My wife loves the Netflix show “Queer Eye”, and I like it too—at least, the three or four episodes she has made a point of showing me.
But what I keep thinking every time, and especially with this latest episode about an Illinois music teacher, is how insulted and humiliated I would be if my friends or coworkers asked someone to come and give me a makeover. My wife says that maybe sometimes people do feel this way, and they refuse to do the show.
But the way I see it, that does not take away the sting. I would be very tempted to find a different job in a different city, as well as a new group of friends. (All the more so because of how awkward it would be for them to know I refused.) Maybe I would secretly get a new look before arriving at that new city, but I certainly would not let the people who called up QE have the satisfaction of knowing I did so!
I’m also guessing a lot in reality shows is pre-planned or outright scripted. They may use real people but I believe they tell or at least strongly suggest to the participants how things should go. So in the case OP suggests the show producers had already contacted the guy to see if he would be willing to do the makeover thing. That’s my theory. Just like how I hear the people on House Hunters already bought their house before they film the segments of them checking out 3 (always 3, that should be an indicator right there) houses.
It’s not a surprise to the participants. They find people through various means, only one of which is blind nominations. They actively seek out people with interesting stories and vet them to determine whether they’ll be good for the show. The Fab Five have already talked to the candidate, seen where he/she lives, and gotten information about their life and style long before they show up on their doorstep. There’s no way they could redo some of these houses in the week or so they have on-site without preordering some of the materials, fixtures, appliances, and/or furniture.
I don’t want a makeover, but would not be offended if someone suggested I could use one. I know I dress poorly and have a bad haircut. I just don’t care. My wife loves me and my kids need me.
No producer is going to send his expensive talent and crew to somebody’s house if there’s the slightest chance they’ll be turned away. Those people have signed contracts long before they see a camera.
I’d also guess that the team has more diplomatic and successful ways to approach potential people than “Hey, your family and coworkers think you’re a troll”
I agree with the above posters who mention that the Queer Eye producers must be contacting potential candidates in advance to make sure they won’t refuse help. It makes for a more pleasant viewing experience as well, in which we see someone who’s at least willing to try changing adapt to change. To see the opposite in action, watch Hoarders and see how many candidates actively refuse help and must be convinced to make even tiny steps to improve their situation. (The candidates on Hoarders are usually nominated by family and friends because they’re being threatened with eviction or their health is at risk, so there’s a certain urgency involved.)
some of the people who were on What Not to Wear for a makeover were a little reluctant. One woman would not let them cut her long hair shorter for religious reasons but she got new clothes. As people said above , if you refuse you never make it on the show.
I’m another one who knows that I have no style sense whatsoever, and I’m quite willing to take image advice from those who know style better than I. The hosts of the show presumably wouldn’t be insulted that I (probably) know more physics than them; why should I be insulted that they’re better at their specialty than I am?
They are more scripted than shows that are explicitly scripted. Like shows that have everyone sit around a table and read the script to see how it sounds, more scripted than that? Then they might be sent for rewrites, you’re saying QE does more than that. Ok, that’s not completely stupid.
I wouldn’t be super embarrassed or insulted. I’m quite aware my wife doesn’t love the type of jeans I prefer and a couple of favorite shirt get a dirty look when they come out. I could see doing the show as a laugh and seeing if they convince me on some aspect.
Not necessarily, some people have the kind of sense of humor to which it should be legal to respond with Joshua’s trees up the ass. One time when I was in HS, the door rang and it was a guy coming to provide the information I’d requested about a sewing course, only I had made no such request: he showed me the form and I exclaimed “oh, that’s not me, that’s a girl’s hand!” “uh…” “yeah, I am a girl, but… show him my classnotes I don’t have a girl’s hand at all” “damn.” Whomever thought that was cute wasted the time of a stranger who probably had better things to do, even if these were “watch paint dry”.
It seems like almost no one understood the point I was trying to make, so I must have been unclear. I’m not really concerned with the production mechanics or any of that. I’m just talking about how insulted I would be if my friend suggested to me or to a TV producer that I should get a makeover.