One-Queen Show

"One-Queen Show"
RuPaul's Drag Race episode
Episode no.Season 12
Episode 11
Presented byRuPaul
Original air dateMay 8, 2020 (2020-05-08)
Guest appearance
Whoopi Goldberg
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"One-Queen Show" is the eleventh episode of the twelfth season of the American television series RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on May 8, 2020. The episode's main challenge tasks the contestants with performing in original one-woman shows. Whoopi Goldberg is a guest judge. Crystal Methyd wins the main challenge. Heidi N Closet is eliminated from the competition after placing in the bottom and losing a lip-sync contest against Jaida Essence Hall to "1999" (1982) by Prince.

Episode

Crystal Methyd (top, pictured at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2022) wins the episode's main challenge and Heidi N Closet (bottom, pictured at the same event) is eliminated from the competition.

The contestants return to the Werk Room after no one was eliminated on the previous episode. On a new day, RuPaul greets the group and reveals the mini-challenge, which tasks the contestants with participating in a puppet show, during which they roast (or playfully insult) each other. The contestants have 20 minutes to dress up the puppets in drag. Crystal Methyd has a puppet of Jaida Essence Hall, who has a puppet of Gigi Goode. Sherry Pie has a puppet of Heidi N Closet. Jackie Cox has a puppet of Sherry Pie and Gigi Goode has a puppet of Jackie Cox. Heidi N Closet has a puppet of Crystal Methyd. Jackie Cox wins the mini-challenge.

RuPaul then reveals the main challenge, which tasks the contestants with creating and performing in original one-woman shows. As the winner of the mini-challenge, Jackie Cox determines the show order. Before leaving, RuPaul reveals that Whoopi Goldberg is the guest judge. The contestants share their preferences for the order, then Jackie Cox makes her decision.

One at a time, the contestants rehearse on the main stage with RuPaul and Goldberg. On elimination day, the contestants make final preparations in the Werk Room for the one-woman and fashion shows. Jackie Cox talks about her relationship with her parents. On the main stage, RuPaul welcomes fellow judges Michelle Visage and Ross Mathews, as well as guest judge Goldberg. RuPaul shares the assignment and runway category ("The Color Purple"), then the contestants perform their original shows. Following are the acts:

After the contestants present their looks in the fashion show, the judges deliver their critiques, deliberate, then share the results with the group. Crystal Methyd and Jackie Cox receive positive critiques, and Crystal Methyd wins the challenge. Heidi N Closet, Jaida Essence Hall, and Sherry Pie receive negative critiques, and Sherry Pie is deemed safe. Heidi N Closet and Jaida Essence Hall place in the bottom and face off in a lip-sync contest to "1999" (1982) by Prince. Jaida Essence Hall wins the lip-sync and Heidi N Closet is eliminated from the competition.

Production and broadcast

Whoopi Goldberg (pictured in 2025) is a guest judge.

The episode originally aired on May 8, 2020.

During rehearsals, Jaidi Essence Hall gets emotional meeting Goldberg.

The website Jezebel described Crystal Methyd's character Phenomenal Phil as a 1980s exotic dance instructor. Stephen Daw of Billboard called Crystal Methyd's dance moves "over-the-top". Heidi N Closet portrays four characters at a family cookout in her show.

Fashion

For the fashion show, the contestants wear purple outfits. Jackie Cox's outfit is inspired by the Purple People Eater. Her outfit has a large eye and a tongue with a tablet of MDMA. She has a yellow wig. Crystal Methyd's look is inspired by Nick Cave and soundsuits. She has horns on her head. Heidi N Closet has a gown with lace and a brown wig. Gigi Goode has a Scooby-Doo-inspired green-and-purple outfit with a red wig. Sherry Pie's outfit is inspired by the Cheshire Cat. Jaida Essence Hall's dress matches her boots and hat. She has a long brown wig.

Reception

Kate Kulzick of The A.V. Club gave the episode a rating of 'B'. Alex Bollinger included the episode in INTO Magazine's 2021 list of the show's top five challenges "that blew our minds and then never came back". Bollinger wrote, "Drag Race has had so many performance challenges, but none have had as little structure – and allowed for as much creativity – as this one." Stephen Daw included the "1999" performance in Billboard's 2024 list of the best lip-sync contests from each season of the show.

See also

References

  1. ↑ McCallion, Paul (May 8, 2020). "RuPaul's Drag Race Recap: #Methmentum". Vulture. Vox Media. Archived from the original on June 2, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  2. ↑ Guzzo, Bianca (May 9, 2020). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12 Episode 11 Recap: One-Queen Show". IN Magazine. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  3. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race: One Queen Show". Werrrk. May 11, 2020. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Every 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 12 runway look, ranked". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  5. ↑ Jones, Dylan B. (May 10, 2020). "RuPaul's Drag Race recap: season 12, episode 11 – the queens Whoopi it up". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  6. ↑ Holland, Scott (May 13, 2020). "RuPauls Drag Race Season 12 Episode 11: Heidi and All Stars 5 Cast Announced". Hotspots Magazine. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  7. ↑ Malone, Chris (May 11, 2020). "Lip Sync Herstory: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Prince's '1999'". Billboard. Penske Media Corporation. ISSN 0006-2510. OCLC 732913734. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Drag Race's Heidi Was 'Very Happy' to Lip-Synch Against Jaida". The Advocate. ISSN 0001-8996. OCLC 60638931. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  9. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race season 12 queens ranked after One-Queen Show". Metro. DMG Media. May 10, 2020. ISSN 1469-6215. OCLC 225917520. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  10. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12 Episode 11: Recap". Xtra Magazine. Pink Triangle Press. ISSN 0829-3384. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Jaida Essence Hall breaks down over Whoopi Goldberg in powerful Drag Race clip". Entertainment Weekly.
  12. ↑ Alford, Emily. "All Hail Crystal Methyd's Drag Race". Jezebel. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  13. ↑ Daw, Stephen (May 12, 2020). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star Heidi N. Closet Takes an Emotional Look at Her Journey With New Playlist: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  14. ↑ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Exit Interview: Queen Heidi N Closet On Going Home". Nylon. Bustle Digital Group. May 15, 2020. ISSN 1524-1750. Archived from the original on September 18, 2025. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Drag Race icon Heidi N Closet snatched names, RuPaul's ideas, and hearts". Entertainment Weekly.
  16. ↑ "One-Queen Show". RuPaul's Drag Race. Season 12. Episode 11. May 8, 2020. VH1 / WOW Presents Plus.
  17. ↑ "Improv strikes again on RuPaul's Drag Race, pushing the top six out of their comfort zone". The A.V. Club. Paste Media Group. May 9, 2020. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  18. ↑ Bollinger, Alex. "Top 5 Drag Race challenges that blew our minds & then never came back". INTO Magazine. Archived from the original on October 10, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  19. ↑ Daw, Stephen (February 2, 2024). "The Best Lip Sync From Every Main Season of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 6, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2026.