TopGear USA version

[GregWeld]

Alex and I wanted to see if the rest of you thought the same thing we did about the "new" Top Gear show.

Personally -- we didn't think the show 'chemistry' worked at all. The BBC version is just flat funny -- and the guys actually drive really well.... Tonight
they had great cars -- but it just wasn't very interesting.

So vote how YOU felt.

[monza]

Love the BBC version, never have seen the 'new' version?
Bet it sucks.:_paranoid

[Rhino]

During the first 5 minutes I had really low hopes for the show. The last half was much better. The Lambo run off was pretty cool.
I'll say it's not the best, but I'd bet money it gets better as the hosts get to know each others personalities better.

The UK version didn't really hit it's stride until series 4. I just hope they'll keep the show on long enough and let it develop.

[caper150]

During the first 5 minutes I had really low hopes for the show. The last half was much better. The Lambo run off was pretty cool.
I'll say it's not the best, but I'd bet money it gets better as the hosts get to know each others personalities better.

The UK version didn't really hit it's stride until series 4. I just hope they'll keep the show on long enough and let it develop.

I have to agree, I think it may take a bit before it gets going good, just like any show does. Some of the things they showed looked like it may be better as it goes on.

[Northeast Rod Run]

It was pretty good, but definitely not great.

I bet as time goes on, and they get more familiar with each other and the set-up, the show should get better

[chr2002ca]

Greg, I couldn't agree with you more. Great cars but the hosts were uninteresting. The BBC hosts set the bar really high so it was kinda expected the USA hosts to be a let down, and they certainly lived up to expectations. Tanner is an amazing driver but he's a bit bland. The other 2 hosts might have been actually worse than him, and their comedians?

It is great though to see them using El Toro as their test track for performance comparisons. It's definitely dirtier and bumpier than the track they use in UK. It'll be interesting to see if they let us run that exact same track for the El Toro event coming up in a few months, and if so, will they let us start from a stand still like they do on the show. That would be cool to be able to compare times. I believe that's already being discussed in another thread.

[GregWeld]

Chris -- jacking my own thread here -- what did you find wrong with your motor after the last RTTC?? I don't think I ever saw a post on it. Hope it was REAL MINOR!

See ya there in February!

Agree with your comments on the poll too...:cheers:

[chr2002ca]

I had somehow spun a rod bearing. :( A bit frustrating to say the least. I spun a few cranium bearings just thinking about that one. Can't say for sure what caused it on a GM crate motor with only 1500 miles that I carefully broke in. I guess my overly-safe 5750rpm rev limiter didn't help either. My only guesses are oil starvation or I got a lemon. When I pulled the motor and disassembled it, fortunately no harm had been done other than to have the forged crank polished. I replaced all the bearings(clearances checked out okay), flushed the oil passages, rebuilt the oil pump, and added an Accusump system to ensure there are no future oil starvation issues under cornering. The Accusump box said I should at least be able to get another 1500 miles out of my crate motor with this system before needing another rebuild, so hopefully I can actually finish the event this year. :lol: If not, I'll yank the engine and tranny and install a bicycle pedal system(better launch control). :lol:

It'll be great to see you there again. :thumbsup:

[awr68]

Going to watch it tonight...Hope it don't suck! :lol:

[*rayman*]

The Aussie version we get was pretty crappy for the first 12 months... is a bit better now that they're not trying to copy everything from the BBC version.

Anywhere online we can view the U.S version?

[XcYZ]

I've never been a fan of Rutledge Wood, so my opinoin is tainted. lol

[RECOVERY ROOM]

The Aussie version we get was pretty crappy for the first 12 months... is a bit better now that they're not trying to copy everything from the BBC version.

Anywhere online we can view the U.S version?

What cars did they run on your version of the show?

[RECOVERY ROOM]

[QUOTE=GregWeld;317829]Chris -- jacking my own thread here --


I think if you hijack your own thread you should get a double pat down buy a ugly T S A agent:unibrow:

[FIREFIGHTER273]

Tanner is an incredible driver and I wish I could drive my Vipe r 1/3 as well as he did. Who are those other dudes? The British show kills it. Thank gooness the Stig was there:hail:

[GregWeld]

[QUOTE=GregWeld;317829]Chris -- jacking my own thread here --


I think if you hijack your own thread you should get a double pat down buy a ugly T S A agent:unibrow:

The last guy that tried to pat me down is sucking his food thru a straw....
:D

[awr68]

Just watched the show! I'm not really a TV guy (prefer movies and Lat-g!) so I haven't seen the origional Top Gear but a few times...which I liked it! With that said I and my family thought the US version was totally fine and we enjoyed it! The first segment was a little drawn out and obviously scripted...but that's ok...they are finding there place with all this!

I think they will do fine! Just going to take some time to master it! :thumbsup:

[Firebird Kid]

i missed the premiere but i caught the re-run after. i was a little bummed that everyone seemed to give it a thumbs down before they even saw it just because it wasnt british. i thought it was ok for a first airing and the second half was actually pretty funny i thought with the lambos racing. i think it will only get better with time like the bbc version. so i liked it lol.

[funcars]

I thought it was weak. The british show is great and even makes my wife and kids laugh (we get it off BBC every week). We all saw the US version and turned it off. It just did not work even though the cars were cool.

[DEIGuy38]

I've never been a fan of Rutledge Wood, so my opinoin is tainted. lol

Haven't seen it yet due to Rutledge Wood.

[chr2002ca]

[QUOTE=RECOVERY ROOM;318004]

The last guy that tried to pat me down is sucking his food thru a straw....
:D

Hmmm, that's strange. The TSA screeners are usually younger than that.

[GregWeld]

[QUOTE=GregWeld;318008]

Hmmm, that's strange. The TSA screeners are usually younger than that.

Don't touch my junk!





:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[chr2002ca]

That's the same thing I have to say when I push my ride to and from car shows. :lol:

[GregWeld]

Watched the second episode tonight --- Aston Martin V8 vs V12... and the Mitsubishi EVO....

Cars were cool -- but once again - I think they choose the wrong guys to do it. They're just not credible enough and I guess I just can't get passed it... even though I will continue to watch.

[Rhino]

Another lackluster episode. IMO, it's all Tanner. For some reason I just can't take him seriously. I will say the 180 parking job Brian did was epic.

I'm really looking forward to next week when they do a car challenge. It seems that is always my favorite UK episodes.

[Jr]

I have something positive to contribute to this thread!

I took my wife to a taping of the US version of Top Gear (We should actually make it on TV as well). We both left the show saying that the host need to work on their chemistry. Also, the footage of the cars is actually taken by the UK top gear film crew. The show will be MUCH better once the producers find the right pairing of host.

[chr2002ca]

Greg, we're on the same page.

[buickfunnycar.com]

sucks horribly...:wow:

[tgvettes]

I haven't seen it yet, mostly because I think Tanner has nothing to do on Tv as a host. Great driver but he is not a TV host. of course that is my 25 cents.
Tv companies seem to differ as he is in a few shows.

I love the UK version watch it all the time.

Tonny

[6spdcamaro]

I liked it... :_paranoid

[BC69]

Stop pretending you didn't laugh at the dog in the final scene!! :lol:

[conekiller13]

I think it's much better than I expected.......but I had really low expectations. My thoughts are if the show was allowed to be an Hour and half they actually get the content in there between commercials instead of every segment feeling so rushed. I can deal with Tanner's personality (or lack there of) because of his skills and knowledge. Rutlage Wood (two last names?) no idea who this guy is but I can tolerate him. The Adam guy (can't even remember his last name) bugs Me. I don't know who he is, he has zero personality, he seems to have zero car knowledge or experience and seems to be trying to play the Clarkson jerk role but without the humor.

