The second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars premiered on the Logo network on a new night; Thursday, August 25, 2016. Returning judges included RuPaul, Michelle Visage, with Carson Kressley joining the panel, while the space previously occupied by Ross Mathews was filled by Todrick Hall. Cast members were announced on June 17, 2016.[1] This season featured ten All-Star contestants, selected from the show's second season through to its seventh season, who competed to be inducted into the "Drag Race Hall of Fame".
A new twist was revealed for this season, changing the format of the show. In previous seasons, the bottom two queens had to "Lip-sync for their Life" to avoid elimination. This season had the top two performing queens of the challenge "Lip-sync for their Legacy," with the winner of the lip-sync earning $10,000 and choosing which one of the bottom queens gets eliminated. The prizes for the winner were a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics and a cash prize of $100,000. It is also the first All Stars season to feature Snatch Game, a challenge that debuted in the second season of the regular series.
The winner of the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars was Alaska, with Detox and Katya being the runners-up.
Ten all-stars enter the workroom. For the first mini-challenge, the queens will read each other to filth. Alaska wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens will perform a talent show in front of the judges and a live audience.
Adore Delano - Live singing
Alaska - Live singing
Alyssa Edwards - Variety
Coco Montrese - Dancing
Detox - Live singing
Ginger Minj - Live singing
Katya - Gymnastics
Phi Phi O'Hara - A Capella
Roxxxy Andrews - Burlesque
Tatianna - Spoken word
On the runway, RuPaul shocks the queens, telling them that she will not be eliminating anyone this competition. Instead, the queens will eliminate each other. The top two queens of the challenge will Lip-Sync for Your Legacy. The winner of the lip-sync will then choose someone in the bottom to eliminate from the competition. Alaska, Ginger Minj, Roxxxy Andrews and Tatianna receive positive critiques, with Roxxxy Andrews and Tatianna being announced as the top two. Adore Delano, Coco Montrese and Phi Phi O'Hara receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom three. Roxxxy Andrews and Tatianna lip-sync to "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift. Roxxxy Andrews wins the lip-sync and decides to eliminate Coco Montrese from the competition.
At the beginning of the episode, Tatianna reveals that she would have sent home Coco Montrese from the competition, had she won the lip-sync. For this week's main challenge, the queens will play the Snatch Game. While getting ready for the Snatch Game, Adore Delano reveals that she will be withdrawing from the competition. Jujubee and Raven star as the celebrity contestants. The cast consisted of:
On the runway, category is Latex Eleganza. Alaska, Katya and Phi Phi O'Hara receive positive critiques, with Alaska and Katya being announced as the top two. Detox, Roxxxy Andrews and Tatianna receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom three. Alaska and Katya lip-sync to "Le Freak" by Chic. Alaska wins the lip-sync and decides to eliminate Tatianna from the competition.
At the beginning of the episode, Katya reveals that she would have sent home Tatianna from the competition, had she won the lip-sync. For this week's main challenge, the queens will perform a lip-syncing dance number dedicated to legendary historical women.
On the runway, category is Future of Drag. Alyssa Edwards and Detox receive positive critiques, and are announced as the top two. Ginger Minj and Katya receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom two. Alyssa Edwards and Detox lip-sync to "Tell It To My Heart" by Taylor Dayne. Alyssa Edwards wins the lip-sync and decides to eliminate Ginger Minj from the competition.
Farewell Message: "If men can look this good, there's no excuse for ugly women! ♡ The Minj"
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"Drag Movie Shequels"
September 15, 2016 (2016-09-15)
At the beginning of the episode, Detox reveals that she would have sent home Katya from the competition, had she won the lip-sync. For this week's main challenge, the queens will pair up and act in a parody movie sequel from one of RuPaul's favorite movies.
Wha' Ha' Happened to Baby JJ? - Alaska and Alyssa Edwards
Velma & Weezy - Detox and Katya
Showsquirrels - Phi Phi O'Hara and Roxxxy Andrews
On the runway, category is Two Looks in One. Alaska and Phi Phi O'Hara receive positive critiques, and are announced as the top two. Alyssa Edwards, Katya and Roxxxy Andrews receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom three. Alaska and Phi Phi O'Hara lip-sync to "Got to Be Real" by Cheryl Lynn. Alaska wins the lip-sync and decides to eliminate Alyssa Edwards from the competition.
