American Top Gear

[UnsungZeros]

Who saw it tonight? Thoughts?

[JacoLesFlea]

I missed it how was it?

[Number27]

Didn't see it.

Judging (prehaps unfairly) on how "american" Coupling did my expectations are really low.

(also i saw on the trailer one of the presenters describe a car as "awesome".. :sigh: )

[UnsungZeros]

First off, trying to live up the original Top Gear is a very tall order. That said, I thought the show was decent. I'll give it a solid C. I'll definitely be watching the next few episodes for further evaluation. This is good since my initial expectation was for it to just plain suck.

As it stands right now, the show was too much about the cars. An odd thing to say about a car show. However, the original Top Gear's magic comes from the chemistry that the hosts share. Obviously, this was just the first episode and it may take a while for chemistry to develop.

The show had a much different feel than the original. The dialogue feels a bit forced. There seemed to be a high emphasis on action, of which the original has a lot. Still, the original also focused on the joy of driving and that was missing from the American version.

So, too early to tell just yet. It has potential though.

[colcifer]

Had and have no intention to watch it (didn't even know it was on yet). As a fan of the original, I have a hard time seeing why they felt a need to americanize the show.

[need4mospd]

Meh. Could have been worse. As a self proclaimed car guy, I'll probably watcha few more to see where it goes.

[m0nst3r]

I'm going to be honest and say that it wasn't very good, at least not compared to the original. The dialogue seemed forced and a little awkward. I really do want this show to succeed, so I'll be watching the next few episodes. They set the bar pretty low, so the only way to go is up.

[gold_member_321]

Horrible, absolutely horrible. It isn't the same without Jeremy Clarkson, Hammond and Captain Slow. The humor just isn't there, nor is the chemistry between the hosts. I would honestly call this more of a cheap rip off then an "American version."

Not to mention they talk like the viewers are completely oblivious to anything about cars. I feel like throughout the hour I got dumber.

All in all, it annoyed me more then anything.

I'll give it one or two seasons before it fails horribly.

[Number27]

Mmm. It's tough though, because, as UnsungZeros said so much of what makes Top Gear brilliant is the interactions of the 3 hosts. The chemistry and comradre they share is unlike any other show out there, and to replicate that would take a long time. I'd say that even if they had the right guys for the job it'd still take a season or two to develop the right feel, and frankly i doubt most people (network included) will be patient enough for it.

The other thing is Jeremy Clarkson. He is quite the wordsmith and can draw comparisons and make analogies better than probably anyone else in the entire world. I remember watching him on the orginial Top Gear in the 80s and 90s and he was always the best part. He could give you such a vivid picture of what it was like to drive the car, and a palpable sense of excitment that you could tell was truly genuine. Clarkson would never use such a non discriptor as "awesome". ... well maybe occasionally. Either way he is/was revolutionary in the relm of "car tests" and as the series has gone along you can tell that both Richard and James have picked up on his style to the benefit of their own. Clarkson's unique style is what originally set Top Gear apart from other car test shows (which were all boring), and this american version would do well to attempt to find an equivolent.

[tplyons]

I rather enjoyed it, I felt Tanner Faust might evolve into a decent version of Clarkson after some time. So far the show has about the same level or ridiculousness as the English version so I'll definitely be watching more.

Jury's still out on this one, but I think it will succeed. Until then, I'll be watching every episode.

[Mark Latimour]

Do they make any cars worth reviewing in the US?

[m0nst3r]

Sure they do, but the list is rather short, and they've already been reviewed by the UK Top Gear. :-\

[ubado]

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

Do they make any cars worth reviewing in the US?

... well that's just silly.

British Top Gear has "American" cars quite often. Sure they are a bit harsh on them, but Corvette's and Mustangs are always putting smiles on Jeremy's face (and a load in his pants).

I'd imagine the American version will include trucks at some point, something the British show doesn't ... unless you want to see a Lorry Race.


I missed the American debut ... I don't have too high of hopes. Clarkson, Hammond, and May are a hard act to follow. Frankly, if you take one of them out of the British show ... it'd bollocks things up too. Plus, they've been doing this for years. I'd give the American version a few years (if that) and it'll be done. Perhaps it's for the best ... like a Highlander ... there can only be one Top Gear. IMO, find a new name, and take another run at it. It's a bit silly to think that there can be another show good enough to be called TOP GEAR.

[McHaven]

I watched it and didn't think it was too bad. The helicopter/viper segment was pretty cool.

However, during the Lambo segment, they didn't talk about anything technical or strategic about their race. Just go fast. I think they're so enamored with the cars they get to test, they can't find a single fault and whoops and holler like its the perfect car every time. It definitely seems like 2 of the hosts don't know that much about cars, whereas the one skinny guy can definitely drive.

[need4mospd]

Originally Posted by McHaven

I watched it and didn't think it was too bad. The helicopter/viper segment was pretty cool.

However, during the Lambo segment, they didn't talk about anything technical or strategic about their race. Just go fast. I think they're so enamored with the cars they get to test, they can't find a single fault and whoops and holler like its the perfect car every time. It definitely seems like 2 of the hosts don't know that much about cars, whereas the one skinny guy can definitely drive.

I actually fast forwarded through part of the Lambo section. The Viper section was kinda lame to me, though I really dug watching that thing fly around their test track. Buzz Aldrin was classic in the little car. They should have done 5 or 6 "big stars" the first time to get the board started like they did on the UK version when they got a new car.

Did anyone else sense that the "comedian" was like...not that funny? Seriously, they should have just found another car-nut. Also, these guys are all too young and "hip", they need an older guy.

[anyonefortennis]

I think the content is there. It's missing the host dynamics which is what makes TG more than just a car show.

[tink9975]

Originally Posted by anyonefortennis

I think the content is there. It's missing the host dynamics which is what makes TG more than just a car show.

Agreed, but it takes more than one episode to develop that kind of chemistry. I've heard around the intarwebs that after the 3rd episode or so the hosts loosen up and start to have more chemistry. We'll see, I'll still be watching BBC America and Netflix in the meantime.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

I don't have cable (or satellite) TV, so I didn't see it. But I went to a couple taping sessions, and that was really a lot of fun.

The in-studio chemistry among the presenters is likely to be about the same throughout the first season's episodes because they were shot back-to-back-to-back-to-back over a two-week span, with bits of several episodes shot each day. After seeing the shoots and re-takes I went back and watched some older TG UK series, and recognized that even in the hallowed original show, some of the cuts and edits appeared to be retakes and resets.

It took a season or two for the Jezza-Hamster-James combo to gel, so I expect this will be no different.

[colcifer]

Originally Posted by Bob Lee (QSC)

It took a season or two for the Jezza-Hamster-James combo to gel, so I expect this will be no different.

Probaby because Hammond wans't there for the first season .

Did they bring back big-stig or do they have their own?

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Hammond wasn't there in his first season with Clarkson and May? Who was, a stand-in?