Redemption/makeover shows/resources like Queer Eye?

October 31, 2018 8:04 AM

I'm watching Queer Eye for the Straight guy and enjoying the positivity , the genuine kindness, and the uplifting and comfortingly predictable narrative arc. Can you recommend some shows like this?

I loved he original Queer Eye, the British What not to Wear, and to a lesser extent, the American What Not to Wear (it was a little snarky.) All of those are quite old at this point and I would like to get some tips for myself as I no longer know what's in fashion (I'm a woman, if it helps.)

But also, I'm looking for a break from....literally everything. I would like that 'faith in humanity briefly restored' experience.

Any other shows like this out there? Home makeovers, fashion, make up, male or female, all are good as long as the people in them seem genuine and somewhat caring. Might also be documentaries or websites too. (I used to like the site 'Already Pretty' for example, but she no longer updates.)

posted by A Terrible Llama to Media & Arts (35 answers total)

Making It!!
posted by cooker girl at 8:12 AM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]

DIY SOS/The Big Build is pretty good in this vein.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:13 AM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

Not a show, but you might check out the new book by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Johnny Sun—GMorning, GNight: Little Pep Talks For You and Me. It’s lovely and full of genuine caring and kindness and positivity and it’s perfect for these troubled times.
I’ll be reading responses here as well—great question!
posted by bookmammal at 8:14 AM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

So Making It is a competition show, but the contestants support each other and the hosts and judges are so positive that I grinned through the whole series. My husband and I kept saying to each other, "This is just the show we need right now" . . . a totally feel good experience for the viewer. The Great British Baking Show gives me the same kind of feels. For interior design, I devoured Stay Here. Genevieve Gorder's enthusiasm and kindness are infectious. (On preview: seconding Making It!)
posted by katie at 8:15 AM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]

You might like the Animal Planet's Tanked!. Cute fishies being installed in people's homes. Actually the Animal Planet channel is good for stuff like this, cute animals being rescued and such.
posted by Melismata at 8:16 AM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

This may not be exactly what you're looking for, but I came across Reno My Reno on Netflix and loved it for the reasons you listed above. It's about helping people fix DIY home renovations gone wrong and it's so positive and kind the whole time. Watched it when I was sick and it was definitely faith in humanity restored.
posted by brook horse at 8:17 AM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]

Great British Bake Off is on Netflix.
posted by theora55 at 8:27 AM on October 31, 2018 [11 favorites]

I don't know if the BBC's The Repair Shop is available to you but it's a lovely show about ordinary craftspeople and experts in their field repairing items for members of the public simply because they have sentimental value (damaged tools, lanterns, quilts, photo frames, teddy bears, etc.).
posted by humph at 8:36 AM on October 31, 2018 [2 favorites]

Project Runway? You might like some of the other suggestions in this previous thread on positive reality TV.

I also love the What's Underneath Project from StyleLikeU on youtube. (Possible NSFW: people in undies.)
posted by gennessee at 8:37 AM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

The Great British Bakeoff is just wonderful. There's nothing mean in a single moment.
posted by DarlingBri at 8:42 AM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]

Salt Fat Acid Heat (on Netflix) is not a makeover or making-it show, but is genuinely warm and wonderful. It is a four part docuseries about food. The host, Samin Nosrat, is so wonderfully joyful and openhearted. I am going to get her book, as well.
posted by hepta at 8:43 AM on October 31, 2018 [12 favorites]

American Ninja Warrior doesn't have the makeover component, but since the players are competing against the course and not each other, they and the hosts all cheer each other on toward completion or personal bests. It's ridiculous but also genuinely uplifting.
posted by Flannery Culp at 8:45 AM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]

I second American Ninja Warrior - seriously the most uplifting show on TV IMO. Also somewhat personally motivating as I see old dudes my age taking on the Ninja course and it becomes a little harder for me to blow off the next day's trip to the gym.
posted by COD at 8:49 AM on October 31, 2018 [2 favorites]

Big Dreams, Small Spaces hit that mark for me. Aborbs English gardener helps people build their dream gardens.
posted by girlpublisher at 8:57 AM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]

I really love “Nailed It” - Netflix show about not good amateur bakers attempting difficult things, not succeeding, and everyone being merrily celebrated anyway. It’s not mean spirited and judge Nicole Byer cheerfully admits she knows nothing about cakes and judge Jacques Torres is very encouraging.
posted by sestaaak at 8:58 AM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]

Carson and Thom of the OG Queer Eye have a new decorating show on Bravo called Get a Room and I'm really enjoying it so far.
posted by rdnnyc at 9:00 AM on October 31, 2018

I love the BBC's Eat Well for Less and Shop Well for Less. They help a family overhaul their eating/shopping habits, save money, get happier, and live better.
posted by london explorer girl at 9:11 AM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

I second "Nailed It," which would seem from the description like it's making fun of bad bakers, but it's actually a kooky celebration of creativity and having a sense of humor about your deficiencies.

