Queer Eye (2003–2007) User Reviews

As FAB as they've ever been

[candacedw · 7/10 · 10 May 2006]

Still as entertaining and enjoyable as when it first began. The guys have maintained an engaging rapport and a winning sense of humor, no matter what straight guy crosses their paths! And the "brotherhood" and true camaraderie that exists amongst the five is to be commended.....as so many reality shows bring out the worst in others, THIS show only focuses on the BEST. I am so looking forward to the new season as they branch out....

The wedding episodes were heart-warming and touching but the new ones shot in Vegas look like they're gonna be a blast...

As they approach a landmark 100th episode, I hope fans continue to support their endeavors and appreciate EACH of their talents.

Fascinating

[hitchcockkelly · 7/10 · 26 January 2023]

It's amazing to see a person, a slob really, made over into a sophisticated, well-dressed man in a single day. Still, for us unreformed slobs, it's dismaying to see how feminized men have had to become to attract women. (I wouldn't get waxed if every Playboy Bunny in the world got on one knee and begged me.) If you buy your clothes at Sears and your grooming products at the grocery store and are using furniture you inherited from your parents and can't cook, the leap to metro-sexual seems insurmountable, expensive, and a little sad. Metro-sexuals are modern day fops, the French aristocrats who wore powdered wigs and white make-up and affected a refined manner. Many people think they were gay, but it wasn't about sexual preference. It was about separating oneself from the lower classes. When peasants are rough and ruddy, the upper classes get paler and softer. Like I said, it's fun seeing a person transformed, but when you're a peasant at heart, there is only so much you get out of it.

Queer Eye Disappointment

[joaocostalima · 5/10 · 1 December 2007]

Hi,i'm an European (portuguese,so sorry for my English) guy who loves your show (queers eye),really i've loved it... i watched most of all episodes, absolutely fabulous! but there was this one(30th eps.i guess) which happens in Christmas time in a 4children family place, and i was completely devastated when i saw them (5) picking up a tree for the Xtmas decor... a real tree, cutting down a real tree to take home and use it for a few days and then send it to trash!!! i was even more sad and choked when they went to tree-farm, where people could choose a tree to cut-down, to kill... this is not even legal in my country!!! we use artificial trees for Xmas season!! which we can use year after year every Xmas without killing anything! i thought you Americans evolution was better... this is not possible... TREE-FARM... planting trees proposing to kill them just for decor...its not possible... lets stop this... its completely "démodé" out of fashion, trash, use real trees for Xmas!!! completely censured!! and i was so sad for you guys being specially sensitive and worried about this world issues.....i never imagine you could do something like this!!! I'm truly sad and disappointed with you guys.... thats not an attitude,,, thats nothing,,, you fall 10 points in my consideration! sadly but you did. how can you have places like this? how can you allow things like this? its an unimaginable thing....

How 'reality' shows should be.

[kingwalker · 28 September 2004]

QE is an interesting and markedly different way of looking at the Reality and Makeover subgenre.

The so-called 'victims' appearing in QEFTSG appear willingly, and despite being harangued in a playful manner over their cleanliness, fashion sense and the contents of their fridge, they emerge from this show as more confident and more mature people. This is a show with lasting effects, not just for the wardrobe and the home, but for the lifestyle.

The Fab Five are not about tearing a person's confidence to shreds and dressing them like a doll, as we have seen in some of the lesser makeover shows (What Not To Wear, Extreme Makeovers). The subjects are listened to, they are counselled and delivered back to their partners and friends as better versions of themselves. No more bad haircut, no more dangerous living conditions. Think of the difference between wearing makeup and wearing a mask. This is the difference between QE and other makeover shows.

Thom Filicia in particular, handles the design of the subjects home in a way that no other reality show decorator does. His designs, furniture and decor choices reflect the person living in them. He extols the virtues of using your living space as you want to use it. Don't eat at the the table? Then don't have a dining room. Use the computer a lot? Put it in the lounge. And always, put your personality and your own stamp on the rooms. Watch Thom work a room, and you will forever see Changing Rooms and other interior makeovers as severely lacking.

