The audition special aired first, and I could have lived without the majority of it. I didn't really learn anything about the contestants that I then didn't learn later on in the actual premiere episode, but then again, I can never resist the allure of watching the rejects. The crazypants that went by the name of Alaska and crooned about Sarah Palin, the ladyboy who could put her tongue behind her uvula (an impressive, if bizarre talent to be sure) and the drag superstar wannabe who claimed "sometimes I'm demure, sometimes I'm classy, most of the time I'm whorey." Man, I just loved all these messes. And I thoroughly enjoyed Ru's search for her new Pit Crew, which was basically just an excuse to show hot guys without their shirts on... and a chubby guy who says his most impressive feature is his "ding-dong." Or a truly hairy guy who was wearing underpants that would make Borat blush.

The actual premiere was a holiday spectacular, with a winter wonderland theme going on, which gave Ru plenty of opportunities to make jokes about nutcrackers and "ho, ho, ho"-ing it up. The first challenge put the 13 girls on a trampoline to do Christmas cards. Some fared better than others. The runway involved them taking thrift shop items and tacky decorations and creating Christmas couture. I learned a new term tonight -- last year was throwing shade, but this year its all about mopping... AKA stealing. And I learned that these fierce queens hate it when people get a second chance. Especially if that chance is given to Shangela, who was last season's first eliminated contestant. They also really hate it if you dress in an identical outfit, as witnessed when Phoenix and India Farrah showed up on the first day in the same latex catsuit. How embarrassing.

What I love about this show, aside from its love of puns and all things campy, is that it combines Project Runway with America's Next Top Model and sequins, and adds cocktails to the mix. How could that particular combo not be appealing? And in addition to judge Santino Rice and Michelle Visage, and a guest judge (last night was Vanessa Williams, and it only took Ru a minute to crack a save the best for last joke), they also saw fit to add Bruce Villanch in a Santa suit. Apparently just for shits and giggles, since he wasn't really judging.

My early favorites are: Manila Luzon, Sahara Davenport's boyfriend and just adorable, classy individual; Carmen Carrera, because I've got to root for the Jersey girls, particularly since this one just likes to be naked all the time; Raja (the winner of the first challenge), because she's a makeup artist and had Glambert in her audition video and because she walked in wearing a one-eyed muppet hat -- love; and Yara Sofia, because she surprised with a Christmas bikini tucked under her outfit, and because we share a love of animal prints.

The ones I already love to hate: Mimi Imfurst -- she can't sew and is prone to tears; Phoenix, because she seems quite bitchy; Venus D-Lite because she had plastic surgery, repeatedly, to look more like Madonna and she still doesn't look like Madonna. That's a fail, right there.; and Shangela, because she already had a chance and hasn't improved in the past year.

The others I don't care so much about yet are: India Farrah, a homeschooled kid who saw drag as a way of being more social; Stacy Layne Matthews, who is a plus-sized gal who has never been on a plane before; Delta Work, because while she was fabulous during her audition, she seemed boring in the actual show; Alexis Mateo, who has auditioned for this show three times.; and Mariah, who I probably couldn't pick out of a crowd.

Who will win? Well, that's hard to say, but my favorite from the previous seasons have yet to take home the title, so I'd bet it isn't one of them (sorry, ladies). And since the show seems gung-ho on making a big deal out of those full-figured folks, I'm thinking one of those zaftig gals will sashay her way to the finals. And hopefully Shangela will go back into the box from whence she came. And stat.

Your thoughts on the season premiere? Did it work, or was it fucked up? Let us know below.