is a Rusical inspired by "Annie,"
one of my favorite musicals of all time,
and the iconic film, "Paris is Burning."
Juicy, plug us in and hit play.
Going, going, going.
The role of Miss Shenanigans jumps out to me.
This is a juke joint, vaudeville number.
The risk of me having to vogue is pretty low.
So I am going to do what I need to do to get this role.
- Okay. - Oh, shit!
I'm looking for a role that I can use to stand out.
I see Grace Gaultier.
She's the emcee of the ball. She's the main emcee.
I want Grace.
I am listening for the track
that has the least amount of vocals
and probably the least amount of dancing.
Feel the...
Immediately I see the role of Mama Bigbux,
a ruthless, domineering housemother.
I have some experience with this.
Hmm.
Brandy.
Okay, there's a dog. Perfect.
Close the book.
So are there any first thoughts on roles?
I'm feeling Grace hard.
I would like to be Lil Salty.
I think I would really like Mama Bigbux.
I'm leaning toward Brandy.
I really like Cecile's part.
I would like Miss Shenanigans.
So the ones that are sort of up in the air,
it seems like, are Fannie and Big Peppa.
I would feel comfortable taking Fannie.
Fannie is the role I want.
She has the most singing out of everybody.
And I'm a recovering theater kid.
I have a background in theater,
so I do feel comfortable taking that.
- I also want Fannie. - Oh!
Okay.
I'm coming in hot off the Snatch Game.
I could keep the momentum going into the Rusical.
I feel like, hey, I could be the lead.
Big Peppa is sort of the one where whoever does not
get Fannie is going.
I don't think I want Big Peppa.
I don't want Big Peppa either.
This town ain't big enough for two Fannies.
- Should we audition? - All right, yeah, let's do it.
- Okay, fine. - Okay, fine.
And then the group decides who's Fannie.
Okay.
And if you're not Fannie...
- You're Big Peppa. - Big Peppa.
Leapin' lizards!
Look at all these beautiful girls.
What do I have that they don't have?
Okay.
Nini, do you want to take Fannie?
Sure. Sure.
Leapin' lizards!
Look at all these beautiful girls.
What do I have that they don't have?
I like Myki.
- Thank you. - And why?
I thought it was more believable...
personally.
All in favor of Myki, raise your hand?
One, two, three.
Okay, shit. Well, fuck my drag.
It feels like the girls had already made up
their minds before the audition even happened.
Do I just have to accept the vote?
Yeah.
I mean, I was happy with the vote.
Yeah.
Girl.
Well, I mean, I also like Mama Bigbux.
Back up, ho.
No, ma'am.
X. Get away from me. This is my part.
Do you want to take Big Peppa, and I'll--
I don't want to take Big Peppa.
I want to take Mama Bigbux.
This is a part that I feel really close to
and that I want to do, and I want to make up for myself
from the Snatch Game, so I'm not budging, period.
So why do I have to budge?
Because you just auditioned for Fannie.
I'm not going to sit here and do Big Peppa
when I have a part that's written for me right here.
I'm just not doing it.
No. - I mean, I just--
I really don't think I want Big Pepper.
Is it stressing you out that much?
It's the one role I didn't want.
After a while, it gets exhausting.
I start thinking strategically.
If you really want Fannie, I can do Big Peppa.
Nini, you take the lead.
See what happens when you realize
how much singing there is.
You sure?
If it gets us to the next step, sounds good to me.
Now I'm getting scared.
- Well, girl. - Well, girl.
- Bitch, you wanted it. - You fought for it.
Do you want Fannie?
Do you want to do it? - Oh, my God.
It seems like Nini wants Fannie.
Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.
Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
- It's okay.
Nini is trying to outsmart the challenge,
and it's the same thing that happened with the talent show.
I think I would rather get it over with.
Let's go week one.
Wait. I'll go week two.
Nini, with all the love in my heart,
if Myki's willing to take Big Peppa,
then you just do Fannie, and she takes Big Peppa.
Like, let's just lock it in. - I'm going to--
- We're having a breakthrough. - What--Oh, my God.
Jesus Christ. We're going to be here forever.
I look over at the other girls,
and Jane's kind of rumbling in her chair.
The other girls are kind of like, ugh, you know.
I'm just kind of getting in my head about it.
Maybe this is a sign that I'm not ready
to take on...
the lead lead.
Yeah. You take Fannie.
I'm going to take Big Peppa.
We have officially casted
"Fannie: the Hard Knock Ball," honey.
- Darling. - Are you ready to serve?
Are you ready to slay?
Let's go.
The marquee is up.
Myki Meeks as Fannie, the title role.
Ooh! Let's do it.
Fannie!
- Hello. - Hello. Hi.
It's time to record our vocals with Leland.
And I'm a little bit nervous.
I'm not known for being the best singer in the world.
Say hello to music producer Gabe Lopez.
Hey. How are you?
Gabe has worked tirelessly putting together the music,
and we just cannot wait to see what you do with it.
You know, our job is to make you sound the best you can.
