- Queer Eye
Infobox television
show_name = Queer Eye
caption = "Queer Eye" cast
format =Reality television
runtime = "ca." 54 minutes
creator = David CollinsDavid Metzler
starring =Ted Allen Kyan Douglas Thom Filicia Carson Kressley Jai Rodriguez
country = United States
network = Bravo
first_aired = July 15, 2003
last_aired = October 30, 2007
num_seasons = 5
num_episodes = 100
The show is premised on and plays with the
title = Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
episodelink =
series =
serieslink =
airdate =
season = 1
number = 1]
"Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" debuted in 2003 and quickly became both a surprise hit and one of the most talked-about television programs of 2003. The success of the show led to merchandising, franchising of the concept internationally, and a woman-oriented
The Fab Five
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Production
The pilot episode was filmed in Boston in June 2002. Of the eventual Fab Five, only Kressley and Allen appeared. The culture, design and grooming roles were filled by James Hannaham, Charles Daboub, Jr. and Sam Spector, respectively. [Citation
last =Internet Movie Database
first =
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
title =Queer Eye cast
date =
year =
url =http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358332/epcast#season-2
accessdate = 2007-10-31] The pilot was delivered to Bravo in September 2002 and was well-received in audience testing. Shortly thereafter
Each episode was shot over a span of four days and edited to create the conceit that the events of the episode took place in a single day.
Format
The majority of "Queer Eye" episodes follow the same basic format. The episode opens with the Fab Five in an
Upon arriving at the subject's home, the Fab Five go through his belongings, keeping up a running commentary of catty remarks about the state of his wardrobe, home decor, cleanliness and grooming. They also speak with the subject and family members to get an idea of the sort of style they like and their goals for the experience and to discuss the planned event.
The remainder of the first half of the episode follows the Fab Five as they escort the subject to various locales to select new furniture and clothes. Often, Ted demonstrates how to select and prepare food for a particular dish that the subject will prepare for the special event, Kyan takes him for spa treatments and a new haircut. Each such segment includes a style tip superimposed on the screen, summarizing in a sentence or two the style issues addressed in the segment. Interspersed with this are interview segments in which friends and family members of the subject discuss his style issues.
In the next section, the subject returns to a completely redecorated home and models articles of his new wardrobe for the Fab Five. Each of the Five offer final words of advice and encouragement and a last tszuj, accompanied by supplies of grooming products, food, and kitchenware, and in some cases big-ticket electronics items such as entertainment centers and computers.
The final section follows the subject as he prepares for the special event, with the Fab Five watching edited footage of his preparations and critiquing how well or how poorly he followed their advice. Finally, the subject is followed through the event itself, with the Five again keeping up a running commentary and the subject often expressing his deep gratitude to the Fab Five for their counsel. A final tip from each of the Fab Five, usually relating to one of the topics covered in the episode, plays just before the credits.
Special episodes of "Queer Eye" that deviated from this formula included episodes in which the Fab Five journeyed outside the greater New York area, including shows filmed in England, Texas, and Las Vegas. In two episodes the Fab Five made over gay men (both of which aired during June, Gay Pride Month, in 2004 and 2006), and one episode making over a female-to-male transgender person. The show also featured makeovers of members of the
Popular and critical response
"Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" debuted on July 15, 2003 and the series quickly attained high ratings, peaking in September of that year with 3.34 million viewers per episode.cite news | last=Vary | first=Adam B. | title=Pride, Patriotism, and Queer Eye | work=The Advocate | url=http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid09194.asp | pages=120-36; issue 917 | date=June 22, 2004 | accessdate=2008-03-15] The popularity of the show established the Fab Five as media celebrities, with high-profile appearances at the Emmys and a "make-better" of
The American gay press almost universally hailed the show and the Fab Five as cultural icons. "Out" magazine listed the Fab Five in its "OUT 100", the "greatest gay success stories" of 2003. [Citation
last =Epstein
first =Jeffrey
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
title =Kyan Douglas, Ted Allen, Thom Filicia, Carson Kressley, Jai Rodriguez
newspaper =Out magazine
pages =90
year =2003
date =December 2003
url = ] "Instinct" magazine declared Kressley one of the "Leading Men" of 2004. [Citation
last =Ray
first =Parker
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
title =The Ambassador
newspaper =Instinct
pages =48-50
year =2004
date =November 2004
url = ]
The series attracted criticism for making generalizations about sexual identity, namely that gay men are inherently more fashionable and stylish than heterosexuals. [Citation
last =Greim
first =Katrin
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
title =Crossroads of Culture: Studies look at roots of the "down low", LGBT-focused television shows
newspaper =American Sexuality magazine
pages =
year =
date =
url = http://nsrc.sfsu.edu/MagArticle.cfm?Article=394Katrin Greim.] Among those making this critique were
last =Dossi, Joel
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =The Rise and Fall of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
work =
publisher =AfterElton.com
date =2005-01-03
url =http://www.afterelton.com/archive/elton/TV/2005/1/queereye.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-10-31 ]
With the success of the first season, original "culture guy"
last =Haberman
first =Lia
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Former Fabber sues "Queer Eye"
work =
publisher =E! Online
date =2003-09-04
url =http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=731379e7-698c-4a15-ad70-2192ed5288c2&entry=index
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-10-30]
The popularity of the series inspired a number of parodies.
