IMHO: "RuPaul's Drag Race" (1.03): "Queens of all Media"

In last night's episode of Ru Paul's Drag Race the seven remaining contestants were asked to pay homage to the great Oprah Winfrey.

The were given several challenges. First, in honor of Oprah's local newscaster roots they were asked to read the news from a teleprompter, and then try to pitch a blow dryer in a television commercial.  

Then they were asked to take to the couch as talk show hosts and interview some real live celebrities: The always game for the cameras super-couple: Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott.

Finally, (and I have NO idea how this was in any way related to Oprah Winfrey) they were asked to walk the runway in a drag costume of their own choosing. Either the show interpreted this Oprah theme very loosely, or the big O and Gail like to dress up and do walk offs during their sleepovers. 

In case you missed it last night on Logo (or you live in the Styx like me and can't get Logo), the full episode is available online. After the break you'll find my spoilery discussion of the challenges, photos, and news on who was eliminated.

One question I can't answer for you though, and I'm hoping that other viewers can hazard a guess: Why were Dean McDermott's toenails painted?  It's a stumper. 

Well as you can see, none of the remaining contestants look much like Oprah Winfrey, so when they got the brief that the day's challenges were an homage to the great One herself, at least one contestant was left wondering if she should put on blackface. That would be the light skinned Puerto Rican beauty Rebecca Glasscock. Or, as I like to call her: Rebecca "Be Gentle with Me" Glasscock. 

Thank goodness another catty and none too gentle contestant (Shannel) set Rebecca straight and told her that no one expected her to look like Oprah - she simply had to "channel" her.

Correction: A reader has alerted me that I was confusing contestants. It was the lovely Jade — and not Rebecca Glasscock — that thought she had to physically mimic Oprah Winfrey.

The first challenge had each contestant seated at a news desk and reading from a teleprompter. Their breaking news: A secret affair between Britney Spears and  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, (The name of the Iranian President was obviously a stumper.)  The only one who stood out for me here was the petite Asian beauty, Ongina She actually looked like a news anchor and pulled off a passable imitation of Connie Chung.  The rest were pretty much disasters.

Ongina does a mean Connie Chung

The  "talk show" challenge with Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott, likewise didn't really serve to showcase the contestants. Akashia didn't even stand up to greet Tori and Dean, and Shannel asked Tori at least six questions without waiting for an answer.

Tori and Dean at least were affable and strike me as fun people to hang out with, providing you can get them off the subject of their kids, which to avowed non-breeders like myself is frankly a bore.

After this challenge Ru Paul had Dean and Tori come back to the dressing room where they got Dean to prance around in 6-inch Lucite high heels. And we thereby discover Dean's toenails are painted.  Is this a common thing among straight guys these days?  I'm not sure it's a good look.

Dean McDermott gets in touch with hs feminine side

The final runway challenge was just plain fierce, with each contestant pulling out their best drag finery. The standouts for me were little Ongina again, who came out completely bald with a Barbie Doll glued to her head. Very fashion forward and far far away from the Connie Chung impersonation she had going earlier in the episode.

Shannel had the most over the top outfit. I'm not even sure how to describe it, so I'll just give you a picture:

Even with that amazing costume she wound up in the bottom two with perennial bottom dweller, Acacia. They had to do a lip sync-off to Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All." 

Shannel pretty much locked it when her Medusa headdress tumbled off halfway through the song and she quickly compensated by ripping off her latex boobs. Later at the judging table, Ru Paul said it showed her "vulnerability." Akashia got the well-deserved boot.

All in all a pretty entertaining show. I missed the first two episodes, but based on this one I think I'll be watching the rest of the series online.  It's basically America's Next Top Model, only with a far saner host and contestants with better runway skills.

One difference between the two shows, it seems like the prize package that will go to the winner of this show is far far better than what ANTM winners receive. Tyra needs to loosen the purse strings a bit.

For the uninitiated, the first part of last night's Drag Race episode below will give you a taste.  If you want to watch the whole thing and/or earlier episodes go here.