‘Drag Me to Dinner’ Review: Perfect, Ridiculous Pride Month TV

May 06, 2023

PARTY TIME

Everything we can't stop loving, hating, and thinking about this week in pop culture.

Senior Editor, Obsessed

This week:

Drag Me to Dinner Will Make You LOL

There are many reasons to recommend a TV series, and sometimes it's because it is gloriously, unapologetically, deeply silly. So, in that vein, may I recommend that everyone watch Drag Me to Dinner?

The new reality series premiered this week on Hulu, and it's my perfect idea of what Pride Month programming should be like.

The premise is that famous drag queens compete in teams to throw the most entertaining dinner party, with Neil Patrick Harris and his husband David Burtka, Haneefah Wood, Murray Hill, and Bianca Del Rio as their hosts, judges, and guests. There is something not-so-deceptively important about the series’ representation of LGBT+ stars and their careers, spotlighting the art and hilarity of drag performers at a time when anti-LGBT legislation and drag bans are being introduced throughout the country. The humor about and references to gay culture fly freely. But the series is also a glittering example of one of the most crucial aspects of Pride: the permission to be absolutely ridiculous, joke around with your community, and celebrate the fun of LGBT+ culture.

Drag Me To Dinner featuring Jackie Beat and Sherry Vine.

The premiere episode, of which I pretty much giggled for the entire running time, featured Drag Race alums Jinkx Monsoon and Bendelacreme as one team, with West Hollywood legends Sherry Vine and Jackie Beat as the other. Don't be fooled by the characterization of this show as a competition; the "hosting a party aspect of it" is ludicrous and treated with little seriousness by the contestants. Drag Me to Dinner is actually about the most talented drag performers and allies in the country bantering with each other and being hilarious.

Take, for example, the bounty of prizes that Hill, who emcees the series, lists: a baby bottle full of babies, a nutsack, duct tape, a Cher-cuterie board (meats and cheese in the likeness of Cher), a bathtub of butter, a jar of "eau de Harry Styles," 55 gallons of lube, a high five from Bianca del Rio, all the crackers you can carry, and the Golden Grater, "because one team is great, but the other is greater."

In a preview of a later episode, drag queen Alaska mocks stereotypical reality-TV speak and says, "I didn't come here to make friends. I came here to make dinner." This show is silly. Enjoy it.

Drag Me To Dinner episode featuring David Burtka, Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme.

I Saw Muna! At Stonewall!

I often do not have the energy for Pride Month celebrations. I can't hang at the parties, I can't afford the incessant stream of vodka sodas, I am missing the crucial New York Pride accessory (abs), and I sweat too much and sunburn too easily to spend so much time outdoors. But in doses, I can make it work!

On June 1, I attended a Pride kick-off event at the hallowed Stonewall Inn, thrown by the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. It was inspiring, with a slew of rousing speeches serving as calls to action for the community. The night was capped off with a performance by queer indie pop band Muna. I do not often know what music the youths are listening to these days, but I do know Muna! (Round of applause for me.) And seeing them perform at Stonewall, in such an intimate space, felt really special.

Josette Maskin, Katie Gavin, Naomi McPherson, MUNA

Somebody Somewhere Has Been Renewed

Will I ever shut up about how wonderful the HBO series Somebody Somewhere is, or stop insisting that everyone watch it and threatening the Television Academy with legal action if they fail to nominate for Emmy Awards this year? No! I will not, especially now that it was announced that it has been renewed for a third season.

I interviewed star and co-creator Bridget Everett about the recently concluded, really special second season. (Read it here!) Now, watch this show!!!

Congrats to Oppenheimer ?

I don't presume to know what is a normal size for a film print that theaters use to project movies. But this announcement about Oppenheimer, the new Christopher Nolan film hitting theaters this summer, cracked me up.

Eleven miles! Six-hundred pounds! Excited to arrive at the theater and know that what I’m watching is apparently the size of a small island.

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What to watch this week:

Past Lives : A truly special, deeply meaningful film that deserves to start a lot of conversation. (Now in theaters)

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse : This movie is perfect. We’re not exaggerating. (Now in theaters)

I Think You Should Leave : Tim Robinson's Netflix sketch series is the wackiest thing on TV, in the best way. (Now on Netflix)

What to skip this week:

The Idol : This show has been mired in ugly controversy, and was ripped apart when it premiered at Cannes. Maybe we can all skip this one! (Sun. on HBO)

The Boogeyman : It may just be me, but I think a Boogeyman movie should actually be scary! (Now in theaters)

Senior Editor, Obsessed

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