Entertainment
The Battalion
Page 4 • Tuesday, February 3,2(
ALL EYES ON QUEER EYE
Bravo’s unlikely hit ushers in ‘gay heat wave,’ sparks reactions among sectors
By Rusty Shackelford
THE BATTALION
Not long ago, homosexual lead characters and gay-themed pro
gramming were unheard of in popular culture. However, since the
1998 debut of NBC’s “Will & Grace,” homosexual representations
have settled into the mainstream.
Televisions programs focusing on the characteristics and whims of
the often misunderstood sexual orientation were once again brought to
national attention this summer when “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”
debuted on Bravo with a network record of 2.8 million viewers. Since
then, NBC, which owns Bravo, has aired many episodes after the
series’ successful trial run. It even boasts a soundtrack that includes
new material from Duran Duran and remixes by Sting and Elton John.
The before-and-after hit features a troupe of gay men who guide
a clueless straight man to aesthetic success. During the transforma
tion - what the gay panel describes as “manscaping” - the schlub is
brought up to standard in grooming, attire, interior decor, food and
wine and relationships. After his appearance and behavior are
trimmed and updated, the culture team steps back to the giddy
approval of girlfriends and spouses. While “Queer Eye for the
Straight Guy” has garnered a huge following, it has also provoked a
variety of reactions.
Senior economics major Dacyl Armendariz is a longtime fan of
“Queer Eye.” She and her roommate catch the show every week.
“I love it,” Armendariz said. “I think it’s funny and fun to watch.
Ten years ago you would have never seen a show with gay people
on it. They are our reality in the world, why not on TV?”
Brighter production company co-founder Remy Blumenfeld in
“The Financial Times (London)” said there are two types of homo
sexual programming.
“There are literally hundreds of gay-oriented programs now
doing the rounds,” Blumenfeld said. “There are two very distinct
areas: programs for gay men - who are now confident enough to
laugh at themselves - and programs for increasingly sophisticated
mainstream audiences who realize that gay people live amongst us
and are comfortable with that.’”
Amy Tintera, a junior journalism major and vice president of the
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Aggies, has seen “Queer
Eye” a few times.
“I think that any gay representation is a good thing,” Tintera said. “1
enjoy watching gay-themed shows even if the characters are stereotyp
ical. I just hope that in the future, characters will be closer to reality.”
Although gay-themed programming remains a favorite among some
circles, many critics maintain that what “Vanity Fair” dubbed the “gay
heat wave” has done little more than reinforce narrow stereotypes.
“‘Will & Grace’ and ‘Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' are essen
tially homosexual minstrel shows, in which gay men excel at being
‘the best friend’ and ‘the style-maker’ but are stripped of sexuality,”
a Los Angeles Times article recently
reported. “The handsome and successful
Will of ‘Will & Grace’ rarely has a date, let
alone sex, and is presented as incapable of
having a relationship with anyone other
than his straight girlfriends. The ‘buddies’
of ‘Queer Eye’ mince in front of their
straight objects of affection, carefully
stroking their arms and offering up non
threatening style tips that are presented as
the core of gay culture.”
Aside from making a new category of
TV shows, programs such as “Queer Eye”
have coined of a new term: metrosexual.
A word that had been in relative seclu
sion for a decade, metrosexual has become
a standard label in the past year. Its new
found pop status can be traced back to
“Queer Eye,” according to a Boston Globe
article covering the American Dialect
Society’s top 10 words of the year 2003.
Senior accounting major Erin Malone
defines metrosexual as a style-savvy
straight guy in touch with his feminine side.
“1 know a few guys who are definitely
metrosexual, but they won't ... come out,”
she said. “They should watch ‘Queer Eye
for the Straight Guy.’”
Photo counmv 01 Bravo i
(from left to right) Kyan Douglas, Ted Allen, Carson Kressley, Jai Rodriguez and Thom Filicia, ihec
Allison Cunningham, a senior kinesiolo- Bravo's breakout hit "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" have spearheaded the new wave of
themed shows.
gy major, watches the show semi-regularly
“The personalities of the homosexual guys
are so entertaining, like with ‘Will & Grace.'The shows take their tal
ents - not necessarily gay talents - and boosts straight guys' confi
dence,” she said.
“Queer Eye’s” formula of coupling a trendy makeover show with
the “gay charm” and wit of the Will & Grace school of thought has
fostered wide appeal. NBC has sold the show’s format to more than
30 countries.
According to Entertainment Weekly magazine, the show's Kyan
Douglas, Carson Kressley, Thom Filicia, Jai Rodriguez and Ted
Allen, also referred to by media moguls as the “Fab Five ” are set for
book deals and committed to a host of promotional activities. Barbara
Walters named them among her “10 Most Fascinating People of
2003.” Indeed, they're becoming regular fixtures in media culture.
In a recent article in Entertainment Weekly, Kyan Douglass rec
ollected a surprising exchange with Nicole Kidman: “My friend
said, ‘Kyan’s on the show ‘Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.’ And she
goes, ‘Oh my God, you're huge!' I was like, ‘Did Nicole Kidman
just say I was huge?”’
In their search for the next ratings winner, broadcast and cable
networks are counting on the “gay heat wave” to deliver. Acc
to Entertainment Weekly. Fox will air “Playing It Straighi'|
“Bachelorette” spin-off that throws in the hidden challenge off
covering one’s sexual orientation, in the upcoming spring
MTV.com reports that the network is considering a cable nctv
calls “Outlet,” which would feature all gay-themed programn
The first show featuring lesbian lead characters. “The L Word,"i
debut Jan. 18 on Showtime.
For all those closet metrosexuals, several upcoming “Queerf
parodies present an inverse of the show's teacher-student
ment. In Bravo’s “Straight Eye for the Queer Guy.” five straighti
tutor a gay man in power tools and sporting event etiquette. Onf
23. Comedy Central will air a three-episode series. “Straighti
for the Gay Man," which w ill likewise apply “typical" hete
male attributes to “typical” homosexual men.
Ultimately, Malone said gay-themed programs help budget
gap between straight society and the homosexual population."
“Will & Grace helped lighten the attitude towards homosejn
so people aren’t so afraid of them." Malone said.
CNN SCREENING AND ALUMNI PANEL:
Monday, February 2 • 7 pm • 302 Rudder
A free screening of the CNN documentary that follows four first-year Teach For America
teachers in some of our nation’s toughest schools. Stay after the screening to talk to
Teach For America corps members about their experiences.
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INFO SESSION:
Tuesday, February 3 • 7 pm • 110 Koldus
Teach For America: its history, its future, and
and accounts of the corps member experience.
MULTICULTURAL NETWORKING RECEPTION:
Thursday, February 5 • 6 pm • MSC 026
TIEACHFORAMERICA
www.teachforamerica.org
Do you sometimes find yourself asking
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CLASS COUNCILS
TEXAS A4M UNIVERSITY
Build a resume.
Plan a wedding.
Invest forthe future.
Live in the real world.
4.
Real World Conference
and Etiquette Dinner
Feb. 13 & 14 ❖ Rudder Tower
Buy a ticket today at the MSC Box Office.
For information, click to:
http://classcouncils.tamu.edu/realworlti
REAL WORLD SESSIONS
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