RuPaul’s Drag Race season four has begun! I wasn’t sure any season could top season three with Raja and The Heathers, but with talk of zombies, and a futuristic apocalypse, the first episode got my attention.  I’m pretty sure when the apocalypse does occur, drag queens will be the last ones standing, looking fierce atop the wreckage in their seven inch glitter platforms. As the new queens made their way in the “Werk Room” I had a few first impressions.

The Ru-Pocalypse challenge had them create couture from items they were able to lift off of zombies of seasons past.  Side note, even as a zombie Raven was gorgeous!

Willam was pretty, but her personality was not attractive.  She couldn’t stop letting you know that she has been on TV. Her outfit was safe; she met the criteria, but it was nothing special.  They may keep her around for her annoying factor, a la Shangela.

LaShauwn Beyond’s hairpiece could barely come through the door, but I saw a little Tyra Sanchez in her. After listening to her miss pronounce “apocalyptic” numerous times, I questioned what her outfit would look like. In the end, she couldn’t say the concept, but she seem to grasp it. She came out elegantly wrapped in a tarp with a busted globe headpiece. However, as she stood in front of the judges, she admitted a lack of confidence and nerve, a requirement for Drag Race, hunty!

Jiggly Caliente was fierce by association, as I had seen her in Manila Luzon’s “Hot Couture” video and hoped she would bring that level of drag.  Her outfit looked like a glue gun and a recycle bin exploded all over her. You can’t hang with Manila and look like that! She landed in the bottom two and her excuse was she didn’t know how to sew.  The prize is $100,000, girl, take some lessons before the show!  Not a major contender.

Phi Phi O’hara channels Mariah Paris Balenciaga with a pretty face, but can she bring more?  Her outfit was very Thunderdome and although good, it seemed like she played it just safe. Phi Phi will have to turn it up for me to believe she won’t rest on pretty. On Untucked she showed some fight, If she can bring that fight to the judges, she might have a better chance.

Madame LaQueer – A plus size Puerto Rican with a very pretty face, but she was a bit forgettable in this first episode. She walked the runway in a jungle-maid-of-the-apocalypse, outfit that really made no impression on me at all. In the Interior Illusions lounge, she was making excuses about her shoes.  Again $100,e000 her ladies, come to play!  Not a contender.

Milan did not impress me when she entered the show in a pimp outfit. I cringed, hoping she wouldn’t be like Shangela. In the end she had my second favorite look of the night, like an “infected Betsy Johnson”, and I was pleasantly surprised.  Her attitude is good, but sewing is not her strong suit and seems she relied on other queens to help her. Tip: other queens will stop helping you very soon, so stand on your own and you may have a shot.

Alisa Summers is fishy, but not at the Carmen Carrera level.  She took the easy way on the challenge and relied on a breastplate, pretty face and, for some reason, went drag ski bunny for the apocalypse, which landed her in the bottom two.  I was not impressed and neither were the judges. She’s out!

Dida Ritz walked in with a busted wig and busted paint and I felt like she would be out in no time, but she cleaned up well and her make up and hair got better quick. Her outfit was just safe. She has long Naomi Campbell legs, but does she have the fierceness? Jury is still out on this one.

The Princess looks older than 32, but she had the best line of the night when she told Sharon Needles, “You are exactly the kind of guy I’m attracted to.  You have that meth look”.  She claims she went with a water world theme, but I’m guessing she made it and then thought up the much-needed backstory as the outfit did not float with me or the judges.  I liked her at first, but her runway presentation was a bit of a let down.

Kenya Michaels is a fishy, tiny, Puerto Rican queen and she could be in the final four.  She has a little Yara Sofia with her, but may lack Yara’s imagination.  Her outfit of a red bird in a glittered diaper was not related to the theme and she may need a scare to get her to think outside what she already has in her luggage.

Chad Michaels is the oldest queen at 40. Known for doing the best Cher impersonation you will ever see, she could be a one trick pony.  She will have to do her best to stop looking like Cher in the contest and that may prove impossible, given all the modifications she has made to her face.  She could win Ms. Congeniality, because she helps the other queens, but that won’t win this race. Her final outfit again was not memorable. Expected more from such a seasoned veteran.

Sharon Needles brings us an entirely new drag and it may be the bright spot in the show if she stays this creative.  She embraced the challenge and won.  Her quick wit and her uniqueness should land her in the final four, but can she pull off more than just strange?

Latrice Royal–finally a big girl who has real confidence! She may look like Darrell Dawkins out of drag but she brings the Chocolate Thunder when she paints up. I’m hoping she goes far, but big girls often have a tougher time on this show.  I have a feeling this double-wide diva will keep it very real and that should be entertaining all on it’s own.  She is in my top four.

Last year there was such a clear-cut winner from the first show, but this year will be less predictable.  This year the playing field is more level, but if I had to pick the top four right now, it would be Sharon Needles (Odd is the new black), Latrice Royal (Too big to fail!), Willam (Annoying factor), and Kenya Michaels (Serving fish).

Let the games begin!

Watch the full premiere episode, RuPocalypse Now!, here:

And check out Untucked here:

Fact: Tina Fey is one of the funniest people ever, therefore 30 Rock is one of the funniest TV shows ever. I quote the show almost constantly and know most episodes by heart, so it was nearly impossible for me to come up with my favorite Liz Lemon moments. This list originally begas as a top 10 and ballooned up to 20 when I kept cracking up at YouTube videos while I was gathering clips and images.

20. Liz oozes confidence and charisma

In this great clip, she gives herself a pep talk.

19. Liz would do anything for love

Including wolfing a Teamster sub so she could reunite with the man of her dreams at the airport. Ah, just like a romantic comedy, but with a lot more dipping sauce.

18. Liz is a feminist

Tina Fey is my heroine, and by that I mean “lady hero” not that I want to inject her and listen to jazz. Naturally, I loved the episode (“Rosemary’s Baby”) where Liz got to meet the TV writer that inspired her. Unfortunately for Liz, her heroine turned out to be crazy and they ended up roaming the streets of Little Chechnya with delusions of grandeur.

17. Liz faked a pregnancy

Jack’s girlfriend, Avery, is hiding her pregnancy and her work rival, Carmen Chao, is out to expose her. Liz steps up to the plate and pretends she’s with child to fool Carmen. The result is this photo shoot. “Rufus T. Barleysheath is kicking!”

16. Liz is tenacious

She works hard for her beloved show and nobody’s gonna take that away from her.

15. Liz is the boss

Who run the world? Girls! Liz Lemon is at the top of the food chain on TGS, and in this clip, she finally started getting the respect she deserved.

14. Liz’s love life

Floyd, Dennis and even the studly Dr. Baird (Jon Hamm) have all courted Miss Lemon. We get a great example of Liz’s taste in men when she discovers that Dennis was on To Catch a Predator.

13. Liz knows how to party

Liz has had some wild times in her past. Everyone knows there ain’t no party like a Liz Lemon party, ’cause a Liz Lemon party is mandatory.

12. Liz is resourceful

After purchasing, and subsequently ruining a wedding dress with ham grease, Liz found a new use for the dress when she used it to prop up the leg of her Swedish ready-to-assumble furniture.

11. Liz gets freaky

Though she keeps it on the down low, Liz can be a bit of a freak in bed, as Jack finds out when he puts a black light on her.

10. Liz was a bully

All these years, Liz thought she was a lowly nerd in high school, picked on and teased by the likes of Kelsey Winthrop and the popular kids. It’s only later that she learns she was actually the mean girl.

9. Liz’s success song

“I’m a star! I’m on top! Somebody bring me some ham!” All of us have little motivational songs we sing ourselves, though most of them probably don’t include ham.