QE never has one of those awkward 'reveal' moments where you can tell that someone hates what the makeover team have done. They are roundly thanked, sometimes tearfully, by the straight men they transform from ugly ducklings to 21st century swans. I have yet to see one person show any distaste at the changes made to their life. The response is always, as it should be. A heartfelt 'thankyou'.

Culturally impactful!

[casslm · 7/10 · 23 February 2022]

I love the cultural impact this had and how many people felt seen when watching this! I discovered this one after the Netflix series recently, so for me I was already so attached to the new Fab Five that it was truthfully hard to gel with this one, BUT I still enjoy watching the show and will continue to until I finish it, it really is great and they help people feel good again, feel new, which is always rewarding to see!

Season 6

[rachaelaroman · 10/10 · 1 January 2022]

I was surprised to find Queer Eye positively addictive from season 1. It's disarming, heartwarming and hopeful. I love it and hope there are many more seasons to come.

A shameful retread of tired stereotypes

[johnnysugar · 2/10 · 28 August 2003]

Occasionally a television show comes around that is deemed by many to be "groundbreaking" and "brave" in its portrayal of a social minority. Often, these critics are not part of the minority portrayed, and generally don't know a what they're talking about. Often, these shows devolve into showing nothing more than tired stereotypes that fail to show their characters as real humans, people incapable of advancing beyond their set of cliches. "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy" is only the latest in a long line of painfully-rendered back-handed political correctness.

The premise of the show is this: five gay men that are "experts" in their fields perform an extreme makeover on a random heterosexual schlub, slowly transforming him into a clean-cut, fashion-conscious, overly groomed heterosexual version of themselves like mad doctors with expensive shoes. Ted (food/wine), Kyan (grooming), Thom (interior design), Carson (fashion), and Jai (culture) make up what has been termed "The Fab Five."

The premise of the show could be amusing if taken as a one-shot episode of "Ricki Lake" or another similar low-brow talk show. As a series, it grows old rapidly, with each episode seeming to be an only slightly different variation on a theme. This is not helped by the Fab Five themselves, as each one -- Carson especially -- come off as rude and arrogant to the point of derision. They may be experts in their fields, but that's no reason to belittle anybody who isn't.

Many people have celebrated this show and its success as bringing gay culture to the masses, so to speak, as if that hadn't already been done by Ellen Degeneres. The only thing this show does is portray all gay men has shrill, bitchy, shallow fashionistas with a fetish for materialism and hair product. Each man is only as deep as his specialty, and even then, none of them give any hint that they care about the world outside of Neiman Marcus. A person with no experience with gay culture or gay people would see this show and get a very skewed impression of gays.

As a gay man myself, I take great offense to this entire show, from its preening hosts to its insipid, infomercial-reject premise. Unfortunately, due to its massive ratings and the fact that some people actually consider this trash to be entertainment, it and shows like it will only continue to flourish. 2 out of 10.

Good people

[jelidamesa · 9/10 · 23 July 2018]

I liked this people Helping others. Good stile, easy Food

No Other Reality Show Has Deserved To Be Canceled More

[Renderking_Fisk · 1/10 · 2 August 2006]

As a member of the "Conservative" and "Religious Right" I don't have any issues with Homosexuals, and I'll put it out there that I believe committed couples (some who have been in relationships longer then most straight people) should have the right to have Civil Unions or Gay Marriage (what ever you want to call it in your neighborhood.) Many (if not most) homosexual men and women are productive members of our society and contribute a great deal. They need and deserve to just be left alone and allowed to live their lives as they choose and reap the rewards or suffer the consequence of their choices.

I'm not a gay basher, I'm not "secretly gay and in denial," nor am I a "hater." Nor am I easily offended or put off by people with lifestyles that are different from my own.

With that said, there are too many aspects of "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy" that are simply ridiculous. It's genuinely painful, harsh, embarrassing when it's not unintentionally funny by perpetuating stereotypes.

The most absurd aspect of the show is Carson Kressley (Spell check wants to replace that name with "Crassly" – how appropriate…) trying to tell men how to dress. He understands what's "hip and trendy" and knows the basics of clothing construction, but Kressley telling men how to dress better is like asking a plumber how to fixed your clogged arteries and broken heart valve – It doesn't fly.

