RuPaul's Drag Race (2009) s09e12 Episode Script
Category Is
1 - Previously on RuPaul's Drag Race We're throwing the gayest ball ever! - I think that the dance element is not your comfort zone.
- To be honest, I was not being listened to.
- I don't think you stood up as a leader, though.
You sort of explicitly trust Shea.
- Actually, no.
I felt like Shea was stepping on my toes a little bit.
- It ain't RuPaul's Best Friend Race no more.
-Peppermint.
-Your unicorn, it was fun, but there was a little bagginess going on in the crotch-al area.
- Alexis Michelle.
- I feel if we take the bow out of your head, I can get that outfit at Ricky's.
- Shea Coulee.
- It's like a street style model off duty meets couture.
I hope we share the same size.
- You're the winner of this week's challenge.
[applause.]
- Peppermint, shantay you stay.
Alexis Michelle, sashay away.
- Ooh.
-Oh.
-Oh.
- Our heart is broken for our sister.
Alexis really wanted to make it to the top of this competition.
Unfortunately, I feel like this was her time.
- "Wishes come true, not free.
You're my sisters always.
" Alexis, we love you.
-We love you so much, girl.
-We love you, sis.
- It feels bad coming in the top four just having lip synched for my life.
So whatever the next challenge is, I need to rock the shit out of it.
Congratulations to Ms.
Shea Coulee! - I won four challenges now, so come on, Mama Ru.
Tch-tch.
Hand it on over.
- I will say I thought this was gonna be my week 'cause I actually did have a rainbow look.
- Oh! [all laugh.]
- [cough cough.]
Shea might have won this challenge, but I will get that crown.
[chuckles.]
- We are the top four.
-Four! -All right! - Can I just say this is the top four that I really wished for? - Bitch, please.
Don't get me wrong.
I love these other girls, but I want to make it in the top three.
Somebody needs to go.
It ain't me.
Enough talking about it.
Let's get done, honey.
- These girls are major and all of us are hungry for that crown, so I may have to resort to other means.
I don't know what that means.
[laughs.]
That sounds shady.
It did.
[car engine starts.]
- The winner of RuPaul's Drag Race receives a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics and cash prize of $100,000.
- RuPaul's Drag Race - May the best woman - Best woman win - La-la, la-la [exhales.]
- We're skipping, we're skipping, we're skipping, we're skipping, we're skipping.
- Looks like we have a sickening top four.
I'm really excited about it.
- How do you all feel going into this final challenge? -Aah! -Yeah, me, too.
Can we all do Peppermint's scream together? -Yes.
-One, two, three.
[all scream.]
- [laughs.]
- Hello, hello, hello.
-Oh! -Oh! - Yes! - Con-drag-ulations.
Final Four.
[cheers and applause.]
This is your last chance to prove to RuPaul that you're top three material.
To help you stretch your charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent, you'll be working with the incredible Todrick Hall.
[gasps and cheers.]
He's back.
[cheering.]
And he's not pussy-footing around.
First, each of you needs to write and record an original verse for the sickening Season 9 remix of RuPaul's Category Is.
[cheers and laughter.]
Then you'll put on your dancing shoes and learn some killer choreography.
-Ooh.
-Ooh.
- And tomorrow on the main stage you'll be making your all-singing, all-dancing Category Is world debut.
- Wow.
- But you'll have one more shot to really impress Mama Ru when you guest on her critically-acclaimed podcast, RuPaul, What's The Tee? with Michelle Visage.
[cheering.]
#RUTop3" Get it? R-U? Ru.
-Oh! -Oh! - Yeah.
As we've seen this season, anything can happen, so don't fuck it up.
Bye-zee.
-Bye.
-Bye.
-Oh.
-Has anyone done this before? - I actually have an album out on iTunes.
- Whoo.
- What are you ladies thinking of doing? Singing or rapping or, like, spoken word? - I think I'm gonna rap.
- Mine is definitely spoken word.
I don't know how to rap.
- [laughs.]
- Well, I can't sing, so I don't really know what you're gonna call this.
- Barnyard noises? - Oh! - No, ma'am.
Don't try it, bitch.
- Whoo.
We have to rap, dance, write.
Trinity can't do any of those things.
- Trinity, you in danger, girl.
Well, ladies, wish me luck.
-Good luck.
-Good luck, darling.
- Good luck, girl.
-Hi, Shea.
-Hey, Todrick.
So it's time for me to record my verse to Ru's single Category Is with Todrick Hall.
- This is Vjuan Allure.
-Vjuan Allure, hi.
-He is Ru's producer.
He actually produced the track to Category Is.
- Okay.
This is the real deal.
People will be hearing this shit.
I have to nail this.
- Okay, let's hear what you got.
- 'Cause I want it, I get it And, girl, I'm ready to show 'em How these bitches, I own 'em, I got-- Mm.
- One more time.
- Just take a deep breath and make sure you get every single word in.
- I wrote some really fast lyrics, you know, a la Twista.
Like, I'm trying to spit that shit like so fast so that they know that, hey, this girl got game.
'Cause I want it, I get it, and came up here and did it And girl, I'm ready to show 'em How these bitches, I own them, you got that? Supermodel switch - Okay, cut.
Just try to get me more diction.
-Okay, I'll eat it up.
-All right, play the track.
- Come on, Mama Ru, give the queen her crown I approve this message and all I'm gonna say Is I'm Shea Coulee and I always - Great.
I got chills.
You're just a bad ass bitch.
- Hi.
-Hello, ladies.
-Hi, Peppermint.
- I used to watch The RuPaul Show with Michelle and Ru, and here I am a guest on their podcast.
It's a dream come true.
- You made it all the way to top four? - Girl.
- But, you know, for us, we see the girls year after year and I think the biggest challenge is for them to get past their conception of themselves.
-Mm-hmm.
-Have you been able to do that? - Yes.
Before the competition, I really had a hard time balancing kind of my day life and my night life.
- Because I know that you have revealed that you are trans.
You're a trans woman.
Is that what we're talking about? Is that what-- - Yes.
I mean, a really well known and respected queen back in New York said, oh, you know, are you transitioning? 'Cause if you are, I'll support you.
But then she immediately said, but you know you'll never work in the gay community again as a drag queen.
- But that's not true.
- I see that now, but that scared the shit out of me.
-For how long? -Years.
-Years? -Until a couple weeks ago.
I still worked and I still continued my transition, but it made me kind of push them to opposite ends of the room.
- You don't ever need to be one or another.
Nobody has to put anybody in any kind of a box.
- I definitely didn't think being a drag queen and a transwoman would ever mix.
And now, after this experience, I know that those two things can coexist if that's who you are, and that's who I am.
- Thank you so much, Peppermint, for being so honest.
You is a marvel.
- [laughs.]
- I'm ready to hear what you got.
-Okay.
-Play back.
- My name is Trinity and can't you see I've got a lot of plastic parts up in me The talent I've got you just can't replace Even with injectables in your face The time has come-- - Let's pause.
Let's cut the track.
Yeah, take that off, honey, get comfortable 'cause we got a lot of work to do.
- All right.
- The performance quality that needs to be, you're at like 35%.
- [chuckles.]
What? I've got to push more.
I've got a lot of plastic parts up in me The talent I've got you just can't replace Even with injectables in your face - Okay, cut the track.
Okay.
I don't think that you need to take the note as that you need to yell into the microphone.
Relax and just be funny.
Let's do it again.
- Crowns and gowns and tiny thongs, too Other bitches wishin', but you ain't me, boo The talent I got-- Oh, I just-- - Let's go again.
- Was I off? - You were off, yeah.
Just tap your foot and get that rhythm on fleek, okay? - Right.
Okay, all right.
- But you blame me, boo, the talent I've got -Yeah.
-Good.
You're saying "the talent I've got, honey," in that line, so - Right.
Gotta show.
-Yeah, show us.
Show us that you got it.
