RPDR8, Episode 10
Joining me this week is Dixie Lynn Cartwright, a fabulously funny and sharp-tongued Chicago queen. We were both at the Sidetrack screening party last night – I was selling art, and she was hosting, so we both ended up missing parts of the actual episode. So... yeah.
Dixie: Are you ready to chat about the season finale of Criminal Minds? I have to admit, I wasn't caught up, but I stayed up all night long to catch up.
Chad: Ha! I'm ready to chat about the parts of the RPDR finale I actually saw.
Dixie: Girl. I just rewatched it. I NEVER get to watch the show when I'm working. And not just because of alcohol. Although, mostly.
Chad: Okay, so, all T all shade, I really loved the old reunions where the queens actually got to interact with or at each other. But I will say that I really enjoyed this one, too. I live for the dumb, scripted stuff, like the opening scene with the past winners, the clown, and Ru's phone call.
Dixie: Oh, agreed. I loved that they really spotlit the top 3, but I miss them talking to one another now that they've seen what they REALLY thought of each other.
Chad: Aside from the finalists, whose looks did you like tonight?
Dixie: I'm sure this won't be the popular answer because most of us forgot she was a person, but I think Laila looked amazing. Seriously, she's a little Adore Delano, but with more polish. I was into it. Robbie Turner was the white version of Beyonce's Lemonade dress. Cultural appropriation.
Chad: My nerdy side really dug Dax, whose outfit was an homage to "Asgardian Storm," and with that reference, I think I just lost all three readers of this blog.
Dixie: Oh, I'm a BIG fan of Dax's looks. I love her nerd thing. I mean, I don't get into comic book shit because I like my pictures without having to read, but damn. She looks good. Chi Chi grew on me so much that she could have come out in an expected black dress and I would have loved it...oh wait. Seriously, she looked GREAT.
Chad: Chi Chi looked weirdly different -- did she change her makeup or something?
Dixie: Her makeup has changed drastically, and it needed to. Someone else styled her wig, built her an outfit. What we saw was Chi Chi with TV money.
Chad: Ahhhh, yes, that's it. Good for her!
Dixie: Can we take a moment and honestly dissect Derrick's look. The dress. Cool. Britney. We get it. Flesh. Stones. Pop music circa 2002. Good year. But it's almost like she has lost her confidence as Britney. Girl, you tried to be a different queen. You're not. Go back to looking like Britney and wear your straight hair. I couldn't figure out why I was so turned off by her look until the interview, and then it hit me. At least a dozen cats had chewed on her wig before she walked out.
Chad: I LOVE CATS! What's wrong with that?
Dixie: If you were at Sidetrack at all during the season, then you're familiar with my completely one-sided love-hate relationship with Derrick. She made it on TV, so good for her. Thorgy made my heart happy. She's just so positive and fun and wonderful. I loved everything about her last night. Except the painted nails. Press-ons are buy 1 get 1 at Walgreens right now. Let's make it happen.
Chad: I love Thorgy. Absolutely. But I just couldn't visually process what was going on. Did I miss some clever reference? What was with the Twizzlers wig? The ugly green bodysuit?
Dixie: REALLY? I feel like that's been her all season. A lot to process, but she's having such a good time, who the fuck am I to judge?
Chad: I love her hippy urban eclecticism, but this was like a rejected extra from The Fifth Element.
Dixie: REJECTED EXTRA?! Chad! You are NOT holding back. I thought it was interesting and fun and weird. I was on board.
Chad: The thing is, I love Thorgy. I just.... I.... I have no words. Okay, let's get out of this strange alternate world where you're kind and generous and I'm the mean one.
Dixie: I LOVE it. I'm a human now. Okay. I need to know... You said last night that it's difficult to draw fishy queens or queens that don't have memorable looks...who do you NOT want to draw? Then we can leave this alternate reality.
Chad: Ha! Although they're both nice and talented and gorgeous, I don't really find myself itching to draw Naysha or Derrick. They're aspiring to a pop star level of beauty, which is TOTALLY fine. But it just doesn't fall within the realm of my limited artistic sensibility.
