Top 10 Funniest Comedy Challenges on RuPaul's Drag Race
RuPaul's Drag Race, comedy challenges, Snatch Game, roast, drag queens, comedy, Jinkx Monsoon, Alaska, Bianca Del Rio, Trinity the Tuck, Katya, Trixie Mattel, stand-up comedy, improv, celebrity impressions, reality TV, LGBTQ, drag performance, comedy competition, reality competition, TV, Comedy, Sitcom, Streaming, watchmojo, watch mojo, top 10, list, mojo,
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the times when “Drag Race” queens put their comedic and improvisational skills to the test in challenges. For this list, we’re only including American editions of the show. Spoilers ahead!
In season 9, the queens get the honor and privilege of skewering longtime regular judge Michelle Visage. Taking aim at everything from her music career to her age to her relationship with RuPaul, the queens come for blood and most of them manage to make Visage laugh. This challenge is full of well-timed, well-intentioned jabs. The episode’s winner, Peppermint, is worth the price of admission alone. Sasha Velour and Valentina also knock it out of the park with their very distinctive, and sometimes confusing, brands of humor. Yes, there were a couple of bombs, but even those are kind of funny in their own unique way.
Guest judge Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman stopped by to give the queens a straight man to play off of in a “Bachelor”-inspired improv challenge. Each of the “All Stars 3” contestants gets a reality TV archetype to portray as they try to win his heart. BenDeLa’s predatory cougar just wants to feed him. Trixie Mattel’s character is a study in narcissism and insecurity. Kennedy Davenport’s party girl is a mess on heels. And then there’s the whole subplot about RuPaul trying to steal the guest star for himself. It all comes together in a symphony of campy tomfoolery.
RuPaul waits until the top four to hold a roast on “All Stars 8.” It turns out to be a great decision, because in other seasons, there’s usually a lot of bad sets to cringe through. Here, the focus is on the competition’s best and brightest. Alexis Michelle does a decent job opening the show, Kandy Muse brings her usual cutting humor, and Jimbo revives her impeccable Joan Rivers impression. But Jessica Wild’s insane reads on panelist and guest of honor Carson Kressley are some of the best ever heard on the show. Kressley’s former “Queer Eye” co-host and “Secret Celebrity Drag Race” contestant Thom Filicia closes out the show in drag, putting the period on the episode’s wall-to-wall hilarity.
You know it’s a great Snatch Game when people still fight over who should’ve won it. Mixing celebrity impressions with improvisation, the challenge usually separates the heavy hitters from the queens who are not long for the season. Season 6 is one of the rare Snatch Games that saw more successes than failures. BenDeLaCreme’s saucy Maggie Smith wins the day, but she is far from the only contender. Bianca Del Rio’s shrill and enraged Judge Judy is endlessly quotable. Adore Delano’s spacey Anna Nicole Smith and Darienne Lake’s folksy, bawdy take on Paula Deen are also standouts. And Joslyn Fox’s Teresa Giudice will always make us think twice about how to pronounce cumin.
When eight winners returned for a chance at another crown, we knew the stakes would be as high as the talent. So, when the queens were given free reign to roast each other, they took the opportunity and ran with it. Jinkx Monsoon, Monét X Change, and The Vivienne are hilarious, but we wouldn’t expect anything less. The challenge also sees Trinity the Tuck overcoming a less than stellar track record with roasts. Jaida Essence Hall probably gives what is objectively the worst performance of the bunch, and it’s still adorably funny. Cutting but loving, the humor on display here makes for a great time all-around.
Fans waited a whole four years for a second “All Stars” season, and it was well worth it. Were there some less than successful impersonations? Yes, there were. But the pros far outweigh the cons here. Alaska makes the raunchy Mae West even more crass. Katya’s Björk takes the eccentric pop star’s persona and sends it to another planet. The biggest surprise, though, is Alyssa Edwards. She missed the mark hard during her season 5 Snatch Game, but she comes back strong as a very intense Joan Crawford. She’s reciting lines from “Mommie Dearest,” but it sends RuPaul into fits of wheezing laughter just the same.
Season 5’s queens are tasked with roasting the fabulous host herself, RuPaul. These queens tackle the challenge so hard it’s almost like they’ve forgotten whose name is on that $100,000 check. Alaska opens the show with some hilarious jokes about Ru’s age and illustrious career. Jinkx Monsoon and Detox flame Ru and the entire judges’ panel alongside her. But the winner of the episode is Coco Montrese. She steals the night by coming out as Ru’s fictional cousin and blasting the host for those Werk Room looks. RuPaul is in stitches the whole time.
The cast is shocked to learn that they’ll be performing a standup set in front of an audience full of elderly people. Some of them handle it better than others. Bianca Del Rio, a seasoned comedienne, is a pro on that stage. Darienne Lake serves up some self-deprecating humor, with jokes about her upbringing and her weight getting some big laughs. Trinity K. Bonet bounces back from a few weeks of lower placements with a routine worthy of its own special. Here’s the thing about this one. Even the flops are iconic. Laganja Estranja’s jokes are mean and lacking in any sense of timing or cleverness, but that’s its own reward.
It may be the Miss Congeniality roast, but things are far from nice. Kandy Muse and Olivia Lux come through with some genuinely hilarious jokes about RuPaul’s age. Rosé and Gottmik go after her music career. All in all, it’s a phenomenal showing from most of the cast. In the midst of a stellar roast, though, Utica Queen goes for some pretty risky jokes. Some of them land, but only because the judging panel reads her right back. We all remember where we were the moment guest judge Loni Love delivered the funniest read of the night.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Eight winners, sixteen characters, and countless laughs— the All Winners edition of “All Stars” is by far the funniest, laugh-a-minute challenge in the entire franchise. Everyone stepped it up. There’s not enough to say about Jinkx Monsoon’s transformative Judy Garland impersonation. Still, Trinity the Tuck’s Leslie Jordan is a huge standout. Then there’s Raja’s ingenious mimicry of iconic puppet Madame and Vogue editor Diana Vreeland. Everywhere you look, something utterly insane is happening. The whole thing is a “Drag Race” version of the “Try Not to Laugh” challenge. Good luck.
What “Drag Race” comedy challenge still lives in your head rent free? Tell us in the comments.
#10: Season 9 Roast
“RuPaul Roast”In season 9, the queens get the honor and privilege of skewering longtime regular judge Michelle Visage. Taking aim at everything from her music career to her age to her relationship with RuPaul, the queens come for blood and most of them manage to make Visage laugh. This challenge is full of well-timed, well-intentioned jabs. The episode’s winner, Peppermint, is worth the price of admission alone. Sasha Velour and Valentina also knock it out of the park with their very distinctive, and sometimes confusing, brands of humor. Yes, there were a couple of bombs, but even those are kind of funny in their own unique way.
#9: All Stars 3 Improv Challenge
“The Bitchelor”Guest judge Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman stopped by to give the queens a straight man to play off of in a “Bachelor”-inspired improv challenge. Each of the “All Stars 3” contestants gets a reality TV archetype to portray as they try to win his heart. BenDeLa’s predatory cougar just wants to feed him. Trixie Mattel’s character is a study in narcissism and insecurity. Kennedy Davenport’s party girl is a mess on heels. And then there’s the whole subplot about RuPaul trying to steal the guest star for himself. It all comes together in a symphony of campy tomfoolery.
#8: All Stars 8 Roast
“Carson Kressley, This Is Your Gay Life!”RuPaul waits until the top four to hold a roast on “All Stars 8.” It turns out to be a great decision, because in other seasons, there’s usually a lot of bad sets to cringe through. Here, the focus is on the competition’s best and brightest. Alexis Michelle does a decent job opening the show, Kandy Muse brings her usual cutting humor, and Jimbo revives her impeccable Joan Rivers impression. But Jessica Wild’s insane reads on panelist and guest of honor Carson Kressley are some of the best ever heard on the show. Kressley’s former “Queer Eye” co-host and “Secret Celebrity Drag Race” contestant Thom Filicia closes out the show in drag, putting the period on the episode’s wall-to-wall hilarity.
#7: Season 6 Snatch Game
“Snatch Game”You know it’s a great Snatch Game when people still fight over who should’ve won it. Mixing celebrity impressions with improvisation, the challenge usually separates the heavy hitters from the queens who are not long for the season. Season 6 is one of the rare Snatch Games that saw more successes than failures. BenDeLaCreme’s saucy Maggie Smith wins the day, but she is far from the only contender. Bianca Del Rio’s shrill and enraged Judge Judy is endlessly quotable. Adore Delano’s spacey Anna Nicole Smith and Darienne Lake’s folksy, bawdy take on Paula Deen are also standouts. And Joslyn Fox’s Teresa Giudice will always make us think twice about how to pronounce cumin.
