"Reality Stars: The Musical"
RuPaul's Drag Race episode
Episode no.Season 9
Episode 5
Original air dateApril 21, 2017 (2017-04-21)
Guest appearances
List of episodes

"Reality Stars: The Musical" is the fifth episode of the ninth season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired on VH1 on April 21, 2017. The episode has contestants take selfies with the Pit Crew for the mini challenge, and perform a Hamilton-inspired musical about the Kardashian family and other celebrities for the main challenge. Todrick Hall and Meghan Trainor serve as guest judges, alongside regular panelists RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and Carson Kressley.

Episode

Mini challenge

In the episode, Alexis Michelle wins the mini challenge and assigns the roles for the main challenge ("Kardashian: The Musical"). Her portrayal of Kris Jenner was praised by Jenner herself.

The remaining eleven queens pose in a sexy selfie with the Pit Crew. Alexis Michelle wins the challenge.

Main challenge

For the main challenge ("Kardashian: The Musical"), contestants perform a Hamilton-inspired lip sync musical about the Kardashian family and other celebrities.[1] As the winner of the mini challenge, Alexis Michelle assigns the following roles:[2][3]

Queen Character Result
Shea Couleé Blac Chyna WIN
Alexis Michelle Kris Jenner SAFE
Peppermint Britney Spears SAFE
Aja Kourtney Kardashian SAFE
Sasha Velour Lindsay Lohan SAFE
Trinity Taylor Paris Hilton SAFE
Valentina Kendall Jenner SAFE
Nina Bo'nina Brown Khloé Kardashian SAFE
Cynthia Lee Fontaine Kim Kardashian BTM
Farrah Moan Kylie Jenner BTM
Eureka North West SAFE + OUT[a]
  1. ^ Eureka was removed from the competition due to the knee injury she sustained in the second episode.

Runway

Todrick Hall (left) and Meghan Trainor (right) served as guest judges.

RuPaul introduces guest judges Todrick Hall and Meghan Trainor, and reveals the theme for the runway: "Faux Fur Fabulous". During the judges critiques, Aja, Eureka, Sasha Velour, Trinity Taylor, and Valentina are declared safe. Alexis Michelle, Peppermint, and Shea Couleé received high critiques for their performances, though Michelle received negative commentary about her runway look. Cynthia Lee Fontaine, Farrah Moan, and Nina Bo'Nina Brown were all criticized for their performances. Nina Bo'Nina Brown was declared safe. Cynthia Lee Fontaine and Farrah Moan lip-synced against each other to Trainor's "Woman Up". Unexpectedly, RuPaul eliminates Eureka from the competition due to an injury that occurred in the second episode's cheerleading challenge; as a result, Cynthia Lee Fontaine and Farrah Moan are declared safe from elimination.

Reception

Joyce Chen of Us Weekly said Shea Couleé "stole the show" with her performance and portrayal of Blac Chyna.[4] Kris Jenner has praised the episode, and Alexis Michelle's impression of her.[5] In 2018, In magazine's Bianca Guzzo ranked "Kardashian: The Musical" number seven on her "definitive ranking of all the musicals" on the series.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Sava, Oliver (April 22, 2017). "Drag Race riffs on Hamilton with "Kardashian: The Musical"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  2. ^ Guerra, Joey (April 22, 2017). "RuPaul's Drag Race: Kardashians and other surprises". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  3. ^ Henderson, Eric (April 22, 2017). "RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: Season 9, Episode 5, "Kardashian: The Musical"". Slant Magazine. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  4. ^ "Blac Chyna Drag Queen Steals the Show in RuPaul's Kardashian Musical". Us Weekly. April 23, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  5. ^ Roberts, Amy (June 17, 2017). "'Drag Race's Kardashian Musical Has an Unexpected Fan". Bustle. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  6. ^ "A Definitive Ranking of All the Musicals on RuPaul's Drag Race". In Magazine. September 11, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
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