Dixie: "Limited," okay... stop pointing towards yourself and just say it's boring to draw them.I have to admit that I wasn't a big Naysha fan until this season, and for a lot of the same reasons. She's STUNNING, but I didn't see what else she had to offer. But we had her at Sidetrack and I immediately fell in love. She's a fucking doll. Her beauty is out of this world, she's kind, she's deprecating (MY FAVORITE QUALITY IN A QUEEN), and talented as hell. I would've loved to look half as good in that gown as she did.
Chad: Well, I do like drawing Derrick, because he's cute. But those are private drawings.
Dixie: Oh, Chad. Don't. I'm sorry. I know it was TV, and Kim and Shea and all the queens that have met her have said that Derrick is wonderful, but TV is my reality...and she was awful.
Chad: HA! I think the key thing is that I did meet her briefly at the start of the season, and she was such a sweetheart to me that I'm always giving her the benefit of the doubt. Which is fine, right? It's not as if I'm the president of her fan club.
Dixie: I have no doubt that she's a kind, wonderful human, but I drank the Drag Race Kool Aid. The producers did an amazing job this season by manipulating the drama without it being as obvious as Season 7. To be totally honest... Hosting Drag Race every Monday at Sidetrack, it is a very uniting and fun element to have a common TV enemy. She became that, which is what the producers intended, and we LOVED it. She was always the punchline to my trivia questions. The bar knew it was coming, and they loved it. I was happy she provided that to the viewers.Is that shitty to say?
Chad: I think that's a very self aware and surprisingly nuanced thing for you to say. Are you okay??
Dixie: I've been drinking since 11 am. My feelings are feelings now.
Chad: Hm, drunk Dixie is what I'm used to. Weird.
Dixie: Okay, so where were we? Cynthia! We didn't talk about Cynthia!
Chad: Okay, yes, Cynthia stole the show with that gown.
Dixie: I HATED it. But I hated everything she wore this season. I'm sorry. She seems so sweet and a legit nutjob, but I couldn't get with her this season. I know she is a fan favorite, so I don't want to upset all the cu-cu lovers, but I just didn't connect with her. The fact that she has cancer is devastating, and I wish her the absolute best, but there was never a moment in the season that I felt connected to her.
Chad: I thought she was sweet, and a fun performer, but I agree that her runways weren't... great...
Dixie: The Miss Congeniality thing baffled me. Is it just because she would smile constantly and show all 32 of her teeth? And of course, this comes from a bitter place of resentment for those perfect teeth. I have like 12 left and who knows what color they'll be any given day. #dewmouth
Chad: She wasn't really a standout on the show except for her shining personality. And you didn't get that, because you're blind and deaf to kindness.
Dixie: That's my brand. YOU JUST SAID I WAS KIND EARLIER. Get it together, Sell.
Chad: I don't know what I'm talking about, I've been drinking since 10am.
Dixie: I've never seen you drunk, and I've never not been drunk.
Chad: Okay, so what did you think of the finalist's musical numbers? I have to admit that I kind of loved them and think it was great to see those queens perform in polished, well choreographed numbers.
Dixie: I LOVED THEM! I thought it was PERFECT. As much as I want Lucian to sit on my face, I'm not always on board with his songs, but I LOVED THEM ALL. Let's start with Bob.
Chad: I thought the "humble brag" theme of Bob's number was absolutely perfect.
Dixie: Oh, absolutely. And Bob's lip sync is so tight, he vogued, he was ratchet (I can say that word. I've seen Dreamgirls 8 times in the theater).
Chad: The final "death drop" was priceless.
Dixie: I mean, no one can say that Bob was not an incredible performer this season. That's what he was born to do. Bob is the comedy queen I want to be, but my comedy swings negative and his is just so FUN. I could watch him all day. Kim didn't move at all....and I loved it. It's my dream to have an entire number choreographed around me.
Chad: Kim's choreography was BRILLIANT! The dress was gorgeous, the dancers were gorgeous.
Dixie: At Sidetrack, we watch with the closed captioning on, and during her number it just said: {Singing in a foreign language} --Even the closed captioning people gave up on understanding her.
Chad: Her simple movements were really effective. I found myself strangely moved by the end of her number -- it was just so amazing to see her effectively showcased in such a thoughtful, stunning way.
