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DRAG☆FOLKS
  • 2 days ago

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00:00:00That's it, I'm out of here!
00:00:30How are you feeling, Mo?
00:00:59Honestly, I'm still checking in with myself.
00:01:02Kind of had a feeling I'd be in the bottom.
00:01:04Charles and I had a really quiet and lovely connection.
00:01:08I admire his softness, his optimism.
00:01:10Tonight was really hard and emotional.
00:01:12I think we all felt how important this is to us.
00:01:16It may be silly to the folks at home.
00:01:18Like, we look ridiculous.
00:01:19I don't know what you're talking about.
00:01:20What do you mean?
00:01:21I look fantastic.
00:01:22I have never felt more serious in my life.
00:01:26This is a strong lineup of kings.
00:01:29I feel a sense of pride even though I did have a hard week.
00:01:33I almost lost everything the first night we were here.
00:01:35Damn.
00:01:36The climb has been long and arduous.
00:01:39I was voted prom king.
00:01:40I'm king of the world!
00:01:41Finally, my art is being recognized at the highest levels.
00:01:45I am feeling some more pressure, but I'm also feeling more confident
00:01:48because I'm doing better and better every week.
00:01:50As president of the bottom society, I'm embracing it.
00:01:55I know my drag isn't bad.
00:01:56I've seen terrible drag and it's not mine.
00:01:58It was me when I first started, but it's not me now.
00:02:01I don't know.
00:02:02Just performing here is throwing me off like a ton.
00:02:06It's taking me a lot longer to adjust.
00:02:08I'm in the top five.
00:02:10Love it, love it, love that for me.
00:02:12But I also don't know where I stand.
00:02:15We're all in different places.
00:02:17Like, placement-wise, anything can happen.
00:02:19Before we got here, I was so stressed about my package.
00:02:22Like, I thought to myself, I just don't know if I can do this.
00:02:24Like, I don't know if I can just, like, put my art out there like that
00:02:26and, like, let people pick it apart.
00:02:28And it's just wild to, like, have contemplated quitting before it had even begun
00:02:33and then to be going to the semifinals.
00:02:35It just blows my mind and, like, makes me so proud of myself
00:02:38for, like, sticking through it when it was really hard.
00:02:41You got a great package, Dick.
00:02:43I've heard that before.
00:02:46Well, boys, let's take this ship into the bay.
00:02:50Follow that finger.
00:02:51This way.
00:02:52I usually don't trust white people at boats, but let's go.
00:02:59Whoo!
00:03:00Whoa, fantastic five.
00:03:01What? What?
00:03:03Styrofoam?
00:03:04Brushes?
00:03:05Mm-hmm.
00:03:06I wonder, I wonder.
00:03:07Uh-huh.
00:03:08Does this mean we're going to have to get ahead of the competition?
00:03:11Oh, my God.
00:03:12Come on now.
00:03:13Baby D.
00:03:14I see the wig stands on our carts, and admittedly, I'm a bit nervous.
00:03:21I hope it's not wig styling.
00:03:23I hope it's, like, something else, like, who has to do a wig head the farthest?
00:03:27Please don't put a comb in my hand, please.
00:03:29Top five, y'all.
00:03:30Did anybody call this on day one?
00:03:32Who?
00:03:33Not me.
00:03:34I thought I was going home on day one, so I wasn't worried about the top five.
00:03:37I am trying to be a top look this week.
00:03:39I think I'm still too fixated on what I think the judges want to see versus what I want the judges to see.
00:03:46My goal going into this week is to just make a decision confidently as an artist and be like, this is the book that you, the judges, are reading, and to hell with the rest of it.
00:03:56I thought I was going home every time, so.
00:03:58Yeah.
00:03:59We're down to five people.
00:04:00That is half of what we started the competition with.
00:04:03It has become crazy.
00:04:04Like, backstage, all of us are just in our own little, like, circles of hell.
00:04:07Like, we're just all just, like, by ourselves, just like .
00:04:12I think every single one of us is incredibly competitive.
00:04:15There's a charge.
00:04:16We want it bad.
00:04:17When I started in the competition, I was just like, you know, I'm just competing with myself.
00:04:20Like, I'm not into the, like, sort of competitive.
00:04:22I'm not a sports person.
00:04:23But I think that the level of excellence is so excellent.
00:04:27It's made me be like, like, I do.
00:04:30I do.
00:04:31I want to take them down.
00:04:32I want to take those geniuses down.
00:04:34And it comes from a place of such respect and, like, such admiration.
00:04:37You want to respectfully crush my dream.
00:04:39Yes.
00:04:40Yes.
00:04:41Yeah.
00:04:42I've definitely seen your competitive side get untucked in the last couple of weeks there,
00:04:46Big D.
00:04:47You came in like, oh, gosh, where can I put my bags, you know?
00:04:50And now you're like, I'm going to crush you.
00:04:57Oh, my God.
00:04:58Hey!
00:04:59How are you, Kigs?
00:05:00What do you got in there?
00:05:01Who you got in there?
00:05:02I've been out in the streets drumming up excitement for this week's theme.
00:05:07Music.
00:05:08Oh, my God.
00:05:09Cool.
00:05:10The soundtrack of our lives.
00:05:11Oh, thank God.
00:05:12Like, music.
00:05:13Like, that's something I can do.
00:05:14Pump up the jam.
00:05:15I grew up in a band.
00:05:16Every week is Music Week for me.
00:05:17Watch out.
00:05:18Who doesn't love music?
00:05:19That's like saying, I like skin.
00:05:20Uh, this week we are celebrating queer artists who make music that gets us to the club, keeps
00:05:33us company alone in our rooms, and makes awkward hookups a little less awkward.
00:05:38Not that I know anything about that.
00:05:39Showbiz.
00:05:40Here to help us judge today's weenie challenge is our resident manscaper, superstar, and all-around
00:05:51good guy, Tender Rony.
00:05:54Rony.
00:05:55Yes.
00:05:56Damn.
00:05:57Look at this outfit.
00:05:58He's on fire.
00:06:00All right.
00:06:01For today's weenie challenge, you'll become a little less awkward.
00:06:05Wow.
00:06:07All right.
00:06:08For today's weenie challenge, you'll become rock stars.
00:06:12Whoa.
00:06:13Yeah.
00:06:14Musically and with live performance, I have done well.
00:06:20So there's, I think, maybe even a little bit of an olive branch here for me.
00:06:25One of the reasons I do drag is because I couldn't make it as a rock star.
00:06:28I'm like, yeah, come on, full circle.
00:06:30Let's go.
00:06:31From Prince to David Bowie to Lil Nas X, rock stars have always shown that boys can
00:06:36have fun with hair and makeup too.
00:06:39For this challenge, you'll transform yourself into a fabulous front man.
00:06:44We're looking for glam rock, psychedelic rock, metal, or R&B.
00:06:47I want to see mullets, pompadour, shags, heavy eye shadow, colorful lips, and mustaches.
00:06:53Whatever way you go, you better rock the elf out.
00:06:55I did my beard with elf products this morning.
00:06:58I thought your beard was back in the hotel sleeping.
00:07:00Oh!