- I've got a lot of plastic parts up in me Crowns and gowns and tiny thong, toos You [mumbles.]
ain't me, but I am freaking out.
I have to get it together or all this work is gonna be for nothing.
- Coming up - One, two, three, four.
Down, down, turn, stick.
- Oh, my gosh.
- Sasha can't dance.
- [exhales.]
[RuPaul laughs, bell rings.]
- Oh, my God, look who's here.
-Hello, you beautiful legends.
-Hi.
- It's time to do the What's The Tee? podcast with Ru and Michelle.
I'm really excited to get to spend some time hanging out with them.
- When you look at yourself in this competition, what were your missteps? - The biggest was how I tackled 9021-Ho.
I thought I could think my way into humor.
- Hmm.
- But turns out, that doesn't work so well.
- No.
- And what about in life in general? - I think a lot about my relationship with my mom.
She passed away last year, and I feel like there were a lot of missed opportunities for us to connect.
I'm not sure she ever really got to see the type of drag that I believe in.
- But she knew you did drag.
- She knew I did drag, but I could have shared it with her.
-Included her.
-Yeah.
My mom was always a little bit unsure about why I was doing drag because she didn't see how it could be a career.
But she was interested.
Especially in the last couple months of her life, she wanted nothing more than to see what direction my life was going to take, and I didn't really open up.
I think all the time about how it must have felt for her feeling like she was going to miss out on so much.
That loss made me realize the importance of opening up.
My dad has fallen in love with drag.
Papa Velour.
-Papa Velour.
-Papa Velour.
- That's what people always call him.
[all laugh.]
- Well, thank you, Sasha Velour, and give my love to your father.
- I will.
-But before you go -Yes.
-We have a parting gift.
-Oh.
- What is it? - Today's podcast is sponsored by Squatty Potty.
Best poop of your life, kiddo.
Guaranteed.
- Thank you so much.
You know, I'll write a whole philosophy piece about it.
[all laugh.]
- Hey, Todrick.
-How you doin'? -I'm doin' good, baby.
-We're twinning.
-Ow! - Ow.
- I love to sing, I love to rap, and I love to perform, and that's exactly what this challenge is.
I'm gonna win.
- Let's just dive in.
- Sugary sweet confection Spicy, red-hot, chocolaty I'm minty fresh-- Sh - Let's do it, Peppermint, 'cause there's nothing worse than messing up a lip synch, than messing a lip synch that you wrote.
- Aah.
Sugary sweet confection Bad for your teeth, spicy, red-hot, chocolaty I'm minty fresh, but it ain't for free - Cut the track.
Whatever you're doing right now, take that and run with it, 'cause that is, like, your personality.
- Classy, but I can still take to the street So you know you better never try to come for me - I love it.
That's it.
- Fricka-fricka-ree.
- How are you guys? - Hi, Shea.
- Shake a leg, Shea Coulee.
Now, somebody told me you were teased a lot as a kid.
- Yes.
Where we lived was a mostly white neighborhood, and so I was teased because I was the only black kid, you know.
They'd call me Blackie.
And then I would go to church and then they would make fun of me because they said I spoke too white.
So I really didn't feel like I belonged much of anywhere.
And it really took doing drag to become stronger and more confident.
It's my armor.
- When you went to this church, did you get into the spirit of the Lord? - Oh, girl, yeah.
I used to shout and I used to buck and jive and throw it all around.
-Did you speak in tongues? -Oh, yes.
Boon shaka-la-la-la, halla-la-la-la, halla-la-la-la.
[all laugh.]
- So it's shah la-la -Mm-hmm.
-Boom -Boom-boom kah.
-Uh-huh.
- Kah-kah-kah, kah-kah-kah, kah-kah-kah, kah.
- Yes.
- I'm familiar with that one.
I know that one.
That was at my church.
- Yeah.
[laughs.]
- I love it.
-Yes.
-Hey, listen, we actually have a parting gift for you.
- It's going to be your very own-- - Oh, my God, shut up! - Yes.
- The Squatty-- -Yes! -Yes! -Oh, my goodness.
-That's for you.
Poop in good health.
- Thank you, guys.
- Bye-ee.
-Bye.
-Bye.
- That bitch knew what Squatty Potty was.
- Hell, yes.
Squatty Potty ain't no joke.
- I love it.
- A thinking queen speaks to the heart She's stranger than fiction, better than art I'm-- [chuckles.]
I'm more true than real I'm a magical bitch, darling That's how I feel - Okay.
I am just gonna be real with you.
I'm not all the way sold on this.
For somebody who's coming up for the finale of RuPaul's Drag Race, it just doesn't seem powerful.
You're a drag queen.
You know what I mean? I feel like it needs to be-- - But I'm this kind of drag queen, Todrick.
- I'm not saying you need to be, like, popping your tongue and giving us Alyssa Edwards, but right now, it just sounds like you're saying lines into a voicemail.
- Oh, God.
It's important to show Todrick I can be a star and still be myself.
- Play the track.
- Bright-eyed and bushy-browed Be the strange you wish to see in the world Sasha Velour relies on brains Beauty be damned, let monsters reign I'm a magical bitch, darling That's how I feel - Awesome.
How'd you feel about that? - Better.
You were right.
- [laughs.]
- Now, you're from Birmingham, Alabama, and you were raised by your grandparents.
- I was.
- What do they think about you as a showgirl? - I never told my grandfather, although I think he probably found a couple of wigs under a towel once and didn't say nothing.
-[laughs.]
-Uh-huh, uh-huh.
- Now, my grandmother, she had a really hard time with me being gay.
And towards the end we had a big falling out, even though I was taking care of her.
- Was the falling out over your homosexuality? -It was.
-Or the drag? - It was over me being gay.
We got into a really big fight before she passed, and I told her that I hated her.
I didn't mean that, but it's something that haunts me, like, still today.
Like, I just wish that wouldn't have been, like, one of the last things I told her.
- Right.
- I don't know.
I just There's a lot about the last few months of her life that I just don't have closure with.
Like, I just-- I wish there would have been more conversations.
I wish there would have been more time.
I can't go back and be, like, I'm sorry that I said that 'cause she's not here.
- Yeah.
My guess is that if she were here, she would forgive you.
- I hope so.
- No, she would definitely forgive you.
She would say, I am so proud of my baby.
- She sounded just like that.
- [laughs.]
- I didn't want her to ever think that I really didn't love her, because I do.
She was the best parent I could have ever had.
- There are my queens.
How y'all doin'? - Hey.
- Good work earlier today, but the challenge is just about to really get started right now.
It's time to learn your choreography for the performance tomorrow.
My goal is to challenge every single person based on their own skill set.
I really want to push them because that's what this competition is about.
Let's go, Peppermint.
You ready? - All right, baby, I'm ready.
- So I want to see if you can sit like this so they can go like that.
- This performance determines the top three.
I cannot afford to drop the ball on this one.
-Bring it to the runway.
-Two, three.
- Cut, cut, cut.
- Let's do this.
- Let's try that from the top.
Five, six, seven, walk.
Bring Keith.
Put her down.
Left, right, left.
Right, left.
Awesome.
Cool.
Next up, Sasha.
Okay, can you just do fast walks? Gah-gah-gah, gah-gah-gah, gah-gah-gah, boom.
And then, walk, walk, five, six, seven, fall.
-[exhales.]
-Can we try it? - Sure.
- What is Todrick thinking? Sasha can't dance.
- One, two, three, four.
Down, down, turn, six, seven.
- Oh, my gosh.
- Dun-dun-dun, dun-dun-dun, dun-dun-dun, boom.
This should be fast.
Gah-gah-gah, gah-gah-gah, gah-gah-gah, boom.
- I'll do my best.
Sorry.
- Let's go back.
Five, six, seven, eight.
- I'm really--I'm honestly trying my best.
I want to nail it, but I just maybe won't get it, like, immediately.
- But do you feel confident that you can do this on stage? - I do feel confident.
