Queer Eye for the Straight Guy

[robinturner]

Thanks to creeping cultural imperialism, I am now able to watch Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. God knows what Turks will make of this, but it is currently my favourite TV programme because ...

• those guys are so sweet they make me want to be gay;
• I learn useful stuff like I should shave upwards on my neck because that's the way the hairs grow there;
• related to this, I can counter my wife's domestic domination with sharp comments like "But you shouldn't hang clothes in plastic bags because the fabric can't breathe."
• I get a self-esteem boost because I'm not so clueless as the straight guys on the show;
• Whenever the house is a tip and I know I need to do some cleaning and tidying but can't summon the energy, I can motivate myself by saying "Ooooh, that's disGUSting! Come on girls!!"
  

Comments

A small brush with Queer Eye fame...

[oblomova.livejournal.com]

Ted Allen, the food and wine expert, is a friend-of-a friend, and I've been at parties with him. I don't, however, remember him commenting on the food and beverage choices of the hostess. Because he is well-bred, apparently.

Re: A small brush with Queer Eye fame...

[solri.livejournal.com]

Yes, he does seem to be quite the gentleman. I also like the way he tailors food choices to the tastes and culinary abilities of the straight guy. (The only time I've seen him screw up was getting the guy to prepare lobster, salmon and caviar for a picnic for a girlfriend who hates fish!) That's actually one of the great strengths of the show. Most of these makeover programmes take the attitude "You're an ugly slob and we're going to turn you into a decent human being," whereas Queer Eye is more about being more like who you want to be.

Re: A small brush with Queer Eye fame...

[oblomova.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen it in a while, but they did one earlier this year that focused on a female-to-male transsexual who needed to figure out how to dress, but also really needed to find a way to celebrate coming out as a new gender. It was actually a really touching hour of television. They helped him throw a party where all the different people from his life could come together -- those who knew him before the transformation and those who knew him since. He made a speech to his parents, thanking them for accepting him when so many other families would have disowned their child. And his mom said "No way! we own you!"

And it made me cry.

There's a program here called "What Not To Wear" that epitomizes the opposite trend of which you speak. Half the time, the woman who is giving fashion advice to the victim is wearing something I find dreadful. But then, like Gilda Radner said, "My fashion sense is based on whatever doesn't itch."