In an entertainment world filled with pre-planned plots, staged action sequences, and the Kardashians, you have to wonder if it’s possible to find a genuine tv show. While I can’t vouch for the honesty of some of my other recommendations, honey, can I vouch for this one.
If you weren’t able to guess from my Jonathan Van Ness (who knew we would get a rhyme in here!) reference, the show I’m recommending is Queer Eye. Now before any readers, especially my male readers, immediately disregard this blog post because there’s no way you would watch a “gorg makeover show about five fierce gay men,” (and yes, I’m sure that would be your direct quote) please read this blog post with Karamo Brown’s beautiful piece of advice in mind: “When people build up walls, they end up keeping other people out. But they’re also keeping themselves in.” (Or put simply, just keep an open mind!).
Though each episode of Queer Eye follows a specific person on their journey to self-refinement you better believe the show is beneficial to its viewers as well.
As I mentioned, one of my favorite aspects of Queer Eye is how genuine the show is. The people the Fab Five makeover are unapologetically themselves throughout the entire week-long process. The guests willingly display their flaws, dreams, and fears to the Fab Five for one simple reason: they truly want their help.
The older we get, the less susceptible we are to new ideas. Queer Eye not only demolishes this idea but it also embraces the uncomfortable conversations and uncertainty that comes with change. For example, take Cory Waldrop, the NASCAR-loving, Donald Trump-supporting, police officer from S1 of Queer Eye. Based on Cory’s descriptors, you would expect his episode to involve lots of tip-toeing around uncomfortable subjects. But true to the show, Cory’s episode was filled with honest and informative discussions. My favorite conversation involved Karamo and Cory addressing the issues of racial injustice and police brutality in our country. While both men had opinions entering the discussion, they navigated the conversation with an open mind and even more importantly, open ears. The conversation was a perfect example of what never happens in today’s public sphere. Though the conversation wasn’t perfect, it promoted growth in Cory, Karamo, and any viewers of the episode. Watching others navigate these awkward changes is inspiring and gives us, the viewers, the confidence to try to implement change for ourselves as well.
In addition to the heartwarming transformation stories on the show, the Queer Eye cast is absolutely flawless.
I personally invite you to find something wrong with Jonathan Van Ness. JVN is the ultimate cheerleader; his primary goal in the show is to build up everyone around him. Though Jonathan is listed only as the “grooming expert” his true repertoire should truly include his vivid vocabulary, nonstop encouragement, revolutionary fashion choices, confidence coach, gorg life advice, and ability to perfectly rock a crop top. I mean with his hairstyles alone, how can you not love JVN?
Tan France is the perfect mix of sassy and classy. As the fashion expert, Tan is never one to hold back his opinions on wardrobe choices (watching his reaction to jorts is always a classic). But, when it comes time to consult with guests on the show, he always digs deeper to find the root of what their clothing choices symbolize. For Tom Jackson (S1E1) it was his fear of getting hurt, for Joey Green (S3E2), it was his fear of moving on, and for the Jones sisters (S3E3), it was a fear of losing time. Without Tan, you would lose both the sass we love and the thoughtful insights he gives us into people’s personalities.
Though Karamo Brown’s title as “culture expert” for the show may seem like too broad of a label, it perfectly encompasses Karamo’s role. Whether it’s reaching out to an estranged sibling, getting connected with a community, or even just getting up the courage to try something new, Karamo is there to help. While helping guests navigate life’s uncertainties, Karamo effortlessly recites perfectly articulated life advice (quite similar to the quote at the beginning of this blog). How Karamo does this, I have no idea, but regardless, I live for his advice.
Antoni Porowski is, and there is no better way to put this, the Rolo of the group; his chiseled and refined exterior quickly gives way to a sweet and gooey interior. In any given episode, there’s a 50-50 chance Antoni will cry. Antoni’s label as “Food and Wine” expert doesn’t do him justice; before the guests know what hit them, Antoni has turned simple cooking lessons into emotional and thought-provoking bonding experiences.
As a person blogging about underrated tv shows, I am of course qualified to name Bobby Berk the underrated cast member of Queer Eye. As an interior designer, Bobby has significantly less face time with the guests of the show. Due to this, many people forget just how reflective and compassionate Bobby is. While all of the guys have intricate backstories that they reference, Bobby’s story is one of the most heart-wrenching. At 15, Bobby had to leave his home due to the homophobia he faced from his parents. With no college degree or high school diploma, he still managed to overcome a mountain of obstacles and made a name for himself in the world of interior design. With his complicated backstory, Bobby is able to empathize with guests facing real-world challenges in a way the other four can’t quite match.
Listen… I know this was a long post, and I’ll try to contain some of my excitement in future blogs. I simply didn’t know how else to put all that Queer Eye means to me and other viewers into words. Though I know it might be tempting to disregard this show recommendation, especially if Queer Eye seems like a show you typically wouldn’t watch, I seriously encourage you to give the first episode a shot. And who knows, honey, you might just thank me for it one day!