Got your work cut out for you, honey.
There's a lot at stake, because, ultimately,
we are not live singing the Rusical.
So what we do in these recording sessions dictates
the kinds of choices we're gonna be able to make onstage.
All right, let's get to it. First up is Juicy Love Dion.
- Oh. - Work.
I'm up first.
This is no fun.
This Rusical all the way through
has to just feel fierce.
So I'm really excited to see you
just bring that attitude and that energy
and that authenticity, so here we go.
♪ I'm dripping in pure opulence ♪
♪ These jewels, they cost a ton ♪
♪ But if I shine too bright and steal Mama's light ♪
♪ Ooh, honey, I'm done ♪
It all sounds duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh.
Go above. Take it to the extreme.
This is a Rusical. Dancing is half of it.
You got to bring the acting through the voice,
and I don't know if Juicy's fully doing that.
Up next, Kenya Pleaser. Let's jump right in.
♪ Ball, ball, bring it to the ball ♪
♪ Leave no crumbs, let's see it all ♪
♪ Stomp that floor, arch that back ♪
♪ Snap that fan, crack, crack ♪
What an opening! That's what I'm talking about.
The way everything is rolling off my tongue right now,
I'm having so much fun.
Bitch, no Sade.
These girls better be scared of Miss Pleaser this week.
Bitch, I don't care, honey.
Up next is Nini Coco.
I put up a fight for the lead,
so I feel like I do have a little bit of something
to prove to the other girls.
One, two...
♪ No silver spoons, but I make them eat ♪
♪ I gag them all with this fierce-ass beat ♪
That's different than what I expected.
I'm kind of trying to go in this rock direction.
I'm not exactly hitting the notes in the way
that I think I can hit them.
Whoa.
This isn't therapy, but if you need to let something out,
it's all good.
Athena, do you feel rich? Do you feel ready?
I feel rich. I feel ruthless.
Great. So really thread the character throughout this song.
♪ When I want diamonds, I buy the mine ♪
♪ I own the moon 'cause I like the shine ♪
♪ I bought the ocean just to take a dip ♪
♪ I'm a billionaire on an ego trip ♪
Athena has a condition
that causes her to step into a recording booth
and immediately sound like Dr. Seuss.
♪ Down from Olympus, looking right ♪
♪ Your goddess is here to shine her light ♪
I would love for you to be not so Dr. Seuss about it.
And we need to find a cure immediately.
♪ I own the moon 'cause I like the shine ♪
♪ I buy the moon ♪
Like, it's "Mrs. Doubtfire."
Miss Shenanigans-- let her be drunk...
- Okay. - Slurry, funny.
Metaphorically take a shot. - Drunk.
Here we go.
♪ Now they just whisper, look at her ♪
♪ She's so intoxicated ♪
Key change!
♪ Now it's my time to shine! ♪
♪ Like the top of the Chrysler Building ♪
- Oh, very good. - I mean, we were laughing.
I know, when I can feel Gabe laughing behind me,
that we're in the right zone.
Jane Don't comes into this motherfucking recording session
with a full realized character and kills it.
All right, so you are our Fannie.
- Ah! - It's a big role.
You feel good and--
- Yeah. - Okay.
My background's in theater and musical theater.
Now, I haven't-- it's been a minute.
I kind of retired it for a while.
So it's cool to dip my toes back into it.
Okay, perfect. Here we go.
♪ Do I have the guts to kiss ♪
♪ This hard-knock life goodbye? ♪
♪ Maybe ♪
That sounds amazing. You have such a good voice.
Great job. Amazing.
I think the casting seems to be really right.
She came to sing, honey.
Myki is slaying these vocals,
and Nini is chewing on a big piece of humble pie right now.
♪ Next Tuesday, next Tuesday ♪
♪ I'll see you next Tuesday ♪
♪ You're only a week away ♪
- Bitch! - Yes!
Yes, yes, yes.
I didn't realize that we had Sutton Foster in the building.
Ooh, my God.
My chances of winning might be going down the drain.
- Ladies! - All right.
Hi, Jamal.
- Hello. - Here we go. Here we go.
It's time to do our choreography session
with Jamal Sims.
And no matter how the recording turned out,
I can bring the character to life through the choreo.
I just want to introduce Carlos Basquiat.
- Hi, Carlos. - Hey, Carlos.
Amazing choreographer, dancer, who--
You guys might have seen him with either Beyoncé or Madonna.
Also, the hit show "Legendary." - Yes.
He's a ballroom expert,
and he's here to make sure we execute it
the best way possible.
We're really going to be voguing today.
First up, Juicy and Kenya.
As you're learning the steps, think about the character.
Opulence is what we're going for.
Just to add on a little bit to what Jamal was saying,
are we familiar with "Paris is Burning"?
Yeah.
Your cattiness, your cuntiness your attitude, your sass
needs to shine through the elements.
We have to really deliver the real essence of ballroom.
Give me some choreography.
So you want to go one, two,
over, and hit.
Cat, cat, over and hit.
I can hit the choreography...