8. Liz should not be photographed in 1080p

Hi-def isn’t for everyone, and it certainly isn’t for Liz Lemon.

7. Liz is a bad hooker

What would Liz do if TGS suddenly got canceled? She’d start turning tricks. But she’d be really, really bad at it.

6. Liz’s diet

Whether it’s Sabor de Soledad or Cheesy Blasters, Liz will eat just about anything fattening, processed and fried. Thanks, Meatcat!

5. Liz sleepwalks…and sleep eats

And on the subject of Liz’s diet, she once ordered a pizza in her sleep. That’s a true skill.

4. Young Liz Lemon

One of my favorite things about 30 Rock is the flashbacks to Liz’s past. What aspiring actress hasn’t been represented by Suzanne’s B+ Talent as some point?

3. Astronaut Mike Dexter

There can be no greater made up boyfriend that Liz’s fantasy man, Astronaut Mike Dexter.

2. “I want to go to there!”

The phrase was originally coined by Tina Fey’s then three-year-old daughter, but has now been used the world over when describing something you want so much that it erases all your knowledge of grammar. For example, I used it the first time I saw Jason Momoa without a shirt on.

1. Two words: Night Cheese

There are so many more, but I’m limited to what clips/pics I can find online. This list doesn’t include the time she accidentally called Floyd’s girlfriend and pretended to do a survey for the Ranford Group but ended up yelling “Who is this?! I’m your worst nightmare is who I is!” Other great moments I unjustly left out: the Dealbreakers talk show, the time she tried to refill the water cooler when she got in a fight with Tracy about gender equality, when she pretended a lego train was a robot penis or the time she had a drunken phone break up with the co-op board of the apartment she wanted.

FX’s American Horror Story is by far one of the most creative, original and twisted new shows on TV. With fascinating characters and surprising twists and turns, it’s one of the few shows that dares to venture out from the standard TV formula. Season one kept me guessing every week and often left me with my jaw on the floor in shock. Here are a few of my favorite things about this brilliant show, in no particular order. WARNING: Major spoilers if you haven’t seen the show!

Ben Harmon’s tears

Whether it was crying about his daughter growing distant from him, his wife wanting to divorce him, or just a good post-masturbation sob, Dylan McDermott gave us the most emotionally damaged shrink on TV. His tears have been immortalized in internet meme history with a funny blog called Reasons to Cry Like Ben Harmon.

Larry killing Hayden

I think Kate Mara is a great actress, so great that I couldn’t stand Hayden. Watching Larry (Dennis O’Hare) smack that whiney bitch in the head with a shovel was a delight. Unfortunately, it meant she’d return as an even more annoying ghost fueled by vengeance and horniness.

“Violate”

Fangirls and shippers have been all about the Tate/Violet romance since day one. Dubbed Violate by the fans, this couple has kept teenage girls enthralled all over the internet. There are zillions of Tumblr blogs dedicated to the doomed lovers and probably even more blogs dedicated to Tate/Violet fan fiction. The most amazing (and totally horrifying) thing about Violate “shippers” is the way they love such a despicable character. Even AHS creator Ryan Murphy has said that Tate is the true monster of the show. I understand thinking Peters is hot, but wanting to date Tate Langdon? He killed a bunch of people and raped and knocked up his girlfriend’s mom, which eventually lead to her death when she gave birth to the anti-Christ, yet teenage fangirls everywhere are still swooning that they want a boyfriend just like him.

The Dead Breakfast Club

A long time ago, golden boy Tate killed a whole bunch of people in a school shooting that predates Columbine. On Halloween, when the dead can walk freely, the bloodied spirits of a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal decide to confront their killer.

Chad’s raised eyebrow

Proving he could out sass even Constance herself, Zachary Quinto was serving snarky realness as Chad, one half of the gay couple who mysteriously died in the house before the Harmons moved in. Quinto’s eyebrows deserve an Emmy all on their own.

