Top Gear USA Tonight!

[DivideBYZero]

I've been watching Top Gear in one form or another since I could spell car (mid seventies!). In essence all of this faux outrage is nothing compared to that which can be mustered by someone who's very automotive life has been narrated by this show. I went into this expecting to be appalled, disgusted and offended. Ready to damn it into the waste basket of TV shows past.

However, I don't know what you lot are all on about. I've just finished watching it and I really thought it was a good show. Sure there's some chemistry to be found between the hosts, but I can already see it growing, it will come. I also thought the production values were pretty high. Sure it's not quite up to the original standard, but it's really not far off. I think the track is very good, in fact it's more demanding of the cars and drivers than the original track, IMHO.

I also enjoyed the Viper segment. The last time TG did a Viper review was in the early 90's, when Jeremy still had some teeth, no beer gut and a suspicious perm, so to actually see a retrospective of an Ameican icon was really interesting for me.

I never thought Americans could be snobs, but it appears I was wrong. Give it a chance and you'll have a show to be proud of.

 

[Aikouka]

I think it might be a bit better when they get some good challenges. I think we'd all agree that Top Gear's best stuff was during their outrageous challenges (my favorite being the Limousine Challenge followed by Aquatic Car Challenge Part II).

I hope their interactions with each other become a little more... I don't know, actual friend-like? Although, we see the results of nearly 13 or so years of the Top Gear presenters together and these three have been together for only a few months. Maybe they just need to give Tanner some alcohol before shoots to loosen him up .

 

[fbrdphreak]

LOL - even Adam Ferrara knows the first one was a bit rough (Yes, it was probly his PR agency, but still)

"Hope everyone loved last night's premiere, it is only going to get better!"

http://www.facebook.com/AdamFerrara

 

[Tristicus]

Watching it now, not too bad I don't think. Never watched TG before. The Viper part was interesting.

 

[nboy22]

So far it's better than I thought it would be. I do think that the hosts aren't as good as the UK version though.

 

[Lotheron]

I think some of you guys are being too hard on the hosts. Not only is this the first time they hosted a show together, it's the first time that the US TV viewing audience has seen this show. Yes, we've all seen every episode of TG:UK, but the average viewer knows nothing about Top Gear. TG:UK audience has had 7 years of the current show to know the deal and what's going on. They don't need to be explained everything, however, the American audience is not like that. This is completely new to them, so everything has to be explained. Remember, this is a country that only 6.7% of all cars and trucks are sold with a manual and diesel automobiles are pretty much non existent.

There is an automotive culture here in the states, but it's not the same. That being said, there are plenty of automotive crazed viewers, but they need to "see the light" so to speak. I think this show is the best to do that and can only get better over time.

As for the show, I think they need to tone down the camera effects and invest in better equipment to reduce camera shake. I think the Big Star, Small Car segment was rushed, but other than that, for a first go around, it was enjoyable and gives us car geeks more car porn rather than waiting for TG:UK twice a year.

 

[PricklyPete]

The wife and I finally got around to watching this show tonight. Doesn't measure up to the UK Top Gear at all...but I still enjoyed it. The hosts will need some time to become more confident in their ability to host and drive cars (with the exception of Tanner who already knows how to drive). I think the chemistry will certainly get better and their hosting skills will as well.

I felt like Wood was the worst of the bunch in terms of hosting skills...but he wasn't too bad in the segments. They really need to start giving each other a hard time and being a little less polite/politically correct. That is a big part of what makes the UK show awesome.

I will definitely continue watching the first season to give it a shot. Heck...it is not like there is a better car show out there here in the US.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Cinematography: A+
Writing: B
Chemistry: C-
Hosts: D

The gay guy with the beard is annoying, Tanner Foust needs more personality and Adam Ferrara needs better lines and to adlib more. Honestly, Adam Ferrara was the best and most real of the three. His best stuff was during the Lambo challenge. The helicopter bit was just dead...

Overall, it needs work. I'd watch it again though.

 

[punjabiplaya]

Cinematography: A+
Writing: B
Chemistry: C-
Hosts: D

The gay guy with the beard is annoying, Tanner Foust needs more personality and Adam Ferrara needs better lines and to adlib more. Honestly, Adam Ferrara was the best and most real of the three. His best stuff was during the Lambo challenge. The helicopter bit was just dead...

Overall, it needs work. I'd watch it again though.

lol, you're pretty much summarizing TGUK seaons 1-3

 

[PottedMeat]

lol, you're pretty much summarizing TGUK seaons 1-3

yeah those weren't very good.

i figure this:

Cinematography: D - wtf, seemed pretty amateurish.
Writing: B
Chemistry: n/a - this takes at least a few episodes.
Hosts: B

i wonder why they didn't hire any automotive journalists/writers as presenters?

 

[ayabe]

The Viper segment made me wince more than once a lot of it felt forced, overall I liked seeing the Cobra pulling maneuvers more. The interview with Buzz was also pretty crap.

The Lambo segment was much, much better though. But..who the hell lifts early in a Lambo with flappy paddles?

Also, after watching these guys, how the hell did Adam Carolla not get a slot?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

i'm about halfway thru the episode, and i might not finish it. this is every bit as bad as the original has become. why the hell do they need a carbon-copy of the UK set, props and stig character? at least they used original recordings of popular music, and not discount cover versions like most american tv.

top gear filter, camera angles and editing? check
illogical military propaganda? check
generous amounts of bullshit coming from their mouths? check

 

[The Boston Dangler]

everyone keeps going on about chemistry between the hosts, fucked if i know why. how about chemistry between the hosts and audience? i don't want a goddamn buddy movie, i want a show about cars.

