THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, debuting July 15, features a 'savagely funny deconstruction of the subject's lifestyle and messy home and evolves into a showcase for the hottest styles and trends,' according to Bravo's parent company NBC. 'After imparting their invaluable tips, wit and wisdom the Five ends each hour with the reveal of an empowered, stylishly complete straight man with a Queer eye stamp of approval.'

'We give great information that anyone, gay, straight, men and women can use, but as I was telling 'the Davids' (creator David Collins and series developer David Metzler) over dinner one night, this show isn't really a makeover show as much as it is a make- BETTER show, we take who he is and make him better,' explains Carson. 'We don't turn these guys into something that they are not, because that kind of change just won't maintain. They won't keep it if it's not them or it's a look they don't like. And we don't steam roll over these guys, we use things in their own closet. Well ... (pause) we do buy new things as well, but just enough to bridge the gaps.'

'Each of the subjects start out suspicious and a little freaked out, because the five of us sort of ambush this straight guy,' admits Ted Allen, a Chicago resident and the show's resident 'Food and Wine Connoisseur.' 'But eventually we break down their resistance—resistance is futile!—and usually the guy ends up feeling sorry to see us go. One of the guys, a macho Sicilian cop from Staten Island, actually was so taken with us that as we were leaving, he opened his wallet and gave each of us one of those fraternal order of police cards that you can show if you are ever stopped by a policeman. They don't give those cards out to just everybody.' Ted, a contributing editor for Esquire Magazine since 1997, is co-author of the 'Things a Man Should Know' column, an irreverent guide on 'fashion, sex, business etiquette and cocktails.'

'I'm really passionate about food ... I was the [dining] critic at Chicago Magazine for a while and I know enough about fine dining that I can fake my way through it,' offers Ted in a conspiratorial whisper.

Whether it's showing these guys how to come up with an amazing date for their girlfriend, throw a special party for their wife or expand their culinary skills beyond Mac and Cheese, Ted is particularly fond of showing men how to comfortably navigate through the fine dining experience.

'People are still scared of waiters, and they are especially intimidated by the sommelier. Guys always think the sommelier is trying to sell them the most expensive bottle of wine, when really, a good sommelier is genuinely there to assist you,' offers Ted, who says that when it comes to judging a restaurant, 'the devil is in the details.'

What about judging a cable reality TV show? How will reviewers respond to this gaggle of gay men and their 'make-Better' credo?

'I think the premise [of the show] plays off of stereotypes, but it also deflates them and moves beyond them. It's a natural reaction to hear the premise of the show and object to it. But then you see it, and you see what it is really about,' explains Ted. 'In the end, Queer Eye is a two-way street: It's about HIM feeling comfortable around US and US feeling comfortable around him,' adds Carson.

How about the Fab Five? Do they feel comfortable around each other or do the egos of five stylish, advice-dispensing queens ever bump up against each other during a 'make-better' project?

'We've really meshed as people,' says Ted. 'Though we are all constantly fighting for camera time. It's like 'get out of my way bee-och!' Seriously though, the thing you have to understand is that in order for this show to work they needed five men who weren't afraid to blab. And blab we do, until we manage to say something useful,' deadpans the 38- year-old Rodgers Park resident.

'One of the things that separates this drama-ality show from others, is that we have five individuals who really are respected experts in their fields. These guys know what they're talking about, they're not just saying something to be shocking or entertaining.' Be that as it may, Ted's first encounter with Carson was both shocking AND entertaining: 'I was in a room with about 40 other guys who were auditioning for the show, (they ended up seeing about 500) and in walks Carson carrying a huge Louis Vuitton bag, wearing a gauzy wrap shirt and hip huggers. He does a dramatic double take and says something to us like 'I think it's so cute that they're letting you guys still think you have a chance!' I remember thinking 'Who IS this guy, God that is fierce!'

'I didn't know Ted before the show, but I did know Thom Felicia, because we go to the same gym. Ted is amazing, I love Ted,' says Carson, who pauses for a moment before proclaiming, 'Ted is the nutty Professor from Gilligan's Island, and I am Ginger. No wait! I'm more Lovey Howell. Kids used to call me that, in fact on the school bus, because even in fourth grade I turned it out—I was one of the first kids to be wearing Calvin Klein Jeans!'

QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY:

'Let's Make Fashion Happen!

By Gay Boy Ric

When I first heard about Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Bravo's new reality makeover series in which five gay guys known as The Fab Five do a 'make-better' on a straight guy, I loved the concept but dreaded the potential execution. Bravo's two previous gay reality series, Gay Weddings and Fire Island/ Gay Riviera, were competent but not compelling or all that involving. As an arts cable channel, Bravo has a limited budget, and at times a limited vision. The good news is that Queer Eye is a great series, entertaining and immensely informative about things that many people care about but often don't take the time to tend to—everything from grooming and fashion to apartment design and cooking.

While Gay Weddings and Fire Island were both limited-run mini-series, Queer Eye is genuinely a new series. Bravo is shooting 12 episodes for the first season, and eight have already completed production. The series begins with two back-to-back episodes on Tuesday, July 15 at 9 p.m., both repeating immediately afterwards at 11 p.m. The series will then begin its regular run with a new episode every Tuesday at 9 p.m.

(Note: you'll probably want to tape these shows, as they are filled with helpful tips. It could easily have been called QUEER EYE FOR THE EQUALLY HELPLESS GAY GUY!)

Although the personalities of The Fab Five and the execution of the makeovers are the highlights of the show, what really makes Queer Eye rise above mediocrity is the unexpected degree of the professionalism of the five experts, and the personal effect of the makeovers on the Straight Guys and their friends and loved ones. When you first see The Fab Five, you worry for a moment that it's going to be all flippancy and acting out for the cameras, but once they get to their makeover candidate's home, it's clear they take their work very seriously and they know what they are doing. That's worth a thousand one-liners—although you get the thousand one-liners, too.

The Fab Five consists of Carson Kressley (Fashion), Kyan Douglas (Grooming), Thom Filicia (Design), Ted Allen (Food and Wine), and Jai Rodriguez (Culture). Carson is definitely the star of the show, the funniest and most theatrical. 'Let's make fashion happen!' he commands as they begin to work on Butch. Kyan (Grooming) is a close second. His humor is more understated and sardonic, and his grooming tips are wide-ranging and useful.

In the first episode, The Fab Five try to cultivate Brian 'Butch' Schepel, a long-haired set carpenter and artist, as they also help him realize his dream of his first art gallery opening. In Episode 2, the boys try to refine Adam Zalta, a schlubby Long Island businessman who wants to plan a surprise birthday party for his wife—because he has forgotten it every year. The best scene in the two episodes is when The Fab Five walk into the Zaltas' large house and discover that the only furniture in the living room is outdoor PlaySkool equipment and chairs for the children! 'Holy Day Care, Batman!' screams Carson, while Kyan exclaims with disbelief, 'It's like a Toys-R-Us crack den!'

The fact that the makeovers are both geared towards an event of immense personal importance to the subjects gives them an added emotional dimension. It's not an exaggeration to say that the closing scenes of Episode 2, between Adam and his wife, are touching to a degree unexpected in a series with a high camp quotient and focused primarily on improving appearance.

The Queer Eye concept is also impressive because in re-designing the Straight Guys' homes and fashion style, they work mostly with clothing and furniture that the person already has. As Carson tells Butch, 'We're not here to change you, we're here to make you better.' He later adds that too-extreme makeovers that take the person far away from who they really are have less of a chance of lasting. A 'make-better' that primarily uses the person's already acquired style and objects is much more likely to survive.

The opening credits and cast of the Episode 2 are a little confusing. The opening credits include the series' Culture Consultant Jai Rodriguez, but the Culture Consultant that appears in the episode is Blair Boone—Jai is not in the episode at all. According to Bravo, there was a cast change early on, after two episodes had been made. Blair Boone (seen in Episode 2 and one other forthcoming episode) was originally the series' Culture Consultant. The Culture Vulture role evolved, Bravo said, and they felt they needed someone with different experiences and skills, so Jai was brought in to replace Blair. (Ouch!) Because the episodes are not being shown in the order produced, Blair will be the Culture Consultant in Episode 2 and one other forthcoming episode. However, Jai's name will appear in the opening credits of every episode—even the two in which he never appears. Blair, on the other hand, only gets a credit in the closing credits of his two episodes, where he is re-labeled Guest Culture Expert.

Hollywood can be so cruel!