When PGN interviewed Netflix’s “Queer Eye” star Jonathan Van Ness in February for his Road to Beijing stand-up comedy tour stop at The Tower Theatre, he said, “I think this is actually my first time in Philly ever.”
Maybe Van Ness was impressed, because it was announced June 18 that not only did Netflix pick up the “Queer Eye” team for a fourth season, shot in Kansas City, but the Fab Five would also get a fifth season — and it would film in Philadelphia.
Production on “Queer Eye,” Season 5, will begin on June 24. The season will debut in 2020. Don’t start bothering production crews if you see them — they’ll be too busy with lighting and mics to tell you where the cast is hanging out.
While Netflix’s Los Angeles-based publicist Nick Jones-Liang said, “We’re so excited to be coming to the city,” neither the producers of “Queer Eye,” its showrunner Jennifer Lane, nor its star Fab Five, Antoni Porowski (food and wine), Bobby Berk Interior design), Karamo Brown (culture), Tan France (fashion), or Van Ness (personal grooming) would speak to PGN before their arrival.
Maybe they were busy filming more cameo appearances after having appeared in Reading native Taylor Swift’s newest music video, “You Need to Calm Down.”
What we do know is that that the new “Queer Eye” cast, part of the Netflix family since 2018, was rumored to have been coming to the Philly area after one Reddit subscriber dropped word that “Queer Eye” production staff was holding casting calls. The Shazza Shop even posted a picture of a flyer to their Instagram account where the “Queer Eye” peeps left their email address.
Another hint that Philly filming was looming was when “Queer Eye” announced its Netflix Season 4 renewal with an Instagram video post featuring the boys and a blink-and-you-miss-it appearance with the Philadelphia Flyers scruffy mascot, Gritty.
Will Gritty be the first Philly native to get a “Queer Eye” makeover? Watch the streets next week to find out.
Based on Bravo’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” which featured local ties in that fashion expert, Carson Kressley was born in Allentown, the new Netflix reboot is far more progressive, inclusive and aware. For its troubles, the new “Queer Eye” has been awarded three Emmys.