- Because if you don't, you should tell me now.
- I feel like I can do it, but it is a huge challenge that I want to rise to.
- Good.
I like to hear that.
- Girl.
Sasha is up there looking like she's shook.
- Coming up - She's just been up here.
- I'm a huge fan.
She's got the real goods.
- Oh, no.
[RuPaul laughs, bell rings.]
- All right.
Let's move on to Trinity.
- We're rehearsing our choreography for our main stage performance of Category Is with Todrick Hall.
- You ready? - I mean, I'm gonna have to be.
- [laughs.]
- I am extremely nervous.
- So can you go, what category are we on right now? - What category are we on ri--oh, wait, wait.
Yeah, it's in a--okay, so.
What category-- - What category are we-- - What category are we on right now? - What category are we on right now? - What dance move is coming next? - What category are we on right now? - Okay.
I can get it, but it's gonna take practice.
- The problem with Trinity is that her rhythm game is a little delayed.
I feel like I'm always watching her on Skype.
Okay.
Let's try it with music.
- Oh, my gosh.
Okay.
- Five, six, bring it, Trinity.
- Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, Mayday! I may not have it right now, but I promise I will have it.
- But people have said that before.
- If I can't do it, that means, well, girl, I can't dance.
- Then you might not be in the top three.
- I deserve to make top three.
I've worked my ass off for this.
I've got to figure this out.
- Shea Coulee, you ready? - Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
[laughs.]
- What is this giggle about? - You're throwing some real shit out today.
[both laugh.]
- Well, this is Season 9.
We got to step it up.
And I'm gonna bring it real hard for you because I know you dance all the time.
- Mm-hmm.
- Okay? Can you do, like, a pirouette? -Mm-hmm.
-A double pirouette? -Mm-hmm.
-A triple pirouette? -I could try.
-Let's see it.
- Work, bitch, okay.
- One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
How'd you do? - I did well.
- She did it.
Damn it.
Shea is gonna continue to slay the judges.
Yay for Shea.
- Five, six, seven, eight.
- Bitch.
Like, I'm gonna have to do some showgirl shit.
Throw some pearls down so she can, like, fall and bust her face.
-Awesome.
-All right.
- Great job.
[RuPaul laughs.]
- Cover girl, put the bass in your walk Head to toe let your whole body talk And what? - Welcome to the main stage of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Tonight, it's just family.
This week, we challenged our queens to prove they are top three material.
And now they're ready to kick things off with the world debut of Category Is with original material by the recording sensations Peppermint, Sasha, Shea and Trinity.
Or as I like to call them, Seduction 2, Electric Boogaloo.
[all laugh.]
Gentlemen, start your engines, and may the best woman win.
- Category is, bring it to the runway.
Category is stars, statements and legends.
10s, 10s, 10s across the board.
Deejay, start the music.
Category is - Sugary sweet confection Bad for your teeth, spicy, red-hot, chocolaty I'm minty fresh, but it ain't for free Legendary queen from NYC Sassy, never shady Classy, but I can still take it to the street So you know you better never try to come for me Season 9 out the gate Finish line, no time to wait 10 queens down, only three to go I'm laying bitches out like dominoes Sasha be first, Shea turns looks Trinity crazy, but off the hook But the number one queen is P-E-P-P-E-R Bitch, you know the rest - Take it to the runway Run-run-r-r-runway Bring it to the runway, bring it to the runway Bring it to the-- bring it to the-- Bring it to the runway Category is - Bright-eyed and bushy-browed Be the strange you wish to see in the world Sasha Velour relies on brains Beauty be damned, let monsters reign If you want to join the revolution Innovate, that's my solution Wear a crown, fuck with gender Bend the rules, don't surrender A thinking queen speaks to the heart She's stranger than fiction, better than art I'm--I'm more true than real I'm a magical bitch, darling That's how I feel Aah! [all laugh.]
- Dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, pom.
- Category is I'm Trintastic, plastic, injectable realness The body is here I'm the mother tuck girl, what can I say? There can only be one, and I'm feeling the fantasy My name is Trinity and can't you see I've got a lot of plastic parts up in me Crowns and gowns and tiny thongs, too Other bitches wishin', but you ain't me, boo The talent I've got you just can't replace Even with injectables in your face The time has come for 100 Gs You think you're gonna beat me? Girl, please - What category are we on right now? What category are we on right now? What category are we on right now? Wh-wh-wh-what category? Bring it.
Category is - Shea Coulee, look at the edges I snatched today I see you watching how I sashay Them other girls best get out of my way 'Cause I want it, I get it, and came up here and did it And girl, I'm ready to show them How these bitches, I own them, got that? Supermodel switch, Ms.
Coulee She a real, real bad bitch--uh Let me rock this mic Leave them in my dust like Tina did Ike I'm sickening though and real fierce Chicago in the house, girl, whatcha gonna do? About to shut it down Come on, Mama Ru, bring the queen her crown I approve this message, and all I'm gonna say Is I'm Shea Coulee and I always - Bring it to the runway, runway.
Run--run--r-r-runway.
Bring it to the runway.
Oh, work.
Run--run--r-r-runway.
Bring it to the runway.
Bring it to the runway.
Bring it to the-- bring it to the-- bring it to the runway Bring it to the runway.
Runway, run--run--r-r-runway.
Bring it to the runway.
Bring it to the runway.
Bring it to the-- bring it to the-- bring it to the runway - Oh, my goodness.
Wow! [applause.]
- This is the best season of Dancing with the Stars ever.
[all laugh.]
- Coming up - Ladies, it's time for your final four critique.
[RuPaul laughs, bell rings.]
- Category is - Final Four Eleganza Extravaganza.
First up, Peppermint.
Well, I declare.
- The first lady of drag.
- I am giving you ultimate 18th century luxuriousness.
I look gorgeous.
Hell, we can cancel the whole thing and just give me the crown right now.
- As God is my witness, I will never walk this runway again.
Sasha Velour.
- Crown never felt this good.
- Yes.
- Well, I think she's blooming gorgeous.
- Yes.
- This is my pretty in pink, but it has a distinct Velourian twist.
There is a crown, leather gloves.
I'm angry and ferocious and beautiful and everything at once that defines me.
- I own 51% of this kingdom.
[Michelle laughs.]
- Now I'm going to wash the dishes.
Leave me alone.
- Voulez, Shea Coulee, avec moi.
Bustier, you slay.
- My look is Balmain meets Bob Mackie meets Beyonce.
It's something that you would see at Madison Square Garden, and I don't doubt that your girl can make it there.
- It's like Beyonce and a smurf had a baby.
- Smurf-once.
[all laugh.]
- Now, I love this look, but--and it's a big butt.
[all laugh.]
Trinity Taylor.
- Oh, I hate when I fall asleep on the bus.
You know? [all laugh.]
- Going through this competition, I've claimed to be a pageant girl, and yet to give a sickening pageant gown.
So I am giving them every ounce of Trinity Taylor glamour-puss as I can.
- Oh, and she's back on the chain gang.
- Yes, she is.
- Back chains? - That way.
- Welcome, my gorgeous, gorgeous girls.
This show is like a GPS system for many of our young viewers as they try to navigate their lives, which is why I think it's so important to ask you this question.
-Aw.
-Oh.
- Peppermint, you've provided us with a childhood photo.
If you could turn back time, what words of wisdom would you share with your four-year-old self? - Despiteeverything you hear from other people, everything you feel [sobs.]
everything you feel on the inside is right.
And please[sobs.]
don't wait.
Don't wait to express it.
Don't wait to express it, because the moment you realize that, everyone else will.
- That's beautiful.
Thank you.
Sasha Velour, this is you at five years old.
Now, if you could turn back time, what words of wisdom would you share with little Alexander? - Little Sashinka, you think a lot of negative things about yourself: that you are strange-looking, too fem, weird.
And I want to tell you that those things are all completely true.
[all laugh.]
And you need to stop running from them because those are the things that make you amazing.