The premise of the show is to try and turn sloppy straight guys into trendy stylish guys, period. Sadly, that never seems to happen when Carson does his best to turn these unsuspecting heterosexuals into "homo-looking heterosexuals" while trashing their own original style. Kressley is simply incapable (or blatantly unwilling) to dress sloppy straight men to look better or fashionable with out making the men look foolish or effeminate (or both.) He also performs his duties on the show with an air of indigence and arrogance that's a bit hard to tolerate.

Since the show's been canceled – Bravo should have the guts to do a roll reversal: Five Straight guys do a makeover to make him a little less "queer." It won't happen because turn-about isn't fair play in some circles.

Great Show!!!

[elysebrown · 10/10 · 1 June 2018]

I absolutely love this show! so far its only eight episodes long but every episode is worth it. The fab Five is so great, they are the nicest people ever. Going into this show, I was worried that five gay men were going to be interacting with southerners as someone who lives in the north, but I was just completely blown away by how nice and considerate these men were when faced with any opposition. Not to mention how nice the people who they interacted with were. Its just such a great show with a good balance of feelings and makeover.

More like QUEER Clichés FOR THE STRAIGHT CROWD

[KRican · 2/10 · 7 July 2006]

Seriously, "I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille." "Elvis (or fill in the blank with another person's name) has left the building." Wow! (forced applause and a shrill "woo-hoo") How clever!!! Did you just think that up on the spot? Come on (girlfriend). Just about every gay person I know (myself included) is more witty and original than having to resort to the stock lines and clichés they overuse. It isn't funny. It's actually quite irritating. I keep waiting to hear the BADUMBUMP of the drums after each trite and corny platitude. The point is what, exactly? ... To confirm the stereotypes so that straight viewers aren't put off or intimidated?? Heaven help us if middle-America gets the impression that gay people often see the irony in everything? Seriously, help me out here.

One great show with humor, and tons of help on how to live good

[ztpitsel · 3 July 2004]

This is a show that our whole family watches and loves as it shows how to better ones life and has tips, Humor and so much more. I have seen other shows that try to copy it but never coming close and as to the geniuses in this one. It sparks up peoples life with all kinds of things on how you may want to bring yourself to the best you can and possibly get better with a helpful start from some really great guys. I wish they had more outside of New York but they are unique people and maybe some one could find more with open minds and with and such know how. I bet most of use could use them to better ourselves and start living more to better standards or however you want to word it. We of our family, love how they can tell almost how to read a mind and how so many people enjoy their helpful ways for anyone they help. Keep up the good work and you will stay on top with your great tips, wits and knowledge. - Thanks for the show

Oh so many wonderful tears!

[lezamcleod-02185 · 10/10 · 14 July 2018]

This show is incredibly moving. The fab five each have the most charming way of reaching people. In one week they are able to help people realize who they are and who they can be. Deep and personal issues are gently brought to the fore, as my sister so aptly put it, they are having ecstasy conversations ALL THE TIME. They genuinely care and the participants feel this and let their guard down. In a world of manipulated emotion and fake honesty, we are shown real people dealing with their stumbling blocks and the fab five create a beautiful and nurturing space for them to overcome them.

Things just keep getting better...

[mercybell · 20 July 2004]

...Should be the theme for the show. Well, it is. But it's true. The show warms the heart while updating the clothes, and is one of the most entertaining things on television.

Makeover shows are a popular necessity to TV these days. We love em. From house and garden makeovers, to "The Swan" (I love CSI, but that one, I must admit, grosses me out), "What Not to Wear", even Oprah or, my other favorite, "Second Chance". Queer Eye For the Straight Guy offers an ingenious combo, gay men making over often very slobby straight men. Make it hip, cool, fun. Presto, mega hit. But the show goes further than other makeover shows because it really offers something to the viewer. It tells you HOW to look better the way Bob Vila shows you how to build a house, as opposed to whisking someone backstage and back out a different person. And above all, it gives you a real sense that you can change your life by throwing out the old and bringing in the new, having a positive outlook. Life detox, and all with a real human connection.

The show, which has 5 gay mavens driving all over uber cool parts of New York City and each being oracles of stylistic expertise, turning the often dowdy everyman into a Adonis of personal style. The makeovers are extensive and delightfully enjoyable to watch. We see a big transformation, blueprints and details, all laced through the roof with spontaneity and hilarity from 5 very, very, very funny and warmhearted men, aka the Fab Five - Carson Kressley for clothes, Kyan Douglas for grooming, Ted Allen for food, Thom Filicia for house and home, and Jai Rodriguez for culture. They're all experts and they all milk amazing end results. Every new guy has a new recipe that had thought and attention put into it, unlike some shows which just do the same thing to everyone, and we're brought through the whole process. Each of the gurus walk the participant through the makeover, usually with fairly easy instructions and give them tasks they have to do themselves. The majority of the time it looks like a bona fide style miracle took place. Darned fun stuff.

But I think the magic of QEftSG is that 90% of the time, the main thing the straight guys get out of the experience is a life makeover with the belief that anything can happen in their future. The outward change manifests an inner spring cleaning. Over and over these guys, by the end of the show, have a renewed self esteem and vitality for life instead of wallowing in the doldrums of everyday existence...which is something a lot of us can relate to and hope we can take initiative from. The Fab Five are sort of like a group of superheroes, running around to help those in need of couture and general rejuvenation.

Other than our collective addiction to "the makeover", the fact that this show does makeovers much the better than the rest with flourish and warmth and style up the wazoo, and the often hilarious nature of the show -- the joy and emotion often beaming off the participants faces and the genuine compassion and dedication the Fab Five shows to each of the straight guys is, I think, what keeps people coming back every week.

Hey, Whatever...

[9jbb · 22 September 2003]

Okay...

Here's the deal. I'm a hetero guy, but I gotta admit, I love this show. Yeah, stereotypes are flying around everywhere, but that's the premise of the show. And yeah, they blow a lot of cash, but why not? I mean, the object is to get the girl, and if you blow some money at first you'll reap the rewards later. Personally, I wish they did a Canadian special so I could apply for them to make me over. If they did, I'd get so much tail after that I'd go insane... Keep it up guys....

Not all queers are bitches. . .

[bekayess · 17 July 2003]

. . .as the FAB 5 prove.

What a great show! The five guys who do the "make-overs" should prove to the rest of America (the right-wingers, religious-right-ers, ex-gays', et al) that we're not perverts and bitchy queens--well, maybe some of are queens, but we're not all bitchy.

The 5 show great care and affection for their "victims," and I don't mean that they want to take them to bed. The only concern is to make the makeover guy happy and successful.

Thanks, Bravo, for this ground-breaking new "reality" show.

I watch this every week

[MarMitch · 4 October 2003]

Let's face it some people need a kick in the pants if not a new pair of pants. I like this program. I think the 5 guys are entertaining and considering there are cameras following theme around they all seem pretty genuine although Carson flames a bit but you can tell he's like that all the time and not just for the cameras. They are doing the jobs they love and helping some poor filthy guy out is a bonus. I know there are gay men that need help (bobby trendy?) but it seems that most of the hetero men being 'eyed' on this show really want the help. I love the way the 5 all cringe when the heteros 'speed shave'. I'm a hetero female and I find it very entertaining to watch. Thinking about it though, it really doesn't matter that the men are gay, it could be called 'Professional Eye for the Amateur Guy' but then it would be 'What not to Wear MEETS every DIY show on cable'. So the gay aspect is the show's hook. It would be just as good if the word 'gay' was never used, but the comments wouldn't be as clever (like when Kyan was wearing a cowboy hat that belonged to one of the their target guys and Carson called him 'George Gay' (instead of George Straight). I like everything about QE.

Fabulous to girls like me, useful to guys like you!

[NathalieKim · 14 January 2005]

"Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" is the best show on TV! Why? It's simple: imagine five great people who had never known you before, going to your house and changing you from hair to toe! That's exactly what Ted, Thom, Kyan, Carson and Jai do for all the straight guys that come in their ways! Ted (VERY handsome, funny and an excellent cooker!) teaches a guy how to do great things in the kitchen, from complicated fishes and wine qualities to quick drinks and simple food; Thom has an excellent taste and he makes any place, doesn't matter how hideous it might be!, look amazing and sophisticated; Kyan transforms a guy's looks by only giving him a haircut or teaching him how to shave his beard without slitting his throat!; Carson is just amazing, his sense of humour captures everything and his taste on clothing is terrific and very ellegant; and Jai is such a sweet person, and he teaches the guy how to behave either if he's alone with a girl or in front of a huge audience - he's definatelly a 'culture expert'! By saying all this, I can only tell that "Queer Eye for The Straight Guy" is a very funny show, but it's also a very good tool for all of us to know that everybody has flaws, but they can be successfully fixed whenever you decide to - or when the Fab5 knocks at your door! In only one word, this show is... AWESOME!

Gotta love the originality

[dianeread · 9 August 2003]

I have no particular opinion about gay issues, but I really love this show for its originality and imagination. I agreed with the guys when they ragged on that woman that one of their subjects wanted to ask to move in. And although I think Carson's comments can be hilarious, it's boring to have him pretend to be hitting on the straight guys. And please, no more underwear sniffing!

What I wonder about this show is if they can bring in enough variations on the theme so it doesn't get repetitious. The first show really was the best, because that guy went from looking like a total mess to being really handsome and cool. The changes have been less dramatic in the subsequent shows.

It's not a "makeover" show...

[Bondorf39 · 18 November 2003]

It's a makeBETTER show, say the five homosexual stars of Bravo's forray into "metrosexual" culture. And right they are. The theme song says it all: "You bring out the best in me...when you're around, things just keep getting better." By far, the best episode I've seen was during the first season when they were working toward a goal: To get the "victim's" girlfriend to accept his marriage proposal. The fact that she said yes is a perfect example of just how good this show can be. It's a perfect resource for the young man, sick and tired of the female "why all men are pigs" comments and want to be a better man. So watch it on Bravo (and the occassional NBC airing) and make a list of men you know who could stand to see life through the "Queer Eye."

As entertainment it's tedious, unimaginative, almost insultingly stupid and strangely crude - as a cultural statement does nobody any favors

[liquidcelluloid-1 · 4 July 2004]

'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy': Network: Bravo; Genera: makeover; Content Rating: TV-PG; Classification: Contemporary (Star range: 1 - 4)

Season Reviewed: series

For those that have been living like a lizard under a rock for the past year, the ambitiously titled 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' puts a slob straight guy in the hands of 5 gay ones, each of them specializing in a different area of life-changing. All the talk about the 5 co-hosts being gay is a nice diversion from the point. 'Queer Eye' is designed for the express purpose of reeling in the Oprah Demographic. A powerful TV market that likes makeover shows, but more than that, the success of the demographic is based on the idea that women don't necessarily want to see strong, witty, independent women on TV as much as they want to see men making fools of themselves. That, and the idea that the only way to really be a man is to get in touch with your feminine side. 'Queer Eye' is an unmistakable but admittedly clever spin on this type of show. Gay and Straight, a lot of men end up looking like fools here.

First and foremost, the show is painfully unfunny – an evolutionary leap down from being just not funny. In this regard, the show's gimmick is essential, because 5 straight guys could never get away with acting this silly. Otherwise, the show is a routine bore and at a full hour an overly long one. All that after an intro that is so wildly over the top in its attempt to exude fabulousness it is an unintentionally laughable. They've got a couple of bizarre, interesting tips on how to fab things up if you're in a jam and need to improvise with household items which they showcase at the tail end of the episodes. However, that's the least of what 'Queer Eye' is about. We're supposed to laugh at their wacky antics, possibly hiss Carson for hogging the spotlight with his crass one-liners and root for their out-and-proud flamboyantly over-the-top homosexuality. We're supposed to think that watching this show will make people more "tolerant".

I like that 'Queer Eye' comes from a place that treats homosexuality less like a sexuality and more like a culture with larger things on it's mind. It has a mission and proclaims loudly that the reason the stereotype of the gay man being well groomed and possessing excellent, feminine-like fashion sense is because it's true. Problem is, speaking from a TV landscape point of view - we've seen this all before. A show that showed gay men with beer guts, fixing cars, wearing wife-beater shirts and voting Republican - now that would have been bold and daring.

