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Carson Kressley Joined Queer Eye for the Straight Guy with One Mission in Mind
"I was just trying to get people out of pleated khakis," the stylist shared.
Carson Kressley and the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy squad made over hapless guys without any sense of style 14 years ago — and viewers tuned in week after week to watch the Fab Five fairy godfathers turn their Cinderfella-of-the-week into cultured hotties. It was a concept that didn't quite exist on television yet when it premiered way back in 2003, and Carson told The Daily Dish that he really only had one mission when he joined the show.
"I was just trying to get people out of pleated khakis, quite frankly," the fashion stylist shared. "I think that's why it worked so well because we didn't have flags and signs, we weren't being controversial in any way — we were just doing our job and helping the straight guy get the look or get the girl or get the job and being experts in our fields and we were just being our real selves."
Carson with the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy crew.
Still, Carson recalled, the show did have its critics. "Even at the time, there was some controversy like, 'Oh they're so stereotypical. One cuts hair, one does clothing, and one does interiors' — and I'm like, 'Maybe those are stereotypes, but we're all really good at what we do and we're all being ourselves. So there's a variety of different types of gay people, but we're just being who we are and there's nothing stereotypical about that.' Being your authentic self is the whole point of being out."
In addition to Carson, the series also included Ted Allen (food and wine expert), Kyan Douglas (grooming expert), Thom Filicia (interior design expert), and Jai Rodriguez (pop culture expert). The fellas reunited back in 2013 to celebrate the show's 10-year aniversary, and they still keep in touch regularly. "Actually we've just all been talking recently," he said. "Ted lives in New York; Thom lives in New York; I live in New York. Kyan lives in Tennessee — that's a little random. Jai lives in L.A.," he said. "So I get to see almost all of them all the time."
When Carson appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen earlier this month, he teased that there was some buzz the show may get a revival — and it was recently confirmed that would indeed be the case with Netflix ordering new episodes.
While the Fab Five will be a different crew this time around, Carson still has one guy he'd love to get his hands on.
"Male celebrity I'd love to give a makeover to? I would love to go shopping with Ryan Gosling," Carson confessed to The Daily Dish. "He doesn't really need a makeover, but I would love to see him with his shirt off. Can you imagine just spending the day with him at Neiman's and then having lunch, maybe cuddling. Get Ryan Gosling on the phone!"
Check out Carson's recently WWHL appearance, below.