And one more thing.
Be good to your mother, because there is less time than you would want, and she deserves to see the beautiful queen that you are.
- I'd like to think she's watching you right now.
Thank you, Sasha.
Shea Coulee.
- [laughs.]
- This is you at three years old.
What words of wisdom would you share with little Jaren? - Get your head out of the TV for a second 'cause I want to tell you you are loved.
And there are some things that you are going to experience that I wish that I could protect you from, but those hardships make you into the individual that's standing here today.
And I want to thank you.
Even when I didn't think that we could do it, you did.
And I'm so proud of us.
- Thank you, Shea.
- Thank you.
- Trinity Taylor.
[all laugh.]
This is you at eight years old.
What words of wisdom would you share with little Ryan? - As you get older, things are gonna get really bad for you.
[sniffles.]
You're gonna go through a lot of hardships with your family, and people are gonna die and they're gonna get sick.
But you're gonna find something very special that changes your life, and that is drag.
Know that all the things that you've been through in life are gonna make you into a very strong person.
- Thank you.
- Coming up - One final question.
Why should you, and not one of your fellow queens, be crowned America's next drag superstar? [RuPaul laughs, bell rings.]
- Ladies, it's time for your Final Four critique, starting with Peppermint.
- When there are hot young guys in harnesses dancing, I get distracted.
Look, a bird, abs, yay.
But you kept the focus the entire time.
- The lyrics were hilarious, were uniquely you.
You have all the goods, and you delivered.
- And I think on this journey, as the competition went on, I feel like you've become more and more of yourself.
- And thank you for always coming out with charisma and making us all smile.
- What, she gets no uniqueness, nerve and talent? - I might be spelling a word here.
[all laugh.]
- Up next, Sasha Velour.
- We're gonna give you uniqueness because that is what you are.
And tonight, from the start of, like, the Vincent Price "Thriller" moment to your lip synch and choreography, it was so Sasha.
- Throughout your journey, your runway looks have been genius, artistic fashion moments.
You're always innovative.
- And you managed to be consistently you and flexible enough to succeed in this competition.
I've been impressed the entire time.
- Up next, Shea Coulee.
- Shea, it do take nerve, honey.
Whether it's Grandrea Zuckerwoman or Blac Chyna, you always went all the way with it, and tonight was no exception.
- Your performance felt the most cool.
You really captured what's happening in music right now.
- And this look, you're kind of giving us that, like, Beyonce glamour.
And you have a sense of humor.
I think that's a great package, one that's really hard to beat.
- Up next, Trinity Taylor.
- My good, gay gods.
Trinity, this is my favorite look you've ever turned tonight.
- Thank you.
- And who knew that Trinity was funny? - The mom in "9021-Ho," it was genius.
The nun was unbelievable.
Sister Mary Koont, I loved it.
- Talent, the T, that's what I'm giving you, Trinity, because you have done things in this competition talent wise you didn't know you had in you.
- I'm finally figuring this out.
C-U-N-Trinity.
- Yes! Thank you.
- I'd like to buy a vowel, Michelle Visage.
- I told you I had a plan.
[all laugh.]
- One final question.
Why should you and not one of your fellow queens be crowned America's next drag superstar? Starting with Peppermint.
- I'd like to take a page from our drag foremothers way back at Stonewall and spread a message of love and light.
I think we have to connect with our community and people outside of what we would consider our community.
As America's next drag superstar, it will be important for me to do that.
- Thank you.
- Thank you, Ru.
- Sasha Velour, same question.
- The future of drag, to stand up and carry on your legacy, Ru, we have to be able to do something new.
The new thing is going to seem a little strange and a little weird, and the new thing is definitely gonna walk in with a scream, and that is me.
- Thank you, Sasha.
Shea Coulee.
- I committed.
I gave 110%.
And even though I stumbled, more than any of my competitors, I succeeded the most.
That is the making of a superstar.
I would want to carry on your legacy and be America's next drag superstar.
- Thank you, Shea.
Trinity Taylor.
- Out of every contestant, I've grown the most not just as an entertainer, but as a person.
I may have had some downs, but I've tried so hard, through everything I've ever done in my life, to make something better for myself.
I've never had stability, and being the next drag superstar would be a huge weight lifted, and I deserve it.
- Thank you, Trinity.
- Thank you.
- Thank you, ladies.
Now, while you untuck backstage, the judges and I will deliberate.
[car engine starts.]
All right, now just between us four tops, let's talk about the top four.
-Mm.
-Peppermint.
- Peppermint is a classic.
She hits her marks.
She delivers her moments.
She's a Jane of all trades.
- She's got that thing that is so crucial for anybody in show business.
She's got the likeability, and if she won the title, that's gonna serve her well.
- Sasha Velour.
- I'm a huge fan because she dissects drag, and then reinvents it in her own very artistic way.
- Yeah, and we do know what a Sasha look and act will be.
- And I liked what she had to say about the drag of the future is not going to be what we're used to.
- I would love to see what someone like her could do with that crown.
- Shea Coulee.
- She's a great entertainer.
She's a great dancer.
She's a great actress.
- And every look was pretty great on the runway.
- With the exception of a stumble in the makeover challenge, she's just been up here.
- She absolutely proved herself every single time.
You should call her the postman of drag.
She delivered.
- Trinity Taylor.
- When this first started, we just saw pageant girl, and as this contest progressed, so did she.
- She needed these challenges to say, no, you're actually really funny.
- And think about how funny Stanky the Starfish was.
- It was amazing.
- And tonight, with her dance, she was hilarious.
- That's my favorite thing about this competition, when the queens surprise themselves.
- I feel like Trinity has made the biggest leap in my opinion.
- I'd love to see her in the top three.
- Yeah.
- Well, this isn't gonna be easy.
Silence.
I've made my decision.
Bring back my girls.
[RuPaul laughs, bell rings.]
- Welcome back, ladies.
All season long, you've worked your big ol' booties off, and each of you has more than earned your spot on this stage tonight.
The time has come [thunder.]
for you to lip synch [echoing.]
for your life.
Good luck and don't fuck it up.
- You wear it well French tip, lipstick, painted on You wear it well Value sure suits you-oo-oo Work it for me Work it for me, me You wear it, you wear it, you wear it well - I have to be in the top three.
I brought as much grace and humility as I did talent and personality.
Sounds like America's next drag superstar to me.
- You wear it, you wear it, you wear it well - Kitty girl, work that high-end tights.
- I am determined to take over the world with my crazy, strange Velourian drag, and I'm not going to be stopped now.
I have to make it to the top three.
I have to win.
[laughs.]
- Don't let nobody tell you you ain't beautiful - I've worked my entire adult life to build the brand of Trinity Taylor.
I deserve to be America's next drag superstar, so I'm coming for that crown, ladies.
Back up.
- We will not be tamed Dreadlocks - It's about the drive and the nerve and the desire to win.
I'm the total package.
If y'all placing bets on anybody, you want to throw $5.
00 down on me.
- Wig shop, nonstop hair salon You wear it well Value brand new-oo-oo Work it for me, work it for me, me You wear it, you wear it, you wear it well [RuPaul laughs.]
[applause.]
- Ladies, I've made my decision.
Tonight, I've decided To eliminate No one.
All four of you are moving forward to the grand finale of "RuPaul's Drag Race.
" How you like them apples? -I love them, girl.
-Ooh, they real sweet.
- My top four queens, the race has never been so close.
And now I want to hear from our super fans.
Who do you think should be crowned America's next drag superstar? Are you #TeamPeppermint #TeamSasha #TeamShea or #TeamTrinity? Let your voice be heard.
Because Mama Ru wil be #listening.
Now, remember, if you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else? Can I get an amen up in here? -Amen! -Amen! - Can I get a whoop-whoop? -Whoop-whoop! -Whoop-whoop! - Can I get a she done already done had hers? All: She done already done had hers.
- All right.
Now let the music play.
