Alright Mary: All Things Rupaul's Drag Race

This week, the Top 11 Canuck Queens are drawing inspiration from historical moments in television–specifically the infamous Heritage Minutes. (Recorded July 10, 2020). From burnt toast to suffragettes, Canada’s aspiring next drag superstars continue to bring what can only be described as a pure chaotic energy to this acting challenge. We continue to have much to still figure out about our distinguished panel of judges–we’re not exactly loonie yet for Brooke Lynn Heights as Mother.  Anastarzia breaks out heart in the workroom, BOA keeps it refreshingly real, Lemon squeezes ahead as a frontrunner, Jimbo towers over the runway and Kyne has a moment. Already up to date with Canada’s Drag Race? So are we! Follow along with us on Patreon (link below). Patreon: www.patreon.com/alrightmary Email: alrightmarypodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @alrightmary Johnny: @johnnyalso (Instagram) Colin: @colindrucker (Twitter) Web: www.tasteofreality.com/alright-mary/ www.alrightmary.com

The Queen of the North has arrived and she’s blowing in 12 new drag geese to pass the puck around in Canada’s first season of Drag Race. (Recorded July 3, 2020.) We fall in love with a queen named Jimbo and all of the performance that surrounds her, we make baseless predictions and judgements  about the rest of the cast that we can’t wait to be proven wrong, and we spend some time on what parts of this show are departures from the original franchise. We definitely disagree with the judges on the tops and bottoms, but I think we can all agree that we love Canada. How could you blame her? Already up to date with Canada’s Drag Race? So are we! Follow along with us on Patreon (link below). Patreon: www.patreon.com/alrightmary Email: alrightmarypodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @alrightmary Johnny: @johnnyalso (Instagram) Colin: @colindrucker (Twitter) Web: www.tasteofreality.com/alright-mary/ www.alrightmary.com

Shea Couleé did say she came to slay, and she more than kept her word this season and most certainly in this finale. As is tradition, the Top 3 write thematic verses for a new Ru song and learn a whirlwind of choreography from Todrick Hall. But not before clearing an agenda of beefs with the eliminated queens who’ve returned for a mini reunion in the workroom (turns out, India was lying). All 10 queens bring their finale looks to the runway and we get a triple lip sync to Janelle Monáe that makes us feel good, if not a little dizzy from the edit (Good thing Mrs. Mateo is there to cheer the girls on!). And while Juju gave great mouth and Cracker distributed confusion from her breastplate, this lip sync, this episode, and this season were Shea’s to win. Donate to: National Black Disability Coalition: http://www.blackdisability.org/ Chi Chi DeVayne: Venmo: venmo.com/Zavion-Davenport Cashapp: $ZavionDavenport PayPal: chichikdevayne@gmail.com Campaign Zero: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/ The Black Resilience Fu

A wise drag queen once famously asked, “Where are the jokes?” Our final four attempted to answer that question in this week’s stand up challenge that left us sitting quietly for much of it. Cracker got the most cackles of the night and Shea did okay. Juju was better on the runway than the mic, and Blair, to be fair, looked a little lost up there. Despite some poorly timed laryngitis, Jane Krakowski was a great warmup act for the queens as mentor/judge, and hardly choked as much as this lip sync. Did they just bring Kennedy back for S&Gs? Donate to: Chi Chi Devayne’s bills: Venmo: @Zavion-Davenport, Cashapp: $ZavionDavenport, PayPal: chichikdevayne@gmail.com Campaign Zero: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/ The Black Resilience Fund: https://www.blackresiliencefund.com/ National Black Justice Coalition: https://www.mightycause.com/organization/nbjc Sphinx Organization: http://www.sphinxmusic.org/ Transgender Law Center: https://transgenderlawcenter.org/donate https://www.theokraproject.com/ Patreon: w

