Why Queer Eye on Netflix is one of the best reality TV shows

Reality TV has taken some weird twists and turns in recent times but Queer Eye bucked that trend to become a hugely popular reboot from Netflix that carries on the tradition of the earlier incarnation of the show.

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Reality TV is a strange beast. Remember when people used to be horrified by some of the behaviour that went on in the Big Brother house? Of course some of it was pretty terrible (the turkey slapping incident comes to mind), but the stuff that goes on in the genre these days puts Big Brother to shame.

Married At First Sight, which attracted huge ratings during its recent run, has come under fire for the emotional stresses it puts on “contestants” both during the show and after the cameras stop rolling.

Even My Kitchen Rules, which started out as a fairly harmless cooking contest, seems to have spiralled into psychological warfare among the competitors. The focus has moved from the food to the fights.

But there are some shows that buck that trend.

Queer Eye, available on Netflix, is enjoying successful ratings.

While it’s in a slightly different category than those above, Queer Eye continues to be a hugely popular reboot from Netflix that carries on the tradition of the earlier incarnation of the show. It’s continuing — and growing — appeal was even a surprise to some of the show’s stars.

Speaking last week to the show’s resident food and wine expert Antoni Porowski, the Canadian-born actor-turned-fixer admitted he thought they would peak in the first season.

“I really thought our climax was going to be in season one,” he said.

“Then season two came about and it was even bigger and now season three is even bigger.

“I knew that we were part of something special because we had grips and lighting people who were tearing up when we had scenes going on.”

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To be fair, I can imagine some crew members of the more questionable reality shows also shedding a few tears. Possibly for different reasons.

Porowski always wanted to be an actor. It’s interesting then that, after appearing in this style of reality show, that desire has changed — even if he was guaranteed success in Hollywood.

Asked if he could wind back time and choose a successful acting path or repeat the success he’s enjoyed with Queer Eye, Porowski didn’t have to think long about his answer.

“I would definitely do it all again,” he said.

“Queer Eye was, other than working as a waiter in a restaurant, my first service job where our job is literally to take care of and educate other people.”

Not sure that would really work as the tagline on some of these other reality trainwrecks.