How I Learned to Love the New ‘Queer Eye’
Summertime, and the livin’ is easy.
That is, unless it’s a long, sweltering weekend and you’re desperate for entertainment while you camp out in front of the air conditioner. So now is the ideal time to seek refuge by binge-watching some streaming fare — and my oasis is Netflix’s Queer Eye.
Before singing its praises, I confess: When the reality series debuted earlier this year, I didn’t fall in love at first sight. As a fan of the original 2003–07 Bravo show, initially titled Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, I chafed at the prospect of a remake. Back in the day, the concept of gay men dispatched to make over clueless bros was downright revolutionary. But more than a decade later, the same premise struck me as sizzle-less — and besides, hadn’t the revolution been won already?
Apparently not. The current “Fab Five” experts — Karamo Brown (culture), Tan France (wardrobe), Antoni Porowski (food) and Jonathan Van Ness (grooming), plus Bobby Berk (decor) — have proven that there’s still much to be done as they traverse the state of Georgia, leaving folks immeasurably improved in mind, body and spirit. My favorite part: This diverse, opinionated quintet isn’t content to merely swoop in and work their magic.
In return, they expect their subjects to make an effort to genuinely get to know and understand them along the way — which is an even more satisfying breakthrough to witness than seeing a dude part with his collection of pleated pants.
Queer Eye, Seasons 1 & 2, Streaming Now, Netflix
