The “Snatch Game” challenge on RuPaul‘s Drag Race has become the most highly anticipated moment of the season: Success as a panelist requires not only a convincing look, but a quick wit and some serious charm—it’s really the challenge that separates the queens from the princesses.
We already know from preview clips that Jinkx Monsoon will be serving us manic shut-in realness as Little Edie, but let’s imagine who some of the other contestants might (and probably should) portray in Episode Five.
Check out our predictions for this season’s Snatch Game celebrity impressions. Think the girls will be RuPresenting someone else? All T, all shade in the comments section below!
JADE JOLIE as VENUS XTRAVAGANZA
There’s already a similarity between the two in terms of looks, and Ru would go nuts for the old-school reference. The contestants are encouraged to watch Paris is Burning repeatedly before entering the competition, and this would be Jade’s chance to show that she did her homework.
LINEYSHA SPARX as PHYLICIA RASHAD
Again, resemblance is half the motivator here. But this choice allows for plenty of sass, and it’s important to pick a bold character so you can stand out from the crowd. Also, Phylicia is bilingual, leaving opportunities for Lineysha to shine in both English and Spanish.
HONEY MAHOGANY as IMAN
This option has a few positives for Honey. First, the judges have already made the comparison, so she may as well show them just how gorgeous her face can get. Second, it’s a shout-out to her Ethiopian heritage. And third, the dry, withering commentary that Iman delivered as host of the Canadian Project Runway would be a perfect fit for this challenge.
VIVIENNE PINAY as PAULA ABDUL
I hate to say it, but Vivienne strikes me as dull. To prove that she’s got some personality, she needs to stop relying on her looks to get by. Sure, the reference is a little dated, but successfully embodying a messy, manic, pill-popping Paula would prove that she’s more than just fish.
ALYSSA EDWARDS as LINDSAY LOHAN
Lindsay was once headed for the top, but after one too many public missteps, she’s fallen—hard. Alyssa, I’m sure, can relate. Plus, Lohan’s erratic public persona gives lots of options, performance-wise: she could go drunk, belligerent, professional, stupid, glassy-eyed, or all of the above.
COCO MONTRESE as E.T.
Though she’s known for her Janet Jackson impersonation, I think Coco should rely on her signature brand of crazy and deploy her other well-known illusion. I mean, if you’ve already determined that you can make yourself look like an alien puppet, how could you not use that skill in this circumstance? People wouldn’t be able to handle it.
Chad Hunt
That was hilarious.
Chris Kelly
@Chad Hunt: Thanks, I’m a fan of your work as well!
Icebloo
Did RuPaul FINALLY choose a white person to win any of these shows ? I stopped watching after season two when it became clear RuPaul doesn’t like white people.
dkmagby
@Icebloo: Considering the top three last year were all white queens and this year mu top two are also white…I’d say that rumor has been disbanded. I find ru Paul’s racial make up of his queens very diverse and balanced. I’ve yet to really disagree with his decisions each week either.
makino
well WHOPAUL actually is a black supremacist but hes forced to push a white winner just because people are like threatening to boycott the show coz hes not crowning nothing but black queens….but sharon needles is crowned and hes white also chad michaels….u cant beat chad michaels hes a PROFFESIONAL….but WHOPAULS drag race is going downward afterseason 3…..the challeneges are tacky classless boring and corny after season 3….all stars was HORRIBLE……and WHOPAUL is still a transphobic ugly old gay man
makino
and he use the show to promote his HORRIBLE new songs…..i liked the main event and champion….but the rest of his transphobic songs i hate so much…..
hamoboy
@Icebloo: I’d read you like a scantron, but I don’t read trashy pamphlets.
AxelDC
Since this is a pastiche of the 1970s Match Game, why doesn’t anyone play Bret Sommers or Fannie Flag?
I think Charles Nelson Riley should count, too, since he was the biggest queen on daytime TV until Anderson Cooper.
Snapper59
@AxelDC: Brilliant idea. JP Morgan? JoAnne Whorley? They’d be great characters! I can remember asking ma : “What exactly does JP Morgan do?” and she pretty much nailed it with “Game shows.”
Snapper59
BTW, that was JAYE P. MORGAN, not the finance company or whatever. She was 70’s game show personified.
AshNYC
Dear Queerty, why do you attract so many race obsessed commenters? I’m starting to believe you plant your race related comments, to draw more comments from others. Please tell me I’m wrong….
Banderson
@makino:
Do you realize how ignorant your sound? Like seriously? Check your facts, please.
Banderson
@dkmagby:
People need to check their facts! Also, why is this even about race?
Globaltraveler
God who cares? To each his own, but I’ve never watched more than 60 seconds of this show. RuPaul has managed to turn an absolute minimum of “talent” into a career that’s over twenty years old.
Yes, drag can be fun and funny, and no doubt it requires skills/talents which I do not possess. But to elevate it to the level he has is beyond me.
Ugh.
Chad Hunt
@Icebloo: @makino: I know RuPaul from various avenues of our lives in NYC, L.A., and varying times we have shared a stage at Gay events. I have never found her whatsoever to be a black supremacist. She is very personable if not slightly conceited but that would be a failing in all of showbiz, or any of celebrity caliber. Two of her best friends are Lady Bunny and Chi Chi LaRue. Hardly people of color and it doesn’t get much whiter.