- Hey, kitty girl It's your world Hey, kitty, kitty, girl Whoa-oh-oh
- To be honest, I was not being listened to.
- I don't think you stood up as a leader, though.
You sort of explicitly trust Shea.
- Actually, no.
I felt like Shea was stepping on my toes a little bit.
- It ain't RuPaul's Best Friend Race no more.
-Peppermint.
-Your unicorn, it was fun, but there was a little bagginess going on in the crotch-al area.
- Alexis Michelle.
- I feel if we take the bow out of your head, I can get that outfit at Ricky's.
- Shea Coulee.
- It's like a street style model off duty meets couture.
I hope we share the same size.
- You're the winner of this week's challenge.
[applause.]
- Peppermint, shantay you stay.
Alexis Michelle, sashay away.
- Ooh.
-Oh.
-Oh.
- Our heart is broken for our sister.
Alexis really wanted to make it to the top of this competition.
Unfortunately, I feel like this was her time.
- "Wishes come true, not free.
You're my sisters always.
" Alexis, we love you.
-We love you so much, girl.
-We love you, sis.
- It feels bad coming in the top four just having lip synched for my life.
So whatever the next challenge is, I need to rock the shit out of it.
Congratulations to Ms.
Shea Coulee! - I won four challenges now, so come on, Mama Ru.
Tch-tch.
Hand it on over.
- I will say I thought this was gonna be my week 'cause I actually did have a rainbow look.
- Oh! [all laugh.]
- [cough cough.]
Shea might have won this challenge, but I will get that crown.
[chuckles.]
- We are the top four.
-Four! -All right! - Can I just say this is the top four that I really wished for? - Bitch, please.
Don't get me wrong.
I love these other girls, but I want to make it in the top three.
Somebody needs to go.
It ain't me.
Enough talking about it.
Let's get done, honey.
- These girls are major and all of us are hungry for that crown, so I may have to resort to other means.
I don't know what that means.
[laughs.]
That sounds shady.
It did.
[car engine starts.]
- The winner of RuPaul's Drag Race receives a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics and cash prize of $100,000.
- RuPaul's Drag Race - May the best woman - Best woman win - La-la, la-la [exhales.]
- We're skipping, we're skipping, we're skipping, we're skipping, we're skipping.
- Looks like we have a sickening top four.
I'm really excited about it.
- How do you all feel going into this final challenge? -Aah! -Yeah, me, too.
Can we all do Peppermint's scream together? -Yes.
-One, two, three.
[all scream.]
- [laughs.]
- Hello, hello, hello.
-Oh! -Oh! - Yes! - Con-drag-ulations.
Final Four.
[cheers and applause.]
This is your last chance to prove to RuPaul that you're top three material.
To help you stretch your charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent, you'll be working with the incredible Todrick Hall.
[gasps and cheers.]
He's back.
[cheering.]
And he's not pussy-footing around.
First, each of you needs to write and record an original verse for the sickening Season 9 remix of RuPaul's Category Is.
[cheers and laughter.]
Then you'll put on your dancing shoes and learn some killer choreography.
-Ooh.
-Ooh.
- And tomorrow on the main stage you'll be making your all-singing, all-dancing Category Is world debut.
- Wow.
- But you'll have one more shot to really impress Mama Ru when you guest on her critically-acclaimed podcast, RuPaul, What's The Tee? with Michelle Visage.
[cheering.]
#RUTop3" Get it? R-U? Ru.
-Oh! -Oh! - Yeah.
As we've seen this season, anything can happen, so don't fuck it up.
Bye-zee.
-Bye.
-Bye.
-Oh.
-Has anyone done this before? - I actually have an album out on iTunes.
- Whoo.
- What are you ladies thinking of doing? Singing or rapping or, like, spoken word? - I think I'm gonna rap.
- Mine is definitely spoken word.
I don't know how to rap.
- [laughs.]
- Well, I can't sing, so I don't really know what you're gonna call this.
- Barnyard noises? - Oh! - No, ma'am.
Don't try it, bitch.
- Whoo.
We have to rap, dance, write.
Trinity can't do any of those things.
- Trinity, you in danger, girl.
Well, ladies, wish me luck.
-Good luck.
-Good luck, darling.
- Good luck, girl.
-Hi, Shea.
-Hey, Todrick.
So it's time for me to record my verse to Ru's single Category Is with Todrick Hall.
- This is Vjuan Allure.
-Vjuan Allure, hi.
-He is Ru's producer.
He actually produced the track to Category Is.
- Okay.
This is the real deal.
People will be hearing this shit.
I have to nail this.
- Okay, let's hear what you got.
- 'Cause I want it, I get it And, girl, I'm ready to show 'em How these bitches, I own 'em, I got-- Mm.
- One more time.
- Just take a deep breath and make sure you get every single word in.
- I wrote some really fast lyrics, you know, a la Twista.
Like, I'm trying to spit that shit like so fast so that they know that, hey, this girl got game.
'Cause I want it, I get it, and came up here and did it And girl, I'm ready to show 'em How these bitches, I own them, you got that? Supermodel switch - Okay, cut.
Just try to get me more diction.
-Okay, I'll eat it up.
-All right, play the track.
- Come on, Mama Ru, give the queen her crown I approve this message and all I'm gonna say Is I'm Shea Coulee and I always - Great.
I got chills.
You're just a bad ass bitch.
- Hi.
-Hello, ladies.
-Hi, Peppermint.
- I used to watch The RuPaul Show with Michelle and Ru, and here I am a guest on their podcast.
It's a dream come true.
- You made it all the way to top four? - Girl.
- But, you know, for us, we see the girls year after year and I think the biggest challenge is for them to get past their conception of themselves.
-Mm-hmm.
-Have you been able to do that? - Yes.
Before the competition, I really had a hard time balancing kind of my day life and my night life.
- Because I know that you have revealed that you are trans.
You're a trans woman.
Is that what we're talking about? Is that what-- - Yes.
I mean, a really well known and respected queen back in New York said, oh, you know, are you transitioning? 'Cause if you are, I'll support you.
But then she immediately said, but you know you'll never work in the gay community again as a drag queen.
- But that's not true.
- I see that now, but that scared the shit out of me.
-For how long? -Years.
-Years? -Until a couple weeks ago.
I still worked and I still continued my transition, but it made me kind of push them to opposite ends of the room.
- You don't ever need to be one or another.
Nobody has to put anybody in any kind of a box.
- I definitely didn't think being a drag queen and a transwoman would ever mix.
And now, after this experience, I know that those two things can coexist if that's who you are, and that's who I am.
- Thank you so much, Peppermint, for being so honest.
You is a marvel.
- [laughs.]
- I'm ready to hear what you got.
-Okay.
-Play back.
- My name is Trinity and can't you see I've got a lot of plastic parts up in me The talent I've got you just can't replace Even with injectables in your face The time has come-- - Let's pause.
Let's cut the track.
Yeah, take that off, honey, get comfortable 'cause we got a lot of work to do.
- All right.
- The performance quality that needs to be, you're at like 35%.
- [chuckles.]
What? I've got to push more.
I've got a lot of plastic parts up in me The talent I've got you just can't replace Even with injectables in your face - Okay, cut the track.
Okay.
I don't think that you need to take the note as that you need to yell into the microphone.
Relax and just be funny.
Let's do it again.
- Crowns and gowns and tiny thongs, too Other bitches wishin', but you ain't me, boo The talent I got-- Oh, I just-- - Let's go again.
- Was I off? - You were off, yeah.
Just tap your foot and get that rhythm on fleek, okay? - Right.
Okay, all right.
- But you blame me, boo, the talent I've got -Yeah.
-Good.
You're saying "the talent I've got, honey," in that line, so - Right.
Gotta show.
-Yeah, show us.
Show us that you got it.
- I've got a lot of plastic parts up in me Crowns and gowns and tiny thong, toos You [mumbles.]
ain't me, but I am freaking out.
