Remember when everyone couldn’t wait for the “eating bugs” episode on early seasons of CBS’ “Survivor”? That is kind of the same thing with the “Snatch Game” episode of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Only instead of bugs, DR fans get to eat up bad celebrity impersonations and double entendres.
The best part of this annual episode is watching the queens severely screw things up. You’d think after more than five seasons these queens would understand how the show works. Yet, there’s still always a basic bitch who thinks she can come in to “Snatch Game” playing someone unfunny. Just because the celebrity is recognizable or celebrated in the gay community doesn’t mean a queen should attempt to portray her. Season 7 queens, take notice.
Exhibit A: Gia Gunn. Let’s get this straight (first time ever for the show!). Gia Gunn wanted to play Selena in this “Snatch Game” challenge. Not Gomez—but the Latino singer who was gunned down by her assistant back in the ‘90s. Even though she wisely ended up not playing Selena, had she gone ahead and portrayed the tragic figure, strangely enough, it still wouldn’t have been as unfortunate as her Kim Kardashian impression.
In the planning process, some queens took risks, including BenDeLaCreme, who decided to tackle Maggie Smith from “Downton Abbey” even though she admitted she didn’t know how to do a British accent. Naturally, plus-size queen Darienne Lake took on Paula Deen. Resident shade-thrower and suck-up Bianca Del Rio chose RuPaul’s favorite TV star “Judge Judy” while Trinity chose RuPaul’s least favorite quality, unoriginality, and portrayed Nicki Minaj. Laganja “literally” failed to channel Rachel Zoe, and Milk attempted to cook up a worthy Julia Child impression, but unfortunately had too many missing ingredients. Like timing or wit.
Snatch Game is basically a giant Mad Libs game. Ru will ask a question and the contestants will have to fill in the blank. The celebrity panel (which consisted of Heather McDonald of “Chelsea Lately” and Gillian Jacobs of NBC’s “Community” in this episode) must match the answers in order for the contestant to receive a point. This year’s Snatch Game was, to quote Ru, the “tightest” the show has ever seen. Normally, only one or two queens grab your attention, but Bianca, Adore (as an inspired, drunken Anna Nicole Smith), and BenDeLaCreme were throwing back every time they got a chance to speak. Not only was BenDeLaCreme speaking like Dame Maggie from the Abbey, but she cleverly wrote her Snatch Game answers in fancy, cursive letters. Mad props to Darienne Lake who was literally eating a stick of butter between questions. Jocelyn Fox decided on “Real Housewives of New Jersey’s” Teresa Giudice, and she poked fun over the confusion of the pronunciation of her last name (“We went all the way back to the old country and found out it’s…Johnson”). Between this challenge and Drag Race Me to Hell, could there be a sleeper contestant here?
The theme for this week’s runway was A Night of a Thousand Ru’s. So, yes, all 10 contestants were dressed as RuPaul from past episodes. It was like a House of Mirrors circle jerk, and we mean that as a compliment. Major points to Courtney Act for constantly making us gag over her female figure. It just ain’t right. There were giant wigs a plenty, and then Milk decided to walk out on stage…as the “man” RuPaul at the beginning of every episode. I’ve never seen Ru’s mouth drop open in disappointed shock. It’s starting to feel like Milk goes the road less traveled just for the attention of it. Not to mention, she looked like the creepy guy from the Six Flags commercials that made our skin crawl. Shudder.
[Editor’s Note: Thanks guys now that SONG is stuck in my head forever]
It was close this week, but BenDeLaCreme snatched the win for the Snatch Game (becoming the first queen this season to win more than one challenge, thank you!), and Bianca and Adore were both obviously disappointed Now when it came to announcing the bottom 2, Ru could have gone in several directions. Oh, who are we kidding. Gia Gunn was obviously in the bottom. She could have played up Kim K.’s bottom, but instead decided to wear the least revealing outfit she brought with her to the competition. For once, we would have settled for more of Gia’s body. (Maybe she’s as dumb as Kim after all?) Laganja joined Gia in the bottom for delivering a Shatner-esque Rachel Zoe. And Laganja pulled out all the stops. She did splits, jumps, and werked for it, hunty, sending Gia packing (FINALLY!!!), and Ms. Gunn was definitely not happy about it. Are we happy, though? Absolutely.
Shade of the Week:
“Miss Bianca. Old and wise. Yet full of s***.” – Laganja
“She’s smart. She’s sensible. And she’s a f***ing bitch.” – Bianca, on “Judge Judy”
“I’d rather you have low expectations so I can blow you away.” – Milk
“Well, you succeeded.” – RuPaul
Lip Sync for Your Life:
Gia Gunn versus Laganja Estranja to “Head to Toe” by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
Shantay you stay: Laganja Estranja
Sashay away: Gia Gunn
Basic bitches need not apply!
Bianca del Rio ain’t no suck up! The other queens had better suck it up and bow down 😀
The top three and the bottom three were the perfect choices for me. But I’m a fan of Milk, and I think her runway look was inspired, so I’m glad she was saved from the lip sync. Santino wanted to see her show another side to herself, but he’s just a fashion designer so ofc he wants to see some glam gowns! I think what she showed is another side to drag, one that’s sorely underrepresented on the show, but oft celebrated by seasoned professionals like Ru. So it’s nonsense to state that Ru’s mouth dropped open in disappointed shock. Her mouth dropped open in surprise, but I’ve no doubt that it’s her admiration for Milk’s unique style that saved her. If it seemed that the panel was speechless in a bad way, that’s just editing. They’ve done that before, in week one, and they even did it again this week, when it appeared that Michelle Visage read Milk before the commercial break, when she was actually delivering her a compliment. I think it’s clear that Milk takes the road less travelled because that’s her style of drag. She’s consistent with it, and good at it too. Nobody gives a shit about boring fishy queens whose only talent is to look sexy in a sequined dress. And that’s why Gia Gunn left.
Vintage episode! Love me some Snatch Game, and this one was right up there in terms of overall quality! And Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam for the lip sync! And their best fucking song too! And a bottom two I could hardly have been more delighted with (wish Laganja had gone home cos she irritates me, but who cares lol)!