What’s a family barbecue without drama, suspicion, tears and at least one very questionable exit? The top 5 are tasked to bring a main and a side to RuPaul’s Backyard Barbecue Ball. Cracker is shuttlecocked to win the challenge, but it’s Jujubee who continues to win our hearts in the workroom. We aren’t quite ready to say “I do” to Shea’s backyard bride, Blair isn’t our pick of the picnic and Alexis Mateo sashays away in a shallow end to her time on this season. Roxxxy Andrews puts both asses in the word assassin and our pizza queen supreme taps her way into the Fingers of Drag Race hall of fame. Donate to: Campaign Zero: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/ The Black Resilience Fund: https://www.blackresiliencefund.com/ National Black Justice Coalition: https://www.mightycause.com/organization/nbjc Sphinx Organization: http://www.sphinxmusic.org/ Transgender Law Center: https://transgenderlawcenter.org/donate The Okra Project: https://www.theokraproject.com/ Patreon: www.patreon.com/alrightmary Email: alrightma

Love is in the air in Studio C in Simi Valley this week with another round of Snatch Game of Love! Alexis serves up a shady psychic, but couldn’t have possibly seen the drama coming later when India channels her Snatch Game character to stir up trouble in the workroom with rumors of conspiracy against Shea. Meanwhile Juju continues to deliver Drag Race excellence with a hilariously direct Eartha Kitt, while giving good mouth and cat pictures in her confessionals. Plus: an unnecessary Lady Gaga, RuPaul feeling her oats in that dress, and Little Sister Vanessa popping up at the perfect time to potentially send her mother home. Donate to: Black Resilience Fund: https://www.blackresiliencefund.com/ National Black Justice Coalition: https://www.mightycause.com/organization/nbjc Sphinx Organization: http://www.sphinxmusic.org/ Transgender Law Center: https://transgenderlawcenter.org/donate The Okra Project: https://www.theokraproject.com/ Patreon: www.patreon.com/alrightmary Email: alrightmarypodcast@gmail.com Twit

Here is a short preview of our discussion of the first episode of Canada’s Drag Race. We discuss how a juice box never lasts long enough, Jimbo is no bimbo, and thank goodness for Stacey McKenzie. To listen to the full episode now, consider becoming a patreon! Patreon: www.patreon.com/alrightmary Email: alrightmarypodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @alrightmary Johnny: @johnnyalso (Instagram) Colin: @colindrucker (Twitter) Web: www.tasteofreality.com/alright-mary/ www.alrightmary.com Donate to: National Black Justice Coalition: https://www.mightycause.com/organization/nbjc Sphinx Organization: http://www.sphinxmusic.org/ Transgender Law Center: https://transgenderlawcenter.org/donate https://www.theokraproject.com/

This week’s TMZ-inspired improv challenge was, well, no hot scoop. While we were alternately intimidated and aroused by the bro-fest in the SheMZ offices (led with ascotted perfection by Carson Kressley), the biggest highlight of the three scenes was mostly Ross Mathews. Then it was camo on the runway, giving us a war zone of choices from Blair’s butterfly bush to Mayhem’s bathing suit. We also get Morgan’s cape, Sarah Hyland’s unfortunate self-introduction, and Michelle getting untucked. Donate to: National Black Justice Coalition: https://www.mightycause.com/organization/nbjc Sphinx Organization: http://www.sphinxmusic.org/ Transgender Law Center: https://transgenderlawcenter.org/donate https://www.theokraproject.com/ Patreon: www.patreon.com/alrightmary Email: alrightmarypodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @alrightmary Johnny: @johnnyalso (Instagram) Colin: @colindrucker (Twitter) Web: www.tasteofreality.com/alright-mary/ www.alrightmary.com

It’s not uncommon for a season of Drag Race to lose the plot a little on the third episode (Shakesqueer, anyone?), but this week really went on a sudden vacation. The eight remaining queens are tasked with the ever-relevant task of designing themed hotel rooms. The results are, as expected, not exactly Fodor’s favorites. A 3-in-1 runway makes us nostalgic for Drag Race Thailand, the judges’ critiques are meticulously “crafted” for social media chaos, and the lip sync is surprisingly more of a mercy kill than an assassination. Donate to: Sphinx Organization: http://www.sphinxmusic.org/ TransgenderLawCenter.org/donate https://www.theokraproject.com/ Patreon: www.patreon.com/alrightmary Email: alrightmarypodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @alrightmary Johnny: @johnnyalso (Instagram) Colin: @colindrucker (Twitter) Web: www.tasteofreality.com/alright-mary/ www.alrightmary.com