Young and old Moira

We first meet Moira as creepy old woman (Frances Conroy) who forces her way into a housekeeping job with the Harmons. Next thing we know, she’s a creepy young woman (Alexandra Breckenridge) who wants nothing more than to seduce Ben like something out of an old porno. What does she have up her sleeve and will Ben ever realize that those tits he’s been checking out actually belong to a wrinkly old lady?

Addie’s “Bad Girl Closet”

Adelaide (Jamie Brewer) was introduced in the first episode as a kid warning people that they’ll most likely be murdered in the house, but she was much more than the cliche spooky girl with a connection to the supernatural. Addie was weird and her sneaking into the Harmon’s house was creepy, but as we got to know her, we came to love her. That’s why it was so disturbing when Constance locked her in the bizarre closet full of mirrors so she could get back to banging her hot younger boyfriend.

The use of “bullshit”

This could spawn a drinking game that might land participants in the hospital. Go through each episode and count how many times the word “bullshit” is used, particularly by Violet. Thank god this show was on cable. Can you imagine this on a boring network where all the characters tell each other they’re full of bologna instead?

Constance’s racism

Jessica Lange won a Golden Globe for her portrayal Constance, the Harmon family’s bat shit crazy neighbor. When she’s not feeding her neighbor raw organs or locking her Down Syndrome daughter in the “bad girl closet”, she’s smoking a cigarette and sending her boyfriend down to the “Ko-rean” to go pick up more chocolate chips.

The Rubber Man is revealed

While some of us guessed the identity of the infamous Rubber Man prior to episode eight when we finally learned his true identity, it was still a shocking moment. Tate (Evan Peters) seemed like such a sweet, sensitive boy. He charmed both Violet (Taissa Farmiga) and the audience with Ted-Bundy-like ease and we were only hoping he wasn’t really the latex wearing homicidal rapist. Alas, he was and seeing him take off that mask in the bathroom mirror was one of the most “holy shit!” moments on TV.

There are so many things I love about this show that it was really hard to narrow them down into this short list. Honorable mentions to Squeaky Fromme and the gang from the Murder House episode, Billie the psychic’s acrylic nails and the way Nora Montgomery (Lily Rabe) says “Chaaarles!” when she criticized her husband.

Christmas is just days away and there’s not much time to get all the items on your list. Thankfully, the wonderful world of As Seen on TV lets you shop with almost no effort required. Everyone is familiar with the Shake Weight and Snuggie, but here are a few other items to ask Santa for this Holiday season.

Furniture Fix

Furniture Fix is a set of plastic strips you put under a worn out couch or chair to (supposedly) make it more comfortable. The commercial for this novel invention is rife with silly examples and claims. In addition to holding up cinderblocks and making old ladies sit up straight, Furniture Fix can also come in handy when you’re hosting meetings for your Sumo wrestling club.

Pajama Jeans

I’m not going to lie, I kind of want these. Pajama Jeans are a stylish alternative to a muumuu or housecoat. They’re made from the same material as sweat pants, but they’re painted to look like jeans, creating an optical illusion that will fool everyone into thinking you’re a part of society.

Swivel Store

I can’t tell you how many times I open my cabinet, only to be buried in an avalanche of spices. If only someone would create a product that organizes all my herbs and spices in some sort of space age device. What’s that you say? They’ve invented just such a product? That’s right. Swivel Store is the most crucial element of any kitchen.

Sobakawa Cloud Pillow

Americans can’t ever get a good night’s sleep. We toss and turn and simultaneously wake up complaining about neck aches. Sobakawa builds on “Asian traditions” of Styrofoam and synthetic fibers to give you the rest you deserve. Don’t believe me? Just ask the semi-racist caricature of an Asian woman who’s off in dreamland thanks to this miracle in sleep technology. This commercial is also great because it features one of the best “scientific” experiments in the As Seen on TV world: the 10lb weight egg drop. The most disturbing part of this product is that it’s billed as “The last pillow you’ll ever need.” You will have this pillow for the rest of your life and, when you die, they’ll bury you with it.