Down.
I feel like I got something to prove.
So, like, I'm just really working my little butt off.
So I'm feeling ready to dance.
Don't hurt him, Nana.
Right and swing round.
I thought Mama Bigbux was just going to be
this regal bitch in a gown
just, like, gliding and kind of giving shade.
Why does she got to dance so much?
Da, da.
♪ Yoo-hoo, boys! ♪
♪ Yoo-hoo! ♪
I may be alone on this opinion,
but I love watching Athena dance.
It is...
It is a unique experience.
Jane Don't.
Can I ask you to give us a little Miss Shenanigan walk?
Yeah, I mean, I'm taking sort of inspiration
from Discord on the runway.
So we're sort of back here.
We're sort of here.
- She's a party girl. - Yeah. Oh, honey.
Yes. You know you can't take.
Myki Meeks and Darlene Mitchell.
Darlene, the hard part for you is you have to do it as a dog.
Yes.
Doggy style is going to be your thing.
Okay? - Okay.
Typically, I hate choreography.
But, like, I immediately recognize that I can lean
on my physical comedy.
Then I can kind of, you know, have some wiggle room,
have some fun.
Head, chest.
Darlene, paws...
not fists.
So being a dog, I will do.
Discord Addams and Nini Coco.
I'm a little bit nervous.
It's time to do the one thing I don't want to do--
choreography.
All right, so we're going to do a little old-school hip-hop.
The running man-- think about going like this.
Hop, hop, hop.
There it is!
Girl... what the fuck?
Hop, hop, hop, hop.
Holla!
Child, as opposed to Discord, honey, Nini got a little spice.
But it's still awfully white.
We need to add some pepper up in there.
Come on, here we go. Some seasoning.
One and two and three and four. - I can't--
Five, six, seven, eight.
Yo, these moves are tight, son.
One, hup-two, hup-three, four.
Turn! Five! Hup!
Discord Adams, honey, legend.
Legends in the making, daughter.
- Honey. - She came to slay.
Oh, my God.
It's opening night!
La, la, la, la, la.
♪ It's a new day in the Werk Room, and I... ♪
Should not sing, I think I've learned.
It's opening night of "Fannie: the Hard Knock Ball" Rusical.
Touch this skin, darling.
Touch all of this skin.
Bitch, I'm ready.
I feel very, very confident.
Like, I'm all smiles. All 32 of my teeth, bitch.
Ding!
Good morning, honey.
Good morning, daughter,
the lead of the "Fannie" musical.
I have a lot riding on this.
I'm the leading role of this whole Rusical.
And I want this win so bad.
One thing about me is I'm not afraid to--
when I believe that I have done wrong,
I feel like I can acknowledge that.
Girl... - I love you.
You're going to kill it. I love you too.
I was so blown away in your recording session.
Leland and Gabe were really impressed.
Honestly, the recording session
felt kind of, like, therapeutic.
To have someone who is a professional at this
complimenting the hell out of me...
oh, my God, surreal.
It's surreal.
I grew up in theater.
That was, like, a big dream of mine.
And I went to school for it and all that.
It's like, unless you are the best of the best,
it usually doesn't work out for you.
Would you say it's a hard-knock life?
It's a hard-knock life. I counted myself out.
That whole side of me, I just, like, put away,
because I just didn't think I was good enough.
Like, when I was in school, when I was doing,
like, music and theater, I just felt like
such the black sheep
of the, like, department in a lot of ways.
I would audition for things, and I would be like,
I'm not a romantic lead.
It's like, you're telling me no because I'm too visibly gay,
or I'm not, like, thin enough,
or I'm not, like, handsome enough or whatever
to, like, play this role. - Right.
I think drag centers the outsider.
Like, all of the things that I felt like were detriments
are actually the things in drag
that, like, make me the most interesting.
- Imagine me with a BFA, honey. - Girl, no, thank you.
Way too powerful.
I don't think that Athena with more drama training
is what the world needs.
I'm literally Gloria Swanson in my everyday life, so...
I was so happy that you picked the Mama Bux role.
It's very fitting for you.
Her description was mega-rich, ruthless,
domineering housemother.
I was like, I think I have some experience with this.
I don't know. Maybe not the mega-rich part or the ruthless.
Oh, don't walk it back now.
Depending on--I mean, you could probably ask Juicy
or some of my other children if I'm ruthless.
- Yes. - Ooh!
I'll just say, like, when I was assisting you
in my early years,
I would have to remind myself that we're at work,
and we're not friends right now,
because you can be a little ruthless.
It does come from a place of love, I'll have to say.
It's like, there's a mommy role,
and then there's, like, the show director role.
Juicy and I's relationship has a lot of layers.
We know things about each other that nobody else knows,
and she's had some really dark times,
and I was there.
And so, to be in this type of a competition
with somebody you're that close to, it's crazy.
Can I have mascara?
- You look great today. - Thank you.
I kind of, like, always love a drag queen without a lip.
Like, sometimes I literally stop without the lip,
and I'm like, ooh.
