Netflix
“Queer Eye Germany”: German spin-off starts with five episodes
The German “Fab Five” of the reality series “Queer Eye Germany”: Jan-Henrik Scheper-Stuke, David Jakobs, Ayan Yuruk, Leni Bolt and Aljosha Muttardi (from left to right)
© Thomas Schenk / DPA
In the USA, the five queer lifestyle experts, the so-called “Fab Five”, have been dealing with personal crises for years. “Queer Eye Germany” will also start on Netflix on Wednesday – a German offshoot of the popular Netflix show.
As a form of positive discrimination, there is sometimes the claim that homosexuals or people from the LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer) community have particularly good taste and lead happier lives.
The word “gay” for “gay” in English originally meant even cheerful, funny, happy. Last but not least, the TV format “Queer Eye” plays with this cliché, because in the so-called makeover show, five queer helpers, the so-called “Fab Five”, thoroughly transform the lives of protégés – wanting to beautify and improve it.
“Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” (loosely translated: The gay eye for the straight man) was a pioneer of queer visibility and representation in the mass media at the US cable channel Bravo almost 20 years ago. Four years ago, the concept was revived by the streaming service Netflix and became one of the most successful in-house productions. The US seasons were filmed in Atlanta and Kansas City, for example.
Queer Eye Germany: From March 9 on Netflix
A German version of the reality series is available from Wednesday. In the first five episodes (each lasting around 50 minutes), the German “Fab Five” visit five candidates – two women and three men in Heinsberg, Kiel, Hagen, Cologne and Oldenburg. According to Netflix, the fabulous five are helping a single father get back into dating life and a football coach coming out.
The format is primarily about a new hairstyle, clothes that fit better, a stylish living room or a healthier diet. However, the focus of counseling is always on destinies that should touch the heart. The advice and assistance convey freedom from prejudice, diversity and joie de vivre. It’s devotional television, empowerment as it’s called today.
“Queer Eye” an export hit
“Since the series began in 2018, ‘Queer Eye’ has dusted off at the Primetime Emmy Awards annually and now has a whopping nine awards,” Netflix said a few months ago. That’s why it’s high time to export the Queer Eye flair – starting with Germany and five local experts.
“As in the US counterpart, in Germany they are completely turning the old, unloved everyday life upside down and concentrating on important topics such as self-love and mental and physical health, but always with a lot of good vibes.” Fans love the exclamations from the show: “Are you guys that excited?!”, “Giiirl… I love it!”, “Group Hug!”.
In the USA, the five experts Antonio Porowski (food and wine), Tan France (fashion), Karamo Brown (culture and image), Bobby Berk (design) and Jonathan Van Ness (care) became popular figures and stars. The “Fab Five” of the German edition could now also become well-known TV personalities and real celebrities.
The five protagonists
These are David Jakobs as a so-called beauty guru, Ayan Yuruk as a design specialist, the doctor and YouTuber Aljosha Muttardi as a health and nutrition consultant, Leni Bolt as a work-life coach and Jan-Henrik Scheper-Stuke as a fashion expert.
Scheper-Stuke, for example, is the head of the Berlin fashion house Auerbach, sells himself as a dandy with a bow tie, was already the host of the documentary series “VillageX” on Arte according to Netflix, moderated the luxury magazine “Premium Lounge” on n-tv and wrote for the “BZ am Sonntag” the column “A question of style”.
Bolt is a non-binary personality, is said to be familiar with time management and mindfulness in everyday life, is a work-life coach, podcast host (…) – “Mission: to change negative perspectives and help people to be happy will help”. Non-binary is used to describe people who do not identify exclusively as male or female, i.e. who are outside of the two-part (binary) gender order and gender identity.