00:07:02For this challenge, you must exclusively use elf cosmetics and these fine wigs, courtesy of
00:07:08Outfitters Wigs.
00:07:09Well, I thought I could hold my head up high, but now we're doing wigs.
00:07:13Might get a little bit shameful.
00:07:14Let's see what happens.
00:07:15This is perfect.
00:07:16I can't wait to show everyone how I can style a wig.
00:07:18I am ready to absolutely destroy.
00:07:21Well, I'm not actually ready to destroy a wig.
00:07:23I will destroy the competition by making an amazing wig.
00:07:25You have one hour to prepare.
00:07:27Your time starts now.
00:07:30Get wiggy with it!
00:07:32Oh, that one.
00:07:33It's gonna get hairy in here.
00:07:34Let's go.
00:07:35Let's get out of here.
00:07:36Oh!
00:07:37Have fun, kids.
00:07:38Oh, that one.
00:07:39Oh, that one.
00:07:40Yeah, I'm a real king.
00:07:44Has everyone else just been loving all the elf stuff?
00:08:08Yeah, honestly, like...
00:08:09It's been a blast to try all these products.
00:08:12Are you guys doing, like, a mug mug or, like, a half mug?
00:08:16I mean, it depends on what kind of, um, rocker you're going for, right?
00:08:20Yeah.
00:08:21I think I'm gonna be a schlumpy rocker.
00:08:22Yeah?
00:08:23I'm going punk.
00:08:24We're all shocked.
00:08:25You're all...
00:08:26I mean...
00:08:27I'm gonna clutch my pearls.
00:08:28I've never styled a wig!
00:08:31Never!
00:08:32Do you know what?
00:08:33I'm a genius.
00:08:34I'm a punk mess.
00:08:35All I want to do is just belly up to the trough with the rest of the pigs
00:08:38and do something that tickles me.
00:08:40Maybe it'll tickle Tenderoni.
00:08:41As someone who's in the top one half of 1% of Led Zeppelin listeners, I feel like it's my obligation to channel, like, 70s rock.
00:08:52I also do a lot of Freddie Mercury impersonation.
00:08:54Really?
00:08:55Oh.
00:08:56They say he got a bigger house just so his cats could have... could all have their own rooms.
00:09:00It's aspirational.
00:09:01Yeah?
00:09:02One of my favorite parts of drag is turning myself into my favorite rock star.
00:09:05So I feel stoked about it, even not feeling comfortable with wig styling.
00:09:10The thing about Dick Von Dyke is he is the champion of faking it till he can making it, and that didn't even make sense.
00:09:17But if you say it confidently, it does.
00:09:19How you doing, Mo?
00:09:20I think I'm gonna go for the sexual chocolate.
00:09:23Love that.
00:09:24I don't use wigs often.
00:09:27I also have this head, depending on what your vibe is.
00:09:31We'll start here.
00:09:32Just let me know what kind of head you want.
00:09:35I'm still a little green around how to really wield a wig to my full advantage.
00:09:40I obviously, I work with hair almost every single time I go into drag.
00:09:44But putting hair on your face and shaping that composition is different than putting hair on your head.
00:09:50Baby, you need to be detangled. Come on.
00:09:53I'm looking at Henlo and his wig game is really strong.
00:09:56So I feel like he is definitely the competitor with a bit of an edge here.
00:10:00The first thing I do is grab my crimping iron.
00:10:02I've learned a lot from cosplayers.
00:10:04You add texture to the hair, and then you brush out that texture, and suddenly you have hair that will really hold its shape a lot better.
00:10:11The higher the hair, the closer to God, and the God being Tenderoni in this case.
00:10:15Do you feel like you have an advantage in this rock challenge as the teacher of rock?
00:10:21You know, with all of the things combined, the air guitar skills, I mean certainly play a little air bass guitar.
00:10:27You play actual bass, you said?
00:10:29Yeah, in like the family band.
00:10:31Family band.
00:10:32Almost every other kid I knew, their parents had a 9 to 5.
00:10:35They didn't have this experience of like impromptu jam sessions happening in their home at least weekly if not more.
00:10:42They didn't go to festivals that were like on an auxiliary part of a farm.
00:10:47It was weird.
00:10:48It was wonderful.
00:10:50But it was also a little isolating.
00:10:52And I think I've carried that sense of isolation throughout most of my life.
00:10:56It's why I've sought community so intensely.
00:10:58What are y'all's favorite makeup products that you use incorrectly for drag?
00:11:03All.
00:11:04Right now I'm using eyeshadow to color the roots with this wig.
00:11:09Ooh.
00:11:10Even like back in the female impersonator days, my hairdresser said I couldn't do my own hair because one time I tried to, I messed it up really badly.
00:11:18I don't know anything about hair.
00:11:20You're really making quite the creation.
00:11:24I'm getting lipstick.
00:11:25I'm putting that on the wig too.
00:11:27This wig is a hard front with an emphasis on the hard.
00:11:31When I first started getting interested in drag, I took a workshop where you take a lock of hair, you put it in a cup, and you cut the hair until it's like as fine as possible.
00:11:42Yeah, I used to do that.
00:11:43And then like put it on your face.
00:11:44I used to take a bag to the barber.
00:11:47Mm.
00:11:48And then I would have to like really awkwardly go up at the beginning and be like, okay, listen, as you're giving me an undercut, can you please like catch the hairs?
00:11:57Mm-hmm.
00:11:58I used to say that's why all drag kings have undercuts because they're using it for their face.
00:12:01I'm struggling a bit with this wig and I'm like, okay, let's just pivot.
00:12:07We can maybe make up some room here in the makeup.
00:12:10Whoever says drag kings don't wear makeup can kiss my entire packer.
00:12:14I'm doing some nice smeary cry-y stuff.
00:12:17Eh, you know, I'm really suffering for my art.
00:12:19I got a character, Robert Smith Leibowitz, right?
00:12:22Little British, little Jewish, little sad, right?
00:12:25Little bit of giant rock, something rotten in there, something so vicious in there, a little bit of rose, rose, yeah, who knows, right?
00:12:37Rock!
00:12:38All right, it's time for showbiz.
00:12:43As you reveal your look, give us your best air guitar riff.
00:12:47Or you could play a trumpet, a lyra, or even a kazoo.
00:12:52All right, Dick Von Dyke, you're up first.
00:12:55All right, this is the look.
00:13:05Cello is the first instrument I ever played, so I feel very musically qualified to bring some musicianship finesse to my performance.
00:13:17Get me from my good side, Wade.
00:13:19There we go.
00:13:20Yeah, how's that?
00:13:21Is that better?
00:13:22Is that good for you?
00:13:23All right.
00:13:24Wow!
00:13:27King Molasses.
00:13:28What's up?
00:13:29What's up, bruh?
00:13:33I feel like Molasses is definitely a sax man.
00:13:36I love me a saxophone bridge.
00:13:42I feel proficient.
00:13:43I don't know if real saxophone players would agree based on where my hands are, but...
00:13:48Yeah, I hated that, too.
00:13:53All right!
00:13:55It's amazing!
00:13:57Hello, bullfrog!