"Queer Eye" won an
last =Internet Movie Database
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Awards for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
work =
publisher =
date =
url =http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358332/awards
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-10-31 ]
In the second season, ratings dropped sharply, averaging around 1.8 million viewers per episode with an average 804,000 viewers in the important 18-40 demographic. New episodes continued to air for two more seasons. Bravo confirmed in early 2007 that "Queer Eye" had been cancelled. The remaining fifth season episodes were billed as "Queer Eye: The Final Season" [cite news | last=McFarland | first=Melanie | title=Hello Pasadena, Goodbye "Queer Eye" | work=TV Gal | publisher=Seattle Post-Intelligencer | date=2007-01-12 | url=http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/tv/archives/110426.asp | accessdate=2007-10-31] and aired twice weekly beginning October 2, 2007. [cite press release | title=Bravo's Emmy-Award Winning Series 'Queer Eye' Kicks-Off Final Season | publisher=NBC | date=2007-09-13 | url=http://www.nbcumv.com/broadcast/release_detail.nbc/bravo-2007913105318-bravosemmy-awardw.html | accessdate=2007-10-31]
Franchises and spin-off series
"Queer Eye"'s American success led television networks in several countries to syndicate the American episodes, and some purchased licenses to create versions of "Queer Eye" for broadcast in their countries. However, few of these homegrown versions have proven as successful as the original, and most did not last long before cancellation.
NBC licensed
last =Rogers
first =Steve
title =NBC licenses UK and Scandinavia rights to Bravo's 'Queer Eye For The Straight Guy'
date =
url =http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/nbc-licenses-uk-and-scandinavia-rights-bravo-queer-eye-for-straight-guy-1538.php
accessdate=2007-10-31] The Italian version, entitled "I Fantastici Cinque" (the fantastic five), aired on the
In January 2005, Scout Productions premiered a spin-off series titled "
Merchandising
oundtrack
Infobox Album |
Name = "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"
Type = Soundtrack
Artist = Various artists
Released = 2004
Recorded =
Genre = Pop, Dance
Length =
Label =
Producer =
Reviews = *
Last album =
This album =
Next album = The soundtrack for "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" was released February 10, 2004, in the US. It reached number 1 on the
last =Allmusic
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Queer Eye for the Straight Guy Charts and Awards - Billboard
work =
publisher =
date =
url =http://wc03.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fbftxqealdhe~T3
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2001-10-31] In Australia, the soundtrack was released for the
Track listing
# "All Things (Just Keep Getting Better)" -
# "Good Luck" -
# "Slow (
# "Move Your Feet" -
# "You Promised Me (Tu Es Foutu)" -
# "Superstar" -
# "Everybody Wants You to Emerge" -
# "Sunrise (Jason Nevins remix)" -
# "Never Coming Home (Gonna Live My Life remix)" - Sting
# "An Area Big Enough to Do It In" -
# "You're So Damn Hot" -
# "Extraordinary" -
# "Are You Ready for Love" -
# "All Things (Just Keep Getting Better)" (bonus video)
Books
A tie-in book titled "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy: The Fab 5's Guide to Looking Better, Cooking Better, Dressing Better, Behaving Better and Living Better" was published in 2004 by
title =Official Tie-in Book for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy to be Published by Random House, Inc.'s Clarkson Potter
publisher =NBC
date =2003-08-23
url =http://www.randomhouse.biz/media/pdfs/Queer_Eye_Release.pdf
accessdate = 2007-10-31]
DVD releases
Several DVDs were released in conjunction with the show. Kressley, Filicia and Allen each had individual releases focusing on their areas of expertise. Douglas and Rodriguez were featured together in a single DVD focused on grooming. Additional DVD releases include "Queer Eye for the Red Sox" (featuring the team makeover episode) and a multi-disc box set. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =The Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (2003)
work =
publisher =tvshowsondvd.com
date =
url =http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shows/Queer-Eye-Straight-Guy/6886
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-10-31 ]
References
External links
* [http://www.bravotv.com/Queer_Eye/ BravoTV Official website]
*imdb title|0358332
* [http://www.tszuj-it.com/ Tszuj-It! Fansite]
* [http://www.tvseriesfinale.com/2007/01/queer_eye_for_the_straight_guy_bravo_fab_five_say.html TV Series Finale] - cancellation details
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