Top Gear 2016 Official TV show thread *contains spoilers*
Discussion
StevieBee said:
The previous TG was not three blokes but four; the fourth being Andy Willman. His influence in terms of the creativity and direction cannot be underestimated. He has gone to Amazon along with most of the cream of the original production teams what the BBC have are a highly capable but lacking a lot of the sparkle that went before. This ...................
Good post. Sums up the situation and potential pitfalls well. thetapeworm said:
Did I see MLB morph into a black helmet wearing hired driver when the Nomad was due to go into the back of the truck? It made me wonder how much of the other driving had been done by the presenters.
I'm pretty sure external driving shots of an enthusiastic nature were a mix of presenter and pro driver in the last version too. Also, IIRC, driving into the back of a moving vehicle is bloody hard. You go from following a truck at x miles per hour to being in the truck, driving at the trailer/cab divider at x miles an hour. Risky with your presenter, better with a stunt driver.Edited by thetapeworm on Wednesday 1st June 15:39
StevieBee said:
The previous TG was not three blokes but four; the fourth being Andy Willman. His influence in terms of the creativity and direction cannot be underestimated. He has gone to Amazon along with most of the cream of the original production teams what the BBC have are a highly capable but lacking a lot of the sparkle that went before. This is why I think they should have re-invented the format because as it is, it will have to stand comparison and it will always now be 2nd in this respect.
Secondly; Chris Evans (who, incidentally, I quite like), by his own admission, knows nothing about cars. Clarkson and May were Motoring Journalists long before they were TV presenters so even when they were arsing about, when they told you something about the cars they were arsing about it, you sort of knew that they knew what they were on about.
And lastly - and I think this is the crux - most of the media commentary following the show has been about how the BBC has cottoned on to the large number of children who watch the show, some suggesting even that previously, this was the primary intent. This is wrong. It was - and should be - an adult focused show that kids just happen to enjoy watching as well. Part of the attraction to kids is that they are watching a 'grown-up' show and the minute it becomes overtly 'kids-focused' they'll stop watching.
The reverse of this was Tiswas and OTT. For those of less senior years, Tiswas was a Saturday morning kids show that attracting more adults than kids. So, they launched OTT, and adults version of the same show, aired after 9.00pm. It completely bombed for the reason that the it was the kids show that the adults liked. The danger here is that the reverse could play out with new Top Gear.
But why are you so angry StevieBee? Secondly; Chris Evans (who, incidentally, I quite like), by his own admission, knows nothing about cars. Clarkson and May were Motoring Journalists long before they were TV presenters so even when they were arsing about, when they told you something about the cars they were arsing about it, you sort of knew that they knew what they were on about.
And lastly - and I think this is the crux - most of the media commentary following the show has been about how the BBC has cottoned on to the large number of children who watch the show, some suggesting even that previously, this was the primary intent. This is wrong. It was - and should be - an adult focused show that kids just happen to enjoy watching as well. Part of the attraction to kids is that they are watching a 'grown-up' show and the minute it becomes overtly 'kids-focused' they'll stop watching.
The reverse of this was Tiswas and OTT. For those of less senior years, Tiswas was a Saturday morning kids show that attracting more adults than kids. So, they launched OTT, and adults version of the same show, aired after 9.00pm. It completely bombed for the reason that the it was the kids show that the adults liked. The danger here is that the reverse could play out with new Top Gear.
I agree with all you've said.
StevieBee said:
And lastly - and I think this is the crux - most of the media commentary following the show has been about how the BBC has cottoned on to the large number of children who watch the show, some suggesting even that previously, this was the primary intent. This is wrong. It was - and should be - an adult focused show that kids just happen to enjoy watching as well. Part of the attraction to kids is that they are watching a 'grown-up' show and the minute it becomes overtly 'kids-focused' they'll stop watching.
My 18 month old woke up while it was on TV and absolutely loved it, way more than Twirlywoos and Mr TumbleOsinjak said:
I don't know who's worse, Chris Evans or Steve "Big Show' Wright. Both utterly unfunny, doing the same s
t for decades and believe their own hype.
I happened to hear Steve Wright's review of Top Gear. It managed to be both laughably biased and damning with tangential faint praise.t for decades and believe their own hype.StevieBee said:
The previous TG was not three blokes but four; the fourth being Andy Willman.