00:14:10What, wait!
00:14:11Ding!
00:14:12My dad does some very theatrical spoons playing, so I definitely stole some things from him.
00:14:19Playing that against the face, he really does do that.
00:14:21If I'd had a pair of spoons, I really would have played them too.
00:14:23Okay, Big D.
00:14:24My name is Robert Smith Lebowitz.
00:14:27Excuse me.
00:14:32This is a song called My Heart Is A Sick Flower.
00:14:35My heart's a sick flower, watch it bleed on your loafers.
00:14:39My heart's a sick flower, watch it bleed on your dreams.
00:14:42My heart's a sick flower, watch it bleed on your floor.
00:14:49Thank you so much.
00:14:51Percocets.
00:14:52All right.
00:14:54I decide to go with a very underrepresented music group.
00:15:12Is mayonnaise an instrument?
00:15:14It worked.
00:15:15I loved it.
00:15:16The real fans know why I picked mayonnaise.
00:15:19I've been in show business for 30 years, Percocets, and I've never seen anyone play an air sandwich.
00:15:25Yeah.
00:15:26So thank you for being you.
00:15:29I'm glad it wasn't crummy.
00:15:30Okay, Ted Theroni, who rocks the hardest?
00:15:34Wow, what an amazing variation of hair, makeup, and instruments.
00:15:39I really enjoyed all of it.
00:15:42You guys did an amazing job.
00:15:44We stream all your singles, but only one of you shredded your way to our hearts.
00:15:49Penlo Bullfrog, congratulations.
00:15:51You are the winner of the Sweet Sweenie Challenge.
00:15:56All that time alone in my room was worth something.
00:15:58I won the wig challenge.
00:16:01If you look in my eyes, you see a bit of a blue screen of death situation happening,
00:16:05because I could not comprehend it.
00:16:06That was, like, amazing.
00:16:07You have won a $400 shopping spree to Levi's.
00:16:12Plus, you've won the right to shine with Halo Glow from Elf Cosmetics.
00:16:17With Elf's Jumbo Power Grip Primer, Halo Glow Liquid Filter, Powder, Highlighter, Contour Wand,
00:16:25and Glow Reviver Lip Oil, you'll have the crowd screaming,
00:16:29I can see your halo, halo, halo.
00:16:32And because everyone deserves to shine,
00:16:35the rest of you have also won a $175 Levi's gift card and an assortment of Elf Cosmetics and Elf Skin.
00:16:47Yes!
00:16:48All right.
00:16:49Thank you, Ted Theroni.
00:16:50And we'll see you tonight at the Royal Hall.
00:16:51Showbiz.
00:16:52Showbiz.
00:16:53Bye, everybody!
00:16:55All right.
00:16:56Before we get beefy, a bit of royal business.
00:16:59Sasha is away tending to her kingdom, so I'll be introducing you to a new Kings Court member for the rest of the season.
00:17:07Drag superstar, Gottmik.
00:17:10Oh, yeah!
00:17:12We also have some incredible guests this week, from Reverie's unconventional Aubrey Shea,
00:17:19purveyor of fine jokes Cameron Esposito,
00:17:22Oh!
00:17:23And trailblazing feminist rocker my pal Kathleen Hanna.
00:17:27Okay.
00:17:28Okay.
00:17:29Yep.
00:17:30Period.
00:17:31Let's get beefy!
00:17:36Drag is not just about serving an unforgettable look.
00:17:40It's also about putting on a great show.
00:17:43That's why this week we're tuning in to one of the fundamentals of drag, lip syncing.
00:17:49Okay.
00:17:50Yes!
00:17:51Finally, lip sync.
00:17:53It's my jam.
00:17:54I like being able to bring all the music video ideas I have in my head for everyone to see.
00:18:00This is like a perfect week.
00:18:01You must create a lip sync performance to the song Good Boy by ARX.
00:18:06Okay.
00:18:07Never performed a lip sync before.
00:18:10There it is.
00:18:11Yeah.
00:18:12Very nervous.
00:18:13And there's a twist.
00:18:14Not only do you have to lip sync, you must DIY a look from recycled materials.
00:18:22I'm feeling a little bit more anxious now.
00:18:25Sewing and constructing garments is not my strong suit.
00:18:28This actually could be a really hard week.
00:18:31We'll be going on a shopping spree at Remainders, a thrift store for creative reuse.
00:18:36Then you'll have 24 hours to make rags into riches, literally.
00:18:41Lastly, and are you sitting down because this one is a doozy.
00:18:46Only three kings will compete in the final, which means this will be the double elimination.
00:19:00We all know math.
00:19:01We all knew this was coming.
00:19:02There's only one crown and it's going to go to one of us and two of us that get packing.
00:19:06I know.
00:19:07It's a lot.
00:19:08Circle up.
00:19:09Come on.
00:19:10Watch the hair.
00:19:11One, two, three.
00:19:12Long, Mr. King!
00:19:15All right, kids.
00:19:16We'll see you at Remainders for a Drag King field trip.
00:19:21Yeah, I'm a real king.
00:19:36Welcome to Remainders, a thrift store for creative reuse.
00:19:49You have 15 minutes to grab anything you see in the store and it doesn't include me.
00:19:55Ready, set, thrift!
00:19:5915 minutes is not enough time.
00:20:01I need to figure out what my plan is.
00:20:04This is a dream come true to run through Remainders and grab everything that I like.
00:20:09My plan is corpse being reclaimed by the earth.
00:20:12I'm going to get every single plant related item in the store.
00:20:15That looks useful.
00:20:16That looks useful.
00:20:17That doesn't look useful, but you might be.
00:20:19I'd rather have too much than too little.
00:20:23Anything in camo or just like butch realness, throw it at me.
00:20:28Growing up in the church, I always struggled with feeling good enough.
00:20:31I was under the impression that like my queerness would keep me out of heaven.
00:20:35So I want to play with a look that speaks to feeling good enough spiritually,
00:20:40feeling good enough with my butch-ness.
00:20:43I could make a title out of it.
00:20:45My plan is punk rock schoolboy.
00:20:47You know, I think I have a pretty good eye for a clown.
00:20:50I love, would this be useful to you?
00:20:52Snapchat, yeah.
00:20:53You're halfway through!
00:20:58I'm getting really overwhelmed.
00:20:59So I just kind of start grabbing things of interest,
00:21:03but I'm still not sure how it's going to be all put together.
00:21:05Anybody need a trailer hitch?
00:21:08Should I go with your outfit? No? All right.
00:21:11I'm very distracted by how many cool things are in this store.
00:21:15And I'm like trying so hard to be focused on this challenge.
00:21:19Everyone else is like running feverishly.
00:21:21They're like, there's just not enough time.
00:21:23And I'm like, yeah, but have you seen this?
00:21:26I love this.
00:21:27I have this photo.
00:21:29Maybe not.
00:21:30I'm generally finding the things that I think I need,
00:21:33but I'm also starting to like lose my mind a little bit.
00:21:37I'm taking this many mechanical pencils,
00:21:39like a phallus of mechanical pen...
00:21:42Like what can you do with mechanical pencils?
00:21:43But I took them.