I have to get it together or all this work is gonna be for nothing.
- Coming up - One, two, three, four.
Down, down, turn, stick.
- Oh, my gosh.
- Sasha can't dance.
- [exhales.]
[RuPaul laughs, bell rings.]
- Oh, my God, look who's here.
-Hello, you beautiful legends.
-Hi.
- It's time to do the What's The Tee? podcast with Ru and Michelle.
I'm really excited to get to spend some time hanging out with them.
- When you look at yourself in this competition, what were your missteps? - The biggest was how I tackled 9021-Ho.
I thought I could think my way into humor.
- Hmm.
- But turns out, that doesn't work so well.
- No.
- And what about in life in general? - I think a lot about my relationship with my mom.
She passed away last year, and I feel like there were a lot of missed opportunities for us to connect.
I'm not sure she ever really got to see the type of drag that I believe in.
- But she knew you did drag.
- She knew I did drag, but I could have shared it with her.
-Included her.
-Yeah.
My mom was always a little bit unsure about why I was doing drag because she didn't see how it could be a career.
But she was interested.
Especially in the last couple months of her life, she wanted nothing more than to see what direction my life was going to take, and I didn't really open up.
I think all the time about how it must have felt for her feeling like she was going to miss out on so much.
That loss made me realize the importance of opening up.
My dad has fallen in love with drag.
Papa Velour.
-Papa Velour.
-Papa Velour.
- That's what people always call him.
[all laugh.]
- Well, thank you, Sasha Velour, and give my love to your father.
- I will.
-But before you go -Yes.
-We have a parting gift.
-Oh.
- What is it? - Today's podcast is sponsored by Squatty Potty.
Best poop of your life, kiddo.
Guaranteed.
- Thank you so much.
You know, I'll write a whole philosophy piece about it.
[all laugh.]
- Hey, Todrick.
-How you doin'? -I'm doin' good, baby.
-We're twinning.
-Ow! - Ow.
- I love to sing, I love to rap, and I love to perform, and that's exactly what this challenge is.
I'm gonna win.
- Let's just dive in.
- Sugary sweet confection Spicy, red-hot, chocolaty I'm minty fresh-- Sh - Let's do it, Peppermint, 'cause there's nothing worse than messing up a lip synch, than messing a lip synch that you wrote.
- Aah.
Sugary sweet confection Bad for your teeth, spicy, red-hot, chocolaty I'm minty fresh, but it ain't for free - Cut the track.
Whatever you're doing right now, take that and run with it, 'cause that is, like, your personality.
- Classy, but I can still take to the street So you know you better never try to come for me - I love it.
That's it.
- Fricka-fricka-ree.
- How are you guys? - Hi, Shea.
- Shake a leg, Shea Coulee.
Now, somebody told me you were teased a lot as a kid.
- Yes.
Where we lived was a mostly white neighborhood, and so I was teased because I was the only black kid, you know.
They'd call me Blackie.
And then I would go to church and then they would make fun of me because they said I spoke too white.
So I really didn't feel like I belonged much of anywhere.
And it really took doing drag to become stronger and more confident.
It's my armor.
- When you went to this church, did you get into the spirit of the Lord? - Oh, girl, yeah.
I used to shout and I used to buck and jive and throw it all around.
-Did you speak in tongues? -Oh, yes.
Boon shaka-la-la-la, halla-la-la-la, halla-la-la-la.
[all laugh.]
- So it's shah la-la -Mm-hmm.
-Boom -Boom-boom kah.
-Uh-huh.
- Kah-kah-kah, kah-kah-kah, kah-kah-kah, kah.
- Yes.
- I'm familiar with that one.
I know that one.
That was at my church.
- Yeah.
[laughs.]
- I love it.
-Yes.
-Hey, listen, we actually have a parting gift for you.
- It's going to be your very own-- - Oh, my God, shut up! - Yes.
- The Squatty-- -Yes! -Yes! -Oh, my goodness.
-That's for you.
Poop in good health.
- Thank you, guys.
- Bye-ee.
-Bye.
-Bye.
- That bitch knew what Squatty Potty was.
- Hell, yes.
Squatty Potty ain't no joke.
- I love it.
- A thinking queen speaks to the heart She's stranger than fiction, better than art I'm-- [chuckles.]
I'm more true than real I'm a magical bitch, darling That's how I feel - Okay.
I am just gonna be real with you.
I'm not all the way sold on this.
For somebody who's coming up for the finale of RuPaul's Drag Race, it just doesn't seem powerful.
You're a drag queen.
You know what I mean? I feel like it needs to be-- - But I'm this kind of drag queen, Todrick.
- I'm not saying you need to be, like, popping your tongue and giving us Alyssa Edwards, but right now, it just sounds like you're saying lines into a voicemail.
- Oh, God.
It's important to show Todrick I can be a star and still be myself.
- Play the track.
- Bright-eyed and bushy-browed Be the strange you wish to see in the world Sasha Velour relies on brains Beauty be damned, let monsters reign I'm a magical bitch, darling That's how I feel - Awesome.
How'd you feel about that? - Better.
You were right.
- [laughs.]
- Now, you're from Birmingham, Alabama, and you were raised by your grandparents.
- I was.
- What do they think about you as a showgirl? - I never told my grandfather, although I think he probably found a couple of wigs under a towel once and didn't say nothing.
-[laughs.]
-Uh-huh, uh-huh.
- Now, my grandmother, she had a really hard time with me being gay.
And towards the end we had a big falling out, even though I was taking care of her.
- Was the falling out over your homosexuality? -It was.
-Or the drag? - It was over me being gay.
We got into a really big fight before she passed, and I told her that I hated her.
I didn't mean that, but it's something that haunts me, like, still today.
Like, I just wish that wouldn't have been, like, one of the last things I told her.
- Right.
- I don't know.
I just There's a lot about the last few months of her life that I just don't have closure with.
Like, I just-- I wish there would have been more conversations.
I wish there would have been more time.
I can't go back and be, like, I'm sorry that I said that 'cause she's not here.
- Yeah.
My guess is that if she were here, she would forgive you.
- I hope so.
- No, she would definitely forgive you.
She would say, I am so proud of my baby.
- She sounded just like that.
- [laughs.]
- I didn't want her to ever think that I really didn't love her, because I do.
She was the best parent I could have ever had.
- There are my queens.
How y'all doin'? - Hey.
- Good work earlier today, but the challenge is just about to really get started right now.
It's time to learn your choreography for the performance tomorrow.
My goal is to challenge every single person based on their own skill set.
I really want to push them because that's what this competition is about.
Let's go, Peppermint.
You ready? - All right, baby, I'm ready.
- So I want to see if you can sit like this so they can go like that.
- This performance determines the top three.
I cannot afford to drop the ball on this one.
-Bring it to the runway.
-Two, three.
- Cut, cut, cut.
- Let's do this.
- Let's try that from the top.
Five, six, seven, walk.
Bring Keith.
Put her down.
Left, right, left.
Right, left.
Awesome.
Cool.
Next up, Sasha.
Okay, can you just do fast walks? Gah-gah-gah, gah-gah-gah, gah-gah-gah, boom.
And then, walk, walk, five, six, seven, fall.
-[exhales.]
-Can we try it? - Sure.
- What is Todrick thinking? Sasha can't dance.
- One, two, three, four.
Down, down, turn, six, seven.
- Oh, my gosh.
- Dun-dun-dun, dun-dun-dun, dun-dun-dun, boom.
This should be fast.
Gah-gah-gah, gah-gah-gah, gah-gah-gah, boom.
- I'll do my best.
Sorry.
- Let's go back.
Five, six, seven, eight.
- I'm really--I'm honestly trying my best.
I want to nail it, but I just maybe won't get it, like, immediately.
- But do you feel confident that you can do this on stage? - I do feel confident.
- Because if you don't, you should tell me now.
- I feel like I can do it, but it is a huge challenge that I want to rise to.