Five actually. Don't underestimate Richard "SniffPetrol" Porter's contribution. StevieBee said:
Clarkson and May were Motoring Journalists long before they were TV presenters
Indeed. And damn good ones too, and still are. Something that is much overlooked. Yes, they also became actors who played a caricature character based on themselves (you only have to see James May drive to know he is not Captain Slow) but they are still damn good journalists even now.
Edited by ClockworkCupcake on Wednesday 1st June 18:25
I didn't watch the show as I haven't for years, I want a show about cars, not the presenters and their gags. So I have watched youtube. Things like Evo car of the year or Roadkill or Motortrend etc etc. They range between beautifully shot pieces about cars to a bit of fun with cars but the cars still being the main focus. Top Gear had lost that focus.
So when my mates turned up and who watch nothing like the above as they are not PH's and said it was poor. I got the feeling it would be slammed on here. And it has been.
Changing the format should have been a no brainer.
They should have intertwined this for the majesty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkAT82-R0S8
with this for the funny patter but still talking about the cars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qWYJQClIyY
and just puts bits around it such as the classic, they get £1000 to buy a car and mod it and see who can go around Brands quickest. Rather than a Reliant Rialto to Istanbul on the left with a parrot as as passenger who mimics Tom Tom instructions...
Take my hat off to Matt though, got some good reviews on here, pretty impressive it sounds like. And a yank to boot from Friends !
Lets see how it goes, I might even watch it again one day if improves
So when my mates turned up and who watch nothing like the above as they are not PH's and said it was poor. I got the feeling it would be slammed on here. And it has been.
Changing the format should have been a no brainer.
They should have intertwined this for the majesty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkAT82-R0S8
with this for the funny patter but still talking about the cars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qWYJQClIyY
and just puts bits around it such as the classic, they get £1000 to buy a car and mod it and see who can go around Brands quickest. Rather than a Reliant Rialto to Istanbul on the left with a parrot as as passenger who mimics Tom Tom instructions...
Take my hat off to Matt though, got some good reviews on here, pretty impressive it sounds like. And a yank to boot from Friends !
Lets see how it goes, I might even watch it again one day if improves
Gandahar said:
Thanks for sharing that. 
Delivery rather stilted, but well shot and a good piece.
Mr2Mike said:
If the new format continues to be pitting a super rich car enthusiast against someone with zero interest in cars
It was supposed to be Ramsey and Brad Pitt apparently but Pitt pulled out fairly last minute due to other commitments and Jesse (who was in the country anyway for Comicon amongst other things) stepped in. I thought he funny (in a super geeky, brain working at 200mph way) but shame he wasn't a car man.hornet said:
djdest said:
Just how paranoid is this bloke?
Three days out and he's already invoked the "haters" tag? That's not the behaviour of top notch broadcast talent, it's a bottom half of YouTube rant, and pretty remarkable behaviour for such a broadcasting talent. Also a rather risky tactic, as it invites comparison to the same aggregated broadcast + iPlayer figures for old Top Gear, which I can't imagine would be favourable.We shall see how vocal he is about viewing figures for the next few episodes.
Japveesix said:
It was supposed to be Ramsey and Brad Pitt apparently but Pitt pulled out fairly last minute due to other commitments.....
There's a million and one ways that can be interpreted:
- Pitt got a better offer
- he didn't commit to the show in the first place
- he changed his mind and 'made his excuses' after dealing with someone in the production team
- .....
Again, lack of forethought, or at best narrow thinking. They went for what they thought was the best 'like-for-like' they could get at short notice (another Hollywood actor) instead of maybe drafting in a known quantity celeb who could handle a car. Also explains why Evans was steering Jesse Eisenberg's answers to fit the Porsche pics - they'd been too lazy/hubristic to rewrite the segment to suit the new guest and ran with what they had already prepared (and didn't even make a joke of it, which I suspect the previous lot would have).
Still, at least it wasn't James Nesbitt.....
Edited by r11co on Wednesday 1st June 20:02
Having read most of this thread and having watched Top Gear since I was about 5 in the mid 90's (and having done the odd bit of work for TG magazine a few years ago) here are some probably regurgitated thoughts. I should point out that I don't like Chris Evans in general so I will try to take this out of the equation.