Perfect Meatloaf

Not to be confused with the Perfect Brownie, the Perfect Meatloaf Pan saves you from a greasy lump of mushy meat with revolutionary convection technology. Blend up your ingredients and pop them in this baby and you’ll have a perfectly shaped (and already garnished) meat cake right out of the oven. I don’t usually eat beef, but if I could be as happy as the girl in the green shirt, maybe I’d start.

Fushigi

I’ve watched this commercial several times and I still can’t figure out what makes this any different from every other ball. Yet, this thing is “sweeping the nation” apparently. I can’t help but feel bad the grandkid somewhere who woke up to find a Fushigi instead of Call of Duty under the tree Christmas morning. Come on, this kind of thing is only cool when David Bowie does it in Labyrinth.

Slap Chop

Stop having a boring tuna! Stop having a boring life! You don’t even eat salad, fatty! All the other products in your kitchen are worthless! Vince, let’s curb the judgment, ok?

Forever Lazy

There can be no greater As Seen on TV product than this! Forever lazy is like a representation of America itself. In fact, I think we should put one on the Statue of Liberty. After watching the woman in this commercial fuss and struggle with one of those silly old fashioned blankets, we can thank our lucky stars that some genius thought to bring us this adult onesie with a Bugs Bunny style trap door in the back so you never have to take it off. Ever. Your move, Snuggie!

I am a huge fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and when I say huge fan, I mean it. I’ve watched every season, featured full episodes on the Trashwire blog and gone to see some of the girls live when they pass through Denver. As such an avid Drag Race watcher, I decided to compile this list of my favorite contestants of all time. These queens are artists and entertainers, serving true Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent.

10. Pandora Boxx
Pandora makes the list for her fun, creative style. Her sense of humor shined through in all of her looks and performances. Despite all that, the judges constantly gave her unwarranted negative critiques on the runway. Pandora had the last laugh, though. Her Absolut commercial is the most memorable of the bunch and she was the stand out Drag Professor on RuPaul’s Drag U. Her most memorable moment came from her hilarious impression of Carol Channing on the “Snatch Game” episode.

9. Ongina
Ongina may have been on of the smallest contestants, but she left on of the largest imprints on the show. She was high-energy and fun, like a little pixie, but it was her Viva Glam video that stood out as one of the most touching moments in all of Drag Race. After a joyful video about celebrating life, Ongina revealed that she was HIV positive, bringing pretty much everyone to tears. Ongina was a shining example of someone who always had a good attitude, even through tragedy.

8. Shannel
Who could possibly forget Shannel?! This season one stand-out was a true entertainer, a Las Vegas showgirl with a larger-than-life personality. Her outfits were creative, often showing off a lot of skin and bitch knew how to work a room. Shannel’s look, combined with her talent, commanded the attention of both the judges and the fans. Best moment: when her headpiece “accidentally” came off during her lip sync performance against Akashia, who is most definitely NOT on this list.

7. Jujubee
Juju was memorable for her incredible sense of humor. She was like a tiny, extra fierce Kimora Lee, whom she portrayed in the “Snatch Game” episode. She and Raven were the perfect duo and most of the funniest moments from season two came from their interactions. Juju’s best moment was the reading mini-challenge where she stole the show by throwing shade at the other girls.

6. Delta Work
Delta is on the list in the sixth position mostly because I wanted to avoid having all Heathers in the top four, even though they deserve it. Delta was one of the smartest and wittiest contestants on the show, often teaming up with Raja to throw shade about the other girls backstage during Untucked. Best moment: Delta was on fire during the QNN Untucked episode, but my favorite moment was when she and Raja were discussing Manila’s Asian reporter character and Delta referred to her as “dollar Chinese menu”, perfectly (and humorously) summarizing her performance.

