The Shade Of It All: A Rucast Podrace for RuPaul's Drag Race
Comedians Katie Compa, Kyle-Steven Porter and Sharron Paul have a kiki each week to spill some tea over the latest episode of RuPaul's Drag Race and all things SHADE.
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Episode 223: Season 16, Episodes 7-16 - These Are Our REAL Thoughts, Heughnny!
09/04/2024
Episode 223: Season 16, Episodes 7-16 - These Are Our REAL Thoughts, Heughnny!
READERS, school is back in session and so are we! Not content to leave you hanging, Kyle and Dr. Ben dust off their seats at the Shade Table to recap their thoughts on the remainder of one of their favorite regular seasons in a while (even if the narrative conclusion left a little bit to be desired). Join us ahead of our still-to-be-determined cadence for our RuCaps of Global All Stars with this Season 16 sum-up! (music: bensound.com)
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Episode 222: Season 16, Episode 6 - The Dawls Are The DAWLS
02/13/2024
Episode 222: Season 16, Episode 6 - The Dawls Are The DAWLS
At this point READERS, the dawls are the DAWLS! Avid dawl collector and fellow Aries Yair joins Kyle as they discuss their childhood journeys with toys and dolls, what aspects a collector looks for when expanding on their collection, the joys of getting a fresh challenge sixteen seasons into the franchise, and the many varied outcomes with the queens' foray into creating, branding and selling their signature limited edition dolls! Did the judges get it right? Which doll did you most want to add to your collection? (music: bensound.com)
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Episode 221: Season 16, Episode 5 - Quiet (Pussycat) Riot
02/06/2024
Episode 221: Season 16, Episode 5 - Quiet (Pussycat) Riot
Down on your knees READERS - Mother is in the spotlight! What happens when Kyle (who's kind of a bitch) and Keith (who puts your man on a leash) are drinking, having Keith cookies, and talking about made up Swedish bands? It means they're also talking latex for a mini challenge, self-producing girlies who don't think fully through their edits, being picked last in gym class, and the satisfaction of an underestimated underdog edit coming to fruition! Along with pussycat wigs (and mushroom, bus driver, Marcel finger wave and bowl cut wigs pretending to be pussycat wigs), we've got a quick (for us) rucap of Episode 5 of Season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race - the girl group challenge! Make sure your Q doesn't heave on your angora carpet! We mean your cat.
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Episode 220: Season 16, Episode 4 - The Jannification of Loosey La-Q-Ca
01/30/2024
Episode 220: Season 16, Episode 4 - The Jannification of Loosey La-Q-Ca
SCHNAP OUT OF IT, READERS! Kyle and Keith are joined by Berlin-born, Boston based, bashful boy Patrick R to discuss hotel upgrades, stances on sketch comedy (or lack thereof), Chermit the Tiger the Frog, Babs and that emotional Eliminaysha and all that transpired in episode 4 of Drag Race Season 16, RDR Live! (music: bensound.com)
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Episode 219: Season 16, Episode 3 - Mom Jeans & Mother Toilets
01/23/2024
Episode 219: Season 16, Episode 3 - Mom Jeans & Mother Toilets
READERS - for the Mother of All Balls, who would you have summoned to the Shade Table? ("...Pass!") Kyle is joined by Keith, Ben and Holly for a 3 hour deep dive into the season so far, being kindofabitch, those WHO AIN'T NO DIVAAAAAA, what offended them about the various presentations of the episode (spoiler alert - there's a lot of things!) and opinions on all FORTY TWO! looks from Season 16's first full cast challenge, The Mother Ball! Who are your Mother Goose and Significant Mothers, and do you agree with the final Rate-A-Queen results? Were the right winner and Porkchop selected? Let us know, maldita perra! (music: bensound.com)
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Episodes 217 & 218: Season 16 Split Premiere - Two Star-Crossed Titties in VeRUna
01/21/2024
Episodes 217 & 218: Season 16 Split Premiere - Two Star-Crossed Titties in VeRUna
The wait is over, reading kittens! With a new year, new season of Drag Race and new equipment to break in at the Shade Table, Kyle & Ben dive into their thoughts on heel clacking, cross-eyed titty bibs, social media mugs, flippin to flip, political posters, AI racers, bananas and rating queens in our RuCap of the split premiere episodes of Season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race! (music: bensound.com)
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Episode 216: We Need A Ruvolution (Season 16 Promo Thoughts!)
