It's no accident that "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" turned into a big hit for Bravo — a cable network almost nobody was watching before the show debuted.
First, it's a good idea. Five gay guys offering advice and support to a straight guy, helping him fix his apartment, his wardrobe and his life.
And it turned out to be one of the sweetest, most entertaining makeover shows on TV.
Second, the producers did a great job of casting (after a couple of misfires in early episodes). Ted Allen, Kyan Douglas, Thom Felicia, Carson Kressley and Jai Rodriguez are all great on TV and all very different. And they've developed the kind of chemistry that you can't manufacture.
As a matter of fact, "Queer Eye" is better now than when it started because the Fab Five know each other and have developed genuine chemistry.
Which brings us to "Queer Eye for the Straight Girl," the spin-off series that previews Tuesday at 9 p.m. before debuting in its regular timeslot on Wednesday at 8 p.m.
First, is this a good idea? There's something oddly charming about taking slobby guys and cleaning them up — do we want to see slobby girls get makeovers?
(At least in Wednesday's episode, the woman's bathroom doesn't appear to be unsanitary. But her apartment is a mess.)
More important, the jury is still out on the casting.
The producers have changed things a bit. "Girl" is Los Angeles-based as opposed to "Guy's" New Yorkiness. We have four "Gal Pals" (three gay guys and a lesbian) on "Girl" as opposed to the "Fab Five."
But Gal Pals Honey Labrador, Robbie Laughlin, Damon Pease and Danny Teeson are, well, trying too hard. At least in the episode that was previewed for critics (which airs Wednesday), they were forcing a camaraderie they obviously haven't had time to create yet.
And, unlike "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," which arrived with no expectations and nothing to pattern itself after, "Queer Eye for the Straight Girl" arrives with all sorts of expectations. Which may explain why Robbie is going out of his way to be a Carson clone.
Stop that. Immediately.
Bravo also runs the risk of turning "Queer Eye" into "Trading Spaces." That Discovery Channel show was once the hottest thing on cable TV, but the ratings have fallen considerably in the past couple of years. Part of that is attributable to the normal life cycle of any TV show, but adding "Trading Spaces: Family" and "Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls" — plus all the imitators on the same channel and competing channels — made the original "Trading Spaces" seem less unique and distinctive.
It's not exactly killing the golden goose, but it's something akin to that.
E-mail: pierce@desnews.com