5. Raven
Raven scores just a bit higher than Juju because she was the runner up on her season. Raven did dark and wicked beauty like no other, like the drag Angelina Jolie. Where most contestants froze up, her red carpet interview on the “Diva Awards” episode proved that she could work the media better than most Hollywood starlets. Still, Raven could out-shade the Heathers, at least when it came to fellow contestant Nicole Paige Brooks and her acrylic toenails.

4. Manila Luzon
I’m sure placing Manila at number four will be a little controversial, considering she was the runner up on the most popular season. Manila was an artist with the ability to create themed outfits. Manila’s pineapple dress was one of the most creative pieces I’ve ever seen on Drag Race and the way she made over her burly athlete in the “Jocks in Frocks” episode made her one to remember. As far as Manila’s best moment, two words: MacArthur Park.

Manila x Delta – MacArthur Park by MacArthurManila

3. Carmen Carrera
The Original Body Queen is one of the most unforgettable contestants in Drag Race HERstory, a RuPaul would say. Carmen’s outfits were so skimpy that it was amazing they stayed on and her tucking skills are mind-boggling. She said it herself, “Carmen is nudity.” She was one of the only queens that didn’t get into a huge fight with someone, often brushing off all the Booger nonsense like she was Jay-Z. The ultimate Carmen Carrera moment came in the “Jocks and Frocks” episode when she faced off with Raja in one of the steamiest lip syncs ever.

2. Nina Flowers
Nina is a legend! Her look is completely unique and she’s also one of the sweetest human beings to ever grace reality TV. Nina was the runner up in the first season, and no disrespect to Bebe, but I think she should have been the winner. Nina wasn’t your typical drag queen. Her style showcased more artistry than female “illusion” and she was instantly memorable. In the news challenge, Nina proved that, despite her ultra fierce exterior, she could be funny too. She kept making mistakes with the teleprompter, but she kept a good attitude and was able to laugh at herself. Werk Loca!

1. Raja
Some people love her, some people despise her, but there’s no denying that Raja is the fiercest of the fierce. No one can walk the runway like her, and that includes supermodels like Naomi Campbell. Her creativity was unparalleled and her looks were the most fashionable and memorable, occasionally outshining RuPaul herself. No one else could pull off the tribal warrior outfit, the blood-drenched Carrie dress or the high fashion Marie Antoinette look. This Diamond Crowned Queen was a winner from day one, and not for all the made up reasons the pro-Shangela conspiracy theorists throw around. She won because she was the best, plain and simple.

So there you have it, my RuPaul’s Drag Race top 10. Do you agree with my picks or is there someone I’ve unjustly left out?

Stay tuned for clips from RuPaul’s Drag Race season four in January on the Trashwire blog and view the trailer below!

There are a million different ways to watch TV these days. You can record a show on your DVR, watch it on-demand on your cable box, view it on your computer or iPad using Hulu, Amazon Instant Video or Netflix and even go old school and buy it on DVD and Blu-Ray. And these are just a few of the available options! Unfortunately, each of these methods carries its own inherent limitations. Netflix, which was my preferred on-demand video source for years, restructured their prices and it was recently announced that Starz, one of their largest content providers, would be pulling the plug on their selection of streaming videos in 2012. Limited selection is the primary downfall of all these services, but what if you could get access to all a network’s programming in one place? That’s exactly where HBO Go comes in.

Unlike Xfinity’s on-demand or Netflix’s streaming, HBO Go offers all episodes from all seasons of popular shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and True Blood. So, instead of only being able to see Larry David try to court a bisexual girl or get spooked by an ice cream truck, you can also relive the time he became a car salesman, or when he befriended a rap star, or the episode where he was going to star in The Producers on Broadway. HBO Go is perfect for catching up with your favorite HBO series or re-watching past episodes before a new season begins. Forgot how Margaret and Nucky’s relationship began? Get caught up with all 12 episodes of Boardwalk Empire before the new season starts later this month. Can’t remember how Eric met Godric? Go back and watch season two of True Blood before season four concludes next week.

The best part of HBO Go is that it’s HBO, a network with some of the best original programming around. You don’t get as many Emmy nominations as they have without having quality content and they’ve raised the bar for TV.  Their documentaries are moving, their series fascinating and their specials entertaining. They’ve got the goods and now you can too, whenever and wherever you want. They own the content and they can distribute as much of it as they want on their app.

The only downside to this wonderful dream is that you have to subscribe to HBO through your cable or satellite provider to use it, which means you’re still tied to those dinosaurs and their bundled packages and tiered price structures. Pay-per-view services from Amazon or Apple TV offer good competition, but so far, if you want the full TV experience in one place, you’re stuck with a box in your living room.

HBO Go is a step in the right direction and will hopefully lead the industry to wake up and see that consumers are ready for a new kind of TV. With more people watching shows and movies on mobile devices and laptops, TV isn’t even TV anymore. And that’s why HBO is thriving. It’s not TV, after all, it’s HBO.

Wednesday was for media, but the real fans flocked to the San Diego Convention Center on Thursday for the real kick off of Comic Con.

The cast of Napoleon Dynamite signed autographs at the FOX booth and we grabbed pics of Tima Majorino, Aaron Ruell, Jon Gries and Dedtich Bader.

Next, we hit up the Beavis & Butt-Head panel where Johnny Knoxville lead a conversation with Mike Judge about the upcoming new series. Judge talked about Beavis and Butt-Head taking on MTV shows like Jersey Shore and 16 and Pregnant and even showed fans some sneak peek clips from the new season.

After that, Elijah Wood, Jason Gann and the cast and crew of Wilfred previewed the latest episode for fans at their panel. Wood talked about playing Ryan and interacting with a dog–er, well, an Australian guy dressed in a dog suit. Gann decided to start calling Wood “The Big E.W.” and the audience carried it on into the Q&A session. Wonder if it’ll catch on.

Of course, the fans are what make Comic Con and they were in it to win it this year. From a centaur to a ninja to a bunch of Transformers, there were a lot of elaborate costumes. This year, there was a lot of movie memorabilia too. We have pics of C3P0′s glove, Catwoman’s mask and, my personal favorite, Khan’s shirt. Check out all the pics from Thursday in this extended gallery:

Last night, Yara Sofia, Manila Luzon and season 3 winner Raja were at Tracks in Denver to kick off the RuPaul’s Drag Race tour. They performed for packed house of enthusiastic fans, including RuPaul’s Drag Race season 1 contestant and Denver’s favorite drag queen, Nina Flowers. The girls put on an amazing show and Trashwire was there to cover it. Check out our pics and video clips from the show and Like us on Facebook for more. WERK!

View all our videos on the Trashwire blog

One of the contestants is subjected to water torture on Cycle 16 of America's Next Top Model... you, know, cuz this has so much to do with modeling.

Cycle 16 of America’s Next Top Model premiered this week and it is not fierce anymore, it’s just mean. This year Tyra the Torturer has thought of all sorts of new Mean Girls things to do to these already fragile girls. In the opening segment, Banks basically reveals she is just as tired of this show as we are. She even acknowledges the formulaic casting that happens every season: the edgy chick, the awkward waif, the country bumpkin, the welfare mom, the bitch, the prude, the smart one… you know, the usual.

This year, Banks is going all M. Night Shyamalan and pulling some twists. Don’t get excited, I’m talking recent Shyamalan, not the good Sixth Sense Shyamalan. She begins the show by having “the Js” tell a room full of hungry, pretty girls that the envelopes in their hands mean they’ve advanced to the next round, when in reality, they’re shuffled off to a room and never heard from again, like cows in a slaughterhouse. The remaining girls are in shock and sobbing while waiting for Banks to tell them goodbye. Here’s the twist: those girls are in fact staying and Banks just wanted to shake them emotionally–probably because that’s the strong foundation for every abusive relationship.