At the beginning of the episode, the previously eliminated queens all return to the workroom. Phi Phi O'Hara reveals that she would have sent home Alyssa Edwards from the competition, had she won the lip-sync. For this week's main challenge, the queens will perform a live stand-up comedy routine partnered with a previous eliminated queen. Alyssa Edwards picks Alaska, Ginger Minj picks Katya, Tatianna picks Detox and Coco Montrese picks Phi Phi O'Hara. Roxxxy Andrews is alone, and will be the narrator of the show.
On the runway, Alaska & Alyssa Edwards and Detox & Tatianna receive positive critiques, and win the challenge. It is then announced that Alyssa Edwards and Tatianna are the top two, and will lip-sync to return to the competition. Whichever queen wins the lip-sync, will then have the opportunity to eliminate one of the remaining queens. Phi Phi O'Hara and Roxxxy Andrews receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom two. Alyssa Edwards and Tatianna lip-sync to "Shut Up and Drive" by Rihanna. Alyssa Edwards and Tatianna win the lip-sync and officially return to the competition. Alyssa Edwards and Tatianna both decide to eliminate Phi Phi O'Hara from the competition.
Guest Judge: Ross Mathews
Main Challenge: Perform a live stand-up comedy routine partnered with a previous eliminated queen
Winners: Alaska & Alyssa Edwards and Detox & Tatianna
Top Two: Alyssa Edwards and Tatianna
Main Challenge Prize: Couture Gown from SNL Designs
Lip-Sync for Your Legacy Winners: Alyssa Edwards and Tatianna
Returned: Alyssa Edwards and Tatianna
Bottom Two: Phi Phi O'Hara and Roxxxy Andrews
Eliminated: Phi Phi O'Hara
Farewell Message: "I wanted to avoid hugs because of tears! LOVE YOU ALL! "Jump in a car!" - Phi Phi"
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"Drag Fish Tank"
September 29, 2016 (2016-09-29)
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens will play a game of beastly golf. Alaska wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens will create drag-influenced products.
Tatianna - Spill the Tea... with Tati Designer Tea Set
On the runway, category is Pants. Alaska and Katya receive positive critiques, and are announced as the top two. Roxxxy Andrews and Tatianna receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom two. Alaska and Katya lip-sync to "Cherry Bomb" by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. Alaska wins the lip-sync and decides to eliminate Tatianna from the competition.
Farewell Message: "Had a BLAST! I Love you ALL! They got me Gurl! Lol Thankx! ♡ Tati"
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"Family That Drags Together"
October 6, 2016 (2016-10-06)
At the beginning of the episode, Katya reveals that she would have sent home Roxxxy Andrews from the competition, had she won the lip-sync. For this week's main challenge, the queens will makeover a family member.
On the runway, Detox and Katya receive positive critiques, and are announced as the top two. Alaska, Alyssa Edwards and Roxxxy Andrews receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom three. Detox and Katya lip-sync to "Step It Up" by RuPaul. Detox wins the lip-sync and decides to eliminate Alyssa Edwards from the competition.
At the beginning of the episode, Katya reveals that she would have sent home Roxxxy Andrews from the competition, had she won the lip-sync. For the final challenge of the season, the queens will write, record, and perform their own verses to RuPaul's song "Read U Wrote U".
On the runway, Roxxxy Andrews is eliminated, leaving Alaska, Detox and Katya as the top three queens of the season. They lip-sync to "If I Were Your Woman" by Gladys Knight & the Pips. It is revealed that Alaska is the winner, leaving Detox and Katya as the runners-up.
Main Challenge: Write, record, and perform their own verses to RuPaul's song "Read U Wrote U"
The queens all return for the reunion, minus Phi Phi O'Hara. Discussions include, the Lip-Sync for Your Legacy format, Coco Montrese's health before the recording of the show, Adore Delano quitting the competition, Tatianna's eliminations, Alaska's tantrum, and the eliminated queen's returning for their revenge.
Reception
The second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars was met with critical acclaim and is generally considered to be the best season in the show's history. Vox described the season as "the best — and most self-aware" season of Drag Race.[12]Gay Times ranked it as the number-one season, specifically shouting out Alyssa Edwards and Tatianna's lipsync to "Shut Up and Drive" as a standout moment, also describing the season as having the "best cast in the show's HERstory".[13]Elite Daily ranked it as the second-best season, behind only season four.[14] Ryan Shea of Instinct also ranked it as the second-best season, describing Alaska's win as "triumphant".[15] Additional praise was given to Alaska's win, with Entertainment Weekly ranking her as the third-best RuPaul's Drag Race winner, only behind Trixie Mattel and Bianca Del Rio in 2018.[16] In a 2020 GoldDerby forum, fans voted Alaska as the favorite All Star winner, receiving over 40% of the votes.[17]
