US Top Gear?

[MOliscous]

I could not find any other posts on this subject so forgive me if this is a cross post...

I have not heard anything in a while about the proposed US version of Top Gear. Is that still a go or has it been canceled?......like USF1.

[slorydn1]

I could not find any other posts on this subject so forgive me if this is a cross post...

I have not heard anything in a while about the proposed US version of Top Gear. Is that still a go or has it been canceled?......like USF1.

Good question. I haven't heard anything about a US only version, but I have watched a few episodes, time permitting, on BBC America. Pretty cool show.

[L5->R5/CR]

I could not find any other posts on this subject so forgive me if this is a cross post...

I have not heard anything in a while about the proposed US version of Top Gear. Is that still a go or has it been canceled?......like USF1.

The Pilot was shot and NBC killed the project for the time being...

[Mark in Oshawa]

Top Gear works in Britain because of the chemistry of the 3 hosts. As much as it is a car show, it is almost a comedy show mixed with reality TV. I have no idea how well the Australian one actually works, but if you watch American TV, and then you watch TV, you might start to realize why it wont happen. Too many people with American TV networks couldn't wrap their head around the show, and if you have the wrong hosts, the whole thing falls flat.

I hope they never produce an American Top Gear. I cant see anyone on American TV that would be that watchable in this sort of show.

[Mark]

Top Gear works in Britain because of the chemistry of the 3 hosts. As much as it is a car show, it is almost a comedy show mixed with reality TV. I have no idea how well the Australian one actually works, but if you watch American TV, and then you watch TV, you might start to realize why it wont happen. Too many people with American TV networks couldn't wrap their head around the show, and if you have the wrong hosts, the whole thing falls flat.

I hope they never produce an American Top Gear. I cant see anyone on American TV that would be that watchable in this sort of show.

I'll probably get shot down in flames for this but it does seem in America something is either serious, or it's obviously funny. I don't know if the way they lark about and take the pi$$ out of each other would work in America.

[MrJan]

As much as it is a car show...

Top Gear is a car show?

[DexDexter]

Top Gear works in Britain because of the chemistry of the 3 hosts. As much as it is a car show, it is almost a comedy show mixed with reality TV. I have no idea how well the Australian one actually works, but if you watch American TV, and then you watch TV, you might start to realize why it wont happen. Too many people with American TV networks couldn't wrap their head around the show, and if you have the wrong hosts, the whole thing falls flat.

I hope they never produce an American Top Gear. I cant see anyone on American TV that would be that watchable in this sort of show.

Why can't Americans watch the British version, I mean they do have the same mother tongue?????

[Jag_Warrior]

Wasn't Adam Carolla going to be the host in the American version? As soon as I heard that name, I didn't care anymore. About the only British show that's translated well into an American version is The Office.

[Mark]

Why can't Americans watch the British version, I mean they do have the same mother tongue?????

Perhaps because the Americans feel the need to 'remake' every British programme which takes their liking. Rather than just watching the UK version as is. I mean we have lots of US imports in the UK and we don't feel the need to redo them!

I don't understand the reasons behind it.

[MrJan]

Perhaps because the Americans feel the need to 'remake' every British programme which takes their liking. Rather than just watching the UK version as is. I mean we have lots of US imports in the UK and we don't feel the need to redo them!

I don't understand the reasons behind it.

We don't redo them, we just try and rip them off......usually fairly badly.

[BDunnell]

I'll probably get shot down in flames for this but it does seem in America something is either serious, or it's obviously funny.

This is true — never the twain shall meet. The serious/humorous division is equally 'rigid' in quite a lot of other countries, too, including Germany.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

We don't redo them, we just try and rip them off......usually fairly badly.

Then the Americans do an US remake of our rip off. I remember the BBC comedy 'Coupling' was clearly a Friends rip-off. Yet the Americans made their own version of Coupling too.

