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Tim Gunn "shines" to some and "too tasteful to star in reality television" to other reviewers

Taking a little inspiration from the way Andy Dehnart had some fun with varying reviews of Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. I thought it might be interesting to collect just the comments about host Tim Gunn and see how they vary. Think of it this way, it's time to judge TV reviewers by the way they judge Tim Gunn.

The critics largely find Gunn the best part of the show. Generally, if they liked Tim Gunn's Guide to Style it was because of Gunn's charming manner. If they didn't like the show, it was because it failed to make good use of its host. For instance, New York Newsday's Anne Brakskeir says that, "in the wasteland of reality and makeover shows, Gunn shines." Michael Slezak of Entertainment Weekly's PopWatch blog concludes that, "it's ultimately his dry wit, big heart, and plus-sized vocabulary that might just draw me back for a second or third helping." And the San Diego Tribune's Karla Peterson similarly says that, "whatever Tim Gunn's Guide to Style may lack in originality, it makes up for with the warm heart and expert eye of its host."

The Wasington Post's Robin Givhan, however, attributes the show's failure to Gunn, essentially saying that he's too classy to make for good reality TV. Givhan says that, "Some people are simply too tasteful to star in reality television. This is the problem with the erudite Tim Gunn... Gunn is authentic, which is precisely what reality television is not." Oh, let's not limit the genre to its worst stereotypes, shall we? The popularity of Jenny Jones didn't force Oprah to wallow in trash, because they both had daytime talk shows.

Most reviewers assess Gunn as a wise professor. The Philadelphia Daily News' Ellen Gray is one of many reviewers charmed by Gunn's vocabulary, calling Gunn "an educator who uses words like 'iteration' - and even 'semiology' (the study of symbols) - as elegantly as he wears his suits." (He also referred to "semiology" in his recent appearance on The View.) Gray adds that his eloquence drives her to be forgiving when Guide to Style turns to reality TV cliches.

Similarly, the LA Times' Robert Lloyd plays upon Gunn's verbosity by referring to Gunn's "charmingly pedagogical manner." I could even imaging Gunn picking up his dictionary (I imagine him having an unabridged dictionary) to look up "pedagogical" -- at least, I could until I learned that it means "of, relating to, or befitting a teacher or education". Gunn probably knows most words that relate to education.

Some critics worry that Gunn loses the charm initially displayed on Project Runway. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Erin White says that Gunn "veers dangerously close to unkind" in his interaction with makeover recipients. The Boston Globe's Joanna Weiss similarly notes that "Gunn seems especially harsh." On the other hand, the Baltimore Sun's Tanika White disagrees, saying that "Gunn's approach is more mentor than mean."

It's my favorite TV writer, however, who has the best take on Gunn -- or, at least, the one that expresses my sentiments perfectly. The Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan notes that, "There may be people who don’t respond immediately — or ever — to Gunn’s friendly charm, his unpretentious sophistication and his perceptive, strongly worded honesty, but I haven’t met them. And I don’t care to."

On a semi-related note, Gunn comes across the episode I would like to see most in an interview with the Houston Chronicle, where he names my all-time favorite Project Runway designer, Diana Eng. I can imagine it now, Tim gives her advice on the kind of silhouette she should aim for and then she'll incorporate color-changing fabrics, magnets or maybe something with a motor into her new wardrobe. (Now, why couldn't he have said such a thing in our interview with him?)

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  • jb451's picture

    The Fort Worth Star-Telegram

    The Star-Telegram is the Fort Worth paper, not the Dallas paper, which is The Dallas Morning News.

    LyleMasaki's picture

    Fixed it.

    Thanks!
    josh's picture

    My problems with the show

    I adore Tim Gunn and I love fashion makeover shows (What Not To Wear is one of my favorites), so I thought I'd love Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. But I don't. My main issue is the show itself. It felt slow and awkward to me. Tim has zero chemistry with Veronica Webb. In fact, I can't figure out why the producers cluttered up the show with her at all. She's utterly useless. Maybe the show will work some of those issues out as they go. After all, the first season of What Not To Wear was pretty awful as well. It wasn't until Clinton came on and things just clicked with Stacy that it got better. Still, I might just wait until they get it right before I watch again. It was kind of painful to see Tim on that show. Can't wait for Project Runway, though!
    Dwiz's picture

    Exactly!

    Josh, I feel EXACTLY the same way!! Tim is great, but NOT on this show. And Veronica Webb was simply terrible and boring, not to mention that she looked like she just walked out of the salon with a spray on tan?! UGH! I will be honest and admit I didn't watch the entire show. Why? Because it was putting me to sleep! I will wait and hope with you that they continue to make some changes to spice it up somehow. In the meantime... I also eagerly await the new season of Project Runway! I am wary, however, that Project Runway will "jump the shark" this year?! We'll have to wait and see about that, too!

    Evan's picture

    Makeover the Makeover

    Tony Tripoli, one of Kathy Griffin's former gays, was supposed to be Tim's sidekick.  Tim didn't know he was going to have a sidekick until he went to L.A. and Tony told him.  Afterward Tim went to the executives telling them Tony can have the show if he's on it.  Only five days before shotting began Tony was replaced for Veronica.

    I like Veronica but you just can't have two introverts hosting the same show.  If there is a second season either she will have to change or be replaced.  My dream pairing would be Tim Gunn and Kathy Griffin.  That would be sensational. 

    I agree that the show moves slowly.  They need better editing to fix that.

    Tim's rules should be captioned at the bottom of the screen instead of having Tim present them.  Having him present them messes up the pace of the show.

    Guide to Style is the most helpful makeover show.  You actually learn how to dress better and feel better about yourself.  If there is a second season the particapants will be men.  I want to watch that.

    hereinvannuys's picture

    Finicky Fop.

    I watched last night's premiere of Bravo's TGGTS and was very disappointed. Gunn was a likable, quirky and warm authority figure on "Project Runway" with his trademark quips of "get to work" and his understanding of the struggles faced by creative people.

    But his new show, where he and cold, humorless model Veronica Webb visit a fashion victim, proved that he has more than his share of unappealing pretentiousness. I almost cringed at his dressing down of a nice woman as she put on clothes from her own closet that didn't meet Gunn's standards.

    Of course, the whole b.s. aspect of these makeover shows is to pretend that people have low esteem and mental blocks that can miraculously be changed by a snappy new haircut, some Jimmy Choo's, and a makeover by make-up artist who will advise that only 10 layers of mascara can bring out THE REAL YOU.

    This show was also extremely overproduced with its nauseating bring-me-to-tears addition of a bonus diamond wedding ring, and the appearance of a mother who just got out of surgery and wouldn't miss her daughter's "life changing experience."

    Gunn may be at the top of his game as an arbiter of what people should wear, but this show manages to be a makeover in reverse for this queer eye, who turns from a fashionable friend into a finicky fop.

     

    http://www.hereinvannuys.com


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