00:21:47One minute left!
00:21:51What else?
00:21:54Flannel?
00:21:55Wait, did someone say flannel?
00:22:00Yeah.
00:22:04Time's up!
00:22:06Shake it up and put it in your pants.
00:22:07We're out of here.
00:22:09I hope I have enough cool stuff to like work with,
00:22:11because everybody got so much more stuff than me.
00:22:13Watch out!
00:22:23This is a sewing challenge.
00:22:24Coming to you live from Los Angeles.
00:22:26There was an earthquake and a power outage,
00:22:28so the L word didn't lie.
00:22:29I love this.
00:22:30It feels like being at home in a studio.
00:22:32I don't know if you know about hot glue.
00:22:33It's an incredible tool.
00:22:35Not ready for this one.
00:22:36Watch out!
00:22:38What's up?
00:22:39How sick is that?
00:22:40It's fantastic.
00:22:41When I'm cracking, I'm kind of like,
00:22:43yes, yes, yes.
00:22:44Right now, I'm actually feeling the weight of last week
00:22:48and fighting to keep my place in the competition,
00:22:50and my body is pretty beat.
00:22:53But drag for me has always been about healing,
00:22:56and this challenge.
00:22:57I want to literally be my inner child.
00:23:00I'm taking good boy literally and going for a dog thing.
00:23:04My arm is going to have a little mitten,
00:23:06so I can have little paws too.
00:23:08And of course, on the butt, I have to have anxious.
00:23:12And yeah, hopefully I raised a wolf with this one.
00:23:15So my concept is pretty school boy, you know, angry,
00:23:18kind of a man baby.
00:23:19His name is Ziggy Floyd Stardust Mellencamp.
00:23:23I've taken things and, like, bedazzled them
00:23:25or, like, put looks together, build a look from scratch.
00:23:28Never even attempted it.
00:23:29Yeah, there's going to be a lot of safety pins,
00:23:31punk elements, a reveal, not good, right?
00:23:35Pray for me.
00:23:36I am fully living my swamp thing fantasy.
00:23:38I made this bodysuit today.
00:23:40It doesn't look like a lot, but it's a bit like a mural.
00:23:43The base coat is one of the most difficult parts to do.
00:23:46And then everything on that is the fun stuff.
00:23:48And I will be stripping off the plants,
00:23:50showing what a good boy I am.
00:23:52I'm creating a butch bishop.
00:23:55I created a shape out of poster board
00:23:58and then covered it with the fabric I want.
00:24:00I also have some camo chaps.
00:24:03They do look better on my ass than they do on the floor,
00:24:05but you'll just have to wait and find out.
00:24:07For the first time, I feel really confident in my idea
00:24:11and I have a really clear picture of what I'm trying to say.
00:24:15I was going to go a lot more suit-based,
00:24:18but now I'm starting to sculpt a bit of a spirit.
00:24:22I want my outfit to lean into transness or gender exploration
00:24:27and also evoke a sense of nostalgia and play.
00:24:31Wish me luck. Peace.
00:24:33I was able to get the chaps done and I worked on the fur body.
00:24:37I put that on and instantly regerts.
00:24:41I get really itchy and overheated.
00:24:44The thing that was supposed to be my main plan
00:24:46is not able to work for me.
00:24:48And I just have to pivot.
00:24:50I don't measure things, because that's not punk.
00:24:52I'm burning every single fingertip on hot glue.
00:24:55Just keep hurting yourself and keep making things,
00:24:57and that is punk.
00:24:59My only inhibitor is the exhaustion.
00:25:04I am not going to stay up all night and work on it.
00:25:07I'm going to go home and sleep.
00:25:08There's a lot that needs to go on.
00:25:10I'm nervous about finishing within the time frame we have.
00:25:13I'm stressed.
00:25:14The goal is just not to look stupid at this point.
00:25:17Okay. All right. Let's do it.
00:25:29It's a new day in the man cave,
00:25:31and my competitors are looking sleepy.
00:25:36I wish I had more time to work on the skirt,
00:25:41but I need to start getting into my face,
00:25:45and hopefully I can come back to adding those finishing touches.
00:25:48How's everyone feeling?
00:25:49Who got to sleep last night?
00:25:54I've got 90 minutes of sleep, but I love what I made.
00:25:58So much of what Henlo does is both stunning
00:26:01and a little bit off-putting or grotesque.
00:26:03I think it nails both of those perfectly.
00:26:05Half of this beefy challenge is performance-based.
00:26:09Yeah. And not to be a dick, but I'm not worried about that part.
00:26:12So it's just the outfit that's stressful to me.
00:26:15I love to lip-sync, so I'm going to be a threat.
00:26:18And I love my look, but, like, I think I'm the only one
00:26:22who did not work on my look in the hotel.
00:26:25I'm worrying, like, did I do enough?
00:26:27Last beefy challenge before the finale.
00:26:29Yeah. How crazy is that?
00:26:32How's everyone feeling about their concepts?
00:26:34I definitely... I don't hate what I made,
00:26:36but the idea of Gottmik seeing it makes me want to throw up.
00:26:39I'm never not going to be nervous with judges' feedback.
00:26:42I have tried to predict their feedback at times
00:26:44and not always been correct.
00:26:45So, of course, I'm a little hesitant
00:26:47to guess where they might land me.
00:26:50When's the last time you guys were this nervous to perform?
00:26:53Last week.
00:26:55I feel a little...
00:26:58Very good.
00:26:59I think I'm more nervous this week
00:27:00because I've never lip-synced as a performance before.
00:27:03Which would make it so much more badass
00:27:05if, like, you kicked all our asses at it.
00:27:07Yeah, yeah. Super easy.
00:27:09Never performed a lip-sync,
00:27:10and I'm going up against people who lip-sync for a living.
00:27:15All I can do is just keep my head in the game
00:27:16and just keep going, even though I'm petrified.
00:27:18I think the last time I was this nervous
00:27:20was actually the first time I ever performed
00:27:23in front of Sasha Velour,
00:27:24which was at the Mall of America in Minneapolis,
00:27:28and then people posted videos of us on Twitter
00:27:31saying what sinful homosexuals we are.
00:27:34Isn't that fun?
00:27:35Back home to brunch I host,
00:27:36it's at a coffee shop,
00:27:37but I still...
00:27:38I put 18-plus on the flyer
00:27:39just so conservatives don't harass my cast.
00:27:41My hottest take is
00:27:42I'm not even that big of a fan
00:27:43of kids at drag shows anyway.
00:27:45I'm like, they're broke,
00:27:46and they don't think I'm funny,
00:27:47so what's the point?
00:27:48You know what, fair?
00:27:51Murray!
00:27:52How are you?
00:27:53Whoo!
00:27:54That's good, huh?
00:27:55Yeah.
00:27:56Molasses!
00:27:57Yes?
00:27:58It's very busy.
00:27:59Come talk to Uncle Murray.
00:28:01What is this?
00:28:02A head wrap piece
00:28:03that's, like, similar to head wraps
00:28:05that the women in my family
00:28:07usually wear.
00:28:08We call them gale.
00:28:09But, yeah.