Banks is downright mean this year and, even though these girls are pretty enough to make you jealous, nobody deserves the evil sorority rush that she is getting ready to put them through. Top Model has turned into a show where you watch really pretty young girls get satanically hazed, while wearing the latest designer fashions.

You can’t help but notice the rushed, let’s-get-this-over-with pace of the show. I was surprised by it but, in retrospect, thankful that I didn’t have to sit through a two hour casting special. It makes me wonder if Banks didn’t want to do this season and is trying to finish it up and move on. I wouldn’t exactly shed a tear if this really was the final season. Every season is just another more ridiculous series of “how bad do you want it”?  Sadly, these starving, insecure, waifs, want it bad and Banks knows she can ask them to do just about anything. Now it turns into who will let her suck the life out of them to be on the cover of Italian Vogue, do a Cover Girl shoot, and promptly fall off the face of the earth.

There is nothing fun about this show anymore. It’s painful. RuPaul’s Drag Race has humor and challenges that don’t make the contestants seem so desperate and abused. In this era of bullying why would anyone want to make this show meaner? Unless you’re a masochist, pass on America’s Next Top Victim and stick with RuPaul’s Drag Race.

It seems like ages ago, since the last season of RuPaul’s Drag Race and I was more than anxious for the show to return.  Logo did it right with letting Ru have a full three hours to get us all back into our boas, tiaras, and glittered heels.

They kicked it off with the “Casting Extravaganza”, which showed many of the aspiring divas who didn’t make the cut. Some were probably contenders, but others had a more William Hung quality.

Hour two officially kicked off the uber anticipated third season. The new cast members sashayed into the room where outfits and dreams are made. This year’s cast of 13 consists of more jumbo queens than years past: a super model makeup artist, a wannabe Madona, a couple of pretty Puerto Ricans and, because Ru always knows what’s hot, a drag queen from Jersey who could give J-Woww a run for her money.

The first episode “The Queen Who Mopped Up Xmas” seem like a strange place to start, since it’s airing in late January, but Ru can break the rules all day long.  One example of breaking protocol is when Rue let Shangela Laquifa Wadley from the last season, return to give it another shot.  Don’t scream “unfair” yet. It turns out to be a non-issue.

Also, in a drag queen’s worst nightmare, two queens, Phoenix and India Ferrah show up in the same outfit. Shock! Horror! 

The bigg girls (so big we need to use an extra ‘G’) begin to file in. Stacy Layne Mathews says she is from “Back Swamp”, North Carolina, another shouts out, “The Weather Girls are here!” and I wonder if Ru is planning at least one rendition of “It’s Raining Men” because these queens could pull that off.

Venus D-Lite arrives and tells us she has had cheek implants to look more like her idol, Madona. Yara Sofia and Alexis Mateo are our Puerto Rican queens, but Alexis seems too sweet to hang with this crew. Mariah, a 6’2” glamazon from Atlanta rocks a red dress as she enters and when one of the big girls has a break down, she shows a lot of compassion–I like her already!

Mimi ImFurst, makes her entrance with a tray of cookies and we sense she will be campy drag, not usually Furst on Ru’s list in the past.  Raja, the super model comes in and yes, she is fierce, but I recognize her as the make up artist from America’s Next Top Model.  She is clearly the front-runner, but it’s a little like letting Janet Jackson try out for American Idol.  We’ll have to see how this plays out.

First challenge was a photo shoot on a trampoline. The contestants were also sent to a thrift store where they were challenged with putting together a holiday outfit with used clothes and Xmas decorations.  The ladies got creative, but in the end, only Raja wins both challenges. If she goes on to win them all, dare I say it, it could get boring.  Here’s hoping they keep the challenges interesting and the outfits fierce.