Season 16 of RuPaul’s Drag Race started in early January on MTV, where the show has lived for the past few years. Only for those of us streaming, the MTV app evaporated into the ether on January 31, and its parent company Paramount+ isn’t airing the current season. Good work, guys. Just one of many reasons Paramount CEO Bob Bakish might be looking for a merger to bail him out. I just hope creator/executive producer/eight-time consecutive Emmy Award winning host RuPaul has spoken up about these shenanigans. Cause there should be no impediments to seeing this season’s rusical — The Sound of Rusic — on last Friday’s episode, or the special guest appearance made by Melissa McCarthy during choreography rehearsals. While guest judge Adam Shankman (Hairspray) was running through steps with the queens, Melissa showed up as his “assistant” complete with dry cleaning hanging off her arms and about eight iced coffees (that she proceeded to spill). She was in full Sookie St. James energy and everyone loved it:
“Oh, my assistant is here,” Shankman says dryly as McCarthy, 53, walks in, carrying cupholders full of iced beverages and dry cleaning.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I’m late,” the comedian replies apologetically as she enters. “We all know we all need a side hustle, ladies!”
“Bitch, that’s Ursula!” contestant Morphine Love Dion declares, referencing McCarthy’s villainous turn in the live adaptation of The Little Mermaid. “Molly, of Mike and Molly!”
Fellow queen Sapphira Cristál is completely starstruck. “You expect me to now be learning choreography and Melissa McCarthy is sitting 10 feet away from me? she asks. “Baby, you got to be out of your mind.”
Before leaving, the Bridesmaids star praises the drag queens and shares the impact the art of drag has had on her career.
“I just adore you all. I adore what you do. Drag is a big part of why I have a career. I was going to drag shows when I shouldn’t have been and it literally gave me the courage to get on the stage,” McCarthy explains.
“I started in drag. I starred in a big old red wig called Miss Y,” she continued. “So when I look at you carving out your space, it makes me so proud. And I just want to thank you for it and root for you. You’re all gorgeous and I just love you.”
“Just keep doing what you’re doing. It’s not only wildly entertaining and it brings joy. It’s important and fight for it because it’s worth it,” McCarthy concluded, seemingly referencing the slew of anti-drag legislation that takes direct aim at drag performers and places restrictions on LGBTQ+ expression.
McCarthy confirmed that drag was a huge inspiration for her Ursula performance, previously telling Entertainment Weekly, “There’s a drag queen that lives in me. I’m always right on the verge of going full-time with her.”
Melissa was definitely emotional when talking to the ladies, it was really lovely. I don’t mean that I enjoy seeing Melissa near tears; it’s just been nice to see celebrities rally around the queens this year. (Charlize Theron similarly voiced her love and support of drag during the season premiere.) I only wish Melissa had been on for more of the episode. She wasn’t the guest judge, she just breezed in on a cloud of mirth, donning a super cute denim jumpsuit and upending the iced drinks in the act of setting them down. Then once everyone was uplifted by her presence, she got real and slapped them all across the face with earnest sentiment. And that’s why she’s such a great actor who can go from slapstick to poignant seamlessly (she was soooo good in Can You Ever Forgive Me). Thanks for sharing the love, Melissa! And as for “There’s a drag queen that lives in me,” I think that’s true for all of us. Even the rightwing jerks legislating against LGBTQ+ rights. Perhaps them most of all.
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