# New Queer Eye (finally!) 11/18 - Jeff T **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 18, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935 "2003-11-18T17:44:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/1 "2003-11-18T17:44:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Name: Jeff T. > Age: 45 > Height: 5’11" > Weight: 165 lbs > Status: Married > Occupation: Postal Worker > Category: Mountain Man Straight Guy > Location: Oakridge, New Jersey > Event: End-of-Summer Cookout > > Jeff is a poster-boy for the “When Great Guys Make Bad Grooming Choices” Telethon. He’s got a steady job at the Post Office, a terrific family, a lovely home and interesting hobbies (taxidermist, woodcarver, blues musician). In the '70s, he was even a male model…and has the hunky headshots to prove it. Over the last 30 years, he’s accumulated a long mane of hair and a shaggy beard that make him look more like a cave dweller than a suburban dad. His wife and kids feel a new look is overdue; knowing what magic the Fab Five can do, Jeff is inclined to agree. The Fab Five’s mission: transform Jeff from a hippie guy into a hipper guy. > > PROBLEM AREAS > …he’s worn a moustache for thirty years and known his wife for twenty-four; she and their children have never seen his upper lip. > …his wardrobe spans the gamut from old jeans to gray shirts to SpongeBob t-shirts (admittedly not much of a span). > …his personal room features a soulless black leather couch and wall-mounted electric guitars, a stark contrast to the more rustic, country look of the rest of their home. > …likes to fish but is limited in his preparation to simple grilling and barbequing. > > “When I sleep with him at night, it scares me because I just see a pillow full of hair.” — Corrine, Jeff’s wife At last, after _endless_ repeats (as entertaining as they remain) a new ep tonight! Another long-haired freak, so expect another plug for Locks of Love. I’ll be interested to see if they shave his beard off completely or just trim it down under control. Also wondering whether Thom will blend in his “personal room” with the rest of the house’s “rustic country” look or whether he’ll work on changing the look more completely. And what will Jai find to occupy his time tonight? He doesn’t strike me as a bluegrass kinda guy… ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/2 "2003-11-18T18:21:07Z")
Woohoo, sounds like a good one. Maybe he’ll stuff Jai. Put him on a stand like a bear or something. ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/3 "2003-11-18T18:48:00Z")
Alan Sepinwall’s got a [decent article](http://www.nj.com/entertainment/ledger/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/1069137366307900.xml) (link will ask you for demographic detail) on five tips to keep the Fab 5 fresh. Some are familiar complaints – get Jai something to do! – and some are a little wack. (I’d miss the Hooker-in-Trenton comments, personally.) I am looking forward to the new episode tonight, though. ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/4 "2003-11-18T19:38:26Z")
Kind of sounds like they are making over Grizzly Adams, can’t wait to see what they do. I do like the Fab Five and how they change these guys on the show. I kind of hope they drop in on people in the future, to see if what they have done stuck. ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/5 "2003-11-18T19:40:16Z")
In addition, I wish they would make people over from other parts of the East Coast - other than NYC, I wouldn’t mind Tranquilis getting made over by the Fab Five. ---
**Author:** ![LucysLogic101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19b73/32.png) [@LucysLogic101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LucysLogic101)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/6 "2003-11-19T02:38:46Z")
gawd, otto, you beat me to it! =) i was at least going to wait until _after_ the episode aired to post something… well, my review of the episode will be in an hour an a half… ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/7 "2003-11-19T03:33:38Z")
Poor Jai. I loves me some Ted, so I won’t mention that his job (“Let’s make this food tonight, and you’ll never make it again”) is equally useless. I thought the house looked pretty good before, but once again Thom amazed me. But . . . \*Did I hear one of the Feb 5 use the F-word? \* ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/8 "2003-11-19T04:00:19Z")
F word? “Fag”? Yep, that was your beloved Ted. When they pulled that tongue out of the coyote head I about lost it. That was the ickiest wiggiest thing I have ever seen in my life. And then my sweet sweet Kyan _put that nasty thing in his mouth_! Kyan, honey, I have so much the better tongue to put in your mouth…but I digress. Did they denude the place of heads at the same time they stripped it of the dried flower arrangements? God I hope so. I liked the battons Thom did but I thought they were going to get rid of the big black couch look? I swear I think I recognized Jeff’s model picture. Although male models tended to be a little generic in the 70s… He turned out pretty hot. He started out as a demented Willie Nelson and ended up Richard Chamberlain, only attractive. They kept saying David Bowie and I kind of saw that in the “after” picture but not when he was actually moving around and talking. They needed to get him some bronzer for his chin to blend in the skin tones. The song was cute and the family was just adorable. But…plastic plates and cups? \ ---
**Author:** ![Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bottle_of_Smoke)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/9 "2003-11-19T04:35:37Z")
I was thinking the same thing – Holy Crap, it’s Richard Chamberlain! My favorite part was Kyan hugging the toilet. “Thank God you’re clean” ---
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/10 "2003-11-19T15:46:48Z")