12/08/2023
Episode 216: We Need A Ruvolution (Season 16 Promo Thoughts!)
Grab your sixteen tunneled candles and pearl (h*rbor) thongs because The Shade Table is BACK IN SESSION! Fresh off the Sasha Colby Meet & Greet, Kyle is joined by Katie and Calvin Cato to give flowers and camouflaged shade at our latest crop of queens for Season 16 of Drag Race OG. (Spoiler alert: a past multi-visit Shade Table librarian is now a RuGirl!!!) Check out our rundown of the Season 16 Meet the Queens ahead of the NEW season kicking off on January 5th! (music: )
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Episode 215: All Stars 8, Episodes 7-12 - Buzzballing About Queen B
08/14/2023
Episode 215: All Stars 8, Episodes 7-12 - Buzzballing About Queen B
READERS, we've got more summer reading for your nerves! Kyle and Keith are joined by The Bronx's premiere andrologist Ricardo Cabanas at the Shade Table, having buzzballs and Strawberritas and a slew of various Drag Race opinions. We talk about Ricardo's job of helping people make babies, the revolving door of Hell's Kitchen gay bars, how to see Beyonce twice (Kyle's not bitter), and our thoughts on the outcome of the back half of All Stars 8. How did y'all find this season readers? And which franchise are you enjoying most (and should we cover next?) (music: bensound.com)
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Episodes 212, 213 & 214: Be Bold, Be Great, Beyoncé
08/06/2023
Episodes 212, 213 & 214: Be Bold, Be Great, Beyoncé
Because you're holding up podcasting, green means GO! READERS, it's our longest episode ever but I promise it's for all the right reasons - Kyle's joined at the Shade Table with Ben and Tom McDonald of bookseller fame to wax poetic about the greatest all-around performer of our time, Beyoncé Giselle Knowles Carter. We do a deep dive from the Destiny's Child days through the first 4 albums of her solo career, and of course talk about the *experience* Kyle and Ben had at the Renaissance World Tour. (We also spend time at the top talking about astrology, working at bookstores and some of Kyle and Tom's memorable celebrity encounters.) Break up the listen of the episode but don't break your soul - it's a fun listen that'll have you jumpin jumpin for our follow up (when we'll talk about self-titled and beyond in more depth).
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Episodes 210 & 211: All Stars 8, Episodes 5 & 6 - The Zaddy of All Shade Of It All Podcasts!
06/19/2023
Episodes 210 & 211: All Stars 8, Episodes 5 & 6 - The Zaddy of All Shade Of It All Podcasts!