- Everything lacked context. There wasn't clear explanations as to why things were done. In TG's gone by, 9 times out of 10 if something changed we were told why or at least given a reason, or if there was a challenge, why they were doing it (no matter how trivial) . How does the rallycross track differ in layout? What was the reasoning behind the trip to Blackpool/UK vs USA? Why were the Reliants used? Did the cameos by the Brownlee brothers actually add anything?
- Guests. Can't really call it SIARPC anymore. Woeful format. Never really watched it previously though. Segment should have been dropped.
- MLB was excellent.
- Cinematography was on par with previous. Perhaps a tiny drop based on the changing of personnel etc.
- Extra Gear was good, but I don't see why it is needed. Some of the features in it could have easily been incorporated into the main programme. If it was live, it would have made more sense as it could allow a similar sort of feel to the extras you get for Stargazing Live and Springwatch etc. Chris Harris and Rory Reid were good though.
- Stig should have been let go too. He will forever be associated with the old guard. But the BBC's cash cow relies a lot on him.
Overall it wasn't brilliant, but as has been mentioned, if there was old old TG then straight into this, everyone would have been saying it was brilliant. I'll stick it out for now hoping it will improve, but with Eddie Jordan on next week I don't see that happening any time soon.
- Everything lacked context. There wasn't clear explanations as to why things were done. In TG's gone by, 9 times out of 10 if something changed we were told why or at least given a reason, or if there was a challenge, why they were doing it (no matter how trivial) . How does the rallycross track differ in layout? What was the reasoning behind the trip to Blackpool/UK vs USA? Why were the Reliants used? Did the cameos by the Brownlee brothers actually add anything?
- Guests. Can't really call it SIARPC anymore. Woeful format. Never really watched it previously though. Segment should have been dropped.
- MLB was excellent.
- Cinematography was on par with previous. Perhaps a tiny drop based on the changing of personnel etc.
- Extra Gear was good, but I don't see why it is needed. Some of the features in it could have easily been incorporated into the main programme. If it was live, it would have made more sense as it could allow a similar sort of feel to the extras you get for Stargazing Live and Springwatch etc. Chris Harris and Rory Reid were good though.
- Stig should have been let go too. He will forever be associated with the old guard. But the BBC's cash cow relies a lot on him.
Overall it wasn't brilliant, but as has been mentioned, if there was old old TG then straight into this, everyone would have been saying it was brilliant. I'll stick it out for now hoping it will improve, but with Eddie Jordan on next week I don't see that happening any time soon.
salguod said:
Having read most of this thread and having watched Top Gear since I was about 5 in the mid 90's (and having done the odd bit of work for TG magazine a few years ago) here are some probably regurgitated thoughts. I should point out that I don't like Chris Evans in general so I will try to take this out of the equation.
- Everything lacked context. There wasn't clear explanations as to why things were done. In TG's gone by, 9 times out of 10 if something changed we were told why or at least given a reason, or if there was a challenge, why they were doing it (no matter how trivial) . How does the rallycross track differ in layout? What was the reasoning behind the trip to Blackpool/UK vs USA? Why were the Reliants used? Did the cameos by the Brownlee brothers actually add anything?
- Guests. Can't really call it SIARPC anymore. Woeful format. Never really watched it previously though. Segment should have been dropped.
- MLB was excellent.
- Cinematography was on par with previous. Perhaps a tiny drop based on the changing of personnel etc.
- Extra Gear was good, but I don't see why it is needed. Some of the features in it could have easily been incorporated into the main programme. If it was live, it would have made more sense as it could allow a similar sort of feel to the extras you get for Stargazing Live and Springwatch etc. Chris Harris and Rory Reid were good though.
- Stig should have been let go too. He will forever be associated with the old guard. But the BBC's cash cow relies a lot on him.
Overall it wasn't brilliant, but as has been mentioned, if there was old old TG then straight into this, everyone would have been saying it was brilliant. I'll stick it out for now hoping it will improve, but with Eddie Jordan on next week I don't see that happening any time soon.
- Everything lacked context. There wasn't clear explanations as to why things were done. In TG's gone by, 9 times out of 10 if something changed we were told why or at least given a reason, or if there was a challenge, why they were doing it (no matter how trivial) . How does the rallycross track differ in layout? What was the reasoning behind the trip to Blackpool/UK vs USA? Why were the Reliants used? Did the cameos by the Brownlee brothers actually add anything?