Yeah, we got to get you back in the bars.
We've got a Rusical.
Category is elimination day.
- Whoa. - Ooh.
- Bitch. - Dun, dun, dun!
Dun, dun, dun!
♪ Cover girl
♪ Put the bass in your walk ♪
♪ Head to toe ♪
♪ Let your whole body talk ♪
Yeah!
Wow.
Welcome to the main stage of "RuPaul's Drag Race."
"Mamma Mia," it's Michelle Visage.
Michelle, what is your favorite musical?
Are you kidding me?
I can't answer. That's a gay "Sophie's Choice."
However, I can tell you the gateway drug
that made me fall in love.
And that was the one and only "West Side Story."
Aw.
He puts the D in "Damn Yankees."
It's Jamal Sims.
Do you have a favorite musical?
Well, you know, Ru,
I love me some Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.
So it has to be "The Wiz."
Oh!
He's "The Music Man." It's Benny Blanco.
Hi.
Now, Benny, I hear you've been in a musical.
Is that true?
When I was six, I played a girl in "The King and I."
So I guess I've done drag.
This week we challenged our queens
to bring it to the ball in the Rusical
"Fannie: the Hard Knock Ball."
Racers, start your engines,
and may the best drag queen win.
And now...
the world premiere of "Fannie: the Hard Knock Ball."
Oh, Brandy.
As an orphan, I've got questions--
like, who's my drag mother?
Who's my drag father?
And who gave me this big, fat, juicy--
totally natural--ass?
♪ Will I ever find a home, maybe ♪
♪ Maybe ♪
♪ A drag house I can call my own, maybe ♪
♪ Maybe ♪
♪ Do I have the guts to kiss ♪
♪ This hard-knock life goodbye? ♪
♪ Maybe ♪
♪ Not ♪
Hey, what's this?
Mama Bigbux's annual drag ball for orphans?
The winner gets to live at Mama's mansion
on Breezy Street?
But when is it? - Next Tuesday.
Aw, Brandy, I wish you could talk.
I said, next Tuesday.
Oh, here, it's next Tuesday.
Leapin' lizards!
This could be the answer to our prayers!
♪ Next Tuesday, next Tuesday ♪
♪ I'll see you next Tuesday ♪
♪ You're only a week away ♪
Live from the FDR Center for Cultural Appropriation,
it's time for the Hard Knock Ball!
both: ♪ Ball, ball, bring it to the ball ♪
♪ Leave no crumbs, let's see it all ♪
♪ Stomp that floor, arch that back ♪
♪ Snap that fan, crack, crack ♪
Tonight one lucky orphan will be selected to join our house,
the most expensive address in NYC...
both: The House of Bigbux.
Owned by Mama Bigbux,
the richest and the most ruthless woman in the world.
I'm Grace Gaultier, and I was an orphan
until Mama took me in.
♪ I rock the finest labels
♪ In Mama's gilded cage - Yes!
♪ My wardrobe's chic, but I can't speak ♪
♪ I signed an NDA ♪
both: ♪ Category is luscious body, body ♪
♪ Body, body, body ♪
♪ Category is luxe queen ♪
♪ Luxe queen, luxe queen ♪
♪ Category is town and country ♪
♪ Town and country, town and country ♪
♪ Category is see and be seen ♪
I'm last year's winner, Cecile Cartier,
and I'm Mama's favorite.
♪ I'm dripping in pure opulence ♪
♪ These jewels, they cost a ton ♪
♪ But if I shine too bright and steal Mama's light ♪
♪ Ooh, honey, I'm done ♪
Bring it to the floor! I don't want to see 8s.
I don't want to see 9s. Bitch, I want to see 10s!
both: ♪ Ball, ball, bring it to the ball ♪
♪ It's starting now, come one, come all ♪
♪ Stomp that floor, arch that back ♪
♪ Snap that fan, crack, crack ♪
Yes!
Oh, absolutely, honey.
Absolutely!
And now the mother of all mothers.
both: Mama...
Bigbux!
Check this, don't wear it.
♪ Down on Breezy Street ♪
♪ We don't give, we take ♪
♪ Down on Breezy Street, snatching tax breaks ♪
♪ Down on Breezy Street, the power's real ♪
♪ Down on Breezy Street, we seal the deal ♪
♪ When I want diamonds, I buy the mine ♪
♪ I own the moon 'cause I like the shine ♪
♪ I bought the ocean just to take a dip ♪
♪ I'm a billionaire on an ego trip ♪
- Luxury! - Look at that luxury.
Not even close, honey.
♪ I got big bucks, and I cannot lie ♪
♪ My dividends multiply ♪
♪ You're lower class, and I own your ass ♪
♪ When I say jump, you ask how high ♪
both: How high?
♪ Down on Breezy Street, we don't give, we take ♪
♪ Down on Breezy Street, snatching tax breaks ♪
Check the deduction.
♪ Down on Breezy Street, the power's real ♪
I love power.
♪ We seal the deal ♪
I made my money the old-fashioned way.
I inherited it.