- Good.
I like to hear that.
- Girl.
Sasha is up there looking like she's shook.
- Coming up - She's just been up here.
- I'm a huge fan.
She's got the real goods.
- Oh, no.
[RuPaul laughs, bell rings.]
- All right.
Let's move on to Trinity.
- We're rehearsing our choreography for our main stage performance of Category Is with Todrick Hall.
- You ready? - I mean, I'm gonna have to be.
- [laughs.]
- I am extremely nervous.
- So can you go, what category are we on right now? - What category are we on ri--oh, wait, wait.
Yeah, it's in a--okay, so.
What category-- - What category are we-- - What category are we on right now? - What category are we on right now? - What dance move is coming next? - What category are we on right now? - Okay.
I can get it, but it's gonna take practice.
- The problem with Trinity is that her rhythm game is a little delayed.
I feel like I'm always watching her on Skype.
Okay.
Let's try it with music.
- Oh, my gosh.
Okay.
- Five, six, bring it, Trinity.
- Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, Mayday! I may not have it right now, but I promise I will have it.
- But people have said that before.
- If I can't do it, that means, well, girl, I can't dance.
- Then you might not be in the top three.
- I deserve to make top three.
I've worked my ass off for this.
I've got to figure this out.
- Shea Coulee, you ready? - Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
[laughs.]
- What is this giggle about? - You're throwing some real shit out today.
[both laugh.]
- Well, this is Season 9.
We got to step it up.
And I'm gonna bring it real hard for you because I know you dance all the time.
- Mm-hmm.
- Okay? Can you do, like, a pirouette? -Mm-hmm.
-A double pirouette? -Mm-hmm.
-A triple pirouette? -I could try.
-Let's see it.
- Work, bitch, okay.
- One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
How'd you do? - I did well.
- She did it.
Damn it.
Shea is gonna continue to slay the judges.
Yay for Shea.
- Five, six, seven, eight.
- Bitch.
Like, I'm gonna have to do some showgirl shit.
Throw some pearls down so she can, like, fall and bust her face.
-Awesome.
-All right.
- Great job.
[RuPaul laughs.]
- Cover girl, put the bass in your walk Head to toe let your whole body talk And what? - Welcome to the main stage of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Tonight, it's just family.
This week, we challenged our queens to prove they are top three material.
And now they're ready to kick things off with the world debut of Category Is with original material by the recording sensations Peppermint, Sasha, Shea and Trinity.
Or as I like to call them, Seduction 2, Electric Boogaloo.
[all laugh.]
Gentlemen, start your engines, and may the best woman win.
- Category is, bring it to the runway.
Category is stars, statements and legends.
10s, 10s, 10s across the board.
Deejay, start the music.
Category is - Sugary sweet confection Bad for your teeth, spicy, red-hot, chocolaty I'm minty fresh, but it ain't for free Legendary queen from NYC Sassy, never shady Classy, but I can still take it to the street So you know you better never try to come for me Season 9 out the gate Finish line, no time to wait 10 queens down, only three to go I'm laying bitches out like dominoes Sasha be first, Shea turns looks Trinity crazy, but off the hook But the number one queen is P-E-P-P-E-R Bitch, you know the rest - Take it to the runway Run-run-r-r-runway Bring it to the runway, bring it to the runway Bring it to the-- bring it to the-- Bring it to the runway Category is - Bright-eyed and bushy-browed Be the strange you wish to see in the world Sasha Velour relies on brains Beauty be damned, let monsters reign If you want to join the revolution Innovate, that's my solution Wear a crown, fuck with gender Bend the rules, don't surrender A thinking queen speaks to the heart She's stranger than fiction, better than art I'm--I'm more true than real I'm a magical bitch, darling That's how I feel Aah! [all laugh.]
- Dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, dah-dah-dah, pom.
- Category is I'm Trintastic, plastic, injectable realness The body is here I'm the mother tuck girl, what can I say? There can only be one, and I'm feeling the fantasy My name is Trinity and can't you see I've got a lot of plastic parts up in me Crowns and gowns and tiny thongs, too Other bitches wishin', but you ain't me, boo The talent I've got you just can't replace Even with injectables in your face The time has come for 100 Gs You think you're gonna beat me? Girl, please - What category are we on right now? What category are we on right now? What category are we on right now? Wh-wh-wh-what category? Bring it.
Category is - Shea Coulee, look at the edges I snatched today I see you watching how I sashay Them other girls best get out of my way 'Cause I want it, I get it, and came up here and did it And girl, I'm ready to show them How these bitches, I own them, got that? Supermodel switch, Ms.
Coulee She a real, real bad bitch--uh Let me rock this mic Leave them in my dust like Tina did Ike I'm sickening though and real fierce Chicago in the house, girl, whatcha gonna do? About to shut it down Come on, Mama Ru, bring the queen her crown I approve this message, and all I'm gonna say Is I'm Shea Coulee and I always - Bring it to the runway, runway.
Run--run--r-r-runway.
Bring it to the runway.
Oh, work.
Run--run--r-r-runway.
Bring it to the runway.
Bring it to the runway.
Bring it to the-- bring it to the-- bring it to the runway Bring it to the runway.
Runway, run--run--r-r-runway.
Bring it to the runway.
Bring it to the runway.
Bring it to the-- bring it to the-- bring it to the runway - Oh, my goodness.
Wow! [applause.]
- This is the best season of Dancing with the Stars ever.
[all laugh.]
- Coming up - Ladies, it's time for your final four critique.
[RuPaul laughs, bell rings.]
- Category is - Final Four Eleganza Extravaganza.
First up, Peppermint.
Well, I declare.
- The first lady of drag.
- I am giving you ultimate 18th century luxuriousness.
I look gorgeous.
Hell, we can cancel the whole thing and just give me the crown right now.
- As God is my witness, I will never walk this runway again.
Sasha Velour.
- Crown never felt this good.
- Yes.
- Well, I think she's blooming gorgeous.
- Yes.
- This is my pretty in pink, but it has a distinct Velourian twist.
There is a crown, leather gloves.
I'm angry and ferocious and beautiful and everything at once that defines me.
- I own 51% of this kingdom.
[Michelle laughs.]
- Now I'm going to wash the dishes.
Leave me alone.
- Voulez, Shea Coulee, avec moi.
Bustier, you slay.
- My look is Balmain meets Bob Mackie meets Beyonce.
It's something that you would see at Madison Square Garden, and I don't doubt that your girl can make it there.
- It's like Beyonce and a smurf had a baby.
- Smurf-once.
[all laugh.]
- Now, I love this look, but--and it's a big butt.
[all laugh.]
Trinity Taylor.
- Oh, I hate when I fall asleep on the bus.
You know? [all laugh.]
- Going through this competition, I've claimed to be a pageant girl, and yet to give a sickening pageant gown.
So I am giving them every ounce of Trinity Taylor glamour-puss as I can.
- Oh, and she's back on the chain gang.
- Yes, she is.
- Back chains? - That way.
- Welcome, my gorgeous, gorgeous girls.
This show is like a GPS system for many of our young viewers as they try to navigate their lives, which is why I think it's so important to ask you this question.
-Aw.
-Oh.
- Peppermint, you've provided us with a childhood photo.
If you could turn back time, what words of wisdom would you share with your four-year-old self? - Despiteeverything you hear from other people, everything you feel [sobs.]
everything you feel on the inside is right.
And please[sobs.]
don't wait.
Don't wait to express it.
Don't wait to express it, because the moment you realize that, everyone else will.
- That's beautiful.
Thank you.
Sasha Velour, this is you at five years old.
Now, if you could turn back time, what words of wisdom would you share with little Alexander? - Little Sashinka, you think a lot of negative things about yourself: that you are strange-looking, too fem, weird.
And I want to tell you that those things are all completely true.
[all laugh.]
And you need to stop running from them because those are the things that make you amazing.
And one more thing.
Be good to your mother, because there is less time than you would want, and she deserves to see the beautiful queen that you are.
