Big Opening Number 1

1st episode of the 14th season of RuPaul's Drag Race

"Big Opening Number 1"

RuPaul's Drag Race episode
Episode no.| Season 14
Episode 1
Guest appearance
Lizzo
Episode chronology
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"Big Opening Number 2"

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List of episodes

"Big Opening #1" is the first episode of the fourteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[1][2][3] It originally aired on January 7, 2022. Lizzo is a guest judge.[4] Kerri Colby wins the mini-challenge, and Kornbread "The Snack" Jeté wins the main challenge. Orion Story is eliminated from the competition, after placing in the bottom two and losing a lip-sync against June Jambalaya to "Water Me" by Lizzo.

## Episode

[edit]

Lizzo is a guest judge.

Seven new contestants enter the Werk Room. They learn that this season will have a split premiere. For the first mini-challenge, the contestants participate in a photo shoot with guest photographer Albert Sanchez, while strapped to a spinning wheel. Kerri Colby wins the mini-challenge.[5]

For the main challenge, the contestants perform in a talent show for the judges. Following are the contestants and their acts:

* Alyssa Hunter – lip-syncing
* Bosco – burlesque
* June Jambalaya – African dance
* Kerri Colby – jump roping and lip-syncing
* Kornbread "The Snack" Jeté – original song
* Orion Story – comedy skit
* Willow Pill – self-care in quarantine[6]

Orion Story is eliminated from the competition.

On the main stage, RuPaul welcomes judges Michelle Visage and Ross Mathews, as well as guest judge Lizzo. The runway category is "Signature Show-Stopping Drag".

Bosco, Kornbread "The Snack" Jeté, and Willow Pill receive positive critiques, and Kornbread "The Snack" Jeté wins the challenge. Alyssa Hunter, June Jambalaya, and Orion Story receive negative critiques, and Alyssa Hunter is deemed safe. June Jambalaya and Orion Story place in the bottom and face off in a lip-sync to "Water Me" (2017) by Lizzo. June Jambalaya wins the lip-sync and Orion Story is eliminated from the competition.

## Reception

[edit]

Trae DeLellis of The A.V. Club gave the episode a rating of 'A-'.[7]

Art installation at a gym in Seattle, referencing Willow Pill's talent show performance from the episode.

Honeysuckle Magazine wrote, "During the talent show maxi challenge, Willow Pill delivered a jaw dropping performance. Her adorable but psychedelic aesthetic shone through in a chaotic yet comedic skit while she lip synced to 'Only Time' by Enya. Looking like an angel ready for bed, Willow spilled wine and spaghetti into a bathtub, then a toaster, before she dove into the electrifying food-filled bath."[8] Sam Hurley of Screen Rant wrote, "Willow's performance was kooky, hilarious and nothing like the show had ever seen before. At that moment, not only did the fans fall in love with Willow, but RuPaul did as well."[9] Out magazine called her performance both "bizarre"[10] and "bizarrely entertaining".[11] Dale Fox included her performance in Attitude magazine's 2024 list of fifteen "favourite iconic moments" from the show, writing: "Never have we seen so many bemused looks from RuPaul in one sitting. Willow's performance was iconic for so many reasons, but mainly because it introduced the omnipotent goddess that is Enya to the show for the first time."[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ McCallion, Paul (January 7, 2022). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season-Premiere Recap: The Season 14 Variant". Vulture. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
2. ^ "The Diamond Drag: Big Opening No. 1 of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". The Diamondback. January 10, 2022. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
3. ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 14 premiere recap: Let the games begin | Xtra Magazine". January 10, 2022. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
4. ^ "The best moments from the 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 14 premiere". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
5. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 14 Episode 1 Recap: "Big Opening No 1"". Honeysuckle Magazine. January 8, 2022. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
6. ^ "Willow Pill Explained The Meaning Of Her Twisted 'Drag Race' Talent Show Number". Elite Daily. January 9, 2022. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
7. ^ DeLellis, Trae (January 8, 2022). "RuPaul's Drag Race hails its "original recipe" in season 14 premiere". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
8. ^ "Willow Pill's Cystinosis: RuPaul's Drag Race Season 14 Contestant". Honeysuckle Magazine. January 14, 2022. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
9. ^ Hurley, Sam (May 9, 2022). "Why RuPaul's Drag Race Fans Will Never Forget Willow Pill". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
10. ^ "Here Are the 'Drag Race' Season 14 Finalists — and Who Should Win". www.out.com. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
11. ^ "The 2022 Out100: Drag Artists of the Year". www.out.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
12. ^ Fox, Dale (February 2, 2024). "Attitude's 15 favourite iconic moments from RuPaul's Drag Race". Attitude. Archived from the original on February 5, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Big Opening No. 1 at IMDb