Dixie: I was so, so proud of her. I have to admit, I got a little teary-eyed when the crowd was so supportive of her. I can't put into words what it's like when a hometown queen is on that show. We have a Chicago treasure that Kim Chi has VERY wisely employed: Tiger Lily. She's a gorgeous, sweet person who has styled Kim into a goddess. Yes, Kim is creative and talented in her own right, but her pairing with Tiger Lily is magic. Everyone go find Tiger Lily on all the social medias right now.
Chad: Yes, I actually interviewed Tiger Lily for the first episode of the season! I think Kim has been extremely smart or lucky to find so many outrageously talented designers and photographers in Chicago. I was going to say that next season, I want TWO Chicago queens on the show for once. But then I remembered Naysha.
Dixie: Coming to Lifetime Movie Network: "But Then I Remembered Naysha: The Naysha Lopez Story" starring that girl from that one thing that you saw that one time.
Dixie: I know Kim like I'm sure a lot of people do, in that we have texted on occasion, she came over and helped me with my hair, she's friendly and sweet, but we aren't close. I wish we were, but Kim has been SUCH a kind, supportive member of the Chicago drag scene. She changed and elevated drag in Chicago before the show, and now she is CHANGING the face of drag across the world.Seeing her makeover the world as she has our city, I didn't know I would feel so deeply proud of her.
Chad: And she's doing it in her own, goofy, awkward and stunningly unique way. That's what's so great about seeing her on the show -- she never pretended to be anything she wasn't, she acknowledged her weaknesses, but she still slayed, because she's an outstanding, eccentric, insanely imaginative artist.
Dixie: Kim deserves all of the incredible success that is headed her way and MORE. I really can't say enough about what an incredible person she is. She is LEGIT the nicest person I've ever met in the drag scene. She can be shady, but it comes from such a kind heart that she'll immediately compliment you or praise you in some way.
Chad: Also, I LOVED that she brought everything in that theater to a standstill with that line about the Pit Crew -- Ru looked speechless!
Dixie: That's what is so great about her comedy: you just don't expect it, but she's a shady MF. After Drag Matinee one night, she came up to me and said, "Your hair looks really bad. You can't wear that again. I'm going to help you." And then we spent the day together wig shopping and styling. She was so patient and kind... and all I had to pay her was a burrito bowl.
Chad: HA! I wish you would have written some of her notes down and remembered them.
Dixie: I don't know what you mean. My hair was crispy and fragile last night. I wrote it ALL down. And watching Drag Race at Sidetrack where EVERYONE was cheering her on, it was just electrifying. We had over 750 people at the finale last night, and we were all holding our breath for Kim. We love Bob, and have all season, but we have a deep appreciation for how lucky we are to be able to claim Kim as one of our own.
Chad: I know! I just hope she stays here, or at least comes home to roost amid her many international adventures.
Dixie: Oh, she and Naomi will be in and out, I'm sure. I'm just so proud of her. I know she is going to do amazing things. I just hope she gives me a discount on her makeup line.
Chad: With Naomi in Chicago, what will you do now that you've been surpassed as the skinniest bitch in Boystown?
Dixie: Hahaha! Naomi will be traveling the world being a supermodel. I'll still be the upside down broom of Chicago wearing whatever was on the sales rack at Akira. We travel in different circles. It doesn't surprise me at all that she and Kim are besties, b/c second to Kim, Naomi is the nicest queen in the world. I don't get what happened in their childhoods to not make them bitter, garbage pail kids like me and Trannika, but I like it.
Chad: Did you feel like Naomi got overlooked in the finale last night?
Dixie: I mean...there's always one in the top 3 that is there because she's good, but she's not ready.
Chad: Right, and like they said, she was the youngest queen this season!
Dixie: Listen, she's 12 years old. She's already stunning and talented. She'll be fine. She'll be modeling on our graves.
Chad: Can we just take a second to discuss how Violet stepped onto the stage and destroyed it? I'm amazed anyone survived.
Dixie: I GOT GOOSEBUMPS! And I've never been team Violet, but JESUS CHRIST ON A COCKROACH I can't. Violet is other-worldly.