But like everyone else about this show the gay men are designed to be easily recognizable to the drive-by viewer. The 'Law & Order' school of casting. Their entire world seems to revolve around being gay to the point that the show makes this an issue and the series, overall, into a fad. In the process they manage to package and commercialize the gay culture, siphon off from the straight culture and disperse it out into the mainstream. The end result being that the culture gets homogenized for the sake of a reality TV fad until it no longer as a uniqueness and identity of its own and guys like Carson are standing out on a street corner screaming to get noticed for how wacky they are - and, nightmarishly, nobody cares.

As I said the straight men and women are equally represented. Slob men learn the value of vanity, materialism, makeup and hair and women get to achieve their dream of changing their man. Hell, we could have gotten this on 'Lizzie McGuire'. The women on the show are particularly peculiar. It's unclear why they didn't just turn tail and run at the first sight of their boyfriend's nasty apartments and avoid this entire mess. In the much-talked-about wedding proposal episodes (there will surely be more) we're supposed to swoon over how sweet it is that these women accept a proposal after the guys have cleaned themselves up and become a total walking fraud of their former selves. Well, nobody said that the heterosexual relationship promoted individuality either.

So in the end we're left with nothing we hadn't already seen or heard from the start. That and a few odd household tips. 'Queer Eye' is merely a cog in a perpetual wheel of clichés bounding around trying to make everybody feel good about themselves in the simplest possible ways. As entertainment it's tedious, unimaginative, almost insultingly stupid and strangely crude.

* / 4

You have a mind of your own...

[Geshreeyeh · 29 April 2004]

... so use it! Life is far too short to spend even 30 seconds watching this trash. Who are these idiots to tell me what I should eat, wear and do with my house?! I couldn't give a rat's arse if my t-shirt has a hole in it, or if I mix white wine with red. This poor excuse for a T.V. show really questions just how impressionable the general public are... Who's to say THEY'RE not wrong?! Who's to say that instead of telling people what shoes to put on they should be telling each other what voices NOT to put on. Shallow fools with a pathetic outlook on life. Are ratings all that matter? Axe this garbage - NOW!

Hmm

[rubybutterfly217 · 20 September 2003]

Everywhere in Manhattan and Brooklyn were posters promotting the show where ever you went. So on that Tuesday I decided to watch the show to satisfied my curiosity, and immediately I was very glad that I had.

The show is very hilarious and educational, of which I was very surprised of. While some people may complain that the show just spreads the rumor that gay men are shallow, materialistic and bitchy, I believe that it is a very good show and I really really enjoy it and watch it as often as I can.

Also, I'm going to be seeing Zanna, Don't very soon, as Jai Rodriguez is going to be playing the lead. I know very well that they are gay as can be, but Kyan Douglas and Jai Rodriguez are hot! It may seem a little crazy of me but yeah I don't care

They so is great and you should all watch it and I promise that you will love it!!

AMAZING songs from past 2 wedding epsisodes

[lexeee · 3 January 2006]

does anyone know the name of the two mellow-guitar-ish songs in the background of the last two wedding episodes? the one with the Italian/Jewish couple and the one with the vets? i can't find any music other than whats on the soundtrack but these songs are not on it. help?

the songs are fantastic, its so frustrating that the artists are so hard to find--it reminds me of when i heard underground artists in the background of real world a couple of years ago, and it was so weird to just a hear a random snip of a familiar song that doesn't get radio play on TV---and then its gone!

anyway, enough of my rant. does anyone know what I'm talking about?

If I wanted to see another man's underwear, I could go to the gym.

[15231 · 16 August 2003]

If the producers of this show thought it was going to let the 'straight world' see homosexual men as something other than a stereotype, they failed. While these five men may have the best intentions to convert the outward appearance of some hopeless slob of a hetero (who somehow happens to be basically handsome) the five obviously know that the audience expects homosexuals to be slightly bitchy and snobbish in attitude, expect only the best in quality and belittle anything else, AND have an obsession with men's underwear and any stains that may be on a jock or a pair of briefs.

I watched the first episode and thought it was unique. Show #2 looked to be a rehash of the show #1 except the hetero was different. Show #3 was again a remake of the first show. The 'fab five' projected the same mannerisms and snobbery - and found the appearance and stains of the hetero's underwear somehow to be a focal point of their day. Frankly, one episode was enough for me.

In my opinion, this show puts the perception of the gay stereotype back a few years.