00:28:10A little hat.
00:28:11And then for this lip sync,
00:28:13at first I thought my tape
00:28:14was gonna be illustrating a story
00:28:16of trying to get, like, my parents
00:28:18to, like, call me good.
00:28:20But as I kind of move through
00:28:21building the whole piece,
00:28:23this is really about letting go for me,
00:28:25taking my own power and calling myself
00:28:28a good boy.
00:28:29Whether I make it to the finale,
00:28:30this is just about answering a call.
00:28:32The day that this was announced
00:28:34was the anniversary of my dad's death.
00:28:36I was in the cemetery with him,
00:28:40and my phone started just going off.
00:28:43And I just looked and I saw
00:28:45that the first ever drag competition
00:28:47for Kings was being announced.
00:28:49and I was like, whoa, okay.
00:28:54We're getting quite direct, huh, Pops?
00:28:56Well, I got two words for you.
00:28:58No, four.
00:28:59Yeah? Come on.
00:29:00You're a good boy.
00:29:01Oh.
00:29:06Big D, come on over
00:29:07and show me what you're cooking.
00:29:08Ooh, what is this?
00:29:10Yeah, it's a lunchbox.
00:29:11It's cooler, you know?
00:29:13What would making it to the finale mean to you?
00:29:16I, like, I can't even, you know,
00:29:18I've been thinking I was going to get eliminated,
00:29:20like, every time.
00:29:21So, you know, it's hard for me to, like,
00:29:23I didn't even think that I could make it onto the show.
00:29:26So, to be able to make it,
00:29:28to be able to make it to that level,
00:29:31um, is incredible.
00:29:34It is incredible to think about.
00:29:37Wow, you're crushing it.
00:29:39Thank you so much.
00:29:40I have been very passionate about performing
00:29:42since I was six years old,
00:29:44and my parents put me in acting class
00:29:45because I was painfully shy.
00:29:47When I become a male character,
00:29:49I have more space under my arms.
00:29:51I have more space between my fingers.
00:29:53I have more space in my face.
00:29:54Going out on stage saying, like,
00:29:56I'm a man taught me how to walk into a room
00:30:00and be like, check this out,
00:30:02both in drag and out of drag.
00:30:04This is quite difficult for me.
00:30:06I am quite tired, but it's so worth it
00:30:09because there's just so much love and admiration.
00:30:12If they take drag away like they try to do,
00:30:14I'm gonna still do something.
00:30:15I told my girlfriend if they make drag illegal,
00:30:17I'm not stopping.
00:30:18Every lesbian has the experience of, like,
00:30:20being called manly, you know, like, as a dig.
00:30:22As a tribute to this character, this butch bishop,
00:30:25Dick needs to be the hairiest he's been.
00:30:28One of my favorite parts of drag is being able to reclaim
00:30:30these insults as, like, a point of pride.
00:30:32What would getting to the finale mean for you?
00:30:36Uh...
00:30:38Literally, uh...
00:30:39Getting here in general was just a huge honor,
00:30:42so making it to the finale would just be the icing
00:30:45on this humongous, like, ten-tier cake.
00:30:48All right, kings, good luck to you.
00:30:50See you in a bit. Showbiz.
00:30:51Thanks, Marie. Bye.
00:30:52Bye, Marie. Thank you.
00:30:53Tell me I'm a good boy, tell me I'm good.
00:30:58Whoo.
00:30:59One we're doing right now has got to be the hardest.
00:31:01Yeah, I'm making my dreams come true.
00:31:03I have to make clothes, too.
00:31:04Being so close to making it to the finale,
00:31:07I'm ready, let's do it.
00:31:09Should they watch out for me?
00:31:10They know they should.
00:31:11I have to be at the top.
00:31:13If their criteria is,
00:31:14I want to see top-to-toe bad ,
00:31:16could be me.
00:31:31if their creator is,
00:31:33might, be me.
00:31:41But, uh...
00:31:46Welcome to Music Week at the Royal Concert Hall.
00:31:50The kings were asked to design,
00:31:52and create a DIY look and give us a superstar performance.
00:31:56Let me introduce you to our killer king's court.
00:32:02Our resident flaming hot Puerto Rican tenderoni.
00:32:10From RuPaul's Drag Race, actor, model, makeup artist,
00:32:14and drag superstar, got Mick.
00:32:17Actor, musician, screenwriter,
00:32:20and the star of Reverie's new original series,
00:32:23Unconventional, Aubrey Shea.
00:32:27Actor, writer, and comic,
00:32:29whose new stand-up special, Four Pills,
00:32:32is streaming now on Dropout,
00:32:34Cameron Esposito.
00:32:38She's a punk singer, writer, artist,
00:32:40and the front woman of the iconic bands,
00:32:42Bikini Kill and La Tigra.
00:32:44Kathleen Hanna.
00:32:50Judges, this is a high-stakes challenge.
00:32:56Whoever makes it through today is going to the finale.
00:33:00So I'm going to ask you something.
00:33:02There's a lot of pressure on you,
00:33:03but I don't want you to feel any pressure.
00:33:05What are you looking for tonight?
00:33:07I'll start with you, tenderoni.
00:33:09By the way, you look like Elton John's husband.
00:33:11If they had a child and it was Elvis, who was gay.
00:33:13You're right.
00:33:16Go ahead.
00:33:17Tonight, I'm looking for creativity,
00:33:18a unique look, and a lip sync that is extra, extra tight.
00:33:24I have done a few design challenges in my day,
00:33:27so I'm going to give them a little grace,
00:33:29but I also have a very high standard.
00:33:31I'm looking for severe artistry today.
00:33:34I'm excited to see people hopefully really living
00:33:37in their most gender euphoric space today.
00:33:39I'm looking for something a little spiritual, something holy,
00:33:41something elevated, something closer to God.
00:33:43I'm looking for someone who really commits
00:33:45to what they're doing, like a Nicolas Cage type thing.
00:33:48Oh, that's commitment.
00:33:49Just like really throws themselves
00:33:51into what they're doing, and no shame.
00:33:54All right, no shame.
00:33:55Judges, you ready?
00:33:56Yes.
00:33:57I am ready.
00:33:59Tonight is a double elimination.
00:34:03Two kings will be going home.
00:34:06It's time to take a look at the looks.
00:34:09First up, King Molasses.
00:34:15This look is my inner child.
00:34:18The buttons on the skirt are like macaroni art.
00:34:21I made this silly long necktie as an element of play.
00:34:25I just hope the judges understand.
00:34:30Henlo Bullfrog.
00:34:32This creature has been called back from death.
00:34:34It is going towards its victim, begging, please love me,
00:34:38approve of me, I need you, and also, like, I'm going to eat you.
00:34:41I'm feeling a little nervous, but I'm also feeling sure of myself
00:34:45because I know I look amazing, and I'm really feeling the story
00:34:48that I'm telling.
00:34:50Dick, Vaughn, Dyke.
00:34:53My butch bishop is my tribute to Dyke masculinity and Dyke beauty.
00:34:59I think my worst case scenario is I split my chaps.
00:35:03Oh, yes, I.
00:35:04Yeah.
