Top Gear America
 

So who is watching it tonight?

everyone.

I think its just a stupid!! rip off

F**k!!!!!!!!! I forgot to set the DVR

I can set mine with my iphone, can you do it online at least?

I'll give them a chance to find their mojo, after all, the first 2 seasons of Top Gear UK sucked, wasn't until the 3rd season that they figured out the host chemistry.

If you miss the show there will be a download link on Finalgear.com.

It comes on past my bedtime and I don't have DVR

They won't need to find anything, their just going to copy the other guys :facepalm:

We'll see, the commercials certainly haven't gotten me hooked, but at least I should be able to understand what this guy is talking about now right...? :rofl2:

I'm gonna tune in for the beginning, but I can't miss the venture brothers finally

Next episode stars our very own 370Z. Fantastic.

Looks like they are going to drift a couple of 370Z's in next weeks show. I'm really trying to like this show, but it seems like the producers really missed the mark on choosing the right host.

Damn it u beat me to it! 370z next week yo!!!

Yeah cant wait for the 370!!! and tanner foust is a Bada$$ but idk about the other guys

it's like their just trying to copy everything they did in the original show hopping it will be successful. If it worked once, why not twice right :facepalm: I agree, the host is annoying me.

I don't see this show lasting very long , if there is even a second season. So now that I said that and have ensured their continued success hopefully I can get some money :D

If they stop worrying so much about coping the UK show and just try and do their own thing it could be a great show though, obviously. But the guys on the other one are actually funny, even if I can't understand them. that makes it funnier sometimes :rofl2:

I liked it, looking forward to next week and Tanner drifting the 370. The Viper/Cobra segment was pretty damn awesome!

yeah i agree they are almost an exact clone but it works.. we will see if they can make it their own though

All I'm saying is 370z lazer tag at my place!!

I enjoyed it. Sure they are trying to copy the original, hence the same name. I don't want to judge too early. I think it'll be good to have an american take on the show. The overall previews looked solid. I just don't know how much I like the hosts yet.

DVRed it! Haven't watched it yet!

It wasnt bad, but it was an exact copy. I mean at least they couldve named their track guy something different then the STIG. I mean the Stig should not be the name, something else.

I agree with everyone, they need to find their own on this to succeed. Everyone is acting way to professional too, I mean come on you are being given an amazing job, be more excited, act like a kid. They do it on the UK show and it works great, it makes you kind of feel how their feeling about the cars.

not only did they name him the stig, but they made damn sure you knew it. I think they said stig more in one lap then the rest of the damn time the UK show has been on TV :facepalm:

The format should be an exact copy, imo. Same with the Stig.

My full opinion:

Review: Top Gear USA, Episode 1

The show grew on me as it progressed. However, parts of it felt forced (stupid helicopter locking onto the car with Tanner drifting around.....come on). Also, the 'standing mile' in the Lambos seemed just like Battle of the Supercars as did the trash talking about 'my car' and 'your car'.

I think it's a mistake to make an exact copy of one of the most popular shows on worldwide TV. Also, they'd be better off with three guys who have great repport rather than three hodge-podge selections. Imagine if the hosts were three of the Baldwin brothers.

From the preview, it looks like they have a segment on the 370Z next week. I'll have to watch at least one more... :)

the show wasnt bad but i did expect a lil more.

I fell asleep during the lambo's!
I hope the 370z comes out lmao, Tanner's going to want to drive that! :stirthepot: :tup:

The show was just okay. The only segment that worked was the Viper vs Cobra because the hosts put a bit of energy into it. The reason the UK show works is because of the hosts personality, you have to be a bit over-the-top on TV for it to carry to your audience - these hosts are just too dry most of the time. Especially Tanner, he needs a personality injection stat.

Forgot to watch it! :wtf2:

The show does show some promise and it looks as though the 370z will be making it into several episodes :tup:... Now honestly, I have been around filming and host talent for a little while being as I film racing and dear lord must I say these guys are dry!!! they are trying way too hard! I so wish I could buy a ticket and show them what they need to do and how easy it is to talk about cars with passion and using inflection in their voices to stress points! maybe its because I have done voiceover work and no-one gets to see you but dang!!! they need to stop trying so hard and just have fun!

The Cobra/Viper scene definitely was there! it made you want to watch the rest of the show... Now the lambo drag race was cool too but the fat guy short shifted like a b*tch! And what made the original crew top gear crew was that they made wagers and bets having fun not "ohhh I beat Tanner Foust!!! oOoOo..." Freaking retarded...