 

[Lotheron]

everyone keeps going on about chemistry between the hosts, fucked if i know why. how about chemistry between the hosts and audience? i don't want a goddamn buddy movie, i want a show about cars.

The show, both UK and US, is obviously not for you.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

The show, both UK and US, is obviously not for you.

a few years ago it was, before it became "this week in shark jumping"

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

The Viper segment made me wince more than once a lot of it felt forced, overall I liked seeing the Cobra pulling maneuvers more. The interview with Buzz was also pretty crap.

The Lambo segment was much, much better though. But..who the hell lifts early in a Lambo with flappy paddles?

Also, after watching these guys, how the hell did Adam Carolla not get a slot?

Carolla filmed a well-received pilot of TG USA for NBC, which didn't pick it up based on the failure of its other car-oriented venture, Knight Rider. By the time they green-lit the History Channel show, Carolla was under contract to produce a sitcom pilot for ABC so he was unable to participate.

 

[Farang]

I didn't care for it. The helicopter versus viper sort of missed the entire point of the original version. Hosts were bland.

 

[Lotheron]

I didn't care for it. The helicopter versus viper sort of missed the entire point of the original version. Hosts were bland.

I don't understand your complaint. The US version of the "chase" has nothing to do with the original version of the chase. They are two separate entities and have no bearing on one another.

 

[Farang]

I don't understand your complaint. The US version of the "chase" has nothing to do with the original version of the chase. They are two separate entities and have no bearing on one another.

I think a comparison of the two chases is symbolic of the comparison of the two shows as a whole, and how the American version falls short.

The British version used the helicopter chase as a creative way to demonstrate a car's superior handling. The American version copied the idea, chase a car with a helicopter, but to demonstrate nothing really. That the Viper is fast? Ok, better ways to demonstrate than with a helicopter (helicopters aren't particularly known for their speed among aircraft). In fact it appears the only reason they combined the helicopter with the Viper was the fact that both are named for snakes.

So my complaint is that by comparing these two uses of the same idea, I think the American version is missing the point of the gimmicks in the British version.

 

[ravana]

Other than the lack of chemistry between the hosts, I thought it was a decent show.

 

[Pariah]

The British version used the helicopter chase as a creative way to demonstrate a car's superior handling. The American version copied the idea, chase a car with a helicopter, but to demonstrate nothing really. That the Viper is fast? Ok, better ways to demonstrate than with a helicopter (helicopters aren't particularly known for their speed among aircraft). In fact it appears the only reason they combined the helicopter with the Viper was the fact that both are named for snakes.

I'm guessing the British version you are referring to is the Lotus Exige vs the Apache on the TG track. The helicopter was handicapped by having to stay within the confines of the track, otherwise it would have been far too easy. Since when were Apache's designed to make dogfight like maneuvers chasing close range ground targets within an extremely confined open field? It made for entertaining TV, but was ridiculously unrealistic and a flat out garbage demonstration of the car's handling capabilities. I found the US version more interesting since most of it took place in a town (which reportedly scared the hell out residents who didn't get the memo) instead of an open airfield with no restrictions given to the helicopter in a more realistic search and destroy scenario. Did it make any real point about the Viper? No, but neither did the UK version even though they may have tried to tack some meaning on to it.

 

[Farang]

I'm guessing the British version you are referring to is the Lotus Exige vs the Apache on the TG track. The helicopter was handicapped by having to stay within the confines of the track, otherwise it would have been far too easy. Since when were Apache's designed to make dogfight like maneuvers chasing close range ground targets within an extremely confined open field? It made for entertaining TV, but was ridiculously unrealistic and a flat out garbage demonstration of the car's handling capabilities. I found the US version more interesting since most of it took place in a town (which reportedly scared the hell out residents who didn't get the memo) instead of an open airfield with no restrictions given to the helicopter in a more realistic search and destroy scenario. Did it make any real point about the Viper? No, but neither did the UK version even though they may have tried to tack some meaning on to it.

To each his own. The only other thing I'd say is that the UK bit was about the car, I felt the U.S. bit was more about two guys getting chased by a helicopter who happened to be in a fast car.

If you really want to break it down, 1-2 minutes of the U.S. bit was actually about the Viper. The majority of time the viewer was supposed to be entertained by the helicopter gimmick. By contrast, more than half of the UK bit was about the car, had nothing to do with the helicopter, and the gimmick was just a fun way of showing it blast around corners at the end. This because the review of the car was about it 'cornering like a housefly' so they came up with an entertaining exaggeration of its capabilities for the end.

Anyway this is just an overly complicated way of saying I didn't like the show and don't have much hope for it going forward. Its not really fair to compare every bit of the US one to the UK one, but to me the way they put the segments together departs from what made the UK show good.

 

[Pariah]

It's you that has missed the point, not the US version. Top Gear isn't about informative in depth and practical reviews of cars. Top Gear is a stupid pet tricks show for cars.

 

[Aharami]

wow, people are harsh here. I just watched it and thought it was decent. I'm hoping it will get better, but it's not a bad start. I liked Tanner Foust the best, and Adam Carolla the least. I'm just happy there's a car show in the US now. Now if it doesnt get better, or starts sucking after halfway thru the season, then I'll start complaining

 

[punjabiplaya]

wow, people are harsh here. I just watched it and thought it was decent. I'm hoping it will get better, but it's not a bad start. I liked Tanner Foust the best, and Adam Carolla the least. I'm just happy there's a car show in the US now. Now if it doesnt get better, or starts sucking after halfway thru the season, then I'll start complaining

Adam Corolla isn't a host.