Now that being said I think if they are allowed to continue long enough it will come together. Watch the first season of the current UK Top Gear and you'll see it's almost as clunky. I would say keep Mr. Wood as the outside guy and replace Adam with a respected Moto-journalist like Ezra Dyer or the guy with the glasses the used to work for Hot Rod and does the Barret Jackson commentary.


Also, I think Tanner is the U.S. Stig. If You'll notice the U.S. Stig looks pretty short and having him do it makes sure they wont have the British problems of the Stig wanting a bigger chunk and getting reveled.

Just My $.02

[DRJDVM's '69]

He's sucking your what through a straw??? Thats just gross :)

[GregWeld]

:rofl: :rofl:

Ned,

Spoken like a guy with his arm buried in a cow....


:rofl: :woot:

This show, so far at least, isn't getting the highest marks. Let's just hope it gets better.

[Beegs]

I saw the one with the Mitsu running at the ski slope deal...kind of a joke. The dude can drive but that was a bit pointless IMO. Maybe with time they can get it going in the right direction.

[Northeast Rod Run]

I haven't seen it yet, mostly because I think Tanner has nothing to do on Tv as a host. Great driver but he is not a TV host. of course that is my 25 cents.

Adam Corolla and Jimmy Kimmel were as stiff as a board on "The Man Show" but after a while that show came into it's own, and became the best show on TV.... until they got replaced by those two other morons

[bobbya312]

I think we are comparing it the the Brit version which sets a pretty high bar.

[Firebird Kid]

i watched the third episode last night. (the moonshine, nascar episode). i laughed my ass off about three quarters of the show. the hosts are getting better at interacting with each other so in my book things are looking up :thumbsup:

[DRJDVM's '69]

I watched the Moonshine episode last night too.... I thought it was terrible. The hosts have no charisma at all and 90% of their jokes completely flopped....not even the studio audience laughed....when they crack a joke and there is near dead silence in the studio, thats bad...... the interview was terrible and so boring.....

The only good part was the offroad track event..... when he jumped the Caddy, that was awesome and funny as hell.....

Other than that I thought it sucked........ not ready to give up on it yet, but not impressed at all so far.

[Beegs]

I couldn't even finish watching it.....

[chr2002ca]

After 3 episodes, the moonshine dirt course finally had me laughing pretty hard, but otherwise this recent episode fell flat again and I found myself fast-forwarding through most of it. I think Tanner is a decent choice for one of the hosts because of his driving skills and knowledge of cars, but he MUST be teamed up with 2 guys who can make people laugh and badger him a bit. Unfortunately those other 2 just aren't very funny at all. Not yet anyways. I'm waiting and hoping they'll somehow gel and make the show successful.

Anybody think the big guy from Pass Time on Speed would have been a good choice? Or maybe Lou from Muscle Cars on Spike? Maybe there not professional comedians but at least they're a bit more charismatic.

[door-ajar]

They should have had Stacey David from trucks be a host.Guy has a great personality.But I like the USA top gear ,I'm sure it will get better with time ,and they should try to be original not try to copy the British top gear,Come up with unique challenges.

[NOPANTS68]

Watched the moonshine one last night..............er I mean 3 minutes of it. Yikes.


IMO I would love to see Adam Corolla (die hard car guy and very fast witted), Steve Manante (from Speed and Barret Jackson- pretty fast witted and a volume of knowledge), and Liz Miles (young, cute, and a blooming automotive journalist who knows her way around the cones). That's my Top Gear dream team.

[Beegs]

Watched the moonshine one last night..............er I mean 3 minutes of it. Yikes.


IMO I would love to see Adam Corolla (die hard car guy and very fast witted), Steve Manante (from Speed and Barret Jackson- pretty fast witted and a volume of knowledge), and Liz Miles (young, cute, and a blooming automotive journalist who knows her way around the cones). That's my Top Gear dream team.

I second that group of people!

[GrabberGT]

Watched the moonshine one last night..............er I mean 3 minutes of it. Yikes.


