The Fab Five

"If anyone is laughing at anyone, it's
probably at the heterosexual," who
often comes off as hapless, until he's
captured by these five fashion police.
"As a minority ourselves, [Jews] were
on the wrong end [of social accept-
ance] as little as 40 years ago," adds
Lazin. "We can appreciate the impor-
MICHAEL ELKIN
they are," he says. "We are not perpet-
and Mr. and Mrs. Nash, in which Alan
tance of the societal issues brought up
Jewish Exponent
uating stereotypes.
Cumming comes to life by day as a
by this show."
"At the- core of Queer Eye is the fun
designer and at night as a private eye
Producer Metzler agrees: "We have
ravo seems to have taken a
we have, especially at that moment
along with the mister in his life; The `1,' heard quite a bit from gay members of
hint from Mel Brooks'
when the Fab Five say goodbye to the
Word, a lesbian lovefest on Showtime
ethnic groups, who their whole lives
smash hit The Producers,
made-over straight guy, making for
next year; and American Pride, a reality have felt doubly discriminated against.
deciding to "keep it light,
tender moments that transcend sexual
show in search of gay country singers.
"They are proud of this show, which
keep it bright, keep it — gay."
orientation. They become a team at
"If you create a story that people
they
feel makes people feel empowered."
A ratings behemoth, the cable net-
heart."
enjoy, then that's bigger than making a
"What
has happened," adds T A7in, "is
work's Queer Eye for the Straight Guy is
Indeed, the queer eyes of Ted Allen
political statement," says Metzler.
the networks have found that their
more than a bust-out hit of bravura —
(food), Kyan Douglas (groomin g),
"Trust your audience and they'll pull
assumptions of the marketplace are not
it's become a social phenomenon.
Carson Kressley (fashion), Jai
out the meaning."
accurate,
that you don't need to be gay,
The show, which premieres new
Rodriguez (culture) and Thom Filicia
you don't need to be straight, to enjoy
episodes Tuesday nights on cable, has
(interior design) have focused attention
this kind of show. There's much crossover.
been rerun on Thursday nights this
on how groomed gays are for prime-
Fostering Stereotypes?
"There has been a faster develop-
summer by sister network NBC, and
time panache.
"Any show can represent a stereotype,"
ment of gay civil rights than anyone
the gay and carefree approach that has
At the heart of the hit show's rise in
muses Malcolm Lazin, executive direc-
anticipated," says Lazin. "Once you see
worked for the makeover reality
reality and see people are all
comedy has made other net-
o E
part
of one humanity, it really
works take notice and make over
_‘...,
changes your attitudes."
their schedules for fall.
. r ' .
Jerry Yellen is a Jew who
Queer Eye has become the b.
7-1
came
out as gay at age 17, sup-
800-pound gorilla in the room c.3
ported
by his parents. A former
2;
— doing it the fey way.
teacher and social worker who
currently co-owns hair salons in
the Philadelphia area, he sees
Meet The Fab Five
the Fab Five as a serious sup-
The "queer eyes" of the show's
port group.
title belong to the Fab Five: an
Sure they're guilty of some
interior designer, a fashion styl-
"exaggerated
shtick," but Queer
ist, a chef, a beauty guru and a
Eye is no boob-tube TV, he
"concierge of cool," who is
says. The Fab Five provide a
responsible for all things hip,
quid pro quo: fun in exchange
including music and pop cul-
for
a sense of humanity.
ture.
"I
am a human being and
With help from family and
want
to be treated like one,"
friends, the Fab Five, in each
says Yellen, "and we, as gay
new episode, treat a straight guy
Jews, are no different from oth-
as a head-to-toe project.
ers in the community. We feel
According to the show's press
no less Jewish."
materials, "Soon, the straight
If Queer Eye has taught Yellen
man is educated on everything
anything, it's the lesson of
from hair products to Prada and
"Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"• Ted Allen (food and wine), Jai Rodriguez (culture),
laughing at oneself.
feng shui to foreign films. At the
Carson Kressley (fashion), Thom Filicia (interior design), Kyan Douglas (grooming).
"Jews make jokes about
end of every fashion-packed,
Jews," reasons Yellen, "and gay
fun-filled lifestyle makeover, a freshly
the ratings is a matter of timing.
tor of the Equality Forum in
people make fun about being gay.
scrubbed, newly enlightened guy
"We've been lucky to a degree," says
Philadelphia.
Making
jokes about life is just natural."
emerges
complete with that 'new
Metzler. "This summer there's been
And you need not be an ophthal-
Lorrin
Mullins, a sales associate for
man' smell."
attention on gay rights; it's become a
mologist to see that Queer Eye offers a
the fashionable Ralph Lauren line at
And no one could be gayer — but
hot topic. So we were able to come out good look at gay lives if not a compre-
Neiman-Marcus in King of Prussia,
straight — than David Metzler, who
at that right moment, and it helped us
hensive examination.
Pa., has a handle on how the whole gay
developed the series created by his long-
have more of an impact."
"You cannot possibly portray the
phenomenon is playing out. He sees
time business partner David Collins,
Queer Eye may just be the hallmark
remarkable breadth of the gay commu- more clients "willing to reach out for
who, unlike Metzler, is gay. Both are
of what is the new "must-sell TV"
nity" in one sitting, says Lazin. "But
[fashion] advice and help without hav-
executive producers of Queer Eye.
Many new shows dealing with the gay
because of the show's remarkable popu- ing a problem that it is coming from a
"What's most surprising is how
experience are on TV's fall agenda.
larity, it has put gays in a position of
gay man as opposed to one of their
much people have made the show part
They include ABC's It All Relative,
adviser, opposed to the traditional
drinking buddies."
of their lives," says Metzler. "The Fab
in which an Irish Catholic guy brings
position of inferiority or negative
Does Queer Eye redefine the gay
Five comes across as real; they are who
home his fiancee, who has two dads,
stereotyping.
experience for those who are not?

They're talented, they're gay and they're determined to clue in
the cluttered, clumsy straight men of the world.

B

.

9/ 5
2003

58