the blair which? project
I just finished watching the third episode of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy on TiVo, and just as in the second episode last week, Jai Rodriguez received the opening credit as the culture queer, yet there was a hunky black guy, identified only as Blair, actually playing that role instead. Who is he? Why was he replaced? Why does Jai get the episode credits for these two episodes? Inqueering minds want to know.
I’m guessing from this and other clues that the first episode aired, with Jai, was actually filmed after these other two. Perhaps Blair was originally the culture queer but was dumped for some reason, and they decided to air an episode with Jai first to establish his presence. But I’d still like to know what happened.
Comments
Jeff and I were equally bamboozled…
Posted by: Stephen | July 23, 2003 10:50 PM
Yes, Jeff and I were chatting about it—and he was getting all hot and bothered when I started sending him links to Kyan’s pictures, especially the one that makes him look like either a porn star or next week’s demon on Charmed—via AIM the same night that you and I first IMed, while I was visiting my folks last weekend.
And remember, “Spray, delay, and walk away.” I kept expecting to hear Carson in the background chiming in with “sashay, chantez!” (my guess, though Google seems to prefer “shanté” or “chante,” not that these mean anything, or maybe it should even be “shantay,” since “sashay” isn’t exactly proper French either).
Posted by: thom | July 23, 2003 11:06 PM
Your guess is in fact correct. Jai replaced Blair. I haven’t seen this past week’s episode yet, but after Blair’s hideous chalkboard stunt from last week, I’m surprised he was only replaced, rather than being shot like a dog.
Posted by: Faustus, M.D. | July 24, 2003 11:02 PM
Faustus! From you I was really hoping for a definitive opinion on the shantay/shanté/chanté/chantez/chanter question.
I so agree with you on the chalkboard stunt, though… I was surprised that the other members of the Fab Five were applauding it. Although, given the skank the girlfriend turned out to be, it might have been more appropriate to write out the move-in proposal with differently colored muds in a mud wrestling pit, or as a temporary tattoo for her miniskirted buttocks.
Posted by: thom | July 25, 2003 01:25 PM
I will weigh in on the s/s/c/c/c question as soon as I understand exactly what the question is. “Sashay” is almost certainly a low-level Spoonerism for the French “chassé.” My mind, clouded by any number of neuroses and confusions, awaits clarification before attempting anything more definitive.
Posted by: Faustus, M.D. | July 26, 2003 03:52 AM
In the RuPaul song “Supermodel,” he sings, “Sashay, (shän-t¯a´). (shän-t¯a´), (shän-t¯a´), (shän-t¯a´).” “Sashay,” “to strut or flounce,” as you note derives from “chassé.” I’m trying to determine the second word and its spelling. Googling other people’s use of this phrase shows a slight preference for “shanté,” but I don’t know of such a word in French.
Ah, the great questions of our time.
Posted by: thom | July 26, 2003 11:41 AM
Well, I would vote for “chantez,” using the imperative rather than the infinitive because the song is in large part an exhortation.
Or we could just accept this version.
Posted by: Faustus, M.D. | July 29, 2003 01:50 AM
We’re in agreement on “chantez”; your argument for the imperative was the same as mine, which makes me feel so validated.
I just can’t go with “chantey,” despite its appearance in the online lyrics you referenced. In the context of the song, it elicits visions of tattooed sailors voguing in the crow’s nest; an amusing and entertaining notion, perhaps, but not really appropriate to the lyrics.
Posted by: thom | July 30, 2003 11:00 AM
I don’t care why Blair was replaced, I’m just glad he was! I think that Jai is much better and he is definutly much HOTTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Ivy | March 10, 2004 03:30 PM