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Season 6|

* "RuPaul's Big Opening"
* "RuPaul's Big Opening: Part 2"
* "Scream Queens"
* "Shade: The Rusical"
* "Oh No She Betta Don't!"
* "Glamazon by Colorevolution"
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* "And the Rest Is Drag"

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* "Keeping It 100!"
* "Bitch Perfect"
* "RuCo's Empire"
* "New Wave Queens"
* "Wizards of Drag"
* "Shady Politics"
* "RuPaul Book Ball"
* "The Realness"

Season 9|

* "Oh. My. Gaga!"
* "She Done Already Done Brought It On"
* "Draggily Ever After"
* "Good Morning Bitches"
* "Reality Stars: The Musical"
* "9021-HO"
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* "10s Across the Board"
* "PharmaRusical"
* "Tap That App"
* "The Last Ball on Earth"
* "The Bossy Rossy Show"
* "Drag Con Panel Extravaganza"
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* "Social Media Kings Into Queens"
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* "Whatcha Unpackin?"
* "Good God Girl, Get Out"
* "Diva Worship"
* "Trump: The Rusical"
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* "The Draglympics"
* "From Farm to Runway"
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Season 12|

* "I'm That Bitch"
* "You Don't Know Me"
* "World's Worst"
* "The Ball Ball"
* "Gay's Anatomy"
* "Madonna: The Unauthorized Rusical"
* "Droop"
* "Choices 2020"
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* "One-Queen Show"
* "Viva Drag Vegas"

Season 13|

* "The Pork Chop"
* "Condragulations"
* "Phenomenon"
* "RuPaulmark Channel"
* "The Bag Ball"
* "Disco-mentary"
* "Bossy Rossy RuBoot"
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* "Freaky Friday Queens"
* "Pop! Goes the Queens"
* "Nice Girls Roast"
* "Henny, I Shrunk the Drag Queens!"
* "Gettin' Lucky"

Season 14|

* "Big Opening Number 1"
* "Big Opening Number 2"
* "A Pair of Balls"
* "She's a Super Tease"
* "Save a Queen"
* "Glamazon Prime"
* "The Daytona Wind"
* "60s Girl Groups"
* "Menzeses"
* "An Extra Special Episode"
* "Moulin Ru: The Rusical"
* "The Ross Mathews Roast"
* "Catwalk"

Season 15|

* "One Night Only, Part 1"
* "One Night Only, Part 2"
* "All Queens Go to Heaven"
* "House of Fashion"
* "Old Friends Gold"
* "The Daytona Wind 2"
* "Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown"
* "The Crystal Ball"
* "50/50's Most Gagworthy Stars"
* "Two Queens, One Joke"
* "Wigloose: The Rusical!"
* "Teacher Makeovers"
* "Blame It on the Edit"

Season 16|

* "Rate-A-Queen"
* "Queen Choice Awards"
* "The Mother of All Balls"
* "RDR Live!"
* "Girl Groups"
* "Welcome to the DollHouse"
* "The Sound of Rusic"
* "See You Next Wednesday"
* "Werq the World"
* "Corporate Queens"
* "Bathroom Hunties"
* "Drag Race Vegas Live! Makeovers"
* "Booked and Blessed"
* "Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown – Reunited"

Contestants

| Winners|

* BeBe Zahara Benet
* Tyra Sanchez
* Raja
* Sharon Needles
* Jinkx Monsoon
* Bianca Del Rio
* Violet Chachki
* Bob the Drag Queen
* Sasha Velour
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* Sasha Colby
* Nymphia Wind

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