#6: All Stars 7 Roast
“The Kennedy Davenport Center Honors Hall of Shade”When eight winners returned for a chance at another crown, we knew the stakes would be as high as the talent. So, when the queens were given free reign to roast each other, they took the opportunity and ran with it. Jinkx Monsoon, Monét X Change, and The Vivienne are hilarious, but we wouldn’t expect anything less. The challenge also sees Trinity the Tuck overcoming a less than stellar track record with roasts. Jaida Essence Hall probably gives what is objectively the worst performance of the bunch, and it’s still adorably funny. Cutting but loving, the humor on display here makes for a great time all-around.
#5: All Stars 2 Snatch Game
“All Stars Snatch Game”Fans waited a whole four years for a second “All Stars” season, and it was well worth it. Were there some less than successful impersonations? Yes, there were. But the pros far outweigh the cons here. Alaska makes the raunchy Mae West even more crass. Katya’s Björk takes the eccentric pop star’s persona and sends it to another planet. The biggest surprise, though, is Alyssa Edwards. She missed the mark hard during her season 5 Snatch Game, but she comes back strong as a very intense Joan Crawford. She’s reciting lines from “Mommie Dearest,” but it sends RuPaul into fits of wheezing laughter just the same.
#4: The First Ever RuPaul Roast
“RuPaul Roast”Season 5’s queens are tasked with roasting the fabulous host herself, RuPaul. These queens tackle the challenge so hard it’s almost like they’ve forgotten whose name is on that $100,000 check. Alaska opens the show with some hilarious jokes about Ru’s age and illustrious career. Jinkx Monsoon and Detox flame Ru and the entire judges’ panel alongside her. But the winner of the episode is Coco Montrese. She steals the night by coming out as Ru’s fictional cousin and blasting the host for those Werk Room looks. RuPaul is in stitches the whole time.
#3: Season 6 Stand-Up Challenge
“Drag Queens of Comedy”The cast is shocked to learn that they’ll be performing a standup set in front of an audience full of elderly people. Some of them handle it better than others. Bianca Del Rio, a seasoned comedienne, is a pro on that stage. Darienne Lake serves up some self-deprecating humor, with jokes about her upbringing and her weight getting some big laughs. Trinity K. Bonet bounces back from a few weeks of lower placements with a routine worthy of its own special. Here’s the thing about this one. Even the flops are iconic. Laganja Estranja’s jokes are mean and lacking in any sense of timing or cleverness, but that’s its own reward.
#2: Season 13 Roast
“Nice Girls Roast”It may be the Miss Congeniality roast, but things are far from nice. Kandy Muse and Olivia Lux come through with some genuinely hilarious jokes about RuPaul’s age. Rosé and Gottmik go after her music career. All in all, it’s a phenomenal showing from most of the cast. In the midst of a stellar roast, though, Utica Queen goes for some pretty risky jokes. Some of them land, but only because the judging panel reads her right back. We all remember where we were the moment guest judge Loni Love delivered the funniest read of the night.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
All Stars 4 Roast, “Roast in Peace”
Lady Bunny Had the Meanest Funeral of All TimeSeason 14 Roast, “The Ross Mathews Roast”
They Bombed the Snatch Game, but Turned Up the Heat at the RoastAll Stars 7 Improv Challenge, “Fairytale Justice”
The “All Winners” Cast Put Some Stank on Classic Fairytale CharactersSeason 7 Comedy Challenge, “The DESPY Awards”
The Awards Were Fake, but the Laughter Was RealSeason 13 Snatch Game, “The Snatch Game”
Paris Hilton Switches Voices & Harriet Tubman Gets Her Jennifers Mixed Up#1: All Stars 7 Snatch Game
“Snatch Game”Eight winners, sixteen characters, and countless laughs— the All Winners edition of “All Stars” is by far the funniest, laugh-a-minute challenge in the entire franchise. Everyone stepped it up. There’s not enough to say about Jinkx Monsoon’s transformative Judy Garland impersonation. Still, Trinity the Tuck’s Leslie Jordan is a huge standout. Then there’s Raja’s ingenious mimicry of iconic puppet Madame and Vogue editor Diana Vreeland. Everywhere you look, something utterly insane is happening. The whole thing is a “Drag Race” version of the “Try Not to Laugh” challenge. Good luck.
What “Drag Race” comedy challenge still lives in your head rent free? Tell us in the comments.
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