Delayed due to the pandemic, the 6e season of Queer Eye has been available on Netflix since the start of the year. For this new meeting, the five Happiness Ambassadors have established their HQ in Austin, Texas. These perennial urbanites slip on boots and western hats to meet Texans. And still work miracles, despite the coronavirus … and the bitter American policy.
In the land of cowboys
PHOTO ILANA PANICH-LINSMAN, PROVIDED BY NETFLIX
Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk, Antoni Porowski face rancher Josh Eilers in a new episode of Queer Eye.
Needless to have seen the previous seasons of Queer Eye to dive into it. Because its principle is simple: five experts in fashion, beauty, cuisine, culture and decoration, self-proclaimed the “Fab Five”, set themselves the task of transforming the life of a candidate recommended by relatives. After Georgia and Japan, the five lifestyle experts – and proud members of the LGBTQ + community – land in one of the most conservative states in the country. “I have voted Republican all my life. Shouldn’t there be many of you who voted Trump? », Launches a rancher in front of his cattle, by way of a word of welcome.
The diversity game
PHOTO ILANA PANICH-LINSMAN, PROVIDED BY NETFLIX
Bobby Berk, Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness, Terri White, Karamo Brown in Queer Eye
“ We’re not in Texas anymore! We paraphrase a line from Wizard of Oz, because it comes to mind when we look Queer Eye. In the land of ranches and “honky tonks”, the mission of the “Fab Five” is also reminiscent of that of the transvestites in the Australian film. Priscilla, crazy about the desert. Except that here, the hostility of the locals gives way to benevolence, and curiosity is stronger than intolerance. If Texas is conservative, this state also has a large Hispanic community. And its capital, Austin, is a popular LGBTQ + destination in America. From the grandmother dancing in mini shorts in a country bar to the young family rapper to the weightlifter tranny, this portrait of Texas is diverse.
The hugs festival
PHOTO ILANA PANICH-LINSMAN, PROVIDED BY NETFLIX
In order, Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk and Antoni Porowski
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, Queer Eye had already started filming his season 6. For a “lifestyle” series based on bringing together pure strangers, and in which everyone cuddles every five minutes (this is the hug festival!), the pandemic was terrible. However, instead of canceling the season, production resumed a year later, tackling the pandemic head-on. Ultimately, the lockdown made the undertaking of this entertaining reality show more useful, if not necessary. The result is anything but futile.
Relearn to dream
PHOTO ILANA PANICH-LINSMAN, PROVIDED BY NETFLIX
The five experts of Queer Eye. From left to right, Montrealer Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness, Bobby Berk and Karamo Brown at a high school in Texas.
More than ever, we feel that the candidates needed the help of the five angels with horned wings. Not to change your look or have a new kitchen. But to regain their daily self-esteem and put a little fantasy in their life. In the last episode, a rapper father of two children, including a 5 week old baby, confesses his depression. He put the music aside altogether in the winter of 2020, when the bars slowed down and the shows were cut off. Without minimizing the severity of the health crisis (the sick and the dead), COVID-19 has clearly impacted people’s ability to dream. We are so immersed in the daily health crisis that it is difficult to project ourselves into the future. A tip from the experts: “You can’t change the world without changing yourself”.
Never judge
Queer Eye did not invent anything. The show takes up the concept of transformation shows focusing on the desire to flee the gloomy everyday life of mere mortals. What is different is the always human, respectful approach, the openness of production. We never try to force the transformation of a participant, no matter how small. Nor to convince him of his good taste, of his cultural authority. Rather, we try to understand what the candidate really wants to change in his life. Or not ! Without imposing anything and without judging.
A new series for Jonathan
PHOTO PROVIDED BY NETFLIX
Jonathan van ness
One of the most colorful and beloved members of the Fab Five, hairstylist Jonathan Van Ness, will have his own show on Netflix, starting January 28. Entitled Getting Curious (Give in to curiosity, in French), this program is based on an eponymous podcast by Van Ness. In each episode, whooping cough Queer Eye will interview experts on various subjects that are both serious and trivial. To quench his thirst for learning. These eclectic themes include insect genitals and fashion’s self-esteem benefits, to the effects of sugar on the brain and the importance placed on hair. It’s all served with the flamboyant, hilarious style of the friendliest non-binary personality on the small screen.
Queer Eye (season 6) is available on Netflix.