- Guests. Can't really call it SIARPC anymore. Woeful format. Never really watched it previously though. Segment should have been dropped.
- MLB was excellent.
- Cinematography was on par with previous. Perhaps a tiny drop based on the changing of personnel etc.
- Extra Gear was good, but I don't see why it is needed. Some of the features in it could have easily been incorporated into the main programme. If it was live, it would have made more sense as it could allow a similar sort of feel to the extras you get for Stargazing Live and Springwatch etc. Chris Harris and Rory Reid were good though.
- Stig should have been let go too. He will forever be associated with the old guard. But the BBC's cash cow relies a lot on him.
Overall it wasn't brilliant, but as has been mentioned, if there was old old TG then straight into this, everyone would have been saying it was brilliant. I'll stick it out for now hoping it will improve, but with Eddie Jordan on next week I don't see that happening any time soon.
Watching Extra Gear. Really much easier to watch than the main show. But why the heck are the crowd so far back? They look a good 20ft behind the sofa. Just looks really bizarre, like people have just stumbled upon a filming and are just hanging around in the background to see what happens and maybe wave hello to mum!
I like Chris Ramsey, but question why they needed to have an interview with a "celeb" in a 24 minute show. More cars and stuff would have been better. The film with Sabine at the end was nice even though it felt like it faded to black before it was anywhere near the end. Her Canadian log cabin ranch thing was bizarre but interesting. She is German I suppose.
I like Chris Ramsey, but question why they needed to have an interview with a "celeb" in a 24 minute show. More cars and stuff would have been better. The film with Sabine at the end was nice even though it felt like it faded to black before it was anywhere near the end. Her Canadian log cabin ranch thing was bizarre but interesting. She is German I suppose.
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Wednesday 1st June 22:17
Gandahar said:
I didn't watch the show as I haven't for years, I want a show about cars, not the presenters and their gags. So I have watched youtube. Things like Evo car of the year or Roadkill or Motortrend etc etc. They range between beautifully shot pieces about cars to a bit of fun with cars but the cars still being the main focus. Top Gear had lost that focus.
So when my mates turned up and who watch nothing like the above as they are not PH's and said it was poor. I got the feeling it would be slammed on here. And it has been.
Changing the format should have been a no brainer.
They should have intertwined this for the majesty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkAT82-R0S8
with this for the funny patter but still talking about the cars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qWYJQClIyY
and just puts bits around it such as the classic, they get £1000 to buy a car and mod it and see who can go around Brands quickest. Rather than a Reliant Rialto to Istanbul on the left with a parrot as as passenger who mimics Tom Tom instructions...
Take my hat off to Matt though, got some good reviews on here, pretty impressive it sounds like. And a yank to boot from Friends !
Lets see how it goes, I might even watch it again one day if improves
Evo make some cracking videos and I really like Henry and how he presents. So when my mates turned up and who watch nothing like the above as they are not PH's and said it was poor. I got the feeling it would be slammed on here. And it has been.
Changing the format should have been a no brainer.
They should have intertwined this for the majesty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkAT82-R0S8
with this for the funny patter but still talking about the cars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qWYJQClIyY
and just puts bits around it such as the classic, they get £1000 to buy a car and mod it and see who can go around Brands quickest. Rather than a Reliant Rialto to Istanbul on the left with a parrot as as passenger who mimics Tom Tom instructions...
Take my hat off to Matt though, got some good reviews on here, pretty impressive it sounds like. And a yank to boot from Friends !
Lets see how it goes, I might even watch it again one day if improves
MarshPhantom said:
Top Gear has dropped off the first page of most popular searches on the BBC iPlayer FACT
However not sure where you get that from its still the third most downloaded and in the front page so people don't need to search for it.
Edited by Pesty on Wednesday 1st June 23:01
MarshPhantom said:
hornet said:
djdest said:
Just how paranoid is this bloke?
Three days out and he's already invoked the "haters" tag? That's not the behaviour of top notch broadcast talent, it's a bottom half of YouTube rant, and pretty remarkable behaviour for such a broadcasting talent. Also a rather risky tactic, as it invites comparison to the same aggregated broadcast + iPlayer figures for old Top Gear, which I can't imagine would be favourable.We shall see how vocal he is about viewing figures for the next few episodes.
EDIT: Forgot to get my FACT in there. FACT.
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