Top Gear US
11-23-2010, 12:19 AM
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Top Gear US
I'm sure most of you are Top Gear fans like myself and have seen the new US attempt at copying yet another thing that is not an original stateside idea. I know a few of us had the opportunity to go see a taping of TG live down near Tustin in October. Honestly, I was excited but very skeptical and for good reason too. The taping was fun and rather exciting to see how they create the show while incorporating the audience into the high-action videos filmed off site. The test/challenges are mostly exciting just to see the amazing super cars in action, but the commentary is bleak and a lot of effort without satisfaction. In the UK version the guys describe beautifully how the car feels to drive all the way down to the smallest detail and with a heap of witty humor. US hosts are trying too hard to be funny, and failing miserably, and pretty much proving exactly how untalented they are at driving, racing or hosting an automotive enthusiasts wet dream of a tv show.
I had high hopes for this recreation and feel like I should watch because I have to, but not because I have to get my fix. Unfortunately, I feel like I got bad batch. The USTG is trying their best to copy UKTG almost verbatim. Similar set, the guests sit on a bench seat from a car in front of a coffee table made from a V8 engine, they too have a Stig and the lap commentary is atrocious! The tackiest change made is instead of "Star in a reasonably priced car" is now "Big star in a little car." I'm not totally giving up on it seeing how it has only aired 1 episode, but I'm not holding my breath.
I had high hopes for this recreation and feel like I should watch because I have to, but not because I have to get my fix. Unfortunately, I feel like I got bad batch. The USTG is trying their best to copy UKTG almost verbatim. Similar set, the guests sit on a bench seat from a car in front of a coffee table made from a V8 engine, they too have a Stig and the lap commentary is atrocious! The tackiest change made is instead of "Star in a reasonably priced car" is now "Big star in a little car." I'm not totally giving up on it seeing how it has only aired 1 episode, but I'm not holding my breath.
11-23-2010, 12:47 AM
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11-23-2010, 01:04 AM
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I thought it was pretty low that they didn't even mention the original. Not even a shoutout. Its like they are hoping a lot of Americans haven't seen the BBC version and think the U.S. show is completely original..... If you are going to go as far as to copy the logo, you should atleast reference the BBC show... And there is only one Stig!
I'm not complaining about having a new car show on tv, cause we needed one. I just wish they hadn't tried to make it an identical copy of the real Top Gear, because there is no way the hosts can be as entertaining as Clarkson, May, and Hammond.
I'm not complaining about having a new car show on tv, cause we needed one. I just wish they hadn't tried to make it an identical copy of the real Top Gear, because there is no way the hosts can be as entertaining as Clarkson, May, and Hammond.
11-23-2010, 01:31 AM
#9
It's a Cavalier
It was horrible... dumbed down scripted absolute crap.
You know what I learned from that show? Nothin'. Not a damn thing. I could have written that entire show just from what I know from skimming car magazines and the internet.
Tell something I don't know. Teach me something technically interesting. Anything. Please.
3rd grade level garbage... "The Lamborghini has a plexiglass window and it has these stripes and yah it's like really fast" No kidding. Thank you so much Top Gear US. Amazing.
Anybody that thinks it's going to get better... WHATEVER. That entire season has already been edited and its in the can. IT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER!
*breathe* *breathe*
You know what I learned from that show? Nothin'. Not a damn thing. I could have written that entire show just from what I know from skimming car magazines and the internet.
Tell something I don't know. Teach me something technically interesting. Anything. Please.
3rd grade level garbage... "The Lamborghini has a plexiglass window and it has these stripes and yah it's like really fast" No kidding. Thank you so much Top Gear US. Amazing.
Anybody that thinks it's going to get better... WHATEVER. That entire season has already been edited and its in the can. IT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER!
*breathe* *breathe*
11-23-2010, 09:15 AM
#10
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Fat boy has to leave!!!
If you expected it to be Top Gear UK you took it the wrong way, I just see it has a new tv show about cars. Tanner Foust was cool, he just needs more TV experience, he can drive a car, but commenting... meh, but i'm sure he'll get way better in no time. Fat boy is boring, not funny and useless, he's even worst than James May!!! I only watch the first half of the show so I didn't see the part with Adam Ferrara.
I think the show will only get better with time, the interactions within the 3 hosts will get better and less scripted.
If you expected it to be Top Gear UK you took it the wrong way, I just see it has a new tv show about cars. Tanner Foust was cool, he just needs more TV experience, he can drive a car, but commenting... meh, but i'm sure he'll get way better in no time. Fat boy is boring, not funny and useless, he's even worst than James May!!! I only watch the first half of the show so I didn't see the part with Adam Ferrara.
I think the show will only get better with time, the interactions within the 3 hosts will get better and less scripted.
Last edited by [c]K; 11-23-2010 at 10:08 AM.
11-23-2010, 11:01 AM
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i started watching the full episode of the premiere on the history channel's website. by the time they started talking about the shelby cobra, which was pretty early on, i shut it off. i'm so sick of cobras. and the whole thing smelled like a cover band. i'm seen maybe about 60% of all the uk top gear episodes, and they're just pretty much re-enacting everything. i don't want to diss it, but there's no reason for me to watch it
11-23-2010, 06:25 PM
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Exactly!
I thought it was pretty low that they didn't even mention the original. Not even a shoutout. Its like they are hoping a lot of Americans haven't seen the BBC version and think the U.S. show is completely original..... If you are going to go as far as to copy the logo, you should atleast reference the BBC show... And there is only one Stig!
I'm not complaining about having a new car show on tv, cause we needed one. I just wish they hadn't tried to make it an identical copy of the real Top Gear, because there is no way the hosts can be as entertaining as Clarkson, May, and Hammond.
I'm not complaining about having a new car show on tv, cause we needed one. I just wish they hadn't tried to make it an identical copy of the real Top Gear, because there is no way the hosts can be as entertaining as Clarkson, May, and Hammond.
11-23-2010, 06:51 PM
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Cars are always nice but, the first episode was mediocre at best... No question tanner will get better overtime (He's a true enthusiast?). The other 
two need work.. Nothing like the original (BBC TOP GEAR)
two need work.. Nothing like the original (BBC TOP GEAR)
11-23-2010, 08:01 PM
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Yeah, I gave it a watch. I went in with MazdaManiac's attitude (I had the bucket handy) and basically expected it to be the worst pile of garbage possible.
How can I put this charitably? It wasn't as bad as I expected, I suppose - the camera work was top notch (because it's the exact same thing the real Top Gear does) and at least they picked an interesting challenge (the Viper vs. Cobra gunship duel). I know the real Top Gear did it with a Lotus Exige, but it was still a decent watch.
Already, though, it's running into "Simpsons Did It" syndrome. Anything these guys can possibly do, real Top Gear has already done and done it better. No matter how fast they drive, James May has them beat in that Veyron SS. No matter how big of an ******* Adam Ferrara tries to be, he won't be as endearing of a giant (and hilarious) ******* as Jeremy Clarkson.
I have an idea that the main problem with this show won't be that, though. It's going to be the same problem of any regional Top Gear, and that's the inter-presenter chemistry. These guys have a similar dynamic: Ferrara is the Clarkson, the insult comic bombastic one. Tanner is perhaps the one I like watching most, as he's extremely knowledgeable and knows how to drive - the James May, if you will. The fat guy? He's maybe the quirky one - a Richard Hammond at 300% magnification with added mince and all the humor and car knowledge subtracted. I almost feel dirty typing that, but I think that's why they cast him - in the quirky Hammond position (which also sounds like an awful BBC sanctioned sexual mode). You know what I mean.
It's got a long way to go, that's for sure, and it'll never be as good as the real thing, but it wasn't as terrible as I expected. Remember how bad the first season of British Top Gear was? They too had a fat hairy guy and ditched him for James May.
How can I put this charitably? It wasn't as bad as I expected, I suppose - the camera work was top notch (because it's the exact same thing the real Top Gear does) and at least they picked an interesting challenge (the Viper vs. Cobra gunship duel). I know the real Top Gear did it with a Lotus Exige, but it was still a decent watch.
Already, though, it's running into "Simpsons Did It" syndrome. Anything these guys can possibly do, real Top Gear has already done and done it better. No matter how fast they drive, James May has them beat in that Veyron SS. No matter how big of an ******* Adam Ferrara tries to be, he won't be as endearing of a giant (and hilarious) ******* as Jeremy Clarkson.
I have an idea that the main problem with this show won't be that, though. It's going to be the same problem of any regional Top Gear, and that's the inter-presenter chemistry. These guys have a similar dynamic: Ferrara is the Clarkson, the insult comic bombastic one. Tanner is perhaps the one I like watching most, as he's extremely knowledgeable and knows how to drive - the James May, if you will. The fat guy? He's maybe the quirky one - a Richard Hammond at 300% magnification with added mince and all the humor and car knowledge subtracted. I almost feel dirty typing that, but I think that's why they cast him - in the quirky Hammond position (which also sounds like an awful BBC sanctioned sexual mode). You know what I mean.
It's got a long way to go, that's for sure, and it'll never be as good as the real thing, but it wasn't as terrible as I expected. Remember how bad the first season of British Top Gear was? They too had a fat hairy guy and ditched him for James May.
11-23-2010, 08:21 PM
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I could only watch for about 15 minutes. I didnt like it at all.
Top gear to me is more than just the cars. Its also about the entertainment. The banter and chemistry between Clarkson, Hammond and May makes that show. You laugh, you see awesome cars, you laugh, you see awesome cars doing things you wish you could do...and then you laugh some more.
Top gear to me is more than just the cars. Its also about the entertainment. The banter and chemistry between Clarkson, Hammond and May makes that show. You laugh, you see awesome cars, you laugh, you see awesome cars doing things you wish you could do...and then you laugh some more.
11-24-2010, 04:16 PM
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I'll keep watching it for a bit. They tried too hard to be the UKTG, and the failed. They needed to at least introduce themselves as who/what they are so the audience has a feel for them. Starting off with a viper left a bad taste in my mouth as well. Why would you start with a send off?
We'll see if it gets any better.
We'll see if it gets any better.
11-24-2010, 08:18 PM
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Show was pretty good but it was obvious the hosts werent entirely comfortable yet but we will see how it plays out. I saw it last night on the history channel at 6 or 10 but i think the original airing is Sunday.
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