♪ Down on Breezy Street, the power's real ♪
♪ Down on Breezy Street, we seal the deal ♪
Which one of you bitches is my new drag daughter?
Let the competition begin.
Category is Rags to Bitches.
From the House of Shenanigans,
it's Lil Salty and Big Peppa.
both: ♪ Hard knock queens take the stage ♪
♪ Champagne dreams on minimum wage ♪
♪ Serving face and looking tight ♪
♪ Wearing clothes ♪
♪ We mopped last night ♪
♪ Yeah, we've arrived ♪
♪ One, two, buckle my shoe ♪
♪ Keep the empty wallet ♪
♪ I'm a girl on a budget, made this look from scratch ♪
♪ Uh-uh, don't judge it ♪
♪ Copying fashion from the pages of "Vogue" ♪
♪ Honey, why y'all gagging so? ♪
♪ Ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh ♪
♪ No silver spoons, but I make 'em eat ♪
♪ I gag them all with this fierce-ass beat ♪
♪ Thrift-store drag, you dig my style ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm never fully dressed ♪
♪ But I got a big smile ♪
both: ♪ Hard-knock queens
♪ Take the stage ♪
♪ Champagne dreams on minimum wage ♪
♪ Serving face and looking tight ♪
♪ Wearing clothes ♪
♪ We mopped last night ♪
♪ Ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh ♪
Clean up on aisle six.
Where is that rotten Fannie?
Oh, no! It's Miss Shenanigans.
Quick! Jab her with a safety pin.
both: We mean we love you, Miss Shenanigans.
I'll deal with you two losers later.
Well, hello, Mama Bigbux.
Are your legs tired?
'Cause you've been running through my mind all night.
Madam, please.
Category is delusional.
And drunk.
Hey! I'm not as think as you drunk I am.
♪ I used to be the gal
♪ That fellas wanted to date ♪
♪ A knockout, a bombshell, sex on a plate ♪
♪ My moves and curves ♪
♪ Kept all the boys so captivated ♪
♪ Now they just whisper, look at her ♪
♪ She's so intoxicated ♪
Key change!
♪ I've paid my dues in shabby shoes ♪
♪ Ah ♪
♪ Now it's my time to shine ♪
♪ Like the top of the Chrysler Building ♪
♪ So, Mama, please say ♪
♪ You'll pick me ♪
♪ And we'll have a real good ♪
♪ Time ♪
Uh-oh.
Bitch broke a hip.
That's okay.
I don't feel a thing.
Brandy, look at all these beautiful girls.
What do I have that they don't have?
Duh!
That big, fat, juicy-- totally natural--ass.
Leapin' lizards!
Brandy, you can talk?
Yes, bitch.
You just never let me get a word in edgewise.
Oh, Brandy.
What would I do without you?
Tonight's final category is two best friends.
♪ She just want to dance ♪
♪ She--she just want to dance ♪
♪ She just want to dance, she
both: ♪ We're little bitches, we're barked and blessed ♪
♪ Want to double your fun? Pay up, invest ♪
♪ We started with nothing, but we changing that story ♪
♪ Two best friends is the category ♪
♪ Let's hear it for my bestie ♪
♪ My ride-or-die bitch ♪
♪ The big-bottom dollar going to make us both rich ♪
♪ I bark for that booty, I howl for her drag ♪
♪ My top dog for life, now watch my tail wag ♪
Your turn, Fannie.
You mean like this?
♪ Not just cake, I'm the whole bakery ♪
♪ If you got the icing, come spread it on me ♪
♪ Watch me walk, watch me bounce ♪
♪ I'm a cultural event ♪
♪ Gonna have Mama Bigbux paying my rent ♪
♪ She just want to dance, she--she just want to dance ♪
both: ♪ We're little bitches, we're barked and blessed ♪
♪ Want to double your fun? Pay up, invest ♪
♪ We started with nothing, but we're changing that story ♪
♪ Two best friends is the category ♪
♪ She's the queen of cake ♪
♪ She's my canine crew ♪
both: ♪ New York hot dogs ♪
♪ Mama, we're two ♪
Silence.
I've made my decision.
Fannie, I don't need anything but you...
and that priceless ass.
Leapin' lizards! We did it, Brandy.
We have a home.
Sorry, but no support animals allowed.
- Oh. - Go ahead, Fannie.
This is your big dream.
I don't have all day.
Fannie, I need your answer.
Mama Bigbux, my answer is...
is...
yes!
As in, yes, I'm going to start my own house.
And I'm going to call it
the House of See You Next Tuesday.
Mama Bigbux, you're fired.
Wait. Can she do that?
♪ Keep your hard knocks, keep your gold ♪
♪ We'd rather have a hand to hold ♪
♪ The house we want ain't filled with bling ♪
♪ It's made with love, that's everything ♪
all: ♪ So if someone flips the bird ♪
♪ Tell em, see you next Tuesday ♪
♪ A dirty four-letter word ♪
♪ Tell 'em, see you next Tuesday ♪
- So when should we meet? - Give you one guess.
all: ♪ Next Tuesday ♪
♪ Next Tuesday, I'll see you next Tuesday ♪
♪ You're only a week away ♪
♪ Next Tuesday, next Tuesday ♪
♪ I'll see you next Tuesday ♪
♪ You're only a week away ♪
- Yeah! - Whoo!