[ShiftingGears]

Why call it Top Gear? It just adds pressure to the hosts to be like their British equivalent, which tends to result in making the producers/hosts try too hard and the audience to end up disappointed because they thought it would be of similar quality of the UK version.

Exactly what happened with Australian Top Gear. Just let them run their own show with their own name without all the instant pressure, and see what it develops into.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Why call it Top Gear? It just adds pressure to the hosts to be like their British equivalent, which tends to result in making the producers/hosts try too hard and the audience to end up disappointed because they thought it would be of similar quality of the UK version.

Exactly what happened with Australian Top Gear. Just let them run their own show with their own name without all the instant pressure, and see what it develops into.

Branding.

As Top Gear is known around the world now a programme is going to attract much more veiwers if it called Top Gear. Even if it isn't as good as the original.

[ShiftingGears]

Branding.

Indeed. Money Talks.

[anthonyvop]

Top Gear works in Britain because of the chemistry of the 3 hosts. As much as it is a car show, it is almost a comedy show mixed with reality TV. I have no idea how well the Australian one actually works, but if you watch American TV, and then you watch TV, you might start to realize why it wont happen. Too many people with American TV networks couldn't wrap their head around the show, and if you have the wrong hosts, the whole thing falls flat.

I hope they never produce an American Top Gear. I cant see anyone on American TV that would be that watchable in this sort of show.

Top gear works because it is a BBC show and so it doesn't have to answer to sponsors. They can say what they want about any car.

The US version was a go when the economy was strong. NBC actually got the auto manufacturers to sign off on it buy agreeing to not pull advertising $$$ from the Network if they bashed on of their cars.

The filmed a Pilot and I heard it was thought that the show needed tweaking. Carolla was Good but the other 2 host were found lacking(No surprise here)

Then the recession hit. Auto Companies were in the news, and not in the good way. NBC then actually made a smart decision and put the US version of Top Gear on the back burner.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Tony, the not answering to sponsors is something, and I think the public format of BBC and how it is funded does insulate Clarkson and company from pressure from the sponsors.

That said, that show is as much just car guys carving each other up as it is anything else. The humor and subject matter is around cars, but it really is a GUY show....and somehow some idiot at NBC would want a woman on the show, or some other idiot would wonder why they didn't do safety. The political correctness crowd would hate it. In Britain, they don't listen to this sort of stuff, the BBC just demands they get ratings, and make money back, and they do.

As for Adam Carolla, he would be a turn off for me, I don't find him that funny. The chemistry of the Britsh show, with the Arrogant and alpha male Jeremy Clarkson is balanced off by the intellectual James May and the ability of Hammond to play any role. This show's success is unique to the hosts and the way they are just 3 guys you would like to hang out with.

[slorydn1]

I'll probably get shot down in flames for this but it does seem in America something is either serious, or it's obviously funny. I don't know if the way they lark about and take the pi$$ out of each other would work in America.

Your gonna laugh at me for this, but 2 my most favorite shows growing up were the "Benny Hill Show" and Monty Python...the off color humor just cracked me up. I can still hear the Benny Hill theme song in my head!

[DexDexter]

Your gonna laugh at me for this, but 2 my most favorite shows growing up were the "Benny Hill Show" and Monty Python...the off color humor just cracked me up. I can still hear the Benny Hill theme song in my head!

Me too :D :up:

[Mark in Oshawa]

Your gonna laugh at me for this, but 2 my most favorite shows growing up were the "Benny Hill Show" and Monty Python...the off color humor just cracked me up. I can still hear the Benny Hill theme song in my head!

I loved Python, but Benny Hill got old on me fast. My favourite UK humour was stuff also like "On the Buses" and some of the "Carry ON" films.....Of course that was me as a teen...

[gravelman]

Top Gears best days are long gone. Its not about the cars anymore, too much about the presenters and very, very scripted

[Mark in Oshawa]

Top Gears best days are long gone. Its not about the cars anymore, too much about the presenters and very, very scripted
AS I pointed out, it has never been just about cars. The reason the show works is the chemistry between the 3 hosts....It is why the show wont work anywhere else. It is just this incaranation works....

[BDunnell]

Tony, the not answering to sponsors is something, and I think the public format of BBC and how it is funded does insulate Clarkson and company from pressure from the sponsors.

While I detest Top Gear with a passion, and equally hate to agree with Tony twice in a week, he certainly does have a very valid point here. It is one of many examples of BBC programmes that would simply not be tolerated by commercial networks. It is also the ultimate example of the BBC not being infected with an inherent left-wing bias, something of which it's constantly accused by moronic critics, but that's another matter.

[MOliscous]

Thanks. I'll have to agree that there is no way that Top Gear (like it or not) could be duplicated anywhere else. I personally love the show. I have a copy of every episode and can't wait for the new season. British humor is the best.

[anthonyvop]

Tony, the not answering to sponsors is something, and I think the public format of BBC and how it is funded does insulate Clarkson and company from pressure from the sponsors.

That said, that show is as much just car guys carving each other up as it is anything else. The humor and subject matter is around cars, but it really is a GUY show....and somehow some idiot at NBC would want a woman on the show, or some other idiot would wonder why they didn't do safety. The political correctness crowd would hate it. In Britain, they don't listen to this sort of stuff, the BBC just demands they get ratings, and make money back, and they do.

As for Adam Carolla, he would be a turn off for me, I don't find him that funny. The chemistry of the Britsh show, with the Arrogant and alpha male Jeremy Clarkson is balanced off by the intellectual James May and the ability of Hammond to play any role. This show's success is unique to the hosts and the way they are just 3 guys you would like to hang out with.

The other hosts of the US version were Tanner Faust(Who I can't stand) and some pretty boy who use to host a home remodeling show and drove a hybrid. The few minutes of the pilot I saw were funny..at least when Carolla was ragging on the pretty boy.

Being in the Biz I love Top gear for their cinematography. Their Budget is huge. I worked with them a few years ago when they came to the US and filmed at Moroso. I almost became the Stig's fat American brother but duties took me elsewhere. I did bait some Alligators closer so they can be filmed for the segment. It was quite amusing watching them scared out of their wits by a 5 ft gator.

[Mark in Oshawa]

The other hosts of the US version were Tanner Faust(Who I can't stand) and some pretty boy who use to host a home remodeling show and drove a hybrid. The few minutes of the pilot I saw were funny..at least when Carolla was ragging on the pretty boy.

Being in the Biz I love Top gear for their cinematography. Their Budget is huge. I worked with them a few years ago when they came to the US and filmed at Moroso. I almost became the Stig's fat American brother but duties took me elsewhere. I did bait some Alligators closer so they can be filmed for the segment. It was quite amusing watching them scared out of their wits by a 5 ft gator.

Carolla and Tanner Faust? OH god, that would have been UGLY to watch...
They need someone with a dry sense of humour. I suppose Carolla could carry it off, but Tanner needs to be beaten with a stick.

If I was going to cast Top Gear, I would be tempted to get Leno. At least he is a car guy, but I suspect that wasn't in the cards. Carolla I can barely stand but I really cannot figure who they could have gotten. Tommy Kendall would be a pick, and If I was going to have a "Stig", I would put Paul Tracy out there as the Stig.....but I don't really think you could do it like the Brit show. I just cannot picture it working in any form. American humor is different and I cant just picture it.....

[tannat]

Carolla and Tanner Faust? OH god, that would have been UGLY to watch...
They need someone with a dry sense of humour. I suppose Carolla could carry it off, but Tanner needs to be beaten with a stick.

If I was going to cast Top Gear, I would be tempted to get Leno. At least he is a car guy, but I suspect that wasn't in the cards. Carolla I can barely stand but I really cannot figure who they could have gotten. Tommy Kendall would be a pick, and If I was going to have a "Stig", I would put Paul Tracy out there as the Stig.....but I don't really think you could do it like the Brit show. I just cannot picture it working in any form. American humor is different and I cant just picture it.....


