Rose McGowan Has No Interest in "Real". Do you?
Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 11:58PM I have no interest in 'real.' I find real people boring."
Those telling words were spoken by the actress Rose McGowan on the penultimate episode of the latest season of RuPaul's Drag Race. I suddenly appreciate Rose more. It's true that reality is not exactly her forte. She's best known as a television witch and when popular culture eventually forgets her, isn't it entirely likely that the single enduring image from her career will be that Grindhouse chick with a machine gun for a leg. It doesn't get more much unreal than that.
The final four drag contestants were the acclaimed Cher-loving Chad Michaels, the large glamourous Latrice Royale, "busted show queen" Phi Phi O'Hara and funny spooky Sharon Needles. I knew that hateful Phi Phi would make the final three because someone despicable always makes it to reality tv finales. But never mind that. Let's talk movie references! (We'll get back to movies soon but we're clearly having a 24 hour television binge)
Sharon Needles won much movie-movie praise from Rose McGowan...
If somehow Liza Minnelli in Cabaret and Jean Harlow had a baby and threw it in white puffy boots with the perfect poodle, it would be you.❞
-Rose McGowan to Sharon Needles.
I'm not sure how she gets Sally Bowles and Jean Harlow (other than the hair color) out of Sharon's severe chic poodle look but it's wonderful to hear actressy icons referenced in contemporary contexts. Which is part of the reason RuPaul's Drag Race is so great -- there are always a couple of actressexuals in the cast who can't help but reference the movie and music divas.
Meanwhile Chad Michaels went for a Cruella de Vil inspired look (and was shamed for it -- "too old") but when she took off the furry wrap, she looked like a superhero. A retired superhero maybe but still...
Do you find reality boring?
How do you like your Rose McGowan?
Who are you rooting for to win RuPaul's Drag Race?
Reader Comments (23)
I was voting for Latrice all the way, and that classy farewell nailed it. Otherwise, Sharon Needles. I think she's been the clear frontrunner all the way through and other than maybe Chad, there's no competition.
If Phi Phi wins I will SLIP A NIP.
Sharon Needles all the way! Chad Michaels would be fine too. As long as Phi phi doesn't win!
needles!!!
(i'd be fine with, and not surprised by, a chad win - although the name "chad michaels" doesn't exactly scream drag superstar to me)
Rose McGowan's new face makes me SO sad...she was gorgeous before. Literally gorgeous. She must have body dysmorphic disorder or something because there's no other way she would've changed her face like that. So sad. :/ I love her though, as a huge Charmed fan (not as great as Buffy, but still damn good) and Scream fan (she managed to be one of the most memorable characters despite being killed in the first movie).
Anyway, about Drag Race...
1. Sharon Needles - flawless, perfect, etc. Edgy, unique, the future of drag, etc. Outfits from last episode killed me! From the coke whore to the vogue italia poodle look.
2. Latrice Royale - best personality if we're being honest. Sharon has an awesome one too, but there's something so wise and beautiful about Latrice, I want to be friends with him/her in real life. I agree she was the weakest last episode, but still...she was definitely top 3 worthy, especially over Phi Phi.
3. Chad Michaels - I love his personality too. Wise soul, and a very polished performer. Sometimes I don't get the spark though, it's not all that exciting. Still uber talented though.
4. Phi Phi - not real, awful personality, mediocre drag, awful impersonations, awful acting, etc. did I mention worst personality ever? I hear she's getting blacklisted from places actually, she even gets booed at the bar in her hometown that holds the viewing of the show that she's supposed to host weekly, but stopped attending lol. Can't say it isn't deserved. I know reality tv shows have a way with editing but there's only so much you can edit, and based on his twitter and fb and things he has said outside the show, he's definitely an awful person. He needs to grow up and learn some things about life. like the cruise thing with sharon? are you kidding? are you really trying to make something out of that? just stop.
If it were a just world, Willam would've been in the top 4 instead of Phi Phi, but if he broke the rules...
Btw Nathaniel, I want to say thanks for getting me into this show haha. I remember your post after the first episode, mixed with a friends recommendation, and the sharon needles hype on tumblr pushing me to watch it and now I love it.
I've been on Team Sharon Needles since they released the promo material and I thought "no way the goth queen makes the finals." Now that she has (and to great acclaim), it feels like the fix has been in from the start for spooky kooky comedy to win this season of Drag Race. If you watch the preview of the season now, you can see Sharon's final three big looks in the competition. Think tentacles and devil horns.