- I'd like to think she's watching you right now.
Thank you, Sasha.
Shea Coulee.
- [laughs.]
- This is you at three years old.
What words of wisdom would you share with little Jaren? - Get your head out of the TV for a second 'cause I want to tell you you are loved.
And there are some things that you are going to experience that I wish that I could protect you from, but those hardships make you into the individual that's standing here today.
And I want to thank you.
Even when I didn't think that we could do it, you did.
And I'm so proud of us.
- Thank you, Shea.
- Thank you.
- Trinity Taylor.
[all laugh.]
This is you at eight years old.
What words of wisdom would you share with little Ryan? - As you get older, things are gonna get really bad for you.
[sniffles.]
You're gonna go through a lot of hardships with your family, and people are gonna die and they're gonna get sick.
But you're gonna find something very special that changes your life, and that is drag.
Know that all the things that you've been through in life are gonna make you into a very strong person.
- Thank you.
- Coming up - One final question.
Why should you, and not one of your fellow queens, be crowned America's next drag superstar? [RuPaul laughs, bell rings.]
- Ladies, it's time for your Final Four critique, starting with Peppermint.
- When there are hot young guys in harnesses dancing, I get distracted.
Look, a bird, abs, yay.
But you kept the focus the entire time.
- The lyrics were hilarious, were uniquely you.
You have all the goods, and you delivered.
- And I think on this journey, as the competition went on, I feel like you've become more and more of yourself.
- And thank you for always coming out with charisma and making us all smile.
- What, she gets no uniqueness, nerve and talent? - I might be spelling a word here.
[all laugh.]
- Up next, Sasha Velour.
- We're gonna give you uniqueness because that is what you are.
And tonight, from the start of, like, the Vincent Price "Thriller" moment to your lip synch and choreography, it was so Sasha.
- Throughout your journey, your runway looks have been genius, artistic fashion moments.
You're always innovative.
- And you managed to be consistently you and flexible enough to succeed in this competition.
I've been impressed the entire time.
- Up next, Shea Coulee.
- Shea, it do take nerve, honey.
Whether it's Grandrea Zuckerwoman or Blac Chyna, you always went all the way with it, and tonight was no exception.
- Your performance felt the most cool.
You really captured what's happening in music right now.
- And this look, you're kind of giving us that, like, Beyonce glamour.
And you have a sense of humor.
I think that's a great package, one that's really hard to beat.
- Up next, Trinity Taylor.
- My good, gay gods.
Trinity, this is my favorite look you've ever turned tonight.
- Thank you.
- And who knew that Trinity was funny? - The mom in "9021-Ho," it was genius.
The nun was unbelievable.
Sister Mary Koont, I loved it.
- Talent, the T, that's what I'm giving you, Trinity, because you have done things in this competition talent wise you didn't know you had in you.
- I'm finally figuring this out.
C-U-N-Trinity.
- Yes! Thank you.
- I'd like to buy a vowel, Michelle Visage.
- I told you I had a plan.
[all laugh.]
- One final question.
Why should you and not one of your fellow queens be crowned America's next drag superstar? Starting with Peppermint.
- I'd like to take a page from our drag foremothers way back at Stonewall and spread a message of love and light.
I think we have to connect with our community and people outside of what we would consider our community.
As America's next drag superstar, it will be important for me to do that.
- Thank you.
- Thank you, Ru.
- Sasha Velour, same question.
- The future of drag, to stand up and carry on your legacy, Ru, we have to be able to do something new.
The new thing is going to seem a little strange and a little weird, and the new thing is definitely gonna walk in with a scream, and that is me.
- Thank you, Sasha.
Shea Coulee.
- I committed.
I gave 110%.
And even though I stumbled, more than any of my competitors, I succeeded the most.
That is the making of a superstar.
I would want to carry on your legacy and be America's next drag superstar.
- Thank you, Shea.
Trinity Taylor.
- Out of every contestant, I've grown the most not just as an entertainer, but as a person.
I may have had some downs, but I've tried so hard, through everything I've ever done in my life, to make something better for myself.
I've never had stability, and being the next drag superstar would be a huge weight lifted, and I deserve it.
- Thank you, Trinity.
- Thank you.
- Thank you, ladies.
Now, while you untuck backstage, the judges and I will deliberate.
[car engine starts.]
All right, now just between us four tops, let's talk about the top four.
-Mm.
-Peppermint.
- Peppermint is a classic.
She hits her marks.
She delivers her moments.
She's a Jane of all trades.
- She's got that thing that is so crucial for anybody in show business.
She's got the likeability, and if she won the title, that's gonna serve her well.
- Sasha Velour.
- I'm a huge fan because she dissects drag, and then reinvents it in her own very artistic way.
- Yeah, and we do know what a Sasha look and act will be.
- And I liked what she had to say about the drag of the future is not going to be what we're used to.
- I would love to see what someone like her could do with that crown.
- Shea Coulee.
- She's a great entertainer.
She's a great dancer.
She's a great actress.
- And every look was pretty great on the runway.
- With the exception of a stumble in the makeover challenge, she's just been up here.
- She absolutely proved herself every single time.
You should call her the postman of drag.
She delivered.
- Trinity Taylor.
- When this first started, we just saw pageant girl, and as this contest progressed, so did she.
- She needed these challenges to say, no, you're actually really funny.
- And think about how funny Stanky the Starfish was.
- It was amazing.
- And tonight, with her dance, she was hilarious.
- That's my favorite thing about this competition, when the queens surprise themselves.
- I feel like Trinity has made the biggest leap in my opinion.
- I'd love to see her in the top three.
- Yeah.
- Well, this isn't gonna be easy.
Silence.
I've made my decision.
Bring back my girls.
[RuPaul laughs, bell rings.]
- Welcome back, ladies.
All season long, you've worked your big ol' booties off, and each of you has more than earned your spot on this stage tonight.
The time has come [thunder.]
for you to lip synch [echoing.]
for your life.
Good luck and don't fuck it up.
- You wear it well French tip, lipstick, painted on You wear it well Value sure suits you-oo-oo Work it for me Work it for me, me You wear it, you wear it, you wear it well - I have to be in the top three.
I brought as much grace and humility as I did talent and personality.
Sounds like America's next drag superstar to me.
- You wear it, you wear it, you wear it well - Kitty girl, work that high-end tights.
- I am determined to take over the world with my crazy, strange Velourian drag, and I'm not going to be stopped now.
I have to make it to the top three.
I have to win.
[laughs.]
- Don't let nobody tell you you ain't beautiful - I've worked my entire adult life to build the brand of Trinity Taylor.
I deserve to be America's next drag superstar, so I'm coming for that crown, ladies.
Back up.
- We will not be tamed Dreadlocks - It's about the drive and the nerve and the desire to win.
I'm the total package.
If y'all placing bets on anybody, you want to throw $5.
00 down on me.
- Wig shop, nonstop hair salon You wear it well Value brand new-oo-oo Work it for me, work it for me, me You wear it, you wear it, you wear it well [RuPaul laughs.]
[applause.]
- Ladies, I've made my decision.
Tonight, I've decided To eliminate No one.
All four of you are moving forward to the grand finale of "RuPaul's Drag Race.
" How you like them apples? -I love them, girl.
-Ooh, they real sweet.
- My top four queens, the race has never been so close.
And now I want to hear from our super fans.
Who do you think should be crowned America's next drag superstar? Are you #TeamPeppermint #TeamSasha #TeamShea or #TeamTrinity? Let your voice be heard.
Because Mama Ru wil be #listening.
Now, remember, if you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else? Can I get an amen up in here? -Amen! -Amen! - Can I get a whoop-whoop? -Whoop-whoop! -Whoop-whoop! - Can I get a she done already done had hers? All: She done already done had hers.
- All right.
Now let the music play.
- Hey, kitty girl It's your world Hey, kitty, kitty, girl Whoa-oh-oh