| "Oh. My. Gaga!" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RuPaul's Drag Race episode | |||
| Episodeno. | Season 9 Episode 1 | ||
| Directed by | Nick Murray | ||
| Presented by | RuPaul | ||
| Original air date | March 24, 2017 (2017-03-24) | ||
| Guest appearance | |||
| Lady Gaga | |||
| Episode chronology | |||
| |||
| RuPaul's Drag Raceseason 9 | |||
| List of episodes | |||
"Oh. My. Gaga!" is the first episode of theninth season of the American television seriesRuPaul's Drag Race.[1][2][3] It originally aired on March 24, 2017.Lady Gaga is a guest judge.[4] The episode's main challenge tasks contestants with presenting two looks in a fashion show: one representing their home town and another inspired by Lady Gaga. The episode does not have alip-sync contest and no contestant is eliminated. It earned two awards from four nominations at the69th Primetime Emmy Awards.[5]
The season's thirteen contestants—Alexis Michelle,Aja,Charlie Hides,Cynthia Lee Fontaine,Eureka,Farrah Moan,Jaymes Mansfield,Kimora Blac,Nina Bo'nina Brown,Peppermint,Sasha Velour,Shea Couleé, andTrinity Taylor—enter the Werk Room one a time.Lady Gaga joins the contestants; in one recorded segment, she offers commentary as heralter ego Ronnie.RuPaul greets the group and Lady Gaga offers advice to the contestants. RuPaul shares that no contestants will be eliminated on the premiere, then reveals the season's first challenge, which tasks contestants with presenting two looks in the Miss Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve & Talent Pageant: one representing their home town and another inspired by Lady Gaga.[6][7] The contestants select their work stations and start to prepare for thefashion show. On the main stage, RuPaul welcomes fellow panelistsMichelle Visage,Carson Kresley, andRoss Mathews, as well as Lady Gaga.[8] The fashion show commences, then the judges deliberate. Nina Bo'nina Brown is declared the winner of the challenge. RuPaul reveals that a fourteenth contestants will enter the competition. The episode does not include alip-sync, and no contestant is eliminated.
The episode originally aired on March 24, 2017. It was directed by Nick Murray.
Lady Gaga was a special guest for her first time, though her songs had been performed on the show previously.[9][10] Her participation included a recorded segment as her alter ego Ronnie.[11] Lady Gaga also appeared in the corresponding episode ofUntucked, setting a new precedent for making a backstage appearance with the contestants.[12][13] Peppermint later said of the singer's participation: "Lady Gaga seemed to do something unusual and make it a point to come back and connect with us. It seemed as though she was genuinely touched that we had put so much into these tribute looks to her."[14]
For her entrance, Nina Bo'nina Brown wears a look inspired byMinnie Mouse.[15] Perry Meek designed Lady Gaga's outfit for her guest appearance on the show. He designed three outfits for her and she selected which one she would wear.[16]
For the pageant, Peppermint represents New York City by presenting aStatue of Liberty-inspired outfit. Valentina representsEast Los Angeles with acharro-inspired look, which includes asombrero. Representing Tennessee, Eureka carries and doll and has cigarettes in her hair. Charlie Hides represents Massachusetts by dressing as a pilgrim. Farrah Moan representsLas Vegas with ashowgirl look. Representing New York City, Sasha Velour wears a yellow crown and carries anAndy Warhol-inspired portrait. Also representing New York City, Alexis Michelle presents a white dress with written phrases, including "Black Lives Matter". Shea Couleé wears a red outfit with ahot dog headpiece, representing Chicago. RepresentingOrlando, Trinity Taylor has large colorful outfit. Kimora Blac presents a black outfit with a large headpiece, representing Las Vegas. RepresentingMilwaukee, Jaymes Mansfield wears a black-and-white outfit with a cow print. Representing Brooklyn, Aja dresses like the Statue of Liberty. Representing Georgia, Nina Bo'nina Brown's face resembles a peach.
For the Lady Gaga-inspired look, Peppermint wears a blueDavid Bowie-esque outfit with orange hair, referencing Lady Gaga's look at the58th Annual Grammy Awards in 2016. Valentina's black outfit, blue hair, and sunglasses reference Lady Gaga's look at theCFDA Awards in 2011. Eureka recreates Lady Gaga's look from themusic video for "Telephone" (2010). Charlie Hides wears a white dress with a tall blonde wig, recreating Lady Gaga's look at theBrit Awards 2010. Farrah Moan's white outfit with a red cross recreates Lady Gaga's look in the "Alejandro" (2010) music video. Sasha Velour black-and-white outfit and colorful makeup recreates a look from the "Applause" (2013) music video. Alexis Michelle wears a black gown and a blonde wig, recreating aDonatella Versace-designed outfit Lady Gaga wore to the73rd Golden Globe Awards in 2016. Shea Couleé also wears a white dress and a blonde wig, recreating a look designed byJim Henson for theMonster Ball Tour. Trinity Taylor wears a white dress and a blonde wig, inspired by Lady Gaga's character in the television seriesAmerican Horror Story: Hotel. Kimora Blac wears an "on the go" black outfit. Jaymes Mansfield's purple dress and blonde wig recreate Lady Gaga's look on the cover ofVogue. Nina Bo'nina Brown wears a pink outfit that has lace covering her face and body, recreating Lady Gaga'sAlexander McQueen-inspired look at the2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Aja wears a blue-and-gray dress that recreates one of Lady Gaga's outfits designed byComme des Garçons.
Oliver Sava ofThe A.V. Club gave the episode a rating of "B+".[17] Eric Henderson ofSlant Magazine wrote, "Even lesser episodes ofDrag Race go down like cotton candy, but this premiere lip-synced not for its life, nor the show's legacy."[9]
The episode received almost a million viewers and was among the most-watched episodes in the show's history.[18]
The episode earned two awards from four nominations at the69th Primetime Emmy Awards.Zaldy and Perry Meek won in theOutstanding Costumes for a Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Programming category[16] and Jamie Martin, John Lim and Michael Roha won theOutstanding Picture Editing for a Structured Reality or Competition Program category.[19] Hector Pocasangre was nominated in theOutstanding Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program category and Jen Fregozo, Nicole Faulkner and Natasha Marcelina were nominated in theOutstanding Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program category.[20]