Happy Zaddy's Day, READERS! One of the longest episodes of The Shade Of It All to date is here for all of the best reasons: via satellite call from Lebanon, the humble, honest, humongously talented, handsome and hot Haaz Sleiman joins (a VERY geeked and internally fanboying) Kyle at the Shade Table! Adorable nieces and brief internet outages were no match for a full-range conversation, discussing Haaz's introduction to acting, the other actors whose work inspires him, which of his roles led to him owning a custom $1k human hair wig, and being named a Daddy by Queerty for Father's Day this year. We also kiki quite a bit about Drag Race (and lightly spoil episodes 5-7 of All Stars 8, for the record). Which crowned queen did Haaz work with and encourage to go on the show? How many seasons of Drag Race and the numerous spinoffs has he seen? What type of queen would he be if he performed regularly? (Hint: there may be a reason Haaz asked what age range our audience is.) ;) Truly, we're honored to have had the time with him, and hope you enjoy the episode and if you aren't already, familiarize yourself with Haaz's work as his star continues to shine brighter! (Kyditor's note: Moving On is now available on streaming, as is Breaking Fast which everyone should see!) (music: bensound.com)
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Episode 209: All Stars 8, Episode 4 - Ass (Not) Seen On TV
06/01/2023
Episode 209: All Stars 8, Episode 4 - Ass (Not) Seen On TV
Well another episode happened readers! Kyle and Ben play around with some new sound effects, share some thoughts on old school drag, new drag television (hiiiiiieeeeee, Drag Me To Dinner) and begrudgingly relive their thoughts on Episode 4 of All Stars 8, "Screen Queens". (music: bensound.com)
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Episode 208: All Stars 8, Episodes 2 & 3 - Beige Against The Machine
05/24/2023
Episode 208: All Stars 8, Episodes 2 & 3 - Beige Against The Machine
Kyle and Keith return to the Shade Table with several many cups and opinions. Some discussion points include the Dead Puppies dirge from Kyle’s acting days, the show’s current Production Problem, Tears of the Kingdom, Don’t Attack My Sisters, mismatched kitty bibs, internet Qawk therapy, and ALL OF THE FEELINGS about the “skits” and “designs” from Episodes 2 & 3 of All Stars 8. How many drinks might we need to get through the rest of this season? #HeidiWasRobbed (music: )
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Episode 207: All Stars 8 Premiere - Whiskey Barns of the Rich & Famous
05/17/2023
Episode 207: All Stars 8 Premiere - Whiskey Barns of the Rich & Famous
We're back back back back back back back back again, READERS! For the premiere of the 8th(!) All Stars season, it's family as Kyle has Katie and Sharron at an IRL Shade Table to talk egg whites in a bag, Katie's jet setting ways, Sharron's fascination with artifice, deeply offensive velvets and our thoughts on the opening episode (and twist!) of All Stars 8, "The Fame Games". Cashews is back on our screens! (music: bensound.com)
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Episode 206: Season 15 FINALE - ☜︎⌧︎◻︎♏︎♍︎⧫︎ ❄︎♒︎♏︎ ☜︎⌧︎◻︎♏︎♍︎⧫︎♋︎♌︎●︎♏︎
04/18/2023
Episode 206: Season 15 FINALE - ☜︎⌧︎◻︎♏︎♍︎⧫︎ ❄︎♒︎♏︎ ☜︎⌧︎◻︎♏︎♍︎⧫︎♋︎♌︎●︎♏︎
👎︎❒︎♋︎♑︎ ✋︎⬧︎ ☠︎□︎⧫︎ ✌︎ 👍︎❒︎♓︎❍︎♏︎, readers! Helping to sum up the first full MTV season, Kyle is joined by recurring Shade Table fixture Keith Avery to talk about the fashions, the interviews, the performances, the injuries, the tantrums and the definitely not at all expected outcome of the finale of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15! We also chat about what this means in this moment, what it means for the future of the franchise, and give some flowers to our stars of the season, all while laughing far more than we have any right to. Are you satisfied with the outcome readers? And do you have any opinions on what season we should cover next, since the Drag Race machine is running full steam ahead? (Just 3.5 weeks until All Stars 8! 🤯) (music: bensound.com)
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Episode 205: Season 15, Episodes 14 & 15 - Blame It On The Aries
04/13/2023
Episode 205: Season 15, Episodes 14 & 15 - Blame It On The Aries
READERS, be amazed by the ample artistic Aries awesomeness as Kyle is joined at the (birthday!) Shade Table for the 3rd time this season by his fellow birthmonth sister, Andrilisa! (Andrili is April 3rd and Kyle April 13th - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!) While they do share their fleeting thoughts on the music video, final runway presentations and lipsync of "Blame It On The Edit" as well as the snap impressions of the reunion lewks, please also relish the incredibly helpful advice for creatives, understand the purpose of well-placed critiques and how they can influence you, as well as the word in the Spanish spelling bee that cost Andrilisa the regional title (as well as the word that also tripped up Kyle on his spelling bee championship journey). It's the home stretch to the Season 15 finale - which queen will be the first main season queen to bank over $200,000?! (music: bensound.com)
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Episode 204: Season 15, Episode 13 - Miss Husky Timbre Is Missing
04/06/2023
Episode 204: Season 15, Episode 13 - Miss Husky Timbre Is Missing
Readers, please welcome to the stage: Miss Husky Timbre! (Sidebar: Why is that pronounced “tam-berr?) Two red hot redhead teachers - Ben and Holland - join Kyle at both the physical and virtual Shade Table. We discuss our teachers’ favorite grades to teach, our thoughts on the current state of education, signature challenges from the show’s history, guests doing and giving absolutely nothing in the mini challenge, and the varying results of this season’s makeover on their charges: a group of teachers! Who’s makeover was your favorite? Are we heading into the home stretch with your favorite final 4? And of course: have you finally LET LOOSE? (music: )
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Episode 203: Season 15, Episode 12 - Wig LOOSE, I Said Wig LOO-OOSE!