Yeah! - Yeah.
"]
Category is beige against the machine.
Up first, Myki Meeks.
Now, who the fuck is Pleather?
She's an international super villain
on a mission to paint the world beige.
I don't think they expected
this type of silhouette from me,
but the look is powerful.
You say latex, I say slay-tex.
Darlene Mitchell.
How tweed it is.
I don't know about you, but I think this look
could use some shoulder pads.
Every type of tweed you can possibly think of--
we've got a bunch of different texture
to commit to being huge and taking up
as much space as possible, vertical and horizontal.
You know, thin may be in, but flat is where it's at.
Kenya Pleaser.
From the House of La Beige.
This beautiful beige fabric
is actually imported from Nigeria.
It was really important that I highlighted Black artists.
I am serving you Blackness on a platter, honey.
- You heard of Pam Grier? - Uh-huh.
This is Tan Grier.
Juicy Love Dion.
I've heard of wizard sleeves, but this is ridiculous.
I am beige from head to toe--
Italian couture, baby.
I look like I'm from another planet.
And that's what I love.
Must be jellyfish, 'cause jam don't shake.
Athena Dion.
Oh, she making it grain.
Burlap is not a fabric
you would typically think to wear.
It's, like, for potatoes.
But I feel so glamorous.
Honey, they say to take one thing off
before you leave the house.
My theory is, put one thing on.
Add ten, honey.
She's the best in her field.
Discord Addams.
Ten hours later.
We'll be right back after a word from our sponsors.
- Mama, I'm coming. - I know.
I'm on my way.
Anybody want to go get dinner?
Sure.
This is a departure from the normal punk-rock Discord.
My hair is high fashion.
I have on the tightest-fitting sequin dress.
And this look, it's still me,
even though it's not all black.
- What did Taylor Dayne say? - What?
Don't rush me.
Nini Coco.
- Remember Max Headroom? - Yeah.
This is Max Boardroom.
Beige is such a fun challenge.
I upcycled a bunch of denim khaki pants
and created this vertical pinstripe textile--
executive realness.
I'm serving fierce CEO energy.
Don't mess with me, fellas!
Jane Don't.
She's from The Golden Beige of Hollywood.
I am giving a recreation
of an iconic Mae West costume.
The base is beige, but I have branched out
through the universe of neutrals,
and I am just wiggling my way down the runway.
Foxy lady.
Faux foxy lady.
Oh, faux she better did.
Welcome, queens.
This week the Rusical and the runway
were fantastic.
Still, I've made some decisions.
Darlene Mitchell...
Nini Coco...
great job this week.
You are both safe.
- Thank you. - You may leave the stage.
Thank you.
Queens, you represent the tops
and bottoms of the week.
And keep in mind-- we are splitting hairs,
because you are all so wonderful.
First up, Myki Meeks.
This "ensemblay"-- I love it.
It kind of feels like an expensive car interior.
I have no idea why I feel like that.
Yes, your outfit looks like rich Corinthian leather.
Yes!
You had the hardest job out of everybody tonight.
Your character had to go through the biggest journey.
You nailed every emotion,
and I was there with you the whole time.
When I was helping you with the vocals for the girl groups,
I remember you saying, yeah, I sing,
but you didn't make a thing about it.
I didn't know that you could do that.
You're not a singer? Like...
I am trained in musical theater.
It's kind of a passion
that I didn't feel like I was good enough in.
But now it's cool to have both worlds.
You need to do them both. You need to do them both.
Yeah.
I was blown away by your voice.
Also, am I allowed to say I was blown away by the butt, too?
Yes!
- I was blown away by the butt. - Oh, okay.
I was blown away.
Like, when you were dancing, it was incredible.
Benny, the show was called "Fannie."
I heard that you had to fight for this role.
And you fought for it, why?
Part of me knew that this was a chance
to showcase a skill I haven't done in a very long time.
It felt like reclaiming an art form
that I didn't feel good enough in.
And I felt like there was a lot of power
in this type of challenge.
I got to say--tonight was so incredible for you.
Just fantastic. - Thank you. Thank you.
Up next, Kenya Pleaser.
- You look so beautiful. - Thank you.
This hair is gorgeous.
Just this red lip with this glowing skin is so beautiful.
You were the perfect person to open up the ball.
The understanding of the ballroom scene--
I could hear it in your vocals.
I will say some of the lip sync was a little questionable,
and I think it only happened
when you were thinking about choreography.
That was a small little bit of nitpicking.
But the charisma-- it was crazy.
The whole rest of the play just disappeared when you came out.
You were fantastic.
And, again, we're splitting hairs, but you were marvelous.
Thank you.
Up next, Juicy Love Dion.
