Top Gear USA

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Top Gear USA

Postby Kurt » Fri Nov 19, 2010 5:11 am

Today I saw a yellow Ferrari followed by a yellow Lamborghini advertising Top Gear USA to the people on 7th avenue.

I have a feeling it will suck. I hope it does not, but I fear it will suck bad.
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Re: Top Gear USA

Postby Chimborazo » Fri Nov 19, 2010 2:23 pm

It's going to be embarrassing. Then again, from what I hear the real Top Gear wasn't that great at first, but I haven't actually seen any early ones. It definitely takes time to get that sort of chemistry going, assuming you've got the right people to begin with. I don't have cable or satellite though, so I won't be able to see it for a while.
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Re: Top Gear USA

Postby Kurt » Fri Nov 19, 2010 3:43 pm

Chimborazo wrote:It's going to be embarrassing. Then again, from what I hear the real Top Gear wasn't that great at first, but I haven't actually seen any early ones. It definitely takes time to get that sort of chemistry going, assuming you've got the right people to begin with. I don't have cable or satellite though, so I won't be able to see it for a while.


It did not start to get good until they got James May. The first season had this guy named Jason Dawe, who was a used car specialist. So they would do the fun stuff and fun reviews and then suddenly they would say and "now over to Jason" and he would talk about useful things like bargaining and trade ins...so it was dull.

I read an article by Ezra Dyer where he was considered for the show but turned them down (its a shame too since he is a funny guy) because they wanted one person to be Clarkson, one person to be Hammond and one person to be "Captain Slow" and the one they chose to be Captain Slow was Dyer. He felt that the hosts own personalities should drive the show since an imitation of Clarkson, Hammond and May would just be substandard right away.

But I am going to watch it tonight (download it) and judge then, but I suspect they will take a good idea, present it to US fans of the British version and fail in a pale imitation.

The Australian version sucked. I forced myself to watch two episodes for some weird reason and I found the cartoonist to be the only host that was bearable.
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Re: Top Gear USA

Postby Chimborazo » Fri Nov 19, 2010 4:39 pm

He felt that the hosts own personalities should drive the show since an imitation of Clarkson, Hammond and May would just be substandard right away.


I couldn't agree more. Recipe for failure.
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Re: Top Gear USA

Postby ktrout » Fri Nov 19, 2010 7:51 pm

I forecast an 80% chance of suckage.
The thing is, I hate Tanner Foust already. How about Russian Top Gear?
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Re: Top Gear USA

Postby Ozmike » Fri Nov 19, 2010 11:25 pm

So the Russian version has them test driving cars they stole in Germany and Austria?
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Re: Top Gear USA

Postby Kurt » Tue Nov 23, 2010 1:07 am

It was not as horrible as I expected it to be...I will download a few more episodes and see what I think then.

It is definitely better than Top Gear Australia.
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Re: Top Gear USA

Postby Caliban » Tue Nov 23, 2010 6:48 pm

Kurt metioned how the original show improved with James May. I urge you, if it makes it across the pond, to watch his new short series called James May's Man Lab.

Its all about how to be a chap ! Such things as how to build a concrete kitchen work top; how to make a self service food system using an HO model railway, how to woo a woman with song (and no previous experience of playing a guitar), how to fight a duel with duelling pistols and sabres, how to defuse a German war time bomb using tools available from your local hardware store and most impressive home made fireworks and then using them to defeat wasps in the garden - a remote control model helicopter firing firework rockets, electronically ignited remotely, at the wasps that had been enticed to a plate of jam sandwiches on a garden picnic table(also remotely controlled to move itself out of the way for lawnmowing). Small video camera slung under helo to range ad aim rockets. Direct hit with wasp fatalities on third rocket and slow motion replays! (Now a USAF training video !!) Lots morefun stuff

Superb
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00w5lqb
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Re: Top Gear USA

Postby ktrout » Wed Nov 24, 2010 10:02 am

Watching it right now. I guess at least it's better than Motor Trend TV. I'm going to continue watching it at least, but there can be only one Top Gear.
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Re: Top Gear USA

Postby Kurt » Thu Nov 25, 2010 4:35 am

Caliban wrote:Kurt metioned how the original show improved with James May. I urge you, if it makes it across the pond, to watch his new short series called James May's Man Lab.

Its all about how to be a chap ! Such things as how to build a concrete kitchen work top; how to make a self service food system using an HO model railway, how to woo a woman with song (and no previous experience of playing a guitar), how to fight a duel with duelling pistols and sabres, how to defuse a German war time bomb using tools available from your local hardware store and most impressive home made fireworks and then using them to defeat wasps in the garden - a remote control model helicopter firing firework rockets, electronically ignited remotely, at the wasps that had been enticed to a plate of jam sandwiches on a garden picnic table(also remotely controlled to move itself out of the way for lawnmowing). Small video camera slung under helo to range ad aim rockets. Direct hit with wasp fatalities on third rocket and slow motion replays! (Now a USAF training video !!) Lots morefun stuff

Superb
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00w5lqb


Man Lab is awesome. May is my favorite for television. Something understated about him yet that understatement is filled with pride (if that makes sense). Clarkson is the better writer but I stopped reading his columns as soon as The Times started charging subscriptions.
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Re: Top Gear USA

Postby Kurt » Thu Nov 25, 2010 4:37 am

ktrout wrote:Watching it right now. I guess at least it's better than Motor Trend TV. I'm going to continue watching it at least, but there can be only one Top Gear.


It has potential. They really boned having a stellar guest like the great Buzz Aldrin. He would have been much better if interviewed by Clarkson in the UK.
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Re: Top Gear USA

Postby Kurt » Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:28 am

Third episode and I have to say I declare it worth watching.

Once they get past their scripted monologues I predict the show will be quite good.
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Re: Top Gear USA

Postby ktrout » Thu Dec 09, 2010 7:10 am

Kurt wrote:Third episode and I have to say I declare it worth watching.

Once they get past their scripted monologues I predict the show will be quite good.

I'd say it's at least entertaining. The hosts don't have the charisma of the UK hosts though.
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Re: Top Gear USA

Postby ktrout » Thu Dec 09, 2010 7:13 am

I thought Rutledge was gay, but it turns out he's just in marketing. Which may be worse.
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Re: Top Gear USA

Postby ktrout » Mon Dec 13, 2010 3:40 am

This thing has the most awesome exhaust sound: Ford Velociraptor: My little Mule, Pepe....
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