But penultimate episode? Not in your dreams. We still have the clip show, the finale, and the reunion before the season is over.
That's Rose McGowan? Hard to tell in a blurry screencap like that, but I would have said "Emma Stone".
Oh and I do see what she means about Liza - if not specifically in Cabaret, though - in that sequinned black dress with the '80's shoulder pads. Or maybe I'm just squinting too hard. Love the references though.
Transexuals are fun they have conquered any part in this world now they allowed to compete in Miss Universe which was supposedly for women celebrating feminity nothing against them but they should know their limits that the pageant is only for natural born woman not for a fake woman who used to be a man!
Feeling threatened, Lucy? ha
I love Rose McGowan. From Doom Generation to Scream to Jawbreaker to Grindhouse, I lovelovelovelove her. She was also the co-host for TCM's The Essentials for awhile, so she must have some knowledge of Old Hollywood.
Well, I WAS rooting for Latrice Royale - that laugh! that "Jesus Is A Biscuit" song! - but now she's gone. They're doing an All Stars season next, so I really hope she gets to come back for it. A true pro. And that farewell speech totally made me cry.
I am totally rooting for Sharon Needles FTW. She is the most consistently hilarious. Although I would not be opposed to Chad Michaels either, for the Cher impression alone! Really, anyone so long as it ISN'T Phi Phi O'Hara! What a sour bitch.
But seriously, can we talk about this week's Untucked? Because I think that was the funniest thing I have seen ALL YEAR! Seriously. The editors deserve an Emmy for that episode. Dita von Teese was HILARIOUS - and the queens didn't even get to meet her! Despite all the shouting going on, I was laughing through the whole thing. Thank God for DVR, because I actually had to re-watch the first half of it because I was laughing so hard I didn't hear half of what went on.
This show makes life worth living!
@ Philip
She was actually in a car accident, and the sunglasses she was wearing smashed and cut into her face which is why constructive surgery was needed. Thus her face looks kind a off. Though she probably did a lot of botox as well, but I don't know.
I'm not particularly fond of McGowan. I read long time ago she had had some problem (accident?) so that she had to undergo reconstructive surgery, so I find it cruel when some gossip blogs refer to her face making negative comments (and no, it's not Perez).
I think reality can be incredibly interesting. I love hiding behind my sunglasses to observe people and how they behave (i.e. in the subway, what they do, who they look at, do they leave their seats for elderly people... things like that). But I digress. It's interesting she says that in a reality-talent show, because reality tv shows are incredibly boring in the way they're scripted to find conflict in just anything: the color of a wallpaper, the shape of a wedding dress, construction time. It's like someone told reality tv writers that fiction works because there's always conflict, so it's not flat, and they apply that tip to everything in a way which is curiously highly predictable to pass as reality.
The best bit about the episode was the dogs in untucked. Man, that was funny (and cute)! . "Bitch, I am from Chicago!", "This is not Man's Best Friend Race", "Go back to Pet City where you belong", and "You tone sounds very pointed right now". The Best Untucked Episode Ever!
Sharon Needles!!!!!!!
Music Video for "Glamazon" is released featuring all top 3. Doesn't really tell who won.
forgot to post the link :)
http://www.logotv.com/video/misc/757468/rupaul-glamazon.jhtml
Sharon Needles (but Chad is great too).
For a drag queen, Phi Phi is shockingly humorless, which is really her biggest problem.
I was hoping youd do another drag race post! loved the top 4 besides little voldemort o hara, but i hope sharon wins of the last 3. im worried that phi phi might turn it out tho.
Reality is a drag, dahling. I love my Rose McGowan in almost any form, though my favorite still has to be as the victim I most wanted to make it through in the Screams ("Please don't kill me Mr. Ghost Face. I want to be in the sequel!"). I wanted the large, in charge, chunky yet funky Latrice to take home the prize (amazing speech/goodbye), but Sharon Needles would easily be the best winner the show has produced. Chad would be a surprising, but also nice choice. Phi Phi should be forced to dress as her awful racist Palin-wannabe character and fight the real Palin to the death, Celebrity Death Match style.
Won't McGowen's lasting image be hanging from a cat flap in a garage door?
eurocheese & glenn -- perhaps Scream is it then. I always forget that she's in that (it's the blonde wig)
Sharon Needles for SURE!!!! Chad is a very very close second