IMO I would love to see Adam Corolla (die hard car guy and very fast witted), Steve Manante (from Speed and Barret Jackson- pretty fast witted and a volume of knowledge), and Liz Miles (young, cute, and a blooming automotive journalist who knows her way around the cones). That's my Top Gear dream team.

I'd like to add in there Christopher Titus and Tim Allen.

What I think is really missing from the TGUS group is the childlike enthusiasm that the Brits portray when test driving a car. They genuinely seem excited to be in a XXX vehicle where as the US guys approach it as purely analytical. The little enthusiasm they do show comes off as scripted.

I'll keep watching. Tanner and Adam are alright in my book but Rutledge is pretty tough to watch.

[yield2me]

The only good part was the offroad track event..... when he jumped the Caddy, that was awesome and funny as hell......

I agree!


Anybody think the big guy from Pass Time on Speed would have been a good choice?

Definitely with you on that one.

They should have had Stacey David from trucks be a host.Guy has a great personality.

He would also be a good choice.

[conekiller13]

You know.......maybe the producers should have put out some surveys in magazines or offered to web sites to help pick potential hosts. :willy:

[GregWeld]

Watched the Velociraptor / MBZ SLS show tonight....

These guys are so boring I almost fell asleep! And when the one dufus said that he wanted the truck so bad he'd "lick it".... I turned it off. Sorry -- I just can not stomach this show.

[JKnight]

I'm going to go against the grain here...I thought tonight's episode (Fiero, Roadmaster, Cutlass) was really entertaining, despite the complete lack of originality when it came to the challenges. I thought the presenters were a bit more comfortable (less teleprompter-like) and it seemed to result in more natural comedic timing. Tanner is getting left in the dust though as the other presenters improve. And to think, I thought he would be the best of the bunch. It's become clear that's not so.

If we as viewers weren't comparing it to the British version, I'm sure it would seem better, but alas, that is an inevitable comparison seeing as how they continue to copy the BBC version so closely. I must say though, the patriotic sentiment of this one was a nice change.

[Musclerodz]

I'm going to go against the grain here...I thought tonight's episode (Fiero, Roadmaster, Cutlass) was really entertaining, despite the complete lack of originality when it came to the challenges. I thought the presenters were a bit more comfortable (less teleprompter-like) and it seemed to result in more natural comedic timing. Tanner is getting left in the dust though as the other presenters improve. And to think, I thought he would be the best of the bunch. It's become clear that's not so.

If we as viewers weren't comparing it to the British version, I'm sure it would seem better, but alas, that is an inevitable comparison seeing as how they continue to copy the BBC version so closely. I must say though, the patriotic sentiment of this one was a nice change.

I actually laughed at the water challenge today. I think they are trying to hard to shadow the british show which I think will always be an issue

[TheBradshaw]

I think it will grow on me. I wonder if the steg is a out of work Cart guy :P

[GrabberGT]

I actually laughed at the water challenge today. I think they are trying to hard to shadow the british show which I think will always be an issue

Only an issue for those of us that know the British show. I think the bulk of the US audience is still new to the show and do not even know of the British version.

I didnt like last nights episode much. They just came across as too juvenile to me with the egg tossing and and intentional damage to the cars. The intentional bumping of James May is one thing but throwing a bowling ball at the car is another.

[conekiller13]

So now that first season is over.......will it make it to season two?


I personally found it entertaining as a whole. Even though a lot of the "challenges" are direct form the BBC show they are still pulling it off. It's no more clunky or contrived feeling than the first season of the current BBC program. Watch some of those first season episodes and you'll see Clarkson and Hammond tip toeing around each other and finding that mix of camaraderie and disdain they are now famous for. When May was added a few episodes later it was the same with him.

I really hope it did well enough to make it to season two so it can blossom.

However.....I could have done without the highlight real last episode.

[spacepirate]

I'm friends with on of the Producers for the show and all things point to a new season. I'm hoping to work on it if it does!

[WILWAXU]

The show has growing on me. I don't hate it anymore :D.