Loathing "QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY"

[Horsey!!!]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 5:09pm

Am I the only gay person in NYC (USA) who loathes the program "QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY?" It's insipid, unintelligent, uninspired, unfunny and condescending. Ugh...catering to the lowest common denominator it is television at it's worst (just what the masses crave.) Updated On: 12/1/03 at 05:09 PM

[sparky310]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 5:10pm

absolutely agreed..if straight america didnt think we all flounced around the room with tongs..they do now.

[WhatDoINeedWithLove?]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 5:12pm

I think its hilarious! Jai is the best! :)

[Horsey!!!]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 5:15pm

"the best" what? And he needs to be informed that "Jai" is spelled with a "y." Updated On: 12/1/03 at 05:15 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 5:16pm

Still worrying about what straight America thinks, Sparky? Here's a hint, those who want to hate us, will always hate us. No matter how bland and palatable certain people want us to make ourselves over (Hello, HRC!) to appease, it never, ever works. Luckily, there are more and more people like Homer Simpson every day: "I like my beer cold, and my homosexuals FLAMING."

[BillFinn]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 5:28pm

run out of "un" words?

I love Queer Eye. Kyan is the best. I, myself, learn some great advice in the grooming and fashion departments. It's just fun.

[Horsey!!!]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 5:36pm

>>>run out of "un" words<<<

Well, there is another "un" word that I can think of that would be appropriate for the show (and perhaps in describing you)....it begins with "c" and ends in "t." Updated On: 12/1/03 at 05:36 PM

[StateOfJade]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 5:39pm

Actually, there are plenty of people who spell it with an i. He just happens to be the only celebrity currently.

[robbiej]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 5:40pm

If QUEER EYE is television at its worst, then what's AVERAGE JOE, FEAR FACTOR, THE BACHELOR et al????

We can certainly debate about its merit and what it does to advance/hurt the cause of equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Americans. But, aside from the woeful lack of diversity in the cast (Jai represents all people of color???), I believe it represents a great number of gay men living in New York City (I wouldn't dare speak for other places).

[cmleidi]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 5:55pm

I find it interesting that QUEER EYE gets attacked in some corners, but WILL and GRACE doesn't. Will is simply a Ken Doll with smooth genitals that don't work. QUEER EYE has a lot to say about male sexuality, and male bonding as well. The heterosexual males that always come off better on the show are those that don't pull the macho nonsense and relate to each of the five men--the Greek boydbuilder and the gorgeous bodybuilder for example.

I did find it telling that Boy George criticizes the show, and then appeared on it.

As for the image of gay men it shows, what is so wrong about having an image of a well-groomed and well-tailored epicure who lives in a well-designed house? I suppose it is a negative image. It certainly makes the gay images in CRUISING less offensive.

[DofB5]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 6:01pm

Well, I'm with BillFinn. I like them and think it is a very fun show.

D

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 6:08pm

I agree with BillFinn and DofB5. Queer Eye is just plain fun. And if the Fab 5 can make people more accepting of homosexuals, then more power to them. I still can't believe that my mom likes the show as much as I do.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 6:30pm

I waiver on the topic. As noted, Queer Eye reinforces the sterotype. But at the same time, for the mid-American (and I don't mean this strictly geographically) masses who watch the show and don't know any gays (or don't know that they do...), the fab five are pretty non-threatening and likeable. She watches it once or twice, and my Aunt Dorothy in Ohio feels like she knows each of the guys; feels like they are friends. It's kind of a back door approach toward tolerance and it doesn't mean that Auntie D will run to the polls to vote in favor of gay marriage yet, but I think Queer Eye may have nudged her a tiny bit in that direction.

Does Aunt Dorothy now think that all gay men act like Carson what's-his-name? Probably. But she likes him and doesn't find him scary. The show has demystified sterotypical gayness for her. She'll probably get bored and stop watching the show after a while. The fab five's 15....well, maybe 45 minutes...of fame will be over. But for my money, when Auntie meets a for real honest-to-god gay guy, she's more likely to be more open to the possibilility of seeing him as a 3D person. No doubt she'll make some patronizing comments along the way...but what the hell, its a start.