Chad: I don't generally draw queens from past seasons for this gig, but I'm praying that I'll have enough time to illustrate that.
Dixie: Oh, you MUST. It is legendary. It's too good for Logo. That's some Vogue-can't-handle-it shit.
I. Just.
It's.
I.
Ugh.
It's.
What.
Chad: Can you, like, reboot yourself or something? Technical support, I think Dixie has frozen up.
Dixie: Anyway, back to Naomi, before we skip over her like they did last night. I loved the Benetton ad that was her family ( I stole that from a spot-on Vulture article). It was a sweet moment, and I was living for that cape, bodysuit, choker thing. She's a gorgeous, lovely person. I'm happy we got to know her, and I'm thrilled that I get to run into her on occasion.
Chad: Yeah, I mean, she's got it going on, absolutely. I want to see her and Kim doing some amazing photo shoots like Fame and Violet have been doing.
Dixie: Oh, We haven't seen the last of Naomchi.And Rachael Sanders is her assistant, which, if you aren't following Rachel Sanders, you aren't doing drag. She is a tough bitch in Chicago who makes shit happen and she cracks me the f*ck up. I love that she and Naomi work together. Naomi is too nice to get her shit done... Rachael will make it happen... and hurt someone in the process.
Chad: I don't have a TON else to say except OMG CAROL CHANNING
Dixie: Oh, that Carol moment. I'm sorry, but everyone else's celeb call-in was shit compared to CAROL CHANNING! Pandora Boxx was rolling in her grave. Wait...she's dead, right? I guess my final question for you is... What was your initial reaction when Bob won?
Chad: Disappointment. I love Bob, but as you've so eloquently stated, it would have been something really really special to us both personally and as Chicagoans for Kim to have won.
Dixie: It feels shitty to say that I felt disappointed because Bob SLAYED this season. She absolutely deserved the crown, but Kim is elevating and changing drag like we've never seen. The brand of Drag Race would've benefited greatly with Kim as the ambassador. Oh, and Naomi was cool, too.
Chad: But hey, at least Kim did as well as Pearl.
Dixie: Ugh. Season 7 should be destroyed. What a disaster.
Chad: If Kim had won, I think there would be a backlash where people would be pointing out everything Kim *doesn't* do so well. But as it is, she's the Raven or Alaska of her season -- beloved, beautiful, and without the baggage.
Chad: Are you hoping the show changes anything for Season 9?
Dixie: No. I like the formulaic nature of the show. I think it allows us to rally around it. I just want to see Shea Coulee bring that crown home. You?
Chad: I kind of liked this shorter season, so I would be okay with another cast of just 12 queens. I still think they've been focusing on too many awkward group challenges, especially early in the season, but eh. If you were ever mistakenly allowed to be on TV, what kind of edit would you hope for?
Dixie: If they accidentally invited me thinking they were inviting back Nicole Paige Brooks, I would want to be a Jinkx, but I would be a Magnolia Crawford. If I ever had to lip sync for my life, I think I would just thank them for their time and go have a drink.
Chad: Thanks so much for joining me, Dixie! Where can people track you down?
Dixie: THIS WEDNESDAY May 18th, it's the one year anniversary of All Things Beyonce at Sidetrack. We're giving away exclusive Slay t-shirts AND BEYONCE CONCERT TICKETS. The first Tuesday of the month, Dixie Wins A Talent Show (while Alexis Bevels stage manages) at Berlin. I host and automatically win my own talent show while contestants compete for second and third place. Typically, the last Wednesday of the month is Sidetrack's Sync It! party. It's a lip-sync contest with a rotating theme. It's always really fun and really drunk.
I'm co-hosting the Dance Pavillion at Milwaukee Pride with Trannika Rex! June 10-12. Get your tickets at pridefest.com
Find me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat (DLC4Lyfe).
I've added most of this week's art to my Etsy store!You can also pre-order 80 QUEENS, my Season 8 book that will collect almost all of this season's artwork!
And if you want to support me in the Drag Race off-season, you can join my Patreon campaign! I send out custom sketch cards and other goodies to me supporters every month!