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Top gear's back [the real non yankee version]

JodyFKerr said:
Yeah! The wife and I have been waiting for them anxiously all week! Plus the Dr. Who Christmas special on the 25th!

Jody

I didn't know Whoville had a Doctor? Did Cindy Loo Who catch a cold?? :wink:
 
Normally I am quite the cynic on US copies of foreign TV shows, as they are rarely any good after being dumbed down, but I have to say that I don't mind the US TG version. Is it as good after 4 episodes as the original with many seasons under its belt - no, but if the original TG wasn't around, then this would be light years ahead of the other bland and boring car shows that are on in the US. They are either showing restos/rebuilds that would normally just be done by professionals; auctions of exotic cars that are beyond the pocket book of most classic car enthusiasts; or they are just boring commercials for the car companies that are mindful of litigation - MotorWeek etc. So I may be in the minority here, but I hope that it gets the chance to further improve and not just get quickly cancelled.

That said, the original is still king and even the Missus enjoys watching it.
 
Ian,

After having just watched the 4rth & 5th episodes of US Top Gear after watching the UK version episode I'm still on the fence. I really liked the segment on the VelociRaptor truck (but I also have a really bad case of truck lust for one of those). Most of the rest of it we weren't terribly impressed with.

It's all about the presenters. I watch the US version, UK version and the AUS version (If I could understand Russian or get a translation I'd try that one too). I think they learned a fair bit from the launch in Australia, but not nearly enough. Just like the UK reboot in '02 the AUS version has needed to shift hosts on a number of occasions. The challenge is to get three presenters that have a similar appeal to Clarkson, May and Hammond; with the biggest shoes to fill being Clarkson's.

I'm afraid I just can't think of an American that can do it. I think the choice of Ferrara was poor, and Wood was unfortunate. I don't dislike either of the men, I just don't think they have what it takes to be Top Gear personalities.

When you really look at it though, I think it's that the UK guys are presenters first, car guys second wheras the US version is car guys first, presenters second.

At any rate, I'll keep watching and hoping. If they were really smart they'd have me as a host. :smile:
 
Only US presenter that would be awesome is Jay Leno
 
JodyFKerr said:
It's all about the presenters.

That's really the only thing I don't like about the show-the hosts are kind of bland. On the other hand, the only host of the UK version I actually like is James May-Hammond is kind of boring and Clarkson stopped being funny around the late 90's (seriously, look up his early writings from <span style="font-style: italic">Performance Car</span>, and you'll discover that fame ruined him).

-Wm.
 
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