Snatch Game is RuPaul’s Drag Race’s signature challenge, like Top Chef’s Restaurant Wars, Project Runway’s unconventional materials challenge, or handling Jeff Probst’s balls on Survivor.
The Snatch Game began as a parody of Match Game, asking the queens to take on the role of celebrities in the game show. That means they have to do impersonations while giving improvised answers to questions. The most important part, however, is making RuPaul laugh.
Some queens can do that with incredible impressions, like Jinkx Monsoon’s Little Edie and Monét X Change’s Maya Angelou. Others have found success by portraying fictional characters, like Yvie Oddly as the Boogeyman or Jewels Sparkles as Miss Bigfeet, or conceptual characters, like Bonnie Ann Clyde’s Cher chair on Drag Race UK.
RuPaul hosts Snatch Game during RuPaul’s Drag Race season 7.
On Drag Race season 18, Myki Meeks did an amazing Drew Barrymore and Nini Coco won with a David Attenborough impression (though I didn’t think was as good as Drew or Discord Addams’ generic pope).
Even knowing that Snatch Game is coming, it’s a tough challenge to prepare for, because the best parts are improvised in the moment. And the queens frequently struggle to be present, responding in the moment to what’s happening around them while staying in character.
Maybe that’s why the producers keep playing with the formula, like “Snatch Game of Love” for Drag Race All-Stars and this season’s “The Snatch Game of Love Island,” on which they had to flirt with real-life boyfriends and actors Froy Gutierrez and Zane Phillips, and actor Chris Renfro.
Ru’s advice this episode was “have fun with it” and “let it flow.” How useful! During judging, Ru said, “I don’t know how many times we’ve told these kids: make it your own.” But how do you do that, Ru? Thankfully, Nicole Byer has explained how.
Nicole Byer’s Snatch Game formula
Nailed It! host Nicole Byer in season 3, episode 1 (Photo by Adam Rose/Netflix)
On Monét X Change’s podcast last fall, actor and comedian Sasheer Zamata and Nailed It host Nicole Byer discussed improv and Snatch Game.
Both Sasheer and Nicole are talented improvisers. “I’m sure y’all watch the fucking improv on Drag Race and y’all are like, Jesus Christ, this is insufferable,” Monét said to them. “I know you hate it.”
Nicole said, “It’s not insufferable. They just don’t teach game. And then when a queen does really well, you’re like, why was that so funny? It’s because they were playing one singular thing and coming back to it.”
Sasha said, “There’s already so much happening on the show. That’s a lot to ask—and you have to be funny.” That is a lot to ask!
Monét said “there should be a crash course, because I never—I’m from fucking opera school. We didn’t do improv or anything like that.”
I agree completely: I think Drag Race needs to give the queens some improv training and coaching, just like they do for acting, dancing, and singing.
That’s when Nicole agreed (“This is my issue with the Snatch Game: just explain game to queens.”) and shared her simple strategy for impressions and making that into a game:
“Find three things that you like about that person.”
After you do that, she explained later, “You just plug it in.” Okay, so maybe that doesn’t seem simple! But Nicole then did a real-time demonstration using Gayle King as the character:
Nicole: “What’s three funny things about Gayle, or three things you know about Gayle?”
“That she’s Oprah’s best friend.”
Nicole: “Okay, so you’re going to respond a lot with, Well, Oprah said….”
“What’s the second thing about Gail?”
Monét: “That she hosts the morning—that morning show. Is she morning?”
Nicole: “Maybe some of your answers are like, I don’t know. I burned out. I was up so early this morning.“
Nicole: “What’s another thing about Gayle?”
Monét: “Oh, she went to space.”
Nicole, as Gayle King: “Boy, I have not adjusted to the gravity down here. Oprah said….“
“Y’all should be writing that shit down,” Monét said. Yes indeed!
Improv is still an art and skill that takes practice. But you can see how this system would work well on Snatch Game.
Imagine if Kenya Pleaser had three things about Lizzo—rather than zero, because horniness wasn’t it—and remixed those as part of her answers? Or look at how Myki Meeks did exactly this with her Drew Barrymore character.
All of reality blurred’s content is independently selected, including links to products or services. However, if you buy something after clicking an affiliate link, we may earn a commission. Learn more.