00:35:05I have split so many pairs of pants you would not even believe.
00:35:12Percosex.
00:35:17My look for this challenge is anxious puppy that just wants to be told he's a good boy.
00:35:23Even though he looks scary, he just wants that validation.
00:35:26My look is smaller compared to everyone else's.
00:35:29I'm worried that it will be perceived as me doing less.
00:35:32Big D.
00:35:35I actually really like what I made.
00:35:42This look is giving, like, I'm a spoiled brat.
00:35:44Tell me I'm a good boy.
00:35:45I'm hoping the hot glue holds.
00:35:47I'm hoping that they get what I'm going for,
00:35:49that they get my references.
00:35:50It's time to see the Kings live in concert.
00:35:59Here it is, Good Boy from ARX.
00:36:02DJ, hit it.
00:36:20Good boy.
00:36:21You don't know the power you have over me.
00:36:25You don't know how bad I want you to take the lead.
00:36:29I could be your baby.
00:36:31I could be your man.
00:36:33Anything you want, I'll do everything I can.
00:36:37Hear what I'm saying.
00:36:43You don't know how bad I want you to take the lead.
00:36:54Tell me I'm a good boy.
00:36:56Tell me I'm good.
00:36:58Tell me what you want.
00:36:59What you're dying that you could.
00:37:01Woo!
00:37:02I know that you're scared, but I wish that you would.
00:37:06Tell me I'm good.
00:37:08Tell me I'm good.
00:37:10Tell me what you want, tell me what you want.
00:37:14Good boy.
00:37:15Tell me what you want, tell me what you want.
00:37:18Good boy.
00:37:19Tell me what you want, tell me what you want.
00:37:22Good boy.
00:37:23Tell me what you want, tell me what you want.
00:37:26Woo!
00:37:27Out here working up the sweat.
00:37:30You're making me bag and I'll take what I can get.
00:37:34I'm feeling restless, tired of being alone
00:37:38I'll be a good boy waiting here at home
00:37:43Hear what I'm saying
00:37:49You know I'm not playing
00:37:57Johnny, I'm a good boy, Johnny, I'm good
00:38:02Tell me what you want, that you're dying, that you're good
00:38:07I know that you're scared, but I wish that you would
00:38:11Tell me I'm good, tell me I'm good
00:38:15Tell me what you want, tell me what you want
00:38:19Good boy, tell me what you want, tell me what you want
00:38:23Good boy, tell me what you want, tell me what you want
00:38:27Good boy, tell me what you want, tell me what you want
00:38:31Oh, I'm a good boy, tell me I'm good, tell me what you want, what you're dying, that you're good, I know that you're scared, got me wishing you would, tell me I'm good, tell me I'm good, tell me I'm good, tell me I'm good, woo, absolutely, yeah, I'm a real king.
00:39:01Kings, tonight, no one is safe. It's time to hear from our king's court. First up, our shiny friend, Fenderoni.
00:39:12Hi, Kikwilasas. I think you had one of the strongest lip syncs tonight. Once again, the way that you control your movement is so impressive to me.
00:39:20The way the material's here, I wish they were a little bit cleaner in some areas. I wish, like, the fabric on the hole was maybe steamed.
00:39:27When you first came out, I, it was a lot to take in. I was like, okay, and then you performed and I feel like I got it more.
00:39:35I think that's what, as all of us as artists try to do, so kudos to that.
00:39:39Thank you so much.
00:39:40I thought you did really well with the props, having the necktie. I don't know if it was a symbol of, like, corporate control or, like, I have no idea what the narrative was and I would have liked to know more about the narrative.
00:39:50I could feel how much you were connecting to what you were portraying. Gender to me feels like an ethereal, nebulous cloud, and you were giving me that. I think that the just overall construction could have been, like, a little cleaner.
00:40:03I was kind of worried about going in, just, like, the construction and the fidelity of the materials. I think that could have been tightened up for sure.
00:40:10Percosex.
00:40:11Watching you in this competition, I'm like, I didn't realize Percosex was so good at being scary because the way that you held yourself and were, like, stomping was, like, so, like, oh, my God, I'm scared.
00:40:24I like the use of your color and the anxious.
00:40:27I just want to say you really brought the heat. I could have used bigger, bigger shoulders, bigger, like, everything bigger. I just wanted everything bigger, like, even if the shoulder pads, like, went straight out.
00:40:38I love your makeup. You're obviously such a talented makeup artist. The construction of the garment isn't my favorite thing, but you'll have it.
00:40:48Okay, self-aware king, I live. But I think because you have this thriller situation, it kind of allows for a little tattered, spooky vibe. So I think that was a really smart choice.
00:40:59I agree a lot with you about a lot of what you said. You had the piece kind of falling off at the end.
00:41:03Oh, I strongly agreed with the judges' feedback. That was not good.
00:41:07Good when they said, oh, I wish it was better constructed. Like, girl, I wish it was better constructed.
00:41:12Oh, and note about the fabric. My boy Dick Von Dyke saw the fabric and thought of me.
00:41:16You better work.
00:41:18Drag kings are so nice. The big difference in drag kings, they actually like each other.
00:41:22Yeah, literally.
00:41:23You'd be like, hide the fabric from her. Hide it.
00:41:26Big D.
00:41:27When you came out, I was thinking, I was like, this is like Pee-wee's playhouse.
00:41:31I really like the trim detail that you did, and also kudos on the shoes. I see the detailing.
00:41:36The diaper reveal was hilarious. I was like, what did he eat?
00:41:40Wouldn't you like to know?
00:41:42I love a narrative. This is really cool. It's absolutely out-of-pocket psychotic.
00:41:48Like, you're giving, like, demonic, bottle blonde, little orphan Annie, Bowie, Tom Brown.
00:41:54You see me.
00:41:55Blue eating Augustus Gloob. I'm like, what is happening? Like, how many more references can we fit in there, gorgeous?
00:42:01I'm kind of obsessed with the backpack, but also I was like, I'm not sure if I fully get it.
00:42:07But it felt almost a little unwieldy. It felt like it could have been hard to navigate.
00:42:10I was like, this is the outfit that, like, Gwen Stefani would make after an ayahuasca trip.
00:42:15I think using costume and prop as one was a really, really good idea.
00:42:20Thank you so much. Thank you.
00:42:21In this moment, where I'm standing there in a garbage ensemble, they got my references.
00:42:27They saw my story and my attention to detail.
00:42:30Got Mick says they love my look.
00:42:34Got Mick!
00:42:35Are they all lying?
00:42:36Am I in a delusional dream where everyone is just saying what I want to hear?
00:42:39I have no idea.
00:42:40Henlo!
00:42:41This is amazing.
00:42:42Did you airbrush this?
00:42:43Yes, I airbrushed it.
00:42:49Also, this is the first bodysuit I've ever sewn.
00:42:52I really love the look, but I think maybe it could be a little bit busy.
00:42:55So maybe take one thing away.
00:42:56Like, maybe you don't need the red beads.
00:42:58Tenderoni doesn't like maximalism.
00:43:00Note taken.
00:43:01Yeah.
00:43:02Take the hit.
00:43:02I disagree with you.
