Focusing on five gay men known as the “Fab 5” who dole out makeovers and life advice to straight dudes in need of some guidance, it was a culture-defining hit right out of the gate. The series set Bravo ratings records in its inaugural run and turned the five charming stars — Carson Kressley (“Fashion Savant”), Ted Allen (“Food and Wine Connoisseur”), Kyan Douglas (“Grooming Guru”), Thom Filicia (“Design Doctor”) and Jai Rodriguez (“Culture Vulture”) — into celeb figures.

Competing against it for outstanding reality program that year were fellow nominees Colonial House, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Penn & Teller: Bullshit! and Project Greenlight. Ahead of the ceremony, series creator David Collins told THR that the nom “boosts everyone’s confidence, from the Fab 5 to the crew. It makes us even more motivated, if that’s possible, to make great shows.” As to what he credited for the success, Collins chalked it up to “honesty and spirit. People appreciate how real we are, and how warm and generous people can be.”

The program ran for five seasons, then Netflix revived it in 2018 with a new cast. But the original version’s stars are still passing along their wisdom, with Kressley serving as a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race and Allen having hosted Food Network’s Chopped since its 2009 launch. Meanwhile, Rodriguez pursued an acting career, with such recent credits as the 2022 rom-com Bros and a recurring part on Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens.