Top Gear US version premiere last night: opinions?

spearfish25 · 11-22-2010, 08:57 PM

I'll watch any show that features cool cars. But I'll have no qualms with criticizing the $hit out of it if it's bad. The new one has a long way to go before it's anything other than a guilty, embarrassing pleasure...just like Battle of the Supercars and Supercars Exposed.

Totally agree with the forced camaraderie. The Brit version has three genuine friends who sometimes hate each others' guts and know each other like the backs of their hands. The three jamokes on TGA were introduced, told they were working together, and then locked in a studio for a while.

I'll be honest though. I laughed when Adam dropped the F-bomb every time he shifted. I'd probably do the same thing in that car

.

Shabs, you speak the truth. The problem for TGA is that American providers don't give you much time to 'make it happen'. It looks like they got one season rather than a pilot though...so that's a plus.

zero · 11-22-2010, 09:29 PM

Lambo vs American

AllForTheCash · 11-22-2010, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zero

Lambo vs American

now that is a Kit car...lets see him in a real lambo hahaha

Waiz · 11-22-2010, 09:43 PM

Repost and wrong section

LOL

Endgame · 11-24-2010, 08:05 AM

when does this show come on? and what channel??

ChrisSlicks · 11-24-2010, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endgame

when does this show come on? and what channel??

10pm EST Sunday on the History channel. Check your local listings.

Endgame · 11-24-2010, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

10pm EST Sunday on the History channel. Check your local listings.

thx bro.

JapanLio · 11-24-2010, 10:53 AM

Sorry but IMHO, Top Gear is deeply linked to Clarkson / Hammond / May show. The US version is not bad, but it will never have the same taste as the "real" one !

ThoriumHotdog · 11-24-2010, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JapanLio

Sorry but IMHO, Top Gear is deeply linked to Clarkson / Hammond / May show. The US version is not bad, but it will never have the same taste as the "real" one !

Agreed. I don't like how they're just regurgitating stuff from the original. The helicopter lock segment was neat but done much better in the original TG. I think next week they're going to fill their cars with water to see who drains out first. Thats another direct rip from the original...

At least next week we'll get to see them do a used car challenge and maybe stomp around in a 370z.

Oh, "big star, little car" is a terrible name.

toxik · 11-24-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoriumHotdog

Agreed. I don't like how they're just regurgitating stuff from the original. The helicopter lock segment was neat but done much better in the original TG. I think next week they're going to fill their cars with water to see who drains out first. Thats another direct rip from the original...

At least next week we'll get to see them do a used car challenge and maybe stomp around in a 370z.

Oh, "big star, little car" is a terrible name.

You can't really complain, because believe it or not, outside of car forums not many people have seen every single episode of every season of Top Gear UK... the US version is just that, a regurgitated version of TG UK for America.

ThoriumHotdog · 11-24-2010, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toxik

You can't really complain, because believe it or not, outside of car forums not many people have seen every single episode of every season of Top Gear UK... the US version is just that, a regurgitated version of TG UK for America.

I'd still like to see some original ideas. The average person may not have seen every Top Gear but the huge portion of their initial audience likely has. Every American TG fan likely tuned in only to see the same things being done.

Either way, we'll see how this show pans out over the long run. I still doubt we'll ever get an honest opinion about cars as long as they have car manufacturers as advertisers.

Btw, I just noticed BBC America cuts 10-15 minutes out of TG UK so they can squeeze in commercials. Kind of lame.

ChrisSlicks · 11-24-2010, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoriumHotdog

Btw, I just noticed BBC America cuts 10-15 minutes out of TG UK so they can squeeze in commercials. Kind of lame.

Very lame, original show is 1 hour commercial free. Which part do they cut out? I only have watched the unedited version.

BrianMSmith · 11-24-2010, 11:13 AM

The dialogue was a bit forced and seemed overly rehearsed, where the Brits are very good at making the show appear to be guys spontaneously mucking about with cars and having fun with you along for the ride. We'll see if it improves as they get some practice. US television is for the most part too polite and politically correct to make this sort of thing work.

spearfish25 · 11-24-2010, 11:29 AM

Don't worry. In a few episodes they'll replace Tanner with Steve Carell.

ParkStr8 · 11-24-2010, 11:36 AM

Not a fan so far...but it takes time to get the formula right. And Chemistry and shots take time, too. Right now they are trying to duplicate the UK version - and it's just not 100% right for the US market.

As a future (Feb of 2011) 370z owner I have been compiling info and making my mod plan - as I do prior to any car purchase.

I'm excited for next week's episode about "drifting" where they use two 370's.

And BTW - this is a great forum. I've been on good (Swedespeed and Grand Cherokee SRT8) and some bad ( I won't mention.)

11-22-2010, 08:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1858	I'll watch any show that features cool cars. But I'll have no qualms with criticizing the $hit out of it if it's bad. The new one has a long way to go before it's anything other than a guilty, embarrassing pleasure...just like Battle of the Supercars and Supercars Exposed. Totally agree with the forced camaraderie. The Brit version has three genuine friends who sometimes hate each others' guts and know each other like the backs of their hands. The three jamokes on TGA were introduced, told they were working together, and then locked in a studio for a while. I'll be honest though. I laughed when Adam dropped the F-bomb every time he shifted. I'd probably do the same thing in that car . Shabs, you speak the truth. The problem for TGA is that American providers don't give you much time to 'make it happen'. It looks like they got one season rather than a pilot though...so that's a plus. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z Last edited by spearfish25; 11-22-2010 at 09:01 PM.

11-22-2010, 09:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
zero A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,259 Drives: MK 7.5 Golf R Rep Power: 24	Lambo vs American __________________

11-24-2010, 11:29 AM	#14 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1858	Don't worry. In a few episodes they'll replace Tanner with Steve Carell. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

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11-22-2010, 09:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
Waiz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 9,262 Drives: Z33 & GE8 Rep Power: 461	Repost and wrong section LOL

11-24-2010, 08:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
Endgame A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,613 Drives: Nothing Now! Rep Power: 225	when does this show come on? and what channel??

11-24-2010, 10:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
JapanLio Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: San Jose Posts: 64 Drives: 12' PW 6MT Trg/Spt Rep Power: 16	Sorry but IMHO, Top Gear is deeply linked to Clarkson / Hammond / May show. The US version is not bad, but it will never have the same taste as the "real" one !

11-24-2010, 11:13 AM	#13 (permalink)
BrianMSmith Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: secret Posts: 267 Drives: 370Z, Ducati 748S Rep Power: 17	The dialogue was a bit forced and seemed overly rehearsed, where the Brits are very good at making the show appear to be guys spontaneously mucking about with cars and having fun with you along for the ride. We'll see if it improves as they get some practice. US television is for the most part too polite and politically correct to make this sort of thing work.

11-24-2010, 11:36 AM	#15 (permalink)
ParkStr8 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 361 Drives: 2015 370z Sport Tech Rep Power: 18	Not a fan so far...but it takes time to get the formula right. And Chemistry and shots take time, too. Right now they are trying to duplicate the UK version - and it's just not 100% right for the US market. As a future (Feb of 2011) 370z owner I have been compiling info and making my mod plan - as I do prior to any car purchase. I'm excited for next week's episode about "drifting" where they use two 370's. And BTW - this is a great forum. I've been on good (Swedespeed and Grand Cherokee SRT8) and some bad ( I won't mention.)