Top Gear USA Tonight!

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amdhunter

Lifer
May 19, 2003
23,329
246
106
I didn't dislike it. Definitely will take a little bit more to get used to, and I am sure it will get better over time, if given the chance.

So far, I like it wayyyyyyyyy more than Australian Top Gear and a TON more than Fifth Gear, which has really gone to crap lately.
 

foghorn67

Lifer
Jan 3, 2006
11,883
63
91
Please remember that Top Gear OG/UK was crap long before it became popular.
I'm giving this time. It could be successful if they are willing to work with the formula. Cast might change, writers, producers could come and go. I don't know who has the rights for Top Gear USA. More often than not, producers can be a part of the legalities behind the name. Thus giving them creative ownership.
Don't know what is behind this show, though.
 

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,446
126
I'm a bit bummed that they kept The Stig in the US version. It would have been more fun to have two professional race drivers do hot laps in each car, and see who can get the best time!
 

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
Just watched it. Don't know why so many people are bitching. It was better than I thought it might be but then again I gave the show a chance.

If this is all we're gonna get for a car show...it is way better than nothing. I'd be ok with that. The promising bit is that the production values look high, it follows the UK version close enough (star in car, power lap, fun challenges), and is 1hr long. Anyone in the US who is genuinely into cars/car shows should hope that this show has many seasons.
 

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,407
39
91
Not quite liking so much.
It feels like the mythbusters guys trying to do a top gear show.
They got all the gadgetry and the technical know how to set things up, but it has that american softness to it.

But maybe it's like when facebook gets a new layout and everyone hates it, but after a while finds it good.

Maybe I need to stop comparing apples to oranges, and appreciate the apple for what it is. We'll see.
 

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,377
126
If TG:US can pick up some and gain some chemistry and actual solid humor, I think I can definitely work it into my viewing habits. There's a lot of potential here. I have an almost certain feeling that I will always prefer the current TG:UK, but imho the more the merrier so long as it's decent.
 

DivideBYZero

Lifer
May 18, 2001
24,117
2
0
If TG:US can pick up some and gain some chemistry and actual solid humor, I think I can definitely work it into my viewing habits. There's a lot of potential here. I have an almost certain feeling that I will always prefer the current TG:UK, but imho the more the merrier so long as it's decent.

Exactly. As I see it, when TG:UK is off my screen I can torrent* TG:US to get my fix!


*Legally, as I pay my BBC license fee, and History/Disc. Networks can suck it.
 

PlasmaBomb

Lifer
Nov 19, 2004
11,636
2
81
Liking the 10 episodes in a season...

New season of TG:UK is back on Sunday 23rd January for 6 episodes

Although TG:UK have confirmed at least one Christmas Special :thumbsup:
 

PlasmaBomb

Lifer
Nov 19, 2004
11,636
2
81
Meh...

PS. The Balboni is a limited edition named after Lamborghini test driver Valentino Balboni, Balboni did not make it or design it. It was Lamborghini's tribute to him.
 

JMapleton

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2008
4,179
2
81
Just watched the trailer.

Two random looking 30 year old guys and some hipster guy.

This is going to bomb, royally.
 

Kipper

Diamond Member
Feb 18, 2000
7,366
0
0
1) No chemistry between the hosts, they shoot off clearly scripted one-liners and then stand there waiting for the others to react. The writing is awful, but so are the hosts. It's like a bad comedy troupe. COMPLETE lack of confidence and natural poise.
2) The Lamborghini segment was the best one out of the three and the hosts barely did ANY talking, just rehashing the same statistics and facts over and over and over and over and over again. Their "research" must have consisted of reading the sales brochure for the car, because they didn't seem to know anything. I hate to draw comparisons to Top Gear UK, but the hosts definitely know what they're talking about - they can rattle off makes, models, engines, and other random facts, all of which enhances the commentary.
3) The "track" is covered with what appears to be trash and/or garbage (a bale of hay and cones, what the hell?).
4) Commentary (or the lack thereof) sucks, especially coming from the one with glasses and the beard. I find him incredibly annoying and don't really see how the other two hosts besides Carolla add anything to the show except take up space and make me want to hit something.
5) Production values (camera angles, shots, etc.) are ehh. Clearly the editing and camera work is NOT up to the original.
6) I saw a preview of one of the upcoming segments a few months ago and was equally uninspired.