03/30/2023
Episode 203: Season 15, Episode 12 - Wig LOOSE, I Said Wig LOO-OOSE!
It’s time to WIG LOOSE, WE SAID WIG LOO-OOSE! Pregnant star of stage and screen Holland Hamilton joins a congested Kyle at the virtual Shade Table to discuss self love, picking roles in musicals (or having them picked for you), the mover call, effervescent fashion language, and the performances of this season’s Rusical, “Wigloose!” Which part would you have jockeyed for? Was this your favorite Rusical in the show’s history? Most importantly: did anyone truly WIG LOOSE?! (music: )
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Episode 202: Season 15, Episode 11 - Seven Queens, No Jokes
03/21/2023
Episode 202: Season 15, Episode 11 - Seven Queens, No Jokes
READERS! Our episode is as timely as the references of this season’s “comedy” challenge 😩 Kyle is joined by longtime friend of the pod Calvin S. Cato to talk about Ohio, White Nonsense TV Shows (and their actually enjoyable counterparts), how many titties is a superior number of titties, dated pop culture references, ideal show lineup placements, an underwhelming performance challenge and a top 15 all time lip sync performance, along with a slew of other thoughts on Season 15, Episode 11: Two Queens, One Joke. 🎭 (music: )
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Episode 201: Season 15, Episode 10 - Silly Wabbit, Bags of Carpets Are For Kids
03/06/2023
Episode 201: Season 15, Episode 10 - Silly Wabbit, Bags of Carpets Are For Kids
Readers, you are in for a treat! (And a 35 minute tangent before we start discussing the episode - including but not limited to mini marathons, purse Advil, Bully Barbara Walters, exorbitantly priced apples, and Gum Acacia. Gum Acacia don’t care!) It’s a full IRL Shade Table with Kyle, Keith, Ben and Holly as well as the full assortment of House of Love cocktails as we discuss the art of interviewing, the Jannification of Loosey and her 3 wins, being his right hand arm MAN, lunch lady wigs, and the Night of 8 Beyoncés. (BeYONcé?!) (music: )
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The Shade Of It All's 200th Episode Spectacular Extravaganza Postapopaloptic Krystle Carrington Colby Cashews Couture For Your Nerves Miss Honey Okurrr?
02/28/2023
The Shade Of It All's 200th Episode Spectacular Extravaganza Postapopaloptic Krystle Carrington Colby Cashews Couture For Your Nerves Miss Honey Okurrr?