There will supposedly be a holiday feature, where they will drop in on the past Straight Guys to see how they’ve coped. I don’t happen to know anything on when it might air. This guy, Jeff, had so much going on that Jai basically had nothing to do. “Here, I bought you guys some picture frames.” I also agree with the David Bowie/Richard Chamberlain cross. Now if I could only figure out who the daughter reminds me of. Speaking of which, was this the first time they’ve involved the family this much? Usually it was, the guy has to manage on his own, this week it’s, his daughter helps him pick out clothes and make dinner. But all in all, a very sweet and much less catty episode. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/11 "2003-11-19T16:05:54Z")
Best line of the night: Carson (once again) to the teenage daughter. “Let’s go to the mall and pick up some boys.” ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/12 "2003-11-19T16:11:33Z")
The daughter reminded me of a kinder, gentler, less whiny Meadow Soprano. She was a real sweetheart. This was one of the times where I was less than impressed with Ted’s food. I’m not a big fan of fish, but even to me this dish looked pretty craptacular in its execution. Jai again had next to nothing to do, apart from tell them to take a family picture and bring Jeff to the woodworking place. Thom, again, was the standout. Did they cut Kyan’s “inner Pocahontas” line used in the trailer? ---
**Author:** ![jeevmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@jeevmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeevmon)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/13 "2003-11-19T16:45:59Z")
Damn, the daughter was a hottie-in-waiting! This episode overall, though, was kind of eh. I mean, Jeff really was very into the whole makeover thing and didn’t seem particularly bothered or put off by any of it. Some of the best episodes from the viewer’s perspective come from watching the straight guy in a new and somewhat uncomfortable experience (back waxing, standing in his skivvies next to an openly gay man, etc.) It didn’t seem like Jeff was really being asked to do anything that he found weird, bothersome, or even novel. Kudos to him for being an open-minded, tolerant guy and all that, but from the viewer’s perspective, it was a little dull. I think that the episodes with the married guys tend to be less interesting than the episodes with the single guys. Single guys on the show have tended to have larger issues and need more “help” than the married guys. (Which is generally true of single guys in real life, at least from my experience). And it is their opening up and accepting new ideas that makes for good television. Jeff was a nice guy, certainly leagues above Alan the Cheapskate. I think I knew we were in for a rather tame evening when the bathroom was clean and we missed the obligatory scummy bathtub shot. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/14 "2003-11-19T16:49:23Z")
and … um… here’s… a picture frame! ugh! 🙂 I actually was thinking David Bowie long before they mentioned him. The resemblence was uncanny. Thom wow’ed me with the rustic hunting lodge look. Very cool eppisode. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/15 "2003-11-19T17:27:39Z")
I loved the fact that while Thom hated the taxidermy and dried flowers, he did incorporate them into the finished product, remembering what so many “Trading Spaces” and other decorators forget which is “it’s about you, not about me”. That family seemed almost eerily perfect. The kids actually LIKED their parents, the toast was with Pepsi, the daughter enjoyed being seen at the mall with her dad and a gay guy- just incredibly sweet. There’s no way a postal salary paid for that house. He must either have some modelling money left or his wife is a Dupont. ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/16 "2003-11-19T18:27:28Z")
I loved this one. But then, it’s the first time that they’ve done a room that I would absolutely love. Except they needed to keep more of the taxidermy. No, I’m not kidding, you should see my house. I quilt and hunt, so I’ve got a lot of that going on. I did notice that they put the moose antlers over the doorway - nice touch. Hmm, what would Thom do with my bearskin rug? **Otto** , you do know those taxidermy tongues are plastic, right? So rest easy, he’s not contaminated. I agree that Jeff seemed extremely laid back about the whole thing, and while likeable, was just a little boring. Did he do any of the cooking? And why did the guests eat before they saw him? That was a little weird. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/17 "2003-11-19T18:58:10Z")
I’m tempted to sign up for the show, now that they’re leaving the City. It would just be fun to hang out with them for a day. But I’m scared what Thom would do to my Star Wars motif. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/18 "2003-11-19T21:04:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Otto, you do know those taxidermy tongues are plastic, right? So rest easy, he’s not contaminated. I don’t care, I’m still totally squicked. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/19 "2003-11-19T21:17:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElvisL1ves \* > \*\*Best line of the night: Carson (once again) to the teenage daughter. “Let’s go to the mall and pick up some boys.” \*\* I know I’m being overly sentimental - but I loved it when he and Ted were walking back from the fishing hole and he said that his wife was the best catch ever. I really liked this guy. (and his family. They were great.) He just did really well with the whole thing, and who knew _that_ was hiding under all that hair? He looked amazing. But Jai really, desperately needed something to do. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935/20 "2003-11-19T21:20:13Z")
You notice poor Jai (which I refuse to pronounce “Jay”) has this deer-in-the-headlights look, like he knows he is going to be fired? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-queer-eye-finally-11-18-jeff-t/213935.md?page=2)