Beige is probably not one of my favorite colors,
but somehow I want to go buy a beige suit right now
and put it on.
Are you, like, a professional dancer?
Not really professional.
I love how everyone just tries to downplay themselves.
They're like, no, like, I don't sing.
I'm just, like, Broadway-level singer, like...
In this situation, with her grand personality,
Kenya dominated you.
You were great. You were wonderful.
You just got little outshone.
Some of the other duos--
they were a little bit more connected together.
You hit all the marks. You did all the techniques.
In terms of infusing your character with a point of view,
that's what was missing.
There were moments.
Like, when you would scoot down your skirt,
that was like, oh, she's that girl.
But that was the only time
I felt that the character came through behind your eyes.
Athena Dion.
This, to me, I love this, because this is, like, drags.
Hello.
That's the way Athena Dion does drag,
and I like that.
Big Mamabux--what a fun role.
But the same thing happened to you
that happened with Juicy.
There were some moments that you were really locked in,
and I got it.
And then there were some moments
that you were just kind of reading what was on the script.
I don't need anything but you.
Yeah, it is a tough role,
where you're, like, the most important,
but then you have to, like, disappear.
And then you got to be important again,
then disappear.
What I loved about you is that I don't think
that ballroom dance is really in your wheelhouse.
Not really, no.
You were able to take on the challenge.
But if you don't let it show in your face,
the world won't know. - Right.
And, again, I said this-- we are splitting hairs
because you were all fantastic.
Up next, Discord Addams.
- Well, Discord, here we are. - Hi, honey.
You struggle with walking.
So, when you had to dance
in, like, a funky rap duo...
I was like, oh, shit.
I'm sweating.
Like, literally, I had, like, beads sweating.
I was like, oh, my gosh, come on, Discord.
And you did it.
When you guys came out together,
you actually felt like a duo.
Like, it felt like it gelled and it was working.
And then tonight-- I'm not sure what this is.
You know, I'm still trying to figure it out,
but it is glamorous,
and something about the hair, I'm really loving.
You do look gorgeous.
It looks like you're paying homage
to the great Holly Woodlawn.
And we talked about matching energy.
You both matched energies.
It was really, really fun. - Thank you.
All right, Jane Don't.
Tonight, yes, like, you look so hot.
This collar that goes on forever
and frames you perfectly, the jewels--
it was amazing.
Miss Shenanigans-- this role is iconic.
You had said that you had sung and you were a theater kid.
You proved it.
It was perfection.
There was physical comedy.
There was choreography in there.
You came on that stage and ripped it.
I'm not a huge dancer, so I...
we got through it. - You did it.
I mean, the vocals, everything--
well done tonight. - Thank you.
- Well done. - Thank you.
Thank you, queens. I think we've heard enough.
While you untuck backstage,
the judges and I will deliberate.
All right, now, just between us squirrel friends,
what do you think?
Let's start with Myki Meeks.
First of all, wanting that role
shows that you want it all.
- Mm-hmm. - It shows you want everything.
Like, she sang like, one, two-- like, she sang a million songs.
You could tell that impostor syndrome
was just in there for the girl group.
But you know what? She said, uh-uh, see you later.
I loved her performance.
And then tonight on the runway,
I thought she looked beautiful.
It was a real, like, clear point of view.
Kind of looked like the inside of a Volvo
in the chicest way possible-- I loved it.
I thought she came with the goods.
- Yeah. - All right, Kenya Pleaser.
She really kicked the door open
when she walked onstage.
You felt the energy... - Mm-hmm.
And you felt like she really made it her own
and worked the room.
I thought she looked beautiful.
I really love this hair that she had on tonight.
You know, it gave me "power to the people,"
which I always love.
Let's talk about Juicy.
Tonight on the runway, I thought this was beautiful.
There was so much to look at
that it was almost a tad too busy.
I saw amazing dance moves.
I didn't get a sense
of her personality through what was happening.
She was much more low-key than Kenya was.
Kenya ate her up.
She's a beautiful kid, and she's a hard worker.
But there needed to be
more of an editorialized point of view.
Yeah.
- Athena Dion. - I loved her outfit.
The floral piece was crazy enough,
and then whatever the wheat was coming out of it.
She crushed it. She crushed it.
Athena had the right role.
The issue was Athena didn't really understand
what she needed to do all the time.
Mm-hmm.
Tonight when the dance started happening,
I could see the fear.
If she were to do this next week,
she would have found those moments.
Tonight, not as great as she would be even tomorrow.
Discord Addams.
I was a little nervous.
But I was really proud of what she was able to achieve.
I wasn't sure what the linguini of it all was.
But that strut out with those little tiny steps coming out--
only Discord could have did that, and I'm with it.
Jane Don't.
Carol Burnett actually is one of my big inspirations.
I love Carol Burnett, and I was really hoping
that she would kind of embody some of that.
And then she put Jane Don't on top of it.
So it actually made it even better.
And then she wants to give us that runway?
Right.
I would buy a ticket front row to any show
that she is in.
- Yeah. - Yes.
Silence.
