View Full Version : Top Gear USA
I don't get it, why is this show on? If you get the History channel then you most likely get BBC America so why have 2 different versions of the same show with one just being a poor imitation of the original? I've only watched half so far and am forcing myself to watch the second half just to give it a chance so I'll be back when it's over for my final opinion.
themonk
11-21-2010, 10:38pm
I get a bunch of channels including History Channel (West) and I don't get it. :mad:
I get a bunch of channels including History Channel (West) and I don't get it. :mad:
Maybe you should write a letter to Stephen Harper.:yesnod:
I finished watching the rest of Top Gear USA and it was truly dissapointing at best. The hosts suck all by themselves but when you compare them to Clarkson and the boys then they really, really suck. It might have been better if I had never seen the original Top Gear but I kind of doubt it. I don't really know what else to say so I'll just leave it at that.
03SlowZ06
11-22-2010, 12:17am
Darn it. I was worried about this. I really like Top Gear. I had a feeling when hey announced the US series, and hosts that know nothing about cars,it was going to suck.
themonk
11-22-2010, 12:58am
Maybe you should write a letter to Stephen Harper.:yesnod:
I finished watching the rest of Top Gear USA and it was truly dissapointing at best. The hosts suck all by themselves but when you compare them to Clarkson and the boys then they really, really suck. It might have been better if I had never seen the original Top Gear but I kind of doubt it. I don't really know what else to say so I'll just leave it at that.
Actually I live in Steven Harper's MLA riding and he lives about 15 mins from my house, when he's not in Ottawa of course.
Nothing can beat BBC's version of Top Gear, the cinematography is the best I've ever seen of any TV show, Speed Channel's got absolutely nothing that even comes near it except for maybe Supercar Showdown (or whatever TF they call it) with Paul Tracy and Tanner Foust. (hahahahaha)
leec4ce
11-22-2010, 7:53am
Top Gear USA sucks :monkeybutt: Now I can't wait for the BBC version of "Pawn Stars"
Lowcash
11-22-2010, 7:54am
Yeah that was a complete failure! I started DVR'ing it and stopped it 5minutes in.
I only know Tanner Foust from SpeedTV - SuperCar Showdown. I am not a big fan of that show either; they need to cut the 'tough talk' between tests out and just talk car.
Who are the other 2 people on Top Gear? Were they hired from an 'open call'?
Lowcash
11-22-2010, 7:55am
Top Gear USA sucks :monkeybutt: Now I can't wait for the BBC version of "Pawn Stars"
:lolsmile: That would be hilarious!
These 3 guys have 0 charisma and are not funny. This season is gonna blow.
NEVRL8T
11-22-2010, 10:56am
Maybe you should write a letter to Stephen Harper.:yesnod:
I finished watching the rest of Top Gear USA and it was truly dissapointing at best. The hosts suck all by themselves but when you compare them to Clarkson and the boys then they really, really suck. It might have been better if I had never seen the original Top Gear but I kind of doubt it. I don't really know what else to say so I'll just leave it at that.
:iagree:
TripleBlack
11-22-2010, 10:59am
It was disappointing. Agree with others... poor choice of hosts. And I cringed when it kicked off with Allman Brothers theme from the original. I expected something with the feel of the original, but not an attempt at an exact copy.
What a great show they could have put together with Leno...
vettex2
11-22-2010, 12:09pm
just watch the original no BBC
why bother with imitations ?
imitations are fake
fake is only ok if it concerns boobs :rofl:
themonk
11-22-2010, 12:32pm
Top Gear USA sucks :monkeybutt: Now I can't wait for the BBC version of "Pawn Stars"
Pawn Stars is a great show, very interesting, however I have to question the legitimacy of it, some of the things that are brought in seem a little too precious to be brought into a hock shop. :skep:
ApexOversteer
11-22-2010, 12:51pm
Top Gear USA sucks :monkeybutt: Now I can't wait for the BBC version of "Pawn Stars"
They already have it. It's called Antiques Roadshow.
Cobra4B
11-22-2010, 2:49pm
I refused to watch because I already knew it would be garbage. Back when this was first being kicked around I know Leno and Adam Corolla (both huge car guys) were approached. Both refused becaue they knew it would never be as good as the BBC show and didn't want to be a part of it.
The BBC show is great because of the chemistry of the hosts, but also because it's produced with government money (one of the few good things about governmetn money!) and not sponsor money. Thus, they don't have to be nice to anyone or talk up anything. Sponsor money is what most US car shows are just big infomercials.
Omega Man
11-22-2010, 3:24pm
I made it 10 minutes into the show. It sucked so bad that I killed myself 3 times and still can't get the ****ty show out of my mind.
They should kill the person who came up with the idea.
themonk
11-22-2010, 3:27pm
imitations are fake
Really?
Defib1961
11-22-2010, 3:35pm
imitations are fake
So you mean my genuine imitation leather isn't real? Or is the imitation leather an imitation of naugahyde? I am confused :confused5:
themonk
11-22-2010, 3:51pm
Newsflash everybody, a circle is round!
vettex2
11-22-2010, 6:17pm
Really?TRY TO FOLLOW ALONG WILL YA ? :slap:
:lol:
vettex2
11-22-2010, 6:17pm
So you mean my genuine imitation leather isn't real? Or is the imitation leather an imitation of naugahyde? I am confused :confused5:
I expected monk to be confused but not you :lolsmile:
themonk
11-22-2010, 8:26pm
TRY TO FOLLOW ALONG WILL YA ? :slap:
:lol:
I'm trying but you had me confused when you said "imitations are fake".
ApexOversteer
11-22-2010, 11:42pm
I have watched the first episodes of Top Gear UK, Top Gear Australia I, Top Gear Russia, Top Gear Australia II and Top Gear USA. Here is how they shake out, for me anyway...
Chemistry
By far the best chemistry between hosts on a first episode goes to Top Gear Australia II. Unlike any group of hosts before the Aussie II boys felt like lifelong frienemies right off the bat. 2nd place would go to the Top Gear Australia I team, who had the luxury of Charlie Cox as lead host, allowing Steve and Warren to hate on Charlie as is correct, because Cox is LAME.
The worst chemistry between hosts on a first episode goes to Top Gear Russia. The hosts spent most of the first episode having no clue who the other host was and trying to position themselves as the top dog.
Cinematography
Best cinematography for a first episode comes from Top Gear Australia II. Their stuff looks exactly like Top Gear UK's latest.
Second place goes to Top Gear USA, which looks like Top Gear UK around series 3 or 4.
Worst cinematography goes to Top Gear Russia, but we can let that slide, as they were filming the show with what looks like WWII film technology.
Supercar Review
Best supercar review for a first episode goes to Top Gear UK with Pagani Zonda C12 S vs Lamborghini Murcielago. Exactly what a Top Gear supercar review should be, it still ranks among the all time best pieces of supercar cinema.
... and then, there is a huge gap.
Second place goes to Top Gear USA for 2010 Lambroghinis. The result is as expected. Rutledge let the SV down, but then, Captain Slow would have done the same thing.
The other shows don't even compare. The Aussies had the Maybach 57 for I and the Morgan Aero SS for II. Russia had the Boxster S.
Host Challenge
Top Gear Australia II wins this with Outback Sailing, simply because no other Top Gear series has included a host challenge in the first episode.
Overall I feel that Top Gear USA's first episode slots into a solid 3rd place behind the Aussie II and the Brits. Yes, I do think that, as first episodes go, Australia II beats UK. Go back and watch that first episode of UK. It is slow, ponderous and flat. The cinematography is very Autoweek with locked off cameras and TV news composition.
The USA hosts don't seem that bad to me. Of course I'm meeting Rutledge and Adam for the first time here, and not really meeting Adam at all. I know Tanner Faust from bits and pieces of stuff I've seen him do, mostly in movie Making Of documentaries. I've only seen one Supercars Exposed and one Battle Of The... yeah, I couldn't finish that show and it was Paul Tracy's fault.
I have a feeling that Tanner will relax and not try so hard. I think Rutledge has the potential to be the best of the three, mostly because Adam said maybe 10 words the whole show.
The USA crew is never going to be the UK crew, who have been together now for 7 years. But I do think that what we have is a very solid start, with potential for improvement. Yeah, the Aussies blew the roof off the place with their second attempt at a first episode, but they've managed to ruin it by showing three episodes and then disappearing from the schedule for weeks.
I'll be watching Top Gear USA next weekend, as it is now the best motoring show this country makes and the third best Top Gear... so far.
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