Will I watch more episodes yes! Will I write in and give them criticism you bet your @ss I will!

Tanner just doesn't have the literacy to express himself. For example:

"The shifter in the Balboni...it makes a metallic click when you shift....it's just.....INSANE!"

Not sure 'insane' is the proper adjective for a cool clicking sound when you shift.

Did not watch because 1) I don't like Tanner Foust and 2) I don't like Rutledge Wood.

However I will probably watch the episode featuring the Z.

My girl made me mute it when Adam started talking. Tanner was full of himself. The bearded guy was kind of ok(but still sucked). Stig prob=Tanner since he mentioned Stig this and Stig that. UK says things like our tamed driver and what not.

I will watch it again because they actually love to let you hear the car.

I disagree for one reason. Every show I've ever seen with Tanner, he can't drive a car without it drifting. Even if he says he's going to stay in control, he starts drifting. The 'Stig' was pulling pretty controlled laps which would be impossible for Tanner.

Yeah, Tanner sucks. They let him do that Supercars Exposed show because he's young, kind of good looking, and otherwise presentable.

The Stig looks really short, so I'm guessing Paul Tracy from Tanner's other supercar show.

The hosts didn't show much personnality. Being too professional....they should be relaxed, have fun, talk about cars with a passion. Looking forward to the next show about the Z.

Even my fiance said the British version was better because the British guys have better personnalities and are funnier.

Could be an Al Unser Jr. under that helmet.

Unser, Jr. is probably too busy beating his wife or getting drunk somewhere.

Stig = Danica Patrick or Other Small Frame race driver.

Tanner Foust is Tiny and after watching him in the Viper he looked big or normal sized compared to the stig... So my prediction is the STIG is a female driver... its predictable yet no one will suspect it.

we are like the 4th country to get Top gear. Im sure Russia and Australia went through all the same criticism from fans.

My criticism to them:

1) The Hosts are trying too hard... Atleast that is how it appears to the audience of the show. Unlike the TopGear UK the US version does not seem to have that "real" feeling to it. It feels as though the director/producer is trying to force a chemistry that may not be there.

2) The subject content is great! no doubt about it and its what is saving the show! The Cobra/Viper Scene was very Entertaining and had me watch the full show!

3) The Standing Mile Race... Great Idea and Concept! This is a segment of the US racing market that is growing every year! But Jeez! the Hosts need to work on their banter back and forth again it seemed very artificial!!! Now it had its good points too... the car interior commentating was good and we all liked it. However, we all felt that since they were competing their should have been something at stake for the loser... i.e. their should have been a bet made! The whole: I beat Tanner Foust routine was dumb! straight up DUMB! A lot of Americans dont know who Tanner Foust is... so to make that comment seemed more like an inside joke to non drift or race enthusiasts.

4) Tone of voice and inflection is very important when talking about something your passionate about! The Hosts of the show lacked this in almost every conversation and piece of dialog. This can easily be fixed with training and understanding the points you want to focus on. Our group find that the hosts can be extremely flat throughout the show and it hurts the final product. When they are giving reviews or even just talking about the cars they need to show that passion through their inflection of their voice and the tone they take in their dialog.

5) The Filming was good and very well laid out. One aspect of TopGear UK that really stands out is their ability to add drama or the feeling of drama with their videos of the cars. That is something I and many others would like to see transition.

6) Bring on Female Host Guests... Every guy likes a hott female host guest and since Men 18-35 are your main target market find a female who can drive! Bring her on the show every now and then and watch the ratings for those episodes go up!

7) Either remove or move the track map during the stig runs... It is very annoying and the placement disrupts the action of the driving. We all found it to be very distracting and took away from the scene of the show.

8) Please ohhh Please add some character to the STIG! What made the STIG soo greate in the UK version was the overlay of music or language lessons. The in car shots of him driving and classical music in the background make people wonder who is the stig? why is the stig listening to classical music? these types of things bring more mystique and character to the stig!

Top Gear USA you have a great show on your hands and hopefully with enough constructive criticism you can make it better! Also, I personally think Top Gear should feature American Tuners who go out and break barriers. I think this will help grow our tuning industry and showcase the new and upcoming trends in our industry! Good luck Top Gear and I will add and edit this throughout the season!

definintely agree that they are trying a bit too hard. i think they should do what they do with almost every other american television show, and turn it into an elimination. Start with like 15 hosts, and at the end of the season, theres just one! :facepalm: :bowrofl: