topgear america

[BenDiesel]

so today is the debu of the new topgear for america on the history channel. any one else watch it?

 

[XJensen]

I am afraid they will ruin it. The editing and producing of the BBC version is just stunning and a lot to live up to.

Josh

 

[casm]

any one else watch it?

Yep. Couldn't find anything particularly worthwhile in it.

The presenters have zero chemistry, which is mostly what made the UK version what it is.

The actual segments were just... Bland.

Production level was competent.

As I see it, one of two things will happen: either it'll get a mid-season retool (with one or two of the current presenters being replaced) and be re-aimed at its actual rather than perceived audience, or they'll let it finish its 10-week run and pretend it never happened.

It wasn't bad, but it gave me no real reason to feel compelled to set the DVR to record it.

 

[BenDiesel]

its better then top gear australia

 

[casm]

its better then top gear australia

I see it as being as bad as the awful Americanised version of the UK edition that the BBC put out a few years ago - I don't know if you ever caught it, but they re-recorded entire studio segments using US terminology, had patronising captions for currency conversions, and removed entire segments (notably 'Star In A Reasonably-Priced Car') that were inexplicably deemed to not be of interest to Americans. This version's just bad for different reasons.

 

[Bryan C.]

Watched it, hated it.

I agree that the hosts are boring and have little to no chemistry.

The segments aren't even original, just recreations of UK segments from the past.

The standing mile race was stupid, why not race all 3 cars head to head?

I'll try one more episode, but I'm not sure I will continue watching.

 

[OkieXJ]

I totally agree about the presenters. I knew the original version was very entertaining in large part to the chemistry of the hosts but I didn't realize how large a part that was. The production of the American version was good but the challenges were not entertaining. They may have prematurely killed the show by poorly choosing the hosts because a mid season cast change probably wouldn't work in my opinion.

 

[RCman]

I am afraid they will ruin it.

They did. I only watched a few minutes before I shut it off.
As much as I dislike Clarkson's/May's sometimes anti-American views, it is 100x the show they failed to recreate over here.

 

[CherBear]

Why did they even have to do this? I honestly don't care that the BBC version has British hosts...

 

[casm]

Why did they even have to do this? I honestly don't care that the BBC version has British hosts...

As far as I know, the BBC was basically trying to treat Top Gear as a brand and franchise it - the idea was that production companies in different territories could licence the rights to produce it for the local audience, but the BBC would retain the rights to the name.

But I'm right there with you, and this approach is what killed off the first run of the UK show for a couple of years after they Americanised it. Once someone figured out that just leaving it alone was perfectly fine for US audiences, it took off. Now it appears as though they couldn't leave well enough alone.

 

[OkieXJ]

Why did they even have to do this? I honestly don't care that the BBC version has British hosts...

I agree, the best thing they could have done was have new episodes of the british version over here.

 

[Dundy]

They tried too hard in the segment with the Viper. It was too scripted. Who thought the Viper would actually survive? Not me.

The lambo segment was a bit better, though it seemed forced at times. Foust's comment on the shifter on the Balboni was a bit uncomfortable for me to watch. I liked the comments that Ferrara and Wood said about their lambo's though: the cup holder being $650 and the SV being scary while parked.

I'll definitely watch the whole season because I think it'll get better and better and the hosts will get more comfortable with each other.

 

[DrMoab]

The fat guy with glasses was funny.

I wonder if anyone has ever watched the very first British episode. Chemistry between the guys wasn't something that was born overnight.

I thought the show was bad but had potential. They just need to get rid of Foust. I hate that little weasel.

 

[IslanderOffRoad]

Hosts need to be:

Jay Leno
Adam Carolla
and a driver

Then I'll watch it.

 

[chedisme]

yea foust has the charisma of a piece of cardboard.

people like him is the reason topgear has a stig. because racing drivers dont make interesting/intelligent comments.

and what was up with the incar cameras? they shook like crazy and had terrible picture quality. its like they had a ten dollar budget to make this show.

and i know this sounds stupid but there were too many facts. the uk guys just say "oh this car has a million HP. and the breaks will make your intestines explode!"

i really came into this with an open mind. but I feel let down. very let down.

I honestly think i enjoy 5th gear more. and thats sad.

 

[chedisme]

Hosts need to be:

Jay Leno
Adam Carolla
and a driver

Then I'll watch it.

they tried to get leno and seinfield, but they both turned it down.

 

[DrMoab]

Hosts need to be:

Jay Leno
Adam Carolla
and a driver

Then I'll watch it.

I wouldn't have even tried to watch the first show if they had Adam Carrola like they originally had planned. I think that guy takes DB to a whole new level.

 

[DrMoab]

Jay Leno
Tim Allen
and a driver.

 

[IslanderOffRoad]

I wouldn't have even tried to watch the first show if they had Adam Carrola like they originally had planned. I think that guy takes DB to a whole new level.

Funny, you could say the same thing about Clarkson...

 

[Mosephus]

It has potential, it was hard to watch though without comparing it to the UK version. It's better than nothing, still better than any other car show on American soil. Not totally happy with the hosts but think they may have more chemistry being natural on some of their upcoming "adventures".