00:43:04I love the beads.
00:43:05It is giving organs.
00:43:06It's giving movement.
00:43:07It's everything I needed.
00:43:09Thank you so much.
00:43:10To me, this is, like, the most impressive construction on stage.
00:43:13It really blew me away.
00:43:14And what it gave me, I love your, like, zombie moment, but I was getting, like, Puck from
00:43:19Midsommar and was obsessed with that.
00:43:22I want to just say this is actually a little too scary for me.
00:43:25When I first saw you, I thought, what terrible thing has happened to Peter Pan?
00:43:29You know what I mean?
00:43:29Like a yet undiscovered STI.
00:43:32But I think it works.
00:43:33Kathleen?
00:43:34Yes?
00:43:34I thought that was definitely some Nicolas Cage-style commitment from you.
00:43:39And that's one of my highest compliments in life.
00:43:41My one comment is that you did such amazing detail down to the teeth and the inside.
00:43:46I would have liked to see it more.
00:43:47If you're going to put that much work, let us see it when you're actually on the stage.
00:43:51They enjoyed my performance.
00:43:53And somehow, some of them also got the reference.
00:43:57I'm happy with that.
00:43:59All right.
00:44:00Dick, Vaughn, Dyke.
00:44:02I am obsessed.
00:44:03I do so.
00:44:04No, just hot glue and a prayer.
00:44:06Love the cuffs, like, the gauntlet being, like, the shape of that's fierce.
00:44:10The shoulders are fierce.
00:44:11Being a literal campy pope is fierce.
00:44:14Like, that's funny.
00:44:15When you had the camo Bible, I said, let's go.
00:44:18You get me.
00:44:19I really thought that your lip sync was effective in its manliness.
00:44:24I really felt that butch energy.
00:44:26So congratulations.
00:44:28You have flustered me.
00:44:32I think I've been struggling to find what's comfortable in this competition.
00:44:38And today we got out to lip sync.
00:44:40And I was like, oh, yeah, this is what I do.
00:44:42I'm not surprised to hear that that is, like, where you really feel free.
00:44:47I felt that so much from you.
00:44:49Your pieces are so strong and, like, iconic and really well constructed.
00:44:54I'm pretty obsessed with everything you did.
00:44:56We were, uh, really wondering if your butt was real.
00:44:59Yeah, uh, plastic doesn't do this, just so you know.
00:45:01I know when we saw that, we were like, we were like, it's real.
00:45:04It's definitely an actual human butt.
00:45:06It feels crazy to be getting so much positive feedback from the judges.
00:45:08I don't even really know what to do with it.
00:45:10Just because I haven't felt seen like this yet in this competition.
00:45:13All right, Cakes, please leave the stage while the court deliberates.
00:45:20Okay, we have a double elimination today.
00:45:23We have to send three people to the final thrust.
00:45:26So we have a very hard decision to make.
00:45:28Oh, boy.
00:45:30What did you guys think of King Molasses?
00:45:31I loved the journey I was taken on through his performance.
00:45:36The more he performed, I was like, oh, I get it.
00:45:38So I was really impressed.
00:45:40But I think today the look was not my favorite.
00:45:42I felt like there was a total narrative there, and I wasn't totally grasping it.
00:45:46And I think that it might have been too much for me.
00:45:50Okay, let's talk about Dick Von Dyke.
00:45:52There was a concept, like face, performance.
00:45:55I thought it was all really strong.
00:45:57I mean, just the entertainment value that Dick brought was really, really great.
00:46:00Like, part of the thing that we're talking about is like,
00:46:03someone who's bringing themselves and their presence to the character.
00:46:07And that they're merging together kind of seamlessly.
00:46:09When he came out, I saw the character and I saw the person inside the character.
00:46:14And that interplay was so wonderful to watch.
00:46:17Also just thought the outfit was great.
00:46:19And he was just like, simple.
00:46:20It's symmetrical.
00:46:21It's effective.
00:46:22I have a storyline, like going to bed, baby.
00:46:25And I loved that.
00:46:26I was like, you better work being confident in your symmetrical triangle plaids.
00:46:30Like, love it.
00:46:32Percosex.
00:46:32I felt like, overall, there was like a little bit of a lack of polish.
00:46:37What I love about Percosex is his energy.
00:46:39But I also think that sometimes he lacks control when he's performing.
00:46:43Because I feel like he's like, always rushing to get to the next thing that he wants to do.
00:46:47Compared to the other person on stage wearing chaps,
00:46:50the other one was constructed better.
00:46:52So it's hard when you have two to look at.
00:46:54Two sets of chaps is always a hard, always a difficult problem for me.
00:46:58I'm like, yeah, I mean.
00:46:59Oh my God.
00:47:01Henlo Bullfrog.
00:47:02I just really loved the kind of sureness and the follow-through of the character.
00:47:07The artistry is just insane.
00:47:10I love a branded face.
00:47:12I feel like that is him.
00:47:13I love Henlo's look, but sometimes I think you take one thing away.
00:47:17It's like, sometimes it's too busy.
00:47:20It was also so large, like so physically imposing.
00:47:23And I felt like I lost him a little bit in there.
00:47:26Big D.
00:47:27Okay, it was funny.
00:47:28Since the beginning, he's always been like the funniest person.
00:47:32And so conceptual and so like method.
00:47:35Like personally, his look is the strongest I've seen him look in this competition.
00:47:41He really like paid attention to the details.
00:47:43I'll say this, like it definitely was awkward at the start.
00:47:48I do think that they warmed up to using those.
00:47:50Even though the straps were kind of like what's happening, it was a strong concept.
00:47:53It was a little all over the place to me.
00:47:55It had too many references.
00:47:57I got the, you know, Agnes Young, heavy metal English.
00:48:01But then it's like the lunchbox and it's goth.
00:48:03And I was just kind of a little bit confused by it.
00:48:05It's time for the court's royal decree.
00:48:15Scott Mick, who is the winner of this week's episode?
00:48:18The king we have chosen is...
00:48:22Dick Von Dyke.
00:48:25I'm in a state of shock.
00:48:30I mean, I expected to go home.
00:48:32So then to hear that I won the challenge, I'm gobsmacked.
00:48:36Congratulations, Dick Von Dyke.
00:48:39You are first to make it into the finale.
00:48:42I thought I was going to pass out just now.
00:48:43Did you say Dick Von Dyke?
00:48:45I did.
00:48:45Dick Von Dyke.
00:48:46Thanks.
00:48:47When I put this look on, I didn't realize that I was standing differently.
00:48:51All the other kings were like, oh, Dick Von Dyke just walked in the room.
00:48:55I was just beaming to be in something that I felt confident in.
00:48:59Now the hard part.
00:49:00Who will be facing off in our final thrust tonight and be up for elimination?
00:49:07Tenderoni?
00:49:08The next king making it to the finale is...
00:49:14Henlo Bullfrog.
00:49:18That's me.
00:49:19I'm a finalist.
00:49:20I'm top three.
00:49:21Guaranteed.
00:49:21I was imagining myself at the end.
00:49:23Now I get to live that.
00:49:25What a relief.
00:49:26What happiness.
00:49:27Henlo Bullfrog, congratulations.
00:49:29You have made it to the finale.
00:49:32King Molasses, Percocets, Big D.
00:49:36I'm sorry, but you are up for elimination.
00:49:39You must all face off in the final thrust.
00:49:43This week, your challenge is interpretive dance.
00:49:50You'll have to choreograph an interpretive dance, so you got to lean into your showmanship and sell it to us.
00:49:58I love interpretive dance.
00:50:00I love interpretive dance.
00:50:01And they're like, make a story.
00:50:02We're looking for story.
00:50:03Got it.
00:50:04Kings, this is your last shot at the finale.
00:50:07Put your whole daring, innovation, creativity, and charisma with a K.
00:50:13Really cram it in there.
00:50:14I really want that finale spot.
00:50:17The fact that I have been in the bottom the most in the competition, but I still made it to the same point.
00:50:23There's a reason for that.
00:50:24I am not going to let a design challenge get in my way.
00:50:29Now go interpret.
00:50:30I came into this knowing that this would be challenging.
00:50:33I'm feeling the anxiety and the nerves of the final thrust.
00:50:38I just have to move forward.
00:50:42Yeah, I'm a real king.
00:50:49This is the final thrust.
00:50:53Tonight, came molasses, Percocets, Big D.
00:50:57We're tasked with coming up with an original interpretive dance.
00:51:01What sadistic person picked these final thrusts?
00:51:03Interpretive dance?
00:51:05Can we do breakdancing again, please?
00:51:07And it's up against molasses, who is an elegant dancer, mover, and against Big D, who is literally a comedy actor.
00:51:15At this point, I'm just like, whatever happens, I'm going to go down swinging.
00:51:19Movement is a thing that I'm probably the most known for.
00:51:22But I'm going up against Big D and Percocet, two incredible performers, very deserving to be here.
00:51:30And I'm not sure if I'll be able to do enough, especially coming off of being in the final thrust the previous week.
00:51:37To get into the finale would mean that what I have as a performer is enough.
00:51:44I'm trying to say something about masculinity and about facade.
00:51:47With this dance, I have a clear sort of script for myself.
00:51:51We'll see how it goes.
00:51:52This is the final thrust.
00:52:02Ready, set, interpret.
00:52:04I am this close to the finale.
00:52:17I just got to go a little bit further.
00:52:20It's a little bit further out of my comfort zone.
00:52:22I made it this far.
00:52:27Let's interpret some dancing.
00:52:28Let's go.
00:52:29It matters a lot to me to be in the finale because I want to be able to show everything that I can bring.
00:52:46And I feel like I would be a great king of drag.
00:52:48Well, I think I did pretty okay.
00:52:55Well, I think I did pretty okay, not gonna lie, I kind of got lost in my own performance.
00:53:21Hopefully they interpreted enough to at least get to know me as a person.
00:53:25What's going through my mind is like power, power, power, power, power, power.
00:53:51What's going through my mind is like, I really want my physicality to be clear.
00:53:58I like to work with images.
00:54:00So I was working with this idea of like blooming flowers out of my body and also waves.
00:54:09I created a character who's like a wannabe cool dude and I want to show like him trying to sort of belly up and like be cool with the other dudes and then they leave.
00:54:19He gets to bare his soul and then they come back and he has to mask again because I think it's real hard being a man.
00:54:26Making it to the final three, I don't even know what my reserves are.
00:54:35I figured that like just pure adrenaline and audacity would get me there, but I also don't even know if I like have it.
00:54:42There's a bit of like a fire under my ass because I am actually good at this and because of the feedback, I have to make a big statement.
00:55:00I need to put everything into this final thrust.
00:55:21It's emotional because this is an interpretive dance, right, about your drag.
00:55:27And so much of my drag before this competition has been a fight, usually within myself.
00:55:34And I needed to push past my guard and let that vulnerability be embodied in the movement.
00:55:48Wow.
00:55:49Wow.
00:55:50Wow.
00:55:51Woo!
00:55:52Woo!
00:55:53Woo!
00:55:54Woo!
00:55:55Woo!
00:56:20wanted to say you three kings have been amazing in this competition. This is one
00:56:25of the hardest decisions we had to make. The king we are sending to the finale is
00:56:33King Molasses.
00:56:42My first thought is that I really hate that this is the end of the journey for
00:56:47Perka and Big D. I know how hard they worked. I saw their resilience in the man cave every week.
00:56:55King Molasses, congratulations. You are safe and you have made it to the finale of King of Drag.
00:57:04Perka Sex, Big D, sorry but your time here has ended. Being one of two people to go home really
00:57:10helps. So I'm gonna pat my back on the way out. At least one black person made it to the finale
00:57:15and that's was the goal here. I'm glad it's Molasses. I really wanted to make the final three.
00:57:21It feels a lot of things to know I'm leaving but I'm leaving with like two arm loads of skills. My
00:57:27fingertips are slightly numb and oversensitive from all the hot glue burns. Struggling to feel like
00:57:34it's fair for me to be in the finale and these two incredible artists to not. Big D has totally changed
00:57:43the way I think about drag and I have just become such a Perka Sex fan like to the nine. What an
00:57:50incredible achievement to come this far. Perka Sex and Big D, if you could take a knee. I dub thee
00:58:01honorary members of the King of Drag family. Both of you put the K in community. You may rise.
00:58:10Perka Sex, any final words you want to say? Well first I would like to thank my chosen family for
00:58:15believing in me even when they probably shouldn't have and if you are interested in booking King
00:58:21Perka Sex you just need to log on to www.kingperka.com and send an email with your location and show date
00:58:28and someone will get back to you shortly. Big D, uh, I can't go out in that wig. Before I came to this
00:58:38competition I thought my drag wouldn't measure up. I thought the torn meniscus in my knee or being
00:58:43post-menopausal was going to keep me from excellence. Um, I have felt nothing but love and support and I
00:58:50hope that I've proved once and for all that there's nothing funny about being a man. Yeah!
00:58:56Perka Sex, Big D, please pack your Packers and head home.
00:59:06I'm feeling more audacious. Get ready. I'm gonna start making some more looks.
00:59:12I'm leaving with some new friends and a new sense honestly of belonging. It's hard for me to feel bad
00:59:20for too long about getting sent home because I was surrounded by really talented kings. You don't
00:59:27see that many black drag kings. People need to see trans joy. I'm glad I could be a part of history.
00:59:34This isn't the end for me. This is just a stepping stone.
00:59:39That's a wrap. I gotta get home and get ready for the big finale. All right, see you next time.
00:59:45Showbiz and good night. That was a wild episode. Can you believe that dance in these kings?
00:59:52Yeah. Do we have time? Can I try it?
00:59:53Seriously? No, I've never, I've never done interpretive dance. Look at me.
00:59:57Can they just stay to put the music on? Can we get playback?
01:00:00All right. Hey, Murray. Murray. Murray. Can I go? Have you ever done interpretive dancing?
01:00:17Yeah, I did it professionally. All right, sleep in. Oh God, I see this. Oh, s**t.
01:00:22Get me out of this. Check the gate!