TFI Friday...

[r11co]

rubystone said:

Crikey, could you ever imagine that, a single minded chap whose mantra is my way or the highway in charge of presenting Top Gear?

Ahh, but the difference between Evans and Clarkson is Jezza was presenting a persona that he was the overbearing boss when he actually wasn't, while Chris is the opposite - he pretends he is not overbearing but affable when he's in fact an egotistical control freak who likes to make his mark to remind his ever-changing team who is in control.

The mistake people make is they forget the influence of Wilman over Clarkson - the silent partner in Top Gear who curbed Clarkson's excesses and was always prepared to tell him when an idea was stupid or wasn't going to work. Also, Clarkson is smart enough to realise that he was only part of a group who were responsible for the continued success of Top Gear, and their loyalty to him is not something I would expect people to repeat with Evans.

Evans will burn Top Gear.

MarshPhantom said:

It's telling that none of Evans's TV shows have lasted much more than a couple of years.

Edited by r11co on Tuesday 22 December 10:11

[technodup]

I'm not so sure, I'm far from his biggest fan but he's not stupid. AFAICR all his previous shows, Big Breakfast, DFYT, TFI etc were new, he pretty much had carte blanche to make them his own. I think he'll respect the fact TG has been around for nearly as long as he has and tone it down a bit.

It can't be any worse than old Top Gear. Or the more recent series of new Top Gear. Or some of the ones in the middle.

Don't like Coogan as a guy, but AP is one of the best characters ever created. The dialogue, the mannerisms, the facial expressions, the drawer in the travel tavern, the Castrol GTX jacket. I've always thought people who don't get it must be too like him to recognise what he's taking the piss out of.

Alan: As you know, at the end of the week, I’m meeting Tony Hayers, at the BBC. And, he is Mr. Numero… one…. And the problem is I’ve got some rude daubings on the side of my car.

Sophie: Can you still drive the car?

Alan: Well, yeah, yeah, obviously. I mean that’s not… do you know what it says on the side of my car?

Sophie: Tosser?

[rubystone]

I'm interested in the views here that Clarkson was just projecting a persona. That's contrary to views that people close to Top Gear have expressed to me and to others I know. But maybe they just had axes to grind?

Having seen the man in action on TG several times, I was always impressed by his skills as a broadcaster, but there was the sense that he did run the show (well, Brian Klein runs the 'show' but you know what I mean)

Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing what Chris Evans does. I've always loved what he's done and whenever I've seen him away from the studio he's struck me as a quiet chap, eschewing the limelight. But maybe I just caught him on off days?