It wouldn’t be a season of Drag Race without a girl groups challenge! The nine remaining queens break into trios to create celebrity crush-inspired verses for “I’m in Love!” which is not only the title of the song but 60% of its chorus. Shea emerges with a frontrunner performance, a frontrunner runway, and a frontrunner lip sync, Blair thinks pink and it doesn’t stink, Ongina’s feathers are ruffled by a sore throat, self-doubt, and Mz Cracker, and an old favorite is our new pick for pizza queen. TransgenderLawCenter.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/alrightmary Email: alrightmarypodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @alrightmary Johnny: @johnnyalso (Instagram) Colin: @colindrucker (Twitter) Web: www.tasteofreality.com/alright-mary/ www.alrightmary.com https://www.theokraproject.com/

All Stars rules go out the window again—and a few new ones blow in just in time for 10 more stars of the series to return for Hall of Fame status. While the beats are familiar, with a good old fashioned reading challenge followed by a good old fashioned talent show, it’s a fun ride from the moment Derrick fake hugs India Farrah. While some frontrunners fell short this week, we may have already identified our Pizza Queen, as well as who we’re not sold on yet, and who we think might be our narrator this season. The Okra Project Patreon: www.patreon.com/alrightmary Email: alrightmarypodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @alrightmary Johnny: @johnnyalso (Instagram) Colin: @colindrucker (Twitter) Web: www.tasteofreality.com/alright-mary/ www.alrightmary.com

This week, instead of listening to us recap the finale of Season 12 (congrats Jaida!), please use that time to watch Bob the Drag Queen and Peppermint’s discussion “Why you should say Black Lives Matter”. Click the above text or here. We also share some resources from Black Lives Matter for ways to donate, educate, and participate. Link: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/    

The 12 troopers of troubled Season 12 sissy that sleeping bag for a slumber party-style reunion. Ru wears a latex facekini and Bieber hoodie, but it’s 2020, why not? While nothing new is necessarily revealed and any conflict is purposefully performed, it’s a welcomed kiki after a kooky couple of months. To be honest, the biggest highlight for us was the cameo from Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin serving “your dad’s friends” realness. Patreon: www.patreon.com/alrightmary Email: alrightmarypodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @alrightmary Johnny: @johnnyalso (Instagram) Colin: @colindrucker (Twitter) Web: www.tasteofreality.com/alright-mary/ www.alrightmary.com

The final five are taking a trip down the Vegas strip for this season’s semifinal. In an extended promotion for RuPaul’s Drag Race Live in Las Vegas, the queens are singing, dancing and rapping three numbers that were at one point before quarantine filling the seats at the Flamingo every night. Gigi goes from Goode to Great, Crystal does the Dump again, Jaida exudes confidence even with autotune, and let’s be honest, Jackie won the lip sync. We also get dance daddy Jamal Sims, the return of Leland (now with Stitch), and just so many questions about the finale. Patreon: www.patreon.com/alrightmary Email: alrightmarypodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @alrightmary Johnny: @johnnyalso (Instagram) Colin: @colindrucker (Twitter) Web: www.tasteofreality.com/alright-mary/ www.alrightmary.com

This week’s lineup of one-woman shows had six very different interpretations of the challenge. While Jackie brought earnest TED talk realness, Crystal plumbed new depths of stupid to secure her first win. Gigi hit a fair bit of turbulence during her high-flying concept, Heidi’s family food fight got messy, and when it came to telling this particular story, Jaida really should have held it in. Patreon: www.patreon.com/alrightmary Email: alrightmarypodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @alrightmary Johnny: @johnnyalso (Instagram) Colin: @colindrucker (Twitter) Web: www.tasteofreality.com/alright-mary/ www.alrightmary.com

