'Queer Eye's' Karamo Brown Makes History with Talk Show

Karamo Brown has long made history on television, first as the first openly gay Black man on a reality show. Now he's making history again as the first out gay male hosting a daily talk show.

Karamo Brown has long made history on television. First, in 2004 on the MTV reality show "The Real World: Philadelphia," where he was the first openly gay Black man cast on a reality show, and now with his talk show "Karamo," which premiered in syndication this past September, which he says has made him the first out Black gay host on talk shows.

The show came about after Brown was a guest host on "Maury" during its 2021-2022 season. He was so successful that when Maury Povich chose to retire at last season's end, Brown was to continue as his successor by the producers and his show was developed. While the shows share similarities, "Karamo" sets itself apart as it addresses a wide range of topics including infidelity, race, parenting, and complex family dynamics, .

"I was so thankful that they allowed me to guest host 'Maury,' which is what led me to getting my own show," Brown told GLAAD. He points out that the shows are different, but the commonality is that they talk to real people.

"My guests come on and we have real conversations and it doesn't matter if they might get heated," he continued. "I don't allow anybody to scream on my show and no one's running off." Such a reference refers to the raucous nature of Maury Povich's show, which Brown hopes to mitigate.

In addition, Brown expects to continue on "Queer Eye," where he has been the culture expert since the show's 2018 reboot, with a seventh season in the making. He also appeared on the 28th season of "Dancing with the Stars," where he was paired with professional dancer Jenna Johnson. Also on the season was former Donald Trump spokesperson Sean Spicer, to whom Brown reached out despite criticism for doing so. Brown saw it as an opportunity for a teachable moment with Spicer, whom he liked. And while Brown said he did not appreciate Spicer serving as a mouthpiece for many lies in service of Trump, he chose to socialize with Spicer, even strategically introducing him to some of his trans friends. He also was said to have told Spicer how the actions and policies against LGBTQ+ rights affect those people.

EDGE spoke to Brown about what to expect on his talk show, how it differs from his predecessor, and what it takes to be a good talk show host.

EDGE: Was being a talk show host a dream of yours?

Karamo Brown: Yes, it was. Since I was a child, I've been dreaming of this. I used to run home and watch daytime talk shows when I was a little boy. Maybe I shouldn't have been, because there was too much adult content, but I loved it. I also loved it because you saw people who looked like you and who were going through the things you were going through. It just made me feel like I was not alone. I just want to bring that same feeling to others. We are going to have some fun, but on my show, I take it a step further I am going to help you solve your problems as well.

EDGE: How is your show different than Maury Povich?

Karamo Brown: The biggest thing is that I will give resolutions and solutions. I will give the guests real tools that they can apply to their lives. With my education and work background, I can identify what they're going through, and how trauma has impacted their life. That's one of the biggest differences. I'm big on telling my audience that we will not be cheering for something that's toxic. We're not cheering for unhealthy behavior. We're going cheer for healthy behavior. That's where I shift my show.

EDGE: Did Maury give you any advice? 

Karamo Brown: He told me to be myself and don't let anyone make you into me or anyone else. He said, "They're giving you this show because of what you did when you were a guest host, and you deserve it."

EDGE: The Maury Povich show ran for 31 years. What are some of the must-have qualities of a successful host?

Karamo Brown: You must be a great listener. I'm a very good listener. I could be doing 14 million things, but if you are talking to me, I'm hearing every detail of your story. I'm also hearing the story that you're not telling underneath. You also have to be transparent about yourself. Hosts that pretend that their life is perfect will not connect with their guest or audiences. Every single one of us wake up some mornings and just don't feel like doing life. We experience the joy and pain, family and relationships. I talk about all of that. Be vulnerable about your own life.

EDGE: I feel like your work in social work and being a licensed psychotherapist is going to be a big plus for your guests.

Karamo Brown: I think so. I help my guests a lot. I give them the tools that they need. These are not ego statements. I help them in a way that they can digest and that's tangible for them.

EDGE: To be one of the few LGBTQ+ voices in daytime is an important responsibility. How will you handle it?

Karamo Brown: I think I'm the first Black gay host of a talk show. I am going to handle it the way I handle every else in my life – understanding that my intersectionality has to be shown. I have to show up with love and respect. This is the same way I want people to respond to my intersectionality. I expect my audience members to treat the guests the same way. We all need to see the humanity in every single person that comes on my show. There is no salaciousness with my stories.

EDGE: Will your show feature LGBTQ+ topics?

Karamo Brown: One hundred percent, yes! That is a main goal. The very first day I started shooting, we had two LGBT stories. We had Big Freedia on, and then we did a story on a woman who was transitioning and had experienced dysphoria and we talked about her experience as a trans woman and how her cisgender partner was triggering some of those issues. A favorite moment on the show was the audience telling this trans women how beautiful she is and how loved she is. To see a trans person or a gay person being told by an audience of majority straight people that they are beautiful and that they are loved, a trans woman getting affirmed on TV – how amazing is that? This is something that I am super proud of.

EDGE: As the host, you will be giving advice, but what's one piece of advice have you received that changed your life?

Karamo Brown: My granny used to always say, "You got two ears and one mouth, so you're supposed to be doing one of those double time." That stuck with me, and I think that is one reason I have great relationships, because I listen more. I don't go into conversations always ready to defend or to just talk. It's always better for you to stop and listen and not feel like you have to respond or defend everything. I think the more we do that, the more we will hear each other. Listening really does help solve a lot of problems.

EDGE: Who are some of your favorite daytime talk show hosts?

Karamo Brown: There are so many – Phil Donohue, Montel, Oprah, Rolonda. Present-day hosts would be Sherry Shepherd, Tamara Hall, and Jennifer Hudson. I love Kelly Clarkson. I just think she is extraordinary. I also love Steve Harvey. He gives advice like my uncle. It's just practical.

EDGE: Will we see a Season 7 of "Queer Eye?"

Karamo Brown: You will – I'm just not sure when. We have already filmed it, and I think it is one of our best seasons yet.

For more information about the Karamo Show and where to watch it visit, https://karamoshow.com/