"His friend said he was hung like a Shetland pony ... we can do anything with that," announced Carson Kressley, the "fashion savant" for Bravo’s "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," during his interview/audition for the new unscripted makeover series. Producers showed Carson a mock tape of a straight guy in need of a fashion-tune up and asked the 33-year-old former Ralph Lauren stylist if there was anything he could do to fix him. His brazen, ballsy comment, a trademark Carson response, virtually secured his place among the show’s "Fab Five," which includes openly gay "experts" in their respective fields of food & wine, grooming, interior design, fashion and culture.

"Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," debuting July 15, features a "savagely funny deconstruction of the subject’s lifestyle and messy home and evolves into a showcase for the hottest styles and trends," according to Bravo’s parent company NBC. "After imparting their invaluable tips, wit and wisdom the Five ends each hour with the reveal of an empowered, stylishly complete straight man with a Queer eye stamp of approval." "We give great information that anyone, gay, straight, men and women can use, but as I was telling "the Davids" (creator David Collins and series developer David Metzler) over dinner one night, this show isn’t really a makeover show as much as it is a make-BETTER show, we take who he is and make him better," explains Carson. "We don’t turn these guys into something that they are not, because that kind of change just won’t maintain. They won’t keep it if it’s not them or it’s a look they don’t like. And we don’t steam roll over these guys, we use things in their own closet. Well... (pause) We do buy new things as well, but just enough to bridge the gaps."

"Each of the subjects start out suspicious and a little freaked out, because the five of us sort of ambush this straight guy," admits Ted Allen, a Chicago resident and the show’s resident Food & Wine Connoisseur. "But eventually we break down their resistance – resistance is futile! – and usually the guy ends up feeling sorry to see us go. One of the guys, a macho Sicilian cop from Staten Island actually, was so taken with us that as we were leaving, he opened his wallet and gave each of us one of those fraternal order of police cards that you can show if you are ever stopped by a policeman. They don’t give those cards out to just everybody."

Ted, a contributing editor for Esquire Magazine since 1997, is co-author of the "Things a Man Should Know" column, an irreverent guide on fashion, sex, business etiquette and cocktails. "I’m really passionate about food ... I was the [dining] critic at Chicago Magazine for a while and I know enough about fine dining that I can fake my way through it," offers Ted in a conspiratorial whisper. Whether it’s showing these guys how to come up with an amazing date for their girlfriend, throw a special party for their wife or expand their culinary skills beyond Mac and Cheese, Ted is particularly fond of showing men how to comfortably navigate through the fine dining experience. People are still scared of waiters, and they are especially intimidated by the sommelier. Guys always think the sommelier is trying to sell them the most expensive bottle of wine, when really, a good sommelier is genuinely there to assist you," offers Ted, who says that when it comes to judging a restaurant, "the devil is in the details."

What about judging a cable reality TV show? How will reviewers respond to this gaggle of gay men and their "make-Better" credo? "I think the premise [of the show] plays off of stereotypes, but it also deflates them and moves beyond them. It’s a natural reaction to hear the premise of the show and object to it. But then you see it, and you see what it is really about," explains Ted. "In the end, ‘Queer Eye’ is a two way street: It’s about HIM feeling comfortable around US and US feeling comfortable around him," adds Carson.

How about the Fab Five? Do they feel comfortable around each other or do the egos of five stylish, advice-dispensing queens ever bump up against each other during a "make-better" project? "We’ve really meshed as people," says Ted. "Though we are all constantly fighting for camera time. It’s like ‘get out of my way bee-och!’ Seriously though, the thing you have to understand is that in order for this show to work they needed five men who weren’t afraid to blab. And blab we do, until we manage to say something useful," deadpans the 38-year-old Rodgers Park resident. "One of the things that separates this drama-ality show from others, is that we have five individuals who really are respected experts in their fields. These guys know what they’re talking about, they’re not just saying something to be shocking or entertaining."

Be that as it may, Ted’s first encounter with Carson was both shocking AND entertaining: "I was in a room with about 40 other guys who were auditioning for the show, (they ended up seeing about 500) and in walks Carson carrying a huge Louis Vuitton bag, wearing a gauzy wrap shirt and hip huggers. He does a dramatic double take and says something to us like ‘I think it’s so cute that they’re letting you guys still think you have a chance!’ I remember thinking ‘Who IS this guy, God that is fierce!"

"I didn’t know Ted before the show, but I did know Thom Filicia, because we go to the same gym. Ted is amazing, I love Ted," says Carson, who pauses for a moment before proclaiming, "Ted is the nutty Professor from Gilligan’s Island, and I am Ginger. No wait! I’m more Lovely Howell. Kids used to call me that, in fact on the school bus, because even in fourth grade I tuned it out – I was one of the first kids to be wearing Calvin Klein.