And while one might not give a rip about whether or not my aunt is okay with homosexuality on a personal level, she IS one of the voting public. And that matters. Now, if I can just convince her that W's an a**hole unworthy of her vote by next November.... sigh

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 7:08pm

Wow Horsey, your 5:37 post shows a REAL level of discourse and intellectual engagement that's hard to argue with. With every post you reveal which end of the Horsey you really are.

The episode of QEFTSG that featured the NY Transit Cop getting the make-over and confronting his internalized homophobia in the spray tan booth with Kyan sent a much more positive message than that arch-conservative Elizabeth Birch ever managed to send in her (I hate to use this phrase because it is so loaded but completely apt in this case) Uncle Tom visits with Republican presidents.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 7:08pm

With some heat, I took up this debate only last week with Jrb__actor (I should hunt down our posts...) All stemming from Robbie's potent observations about the waning need for gay icons. And it was Robbie who reminded us that progress is made a baby step at a time, and that this show may ultimately do more good than harm, stressing tolerance. I was reminded of black friends who quickly tired of George Jefferson and Sandford back when... But laughed, too.

Thanks to RobbieJ, I continued to mull this over Thanksgiving, and watched WAITING FOR GUFFMAN again for the first time in years. Per our talk about types, I re-considered the lisping, kohl-eyed screamer, Corky St. Clair. Surely the preening drama coach who's the sole arbiter of shallow taste in rube-run small town America is a potential stereotype from hell ... but who doesn't love the affection and heart that Christopher Guest poured into that man? He managed to send it up and simultaneously create a sweet-tempered queen everyone could relate to and love. I was reminded that like the Queer Guys, Corky represents a fresh way to appreciate life itself -- maybe in darkest of times, it's in the details, the well-rehearsed town pageant or the right hair gel for a suburban party. So I guess ... stereotypes can be curses and blessings; they can serve The Bigger Cause, albeit at different times and in different places and genres.

Updated On: 12/1/03 at 07:08 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 7:23pm

By the way -- shouldn't this whole thread be moved to OT?

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 7:25pm

I'm a gay teenager that is just about to come out, and I for one, love the show. I think it's witty and shows the mid-west bigots that gay people are people too.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 11:05pm

I've said it before--I love QEFTSG. I agree with those who have already said how it is making a difference among all those voting heterosexuals who will be able to decide for us whether or not we can get married.

The show also has 5 different types of gay men. All real examples of most of the gay men we all know or are ourselves. And, only putting butch, non-stereotypical gay men on tv would lying to ourselves and to America. Please--the closet case butch fags aren't the ones who need to be saved from prejudice and gay bashings--it's the "obvious" queers.

And, I find it extremely IRONIC that this dissent is so loudly voiced from a gay guy who is just as biting and catty as Carson (though not as funny) and uses Barbra icons. Sorry, Horsey--but I'm gonna have to call a "gay as the ace of spades" a "gay as the ace of spades".

Love you mean it.

=)

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 11:12pm

Horsey is nowhere near the plane of existence that Carson and people with wit and erudition inhabit.

[Horsey!!!]

Posted: 12/1/03 at 11:59pm

Don't delude yourselves by thinking that you know me by my postings on an internet message board. You've never spoken to, nor met me. Alas, you haven't a clue. I do Love stirring things up!!! And you never fail to fall for it Namo (et.al) what an easy target you are! Updated On: 12/2/03 at 11:59 PM

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 12/2/03 at 12:03am

I actually can't stand QEFTSG either. Maybe because I have no use for the type of pretentious skin care fashionistas they represent. Just like I have no use for the Martha Stewart lifestyle phenomenon of a few years ago.

And I'm not all that sure it's a "baby step that encourages 'acceptance' among the homophobic heartland" either.
At the end of the episode, those boys are still just still non-threatening faggots.

Updated On: 12/2/03 at 12:03 AM