I've made my decision.
Bring back my girls.
Welcome back, queens.
I've made some decisions.
Myki Meeks, your Fannie was simply...
ass-tounding.
Jane Don't, your 11:00 number
was right on time.
Jane Don't, condragulations.
You're the winner of this week's challenge.
Thank you so much!
Thank you.
You've won a cash tip of $5,000.
This is my second win.
We are off the plateau, baby.
I'm over the moon.
Myki, you are safe to slay another day.
Thank you.
You may both join the other girls.
Juicy Love Dion,
you are one fierce dancer,
but your acting did not bring the house down.
Athena Dion, your performance was rich...
but you didn't own everything.
I'm sorry, my dears, but you are both up for elimination.
Kenya Pleaser, Discord Addams, you're safe.
Thank you.
The position I'm in right now is having the one thing
I've wanted more than anything in my life
standing right in front of me
and the one person that means the most to me in my life
standing between that.
Baby, I love you with all my life,
and I know she loves me with all of hers.
But one of us is only going to come out of this alive.
Two queens stand before me.
Prior to tonight, you were asked to prepare
a lip-sync performance
of "Call Me When You Break Up"
by Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco, and Gracie Abrams.
The time has come...
For you to lip sync...
for your life.
Good luck,
and don't fuck it up.
Your call has been forwarded
to an automatic voice-message system.
- Orez... - Is not available.
At the tone, please record your message.
♪ Call me when you break up ♪
♪ I want to be the first one on your mind ♪
♪ When you wake up ♪
♪ I miss the way we'd stay up ♪
♪ We'd talk about forever ♪
♪ When I'm taking off my makeup ♪
♪ Call me when you break up ♪
♪ And maybe for a time ♪
♪ I could have the space they take up ♪
♪ And make you forget what their name was ♪
♪ And when you're feeling down ♪
♪ I could show you what you're made of ♪
♪ Call me when you break up ♪
Go!
♪ Call me when you break up ♪
♪ I'll make it worth it ♪
♪ I'll make it worth it, I'll make it worth... ♪
This is one of those moments that I just have to let go--
no thoughts, just feeling.
♪ Call me when you break up ♪
♪ I'm battling the lack of us ♪
♪ I've looked for medication ♪
♪ Tried every obvious replacement ♪
♪ In bars and strangers' beds ♪
♪ Until my faith was in the basement ♪
♪ Won't you call me when you break up? ♪
♪ I feel so out of luck ♪
♪ I'm skipping cracks along the pavement ♪
♪ Look, I'm emotionally bankrupt ♪
♪ We're so meant for each other ♪
♪ I mean, God, when will you wake up, wake up? ♪
♪ Call me when you break up ♪
This song itself carries such a message of,
you have your person that you fall back on,
and Athena definitely is that for me, so...
I don't know why it's so hard.
♪ I'll make it worth it ♪
♪ I'll make it worth it, I'll make it worth it ♪
♪ I'll make it worth it ♪
♪ I'll make it worth it, I'll make it worth it ♪
♪ I'll make it worth it ♪
Oh, you picked up, um...
♪ Call me when you break up ♪
♪ Unless you found the person ♪
♪ That you want a new name from ♪
♪ I'd like to be there when that day comes ♪
♪ You know I'm always here, so don't ever be a stranger ♪
This is too much. This is too much.
Queens...
I've made my decision.
Juicy Love Dion, shantay, you stay.
You may join the other girls.
I love you so much.
Athena...
thank goddess we got to know you.
Now sashay away.
Thank you for this opportunity
and for this world you've created for all of us.
I'm eternally grateful.
I love you so much.
May your prosecco always be on ice.
May you always fly first.
Always settle for more
and never accept any less.
Thank you.
I love you.
Well, that's a wrap, folks.
The Greek goddess has sashayed away.
This is probably the toughest thing I've ever had to do.
Juicy is like a piece of my heart
that lives outside of my body.
We have shared so much together,
and I'm so proud of her.
And as long as she's still in the game,
I'm still in the game.
And she's going to bring that crown home.
Condragulations, queens.
And, remember, if you can't love yourself,
how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?
Can I get an "amen" up in here?
all: Amen.
All right, now let the music play.
♪ Good luck, and don't ♪
♪ Good luck, and don't, uh ♪
♪ Good luck, and don't ♪
♪ Eff it up, up, up ♪
Next time on "RuPaul's Drag Race"...
Please welcome back to the competition...
No, do not bring these girls back in this competition.
It moves beautifully.
It shimmers all in the right way.
You have done a miraculous job on it.
I'm not the judge--it's not my opinion that matters.
Discord, I thought it was your time tonight.
Same.
♪ Good luck and don't
♪ Good luck and don't ♪
♪ Good luck and don't eff it up, up, up ♪
♪ Good luck and don't ♪
♪ Good luck, baby ♪
♪ Good luck and don't eff it up, up, no ♪
♪ Give yourself permission to take the script and flip it ♪
♪ 'Cause if you're not like other bitches ♪
♪ Then show me something different ♪