I'll give it a few more episodes to see how it develops but this one is a sure-fire flop out of the gate. I'm not surprised, frankly.
 

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
1) No chemistry between the hosts, they shoot off clearly scripted one-liners and then stand there waiting for the others to react. The writing is awful, but so are the hosts. It's like a bad comedy troupe. COMPLETE lack of confidence and natural poise.
2) The Lamborghini segment was the best one out of the three and the hosts barely did ANY talking, just rehashing the same statistics and facts over and over and over and over and over again. Their "research" must have consisted of reading the sales brochure for the car, because they didn't seem to know anything. I hate to draw comparisons to Top Gear UK, but the hosts definitely know what they're talking about - they can rattle off makes, models, engines, and other random facts, all of which enhances the commentary.
3) The "track" is covered with what appears to be trash and/or garbage (a bale of hay and cones, what the hell?).
4) Commentary (or the lack thereof) sucks, especially coming from the one with glasses and the beard. I find him incredibly annoying and don't really see how the other two hosts besides Carolla add anything to the show except take up space and make me want to hit something.
5) Production values (camera angles, shots, etc.) are ehh. Clearly the editing and camera work is NOT up to the original.
6) I saw a preview of one of the upcoming segments a few months ago and was equally uninspired.

I'll give it a few more episodes to see how it develops but this one is a sure-fire flop out of the gate. I'm not surprised, frankly.

1. Agreed.

2. Agreed.

3. This isn't a valid criticism here. The track is fine.

4. You kind of lose me here when you talk about a person who actually isn't a host. But Wood is definitely the most annoying even though Foust kind of bothers me at least he adds a driving element to the team. And Adam's relative lack of fear (which may be stretching it) adds something too.

5. Cinematography ≠production values. In actuality, the production values for the show are plenty high. Give the camera/production crew time to come together and improve. Show me the comparatively awesome camera work of the early TG:UK please...

6. They showed bits of the entire upcoming season in the first episode and it looks to be perfectly acceptable for a TG show.
 

iversonyin

Diamond Member
Aug 12, 2004
3,303
0
76
I finally got to catch up with this show. Being a Top Gear UK fans for years, I've came to expect greatness when you attached "Top Gear" to your franchise. Aside from the lack of chemistry (and Brits' sense of humor) between to hosts, the show is fine. It serves as a good filler while they filming for Top Gear UK anyway.

People shouldn't expect this to be Top Gear UK. Clarkson has been around for decades and probably switched co-hosts plenty of times until he finally got it right with Hamster and May.
 

thescreensavers

Diamond Member
Aug 3, 2005
9,916
2
81
Meh, they just copied the same thing UK did lol. They need to stop copying stuff and do some original stuff!
 

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
32,116
10,929
136
if anyone watched tonight's episode, i thought it was 1000% improved from the pilot. star in a reasonably priced car was much better, each of the "review" segments was better, and the drift competition at the end was awesome.
 

punjabiplaya

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2006
3,495
1
71
if anyone watched tonight's episode, i thought it was 1000% improved from the pilot. star in a reasonably priced car was much better, each of the "review" segments was better, and the drift competition at the end was awesome.

I completely didn't expect the end. lol @ the dog
 

jlarsson

Golden Member
Jul 31, 2001
1,050
0
76
Definitely an improvement over last week, and I hope its the last time they do a segment on drifting. Next week looks like they'll be doing the moonshine run, so hopefully the upward trend continues.

The dog at the end cracked me up .
 

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,377
126
Glad to hear its picking up, more opportunities to see epic cars And at least it looks better than 5th gear. I hate that show every bit as much as I love Top Gear, and it's mainly because I WANT it to be good. It just ... isn't.
 
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