Homosexuals Are Normal?

Between classes today, I found myself in a rut. I was bored. I was unmotivated. It was not good. When I flipped through the channels to find something fun to watch, I found "Queer Eye." Many may remember this BRAVO staple from when it first debuted to mass hype and attention from the media. It was a cultural revolution. A hit television show was made following five gay men making over clueless straight men from coast to coast. Originally, the show was titled "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." Five stereotypical gay men would ambush one straight guy per episode and makeover every aspect of their life usually for a significant other. Each queer had a different area of expertise (i.e. food and wine, clothing, furniture) and would have time with the straight guy to teach him of his erroneous ways.

Well, the sheen of the show apparently wore off. After averaging 3.4 million viewers at its prime during the first season, the show dropped off the face of the Earth and got cancelled after a pitiful final season where episodes averaged less than 500,000 viewers per week. So what happened to the show that broke barriers and changed the face of television?

The downfall of the show makes me wonder if our culture is becoming less shocked by homosexuals. It seems that the show was catapulted to fame by the idea of five loud homosexuals telling straight men how to please women. I mean, literally, these men burst through the front door SCREAMING GAY. As a gay man, I was even taken aback by the amount of "GIRLFRIEND!" and "OMG LIKE WOW!" gay banter that occurred. Take Carson for example - he takes the straight guy to get new clothes and in the process, makes suggestive gestures towards him and touches him to the point of making the straight guy uncomfortable. It is as if they are TRYING to push barriers by just being so gay. So is America not phased anymore? Have shows like "Will & Grace" and "Queer As Folk" helped to condition America to this gay culture so it is no longer shocking? And if so, is straight America only going to tune in for the shock factor? Will straight Americans never really be interested in just a gay show? If gay men and women can watch "Friends" and "Desperate Housewives" and enjoy them, can't straight men and women enjoy shows that aren't so obviously marketed to be shocking?