The Hat Man is the latest in a long line of entertaining, but often awkward, fashion shows. Unlike other talent competitions on television such as The X Factor or Top Chef, which can at times feel like little more than page after page of cooking instructions and restaurant recipes, the fashion show format puts the hat on the wearer’s head and works it into an art form. It is the hat man’s job to either upstage the host or to steal the show by looking out of place and out of style. In many ways it takes the form of an extended fashion show as the audience is subjected to the latest trends in men’s and women’s clothing. In this light, The Hat Man is like a much more grown up version of Top Chef and The X Factor with a twist: the judges are men too!
Much of the humor derives from the fact that The Hat Man is just as clueless in the world of fashion as any of the other contestants on the show. Though he appears to be well read and aware of current fashion trends, he is usually way out of his league when it comes to actually picking out the clothes that will make him look good. This leads to a lot of embarrassing moments as the show makes fun of his clothes and wardrobe choices but also makes note of his “nambyopia” – the need to wear weird hats for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with actually being fashionable. This is a show that at points may actually border on self-parody, and if you enjoy that sort of thing then The Hat Man is likely something that you will find extremely entertaining. For many, though, it is much more than that.
In the end, The Hat Man is much like many of the other reality fashion shows on television today. It is an odd mix of comedy and sincere sentiment, which makes it very endearing to watch. It’s also worth a look if you are looking for a new fashion show to watch on TV this summer. If not, then at least give it a watch to see what all the fuss is about. It might just become your new favorite!