It’s an event nine years, six permanent cohosts and many many miles of shade in the making - READERS, IT’S OUR 200TH EPISODE! And what better way to celebrate than by reviewing Drag Race’s 200th episode?! As an extra celebratory treat, four of those six cohosts are here! We drag Katie away from her Friday night gigs, Sharron away from the bed she’s laying in, and - complete with prop guitar - Dad out of retirement! What are their thoughts on the seasons that have transpired since last that sat ‘round the Shade Table? What are their thoughts about this season? And what wishes do you have for our next 200 episodes?! Grab a House of Love cocktail and reminisce and glisten while listening to our review of Drag Race 200: The Crystal Ball! 🔮 (music: )
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Episode 199: Season 15, Episode 8 - It Was The Best Of Syncs, It Was The Blurst Of Syncs (or, Party Like It's Episode 199)
02/24/2023
Episode 199: Season 15, Episode 8 - It Was The Best Of Syncs, It Was The Blurst Of Syncs (or, Party Like It's Episode 199)
You better lala that f**king paRuza! On the heels of two very special 200th episodes (the show and the Shade Table, natch), we’re celebrating by sharing our thoughts on one of the oldest drag traditions in the book - lip-syncing! In a wild display of range, we get some franchise best and worst lip-syncs, and of course have our share of opinions on them all. Were the right strategic choices/song selections/bad bitch moves made? Did anyone induce a scream at the TV or bring you to tears moment? Does being from the DMV area give you the same opinions recurring librarians Jake and Keith have? And are you ready for the imminent episode two hundo?! (music: )
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Episode 198: Season 15, Episode 7 - Reverend! Huh?!
02/18/2023
Episode 198: Season 15, Episode 7 - Reverend! Huh?!
Readers! Despite her unfamiliarity with your names, Kyle's twin sister Kayla is back to chat about the that influenced the finished product of this week's acting challenge, The Daytona Wind 2! Did you prefer the original version or this surreal reboot? Gallop in silence over here and give the episode a listen (and get the celebratory champagne ready as we near the home stretch to our 200th episode!) (music: bensound.com)
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Episode 197: Season 15, Episode 6 - Thank You For Being A Fun
02/16/2023
Episode 197: Season 15, Episode 6 - Thank You For Being A Fun
What the FUN, readers?! While we would never deign to add levels of luster to our friendships, new friend Brian and old friend Andrilisa join Kyle to shake their fists at the kids on their lawn, divulge their tidbits on the Regents, maintaining 20+ year friendships, stepping out of your comfort zone and what to look forward to in your advanced years as we recap episode 6 of Season 15 - Old Friends Gold! And if you’re lucky, you might even hear a middling Chewbacca impersonation! (music: )
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Episode 196: Croissant My Heart (A Drag Race France Review)
02/08/2023
Episode 196: Croissant My Heart (A Drag Race France Review)
CORICORI (spelling?) LECTRICES! Kyle is joined once more by everyone's favorite Frenchman, Gary Goldman, for a brief but thorough espousing of all things Drag Race France! What elements of the show were quintessentially French? What would Gary have added to make it even MORE French? What Pokémon are serving c*nt? And how many bad French imitations made the final cut of the episode? (Spoilers for the outcome of Drag Race France, Season 1, naturally!) (music: bensound.com)
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Episode 195: Season 15, Episode 5 - Fashion House: It's Rohypnol!
02/01/2023
Episode 195: Season 15, Episode 5 - Fashion House: It's Rohypnol!
READERS! For the design challenge, it’s a double dose of artistic Aries articulations as Kyle is joined by the amazing Andrilisa, artist and creator extraordinaire (and one of Kyle’s besties for over 20 years!) We discuss the art of taking critique, the passion required to be a creator, and of course the fabulous (and…other!) designs of this week’s episode, House of Fashion! (And somehow Kyle manages to keep it to roughly two minutes of gushing about the 2006 critically reviewed MyNetworkTV soap opera Fashion House. Ahead of it’s time!) Which Fashion House would you have wanted to make your design out of? And did the right queen get the cut? (music: )
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Episode 194: Season 15, Episode 4 - The Twindenburg Disaster
01/23/2023
Episode 194: Season 15, Episode 4 - The Twindenburg Disaster
READERS, EVERYBODY SAY (HOUSE OF) LOVE! To add some flavor to our supersized recap of Supersized Snatch Game, Kyle, Keith and Ben are taste testing 3 of the 6 assorted flavors of the House of Love cocktails and mocktails 24 pack! (This week’s refreshments include the Ginger Mule mocktail, as well as the 7% ABV Pomegranate Lime Vodka and the whopping 12% ABV Tangerine Margarita. 🥳) Did the queens make good choices in the Snatch Game and on the runway? Did the show make a good choice putting Snatch Game this early? Did we make good choices drinking on mostly empty stomachs as we shared our thoughts? Tune in and find out, you dumb bitch in the front row! (music: ; beverages: )
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Episode 193: Season 15, Episode 3 - They Say In Heaven, Improv Comes Last
01/16/2023
Episode 193: Season 15, Episode 3 - They Say In Heaven, Improv Comes Last
Readers! Ever wonder what it'll be like when we die? Us neither, but Kyle and Ben explore musings on Broadway, M3GAN, an inability to tell Black people apart, reality TV show edits, these truncated episodes and this week's afterlife-based improv challenge. Was heaven missing an angel? Did anyone go to Hell in a hand basket? Does Ru give a look of confusion and disdain to any queen this week? (Yes!) (music: bensound.com)
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Episodes 191 & 192: Season 15, Episodes 1 & 2 - Human Head Wig and the Angry 40 Inches
01/09/2023
Episodes 191 & 192: Season 15, Episodes 1 & 2 - Human Head Wig and the Angry 40 Inches
A two episode premiere warrants a double-length episode of TSOIA! (We won’t fault you for splitting this up into two listens.) Our two hour recap and the new $200,000 grand prize has the return of two return librarians and our thot shit - Jake Leizear is back, along with the four-years-reigning Miss Nerd New York, Megami! We dive into the show’s move to MTV, the largest cast and talent show ever, the old school vs. new school drag argument, 40 inch wigs, a suspicious lack of padding, lowered twink expectations, and some spicy and hot drag queen getting-to-know-you takes. Oh Drag Race, how we missed you! (For all of a week.) 😘 Do you think the right winner was selected, and the right queen went home, at the end of One Night Only (Pts. 1 & 2)? Sound off! (music: )
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Episode 190: All Stars All Winners, Episodes 4-12 - ...Well, Alright Then.
01/04/2023
Episode 190: All Stars All Winners, Episodes 4-12 - ...Well, Alright Then.
New year, same us readers - deal with it! Kyle and other recurring librarian Keith Avery discuss their thoughts on meme brands, knitters, mismeasured sandwiches, being tricked by the new year and all of our travels this year. Oh, and our thoughts on the remaining nine episodes of All Stars 7 that we didn’t cover when it aired originally! 😅 Which queen are each of us apologists for? Which runways were (and were not) for us? How many minutes does it take for us to start discussing our thoughts on All Stars 7? (Spoiler alert: 26! Use the show’s yellow plunger and jump to the 26 minute mark if you don’t need banter in your 2023.) Dust off your library cards for our imminent Season 15 coverage with this hefty palate cleanser of Episodes 4-12 of All Stars, All Winners! (music: )
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Episode 189: Hindsight's 20/22 (Our 2022 Drag Race Review)
12/31/2022
Episode 189: Hindsight's 20/22 (Our 2022 Drag Race Review)
Readers! To wrap up ’22, Kyle and recurring librarian Jake Leizear pay homage to the oft-overlooked second outs of the season; the local drag scenes of Baltimore, Connecticut and Seattle; and our opinions on the 200 seasons of Drag Race we got this year (as both Drag Race OG and TSOIA approach our 200th episodes!) We *mostly* get away with discussions about this year’s 12(!) seasons without discussing the winners, so you can remain predominantly unspoiled. We also toss in some quick first impression thoughts on the imminent MTV-debut of Season 15! Why are WE going to win Drag Race? I mean, look at us! Like come on! (music: )
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