Netflix’s Queer Eye reboot gets a lot of things right, not the least of which being the casting of its incredibly lovable and well-dressed crop of hosts-slash-experts (Jonathan Van Ness on hair, Bobby Berk on design, Tan France on fashion, Karamo Brown on culture, and Antoni Porowski on food and wine). But labeling Brown as nothing more than a culture vulture is woefully misrepresentative of the real and often heartrending gravitas he lends to a mostly breezy show.
The 38-year-old, who made waves back in 2004 for being the first openly gay black man on reality TV (Real World: Philadelphia), is the Fab Fiver who most often gets the show’s “heroes” to confront and work through some of their painful past traumas. The interactions ring true because Brown is more than an armchair expert—he worked as a social worker and psychotherapist for 12 years. And there are even more waterworks in store for season 3 (premiering in March). “It’s probably the most exceptional season we’ve done thus far,” Brown says. Between prepping for the release of a memoir March 5 and the launch of his podcast this spring, Brown mused on an all-female Fab Five and slovenly Disney princes.
You’re casting a new season of Real World in L.A. Three Angelenos you’d throw into the house?
Jonathan Van Ness because he’s super opinionated, and you want someone who’s going to bring the fire. Marilyn Monroe—you gotta have the sexy castmate who’s flirting with guys and girls but who has some real depth to them. And then Tupac.
Queer Eye is a reboot. L.A.-based reboot you wish you could star in?
CHiPs! There’s something sexy about the outfits. And, you know, cops on motorcycles are badasses.
No. 1 L.A. culture tip?
There’s a monthly spoken-word poetry slam night I go to right near West Angeles Church. It literally has no sign on the building, but it’s the dopest poetry slam. It’s this cool, eclectic thing in the middle of Crenshaw.
Disney prince you’d make over, Queer Eye style?
ALL OF THEM.
L.A. trend you wish would die?
People are going to hate me for this, but: the high-waisted mom jeans. I’m done with it.
LGBTQ icon you’d ask to write the foreword to your next book?
LaVerne Cox. She’s carved out this path as the first transgender woman of color to do so many things. I’m inspired
by her.
Women you’d cast on a female Queer Eye?
Oooo! Chrissy Teigen would be our culinary person. I’d have Issa Rae do fashion because she has such a unique modern yet classic style. Mandy Moore as the culture expert—she is so on it with being emotionally in tune. Constance Wu would be our designer, and, for hair, I’d pick Yara Shahidi. All these women are such positive forces in the media.
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The post <i>Queer Eye</i>‘s Karamo Brown Is Bringing His Wise Counsel to the Masses appeared first on Los Angeles Magazine.
Source: Los Angeles Magazine