The Netflix reboot of Queer Eye For The Straight Guy premieres tomorrow.
In an effort to drum of excitement, the hosts of the original Queer Eye (minus Ted Allen) and the hosts of the reboot all sat down for a self-congratulatory brunch where they spouted platitudes and talked about how important they are.
Related: The “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” reboot is coming — whether you like it or not
Veterans Thom Filicia, Jai Rodriguez, Carson Kressley, and Kyan Douglas sat down with the new cast–Bobby Berk (design) Karamo Brown (culture), Antoni Porowski (food and wine) Jonathan Van Ness (grooming), Tan France (fashion)–to talk about the reboot and if the show is still “culturally relevant.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Spoiler alert: They think it totally is!
“I was very out from a very young age, and we do need to be there showing those people that don’t have exposure in the bubbles of the coasts, that there is a safe place and it will get better,” Jonathan Van Ness, the reboot’s grooming expert, said with just the slightest air of superiority.
Related: Carson Kressley: Gays are “happy,” “healthy,” and “cute,” so let them donate blood!
The question is, will audiences feel the same?
Series creator David Collins tells EW, “It’s a new time with a new audience. If the original round was about tolerance, this time it is about acceptance.”
Watch.
Kieran
Thank goodness this won’t be shown on Logo, formerly touted as Cable’s “Gay channel”. I’d hate to think they might pre-empt a re-run of Mama’s Family or Alice.
Brian
I’d definitely rather watch Alice.
MinnesotaNotNice
Wow, has Logo gotten THAT bad? It’s been a good decade plus since I watched anything on that channel.
Danny595
Toxic effeminacy.
Kangol
It’s a different world than the one in which the original *Queer Eye for the Straight Guy* first appeared. It debuted in 2003 when Bush and the Republicans were actively pushing anti-gay marriage legislation, and right-wingers were trying their best to fight hard against the gay and trans progress that was already underway. I think the show played a role in helping to change straight attitudes about gay people in a positive direction.
The new iteration comes at a time when gay/LGBTQ rights are on much more solid ground in the US (though there are still huge challenges), and same-sex marriage is the law, but attacks against LGBTQ people and attempts to push anti-gay legislation under the rubric of religious liberty are up since Donald Trump has taken office. Queer Eye can’t play the same role, but positive gay representation is a net good, and it’ll only reinforce millennials’ generally affirming attitudes about LGBTQ people. Too bad they couldn’t get some cis-and-trans women and more POCs to be part of the mix, though.
Danny595
Anyone who says “LGBTQ people” in a non-sarcastic way doesn’t deserve to be taken seriously.
SiamSam
How insecure and immature some people are to need “positive representation” and constant “affirming” from a reality TV show or other external sources. How about focusing on your inner self and acquiring self-knowledge to become a better version of yourself, not chasing endless validation from lowest-common-denominator pop culture and complete strangers?
Kangol
And yet, @Danny595, you felt the need to reply. Girl, get help, and pronto.
SiamSam, the issue isn’t an adult LGBTQ person’s self-esteem, but children and straight people. It’s a basic principle of psychology that representations do shape our senses of self, and the social world in which we all move. This isn’t controversial and any psychologist worth their degree could explain this to you. So yes, gay, bi and trans children ARE immature, and many be insecure, especially when they don’t see people like themselves on TV, and especially in our current climate, where attacks on LGBTQ people are increasing as is anti-gay rhetoric, LGBTQ representations matter. I mean, imagine if a gay or bi or trans child or teenager were growing up with a toxic anti-gay person like the person who’s always trashing effeminate gay men and trans people?
asu101frat
I’m a 25 year old gay male of color and cried 4 times in the 1st episode. It’s different and yet, still brings out the same “feels” of the original. Good win Netflix.
moose_keating
I think it’s adorbs. Shame Ted Allen wasn’t there.
QuestBear
I watched the new Queer Eye series yesterday. I admit that I was very on the fence about it. I do remember the original show and I enjoyed it. I have a couple of thoughts. 1) I have no problem with flamboyancy, but it seemed as though they exaggerated that at times. It didn’t seem genuine. With that said, overall, I did enjoy the show. There were some poignant moments. I also liked something said in the first episode. The first cast were seeking to promote tolerance. This generation is seeking to promote acceptance. I think they captured that well overall. I liked that there were a variety of body types and they never made the participants feel shamed or judged because of their size or appearance. I think it is worth watching. – I, too, am glad this isn’t on Logo.
QuestBear
Ooops. I forgot to add my 2) in my prior post and I can’t edit it now. It should have gone after the sentence “With that said…” Sorry for the typo.