On YouTube, there are a whole bunch of "StitchFix unboxing" videos where people are trying on the stuff they got sent from the fashion company StitchFix. I like it because typically the styles are current and you can see what they look like on a big array of bodies (search "StitchFix plus unboxing" if you want plus-size ladies).
posted by rogerrogerwhatsyourrvectorvicto at 9:20 AM on October 31, 2018

I just finished the entire run of Terrace House (mostly on Netflix). The format is familiar, but the results are more hygge than Drama.
posted by lowest east side at 9:27 AM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

I watched a couple of seasons of The Choir and loved it. Sweet guy trying to build community choirs. It's been a few years since I watched so I hope I'm not forgetting any negativity; I remember it as a very uplifting show.
posted by JenMarie at 10:13 AM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

I just finished watching season one of Britain's Best Home Cook, with our fave Mary Berry, two professional chefs, and a host person. Ten amateur cooks move into a huge house, go off to a studio with their own little kitchens, and are issued a challenge. Everything gets graded, and once a week somebody goes home. It was a lot of fun. I'm not sure whether it's been picked up for a 2nd season.
posted by MovableBookLady at 11:10 AM on October 31, 2018

Dang it. Forgot to say that BBHC is on Huly.
posted by MovableBookLady at 11:13 AM on October 31, 2018

Adding that Terrace House residents have good, distinctive styles (they're largely models) and the commentators also each have a distinctive, more grown-up style that I enjoy observing and get ideas from. The residents are generally encouraging to each other and talk about meeting their goals and working hard and go on adorable dates in pretty places. The houses themselves are also very mainstream-popular / minimalist in terms of decor.
posted by momus_window at 11:56 AM on October 31, 2018

Fixer Upper (it's on Hulu) is my favorite HGTV show for exactly this reason. If you don't know the formula already via cultural osmosis, it's about a realtor couple who are also a contractor-designer team and help customers choose houses in Waco, TX to renovate to meet their needs. The couple have a great relationship and communicate really well, and I really enjoy watching them bring new life to old run-down properties (some are real wrecks). This is all interspersed with cute clips of their kids playing with baby animals. Some may find this a little too saccharine or be uncomfortable with the Christian undertones; ymmv, I'm a secular Jew and it doesn't bug me too much.
posted by capricorn at 1:12 PM on October 31, 2018

The Great British Sewing Bee is lovely.
posted by Lexica at 1:28 PM on October 31, 2018 [2 favorites]

I loved BBC's Ground Force years ago for those very reasons -- it was people surprising their loved ones with new gardens, and it was very gentle.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:34 PM on October 31, 2018

"Making It" is Amy Poeher and Nick Offerman cloning the British Bake-Off for Makers, it doesn't work quite as well, but still manages to be sweet.
posted by GenderNullPointerException at 2:26 PM on October 31, 2018

Came in to say the Repair Shop also. And Restoration and Restoration Home.

Maybe also Back in Time for Dinner, and the whole genre of sort-of reality history which is usually fairly pleasant, and often about food. Victorian Bakers, The Supersizers etc.

Oh, and The Great Pottery Throw Down - there were two series.

And the Educating series, set in schools.
posted by paduasoy at 5:31 PM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

I'll Have What Phil's Having and Somebody Feed Phil are on Netflix and they are kind of like if Mr. Rogers possessed Tony Bourdain... it's just a genuinely *nice* and earnest travel food show that feels like a warm hug when you watch it.
posted by elsietheeel at 5:39 PM on October 31, 2018 [2 favorites]

I've been watching a lot of Mr Kate and The Sorry Girls lately for home decor. The hosts can be a little snarky sometimes, but not at their clients, more at each other (lovingly).
posted by divabat at 10:29 PM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I loved BBC's Ground Force years ago for those very reasons -- it was people surprising their loved ones with new gardens, and it was very gentle.

I loved that show! Maybe I will find some old episodes. That's exactly the type of thing I'm hoping to find.

Thanks very much everyone; looking forward to trying these out.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 4:10 AM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]

I want to recommend FaceOff! It's a competitive special effects makeup show that seems like it would be mean, but the contestants spend time being very supportive of each other. It's streaming on Hulu.
posted by frecklefaerie at 11:35 AM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]

Animal Cribs on Animal Planet is a home makeover show with tons of sweet animals throughout. 2nd Melismata that many Animal Planet shows give this nice feeling/arc.
posted by mosst at 1:00 PM on November 1, 2018

Us brits do a good line in cosy shows about vets. The Supervet and Paul O’Grady’s For the love of Dogs are both super “cosy”.
posted by Middlemarch at 4:06 PM on November 1, 2018

Re: an Already Pretty replacement, You Look Fab doesn’t have as much of an emphasis on body positivity/mental wellness, but it still operates in the vein of helping you understand your personal tastes and style priorities, so that you can adapt what’s in fashion to your own ends without being constrained by it.
posted by bettafish at 8:52 PM on November 1, 2018