This week we chatted with Lil Miss Hot Mess, one of the first queens to host Drag Queen Story Hour and the author of the new children’s book “The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish” (Running Press Kids). We discuss the inspiration behind the book, the ways kids understand and appreciate drag, and what these kinds of books can do for many queer adults. We also discuss Lil Miss’s PhD work, the evolution of digital drag and what makes a performance legendary. “The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish” is now available wherever children’s books are sold! Please consider supporting your local bookstore or buy the book on Amazon! Follow Lil Miss Hot Mess: Twitter/Instagram: @lilmisshotmess Facebook: Lil Miss Hot Mess http://www.lilmisshotmess.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/alrightmary Email: alrightmarypodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @alrightmary Johnny: @johnnyalso (Instagram) Colin: @colindrucker (Twitter) Web: www.tasteofreality.com/alright-mary/ www.alrightmary.com

Six drag daughters were born this week and some of them we half-expect to see back on a future season! Superfans of the show are the subject of this season’s makeover challenge. Crystal’s method may not have gotten her a win, but she and Opal were total gems this episode. Janet the Planet had us seeing stars, Heidi needed to find something else in her closet for Honey, Gigi continued a so-so streak, Jackie and Lil Snackie left us hungry for more, and, well, Jaida Essentially Has This Season in the Bag (Hall). The episode ends in the rare but requisite Double Shantay, but should Ru have killed the lights on one of the bottom two this week? Patreon: www.patreon.com/alrightmary Email: alrightmarypodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @alrightmary Johnny: @johnnyalso (Instagram) Colin: @colindrucker (Twitter) Web: www.tasteofreality.com/alright-mary/ www.alrightmary.com

A reality TV star became president once, why couldn’t it happen again? The Season 12 primaries are down to 6 queens this week vying to be America’s Next Drag President. It’s no debate that Jaida won by a landslide. Heidi and Crystal were strong moderates while Jackie was too liberal with the Canadian jokes. Gigi’s repeat robot gig probably should have put her against a weary Widow in the final lip sync, but the electoral college of judges spoke otherwise (and instead gave us some iconic patriotism from Jackie). Regardless, we’d happily take 4 more years of Goldblum/Bloom as guests. Patreon: www.patreon.com/alrightmary Email: alrightmarypodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @alrightmary Johnny: @johnnyalso (Instagram) Colin: @colindrucker (Twitter) Web: www.tasteofreality.com/alright-mary/ www.alrightmary.com

Jan may have been selling the hell out of the Jantasy, but the judges just weren’t buying it. This week, the queens craft some GOOP-inspired crap to sell to the masses in a commercial directed by the fab, fit, fun Bob Harper. (Also, how about that FabFitFun-sponsored reading challenge? Was it a more fab and fun fit than a traditional reading challenge?) Heidi nabs a win for her efforts this episode and season so far, Jackie is Adult in the Room excellence, and Crystal continues to be the true dark horse of the competition. While Jaida’s frontrunner status remains secure this week, Gigi’s schtick isn’t working so good and Widow must channel Chaka to send Jan Sp*rt and her veritable backpack of tricks packing. Patreon: www.patreon.com/alrightmary Email: alrightmarypodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @alrightmary Johnny: @johnnyalso (Instagram) Colin: @colindrucker (Twitter) Web: www.tasteofreality.com/alright-mary/ www.alrightmary.com

This week’s Madonna Rusical was a nearly immaculate collection of the Queen of Pop’s many identities over the decades. Despite Jan’s best attempts at expressing herself, Gigi struck a pose (and won the challenge) like there was nothing to it. Just like a prayer, Crystal and Jaida both took us there, but it seems nothing really matters to the judges when it comes to Widow. Heidi’s ray of light dimmed a bit, Jackie sang like a virgin, and Brita learned the power of goodbye. All contestants need to take a bow, though, because this episode got us back into the groove. Patreon: www.patreon.com/alrightmary Email: alrightmarypodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @alrightmary Johnny: @johnnyalso (Instagram) Colin: @colindrucker (Twitter) Web: www.tasteofreality.com/alright-mary/ www.alrightmary.com