Car guy? I lost all of my respect for Leno when he poked fun on the Tonight show at-who was the male lead on Beverly Hills 90210/turned racer-for owning an "Escort" (it was an early 90's Ford Escort Cosworth)


Perhaps it was all in jest, and perhaps Leno really IS aware of the potency of a cossie, but I'm not so certain....

[Brown, Jon Brow]

The other hosts of the US version were Tanner Faust(Who I can't stand) and some pretty boy who use to host a home remodeling show and drove a hybrid. The few minutes of the pilot I saw were funny..at least when Carolla was ragging on the pretty boy.

Being in the Biz I love Top gear for their cinematography. Their Budget is huge. I worked with them a few years ago when they came to the US and filmed at Moroso. I almost became the Stig's fat American brother but duties took me elsewhere. I did bait some Alligators closer so they can be filmed for the segment. It was quite amusing watching them scared out of their wits by a 5 ft gator.

That's really interesting :up:

That episode is one of my favourites.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Car guy? I lost all of my respect for Leno when he poked fun on the Tonight show at-who was the male lead on Beverly Hills 90210/turned racer-for owning an "Escort" (it was an early 90's Ford Escort Cosworth)


Perhaps it was all in jest, and perhaps Leno really IS aware of the potency of a cossie, but I'm not so certain....

Believe me, he knows. Leno knows more about cars than most of us.....he likely wasn't told about the Cossie bit right off the hop....Leno's collection is a show all on its own, and I am surprised Clarkson hasn't taken a crew to his warehouse for a tour.

[veeten]

might be a future episode in the works there, as he was on Top Gear for the interview segment. Will be shown on Monday on BBC America, so I hope he did the lap.

[Mark in Oshawa]

might be a future episode in the works there, as he was on Top Gear for the interview segment. Will be shown on Monday on BBC America, so I hope he did the lap.

Leno did the lap for sure. Saw it on You Tube...lol...

[MOliscous]

Top Gear USA announced.

http://jalopnik.com/5521026/top-gear-usa-version-30-coming-to-history-channel

[anthonyvop]

Top Gear USA announced.

http://jalopnik.com/5521026/top-gear-usa-version-30-coming-to-history-channel

Ugh!

[CarlMetro]

from what I just read, I'm hoping that we don't get some sort of exchange-student swap. I just don't see how an American version is going to work, the track won't be able to have any corners for a start because your average yank tank will take one look and run for the hills :p

[Rollo]

http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2010/04/21/topgear-usa-alive/

Well, now it's officially official. It's posted on the Top Gear website.

[MOliscous]

For those of us in the US who watch and love Top Gear it will be hard not to compare the new US version with the UK version. However, keep in mind that there will be a lot of people in the US who have never seen Top Gear. So this new show will be a "new show" to them. Maybe they will like it, maybe not. We will find out.

[Mark in Oshawa]

I think they will mess this up. The need a "Star" guy to lead...

Jeremy Clarkson was a big guy on the BBC before Top Gear's latest incarnation and is well known for his newspaper work. A pretty fair driver as well.

Hammond can drive...and has proven it.

May Can drive...and despite his nickname, is actually very good.

Out of these new guys...Rutledge might know how to be funny, and fix up an old car, but he isn't that credible to the car people. Heck, most NASCAR fans cannot stand him.

The other guy is just an actor. Sorry, we don't need actors, we need car guys who have a sense of humour. Tommy Kendall for crying out loud would be PERFECT....he is obnoxious, funny, and can wheel a car.

Tanner I am not impressed with, but he CAN drive.

I just don't think people in the USA know what Top Gear is. The hardcore car people do, but have watched the UK version for years one way or another. You see that...and anything else wont work.

I watched the Aussie version, and found it unbearable. It just isn't the same...and the Aussies have the similar way of tormenting each other.

This show works best in the UK with the 3 guys they have....simple as THAT.