Top Gear 2016 Official TV show thread *contains spoilers*
Discussion
Boring_Chris said:
Oh Jesus titty f
king Christ.
Of course they do. These people are not machines built and programmed by a Grand Media Machine. They're human beings, the same as the rest of us, bearing the brunt of the expectations and responsibility of carrying an enormous IP - that they will have invested personally in, whilst being hamstrung by its existing framework - forwards.
And they're getting shredded by petty nerds who would only be happy if everything was exactly as it was before.
For Evans, the game was always going to be rigged. His only real hope - and he's a smart bloke and I'm sure he'll know this better than anyone - is to keep his chin up and allow the show to form its own identity over the next two series.
In the mean time, bell ends everywhere will bh and moan like teenagers who've just had their copy of GTA5 taken away.
Chill Winston.king Christ.Of course they do. These people are not machines built and programmed by a Grand Media Machine. They're human beings, the same as the rest of us, bearing the brunt of the expectations and responsibility of carrying an enormous IP - that they will have invested personally in, whilst being hamstrung by its existing framework - forwards.
And they're getting shredded by petty nerds who would only be happy if everything was exactly as it was before.
For Evans, the game was always going to be rigged. His only real hope - and he's a smart bloke and I'm sure he'll know this better than anyone - is to keep his chin up and allow the show to form its own identity over the next two series.
In the mean time, bell ends everywhere will b
h and moan like teenagers who've just had their copy of GTA5 taken away.I liked old Top Gear, I wanted to like new Top Gear.
Can't say I'm a fan of Evans on the show and it's clear that from the premier episode at least, many agree.
I just find his instant jump to defense rather daft.. Not that he should have to 'defend' the show, but instead of making any real arguments for it, he just states FACTS FACTS FACTS. They're the sort of comments people come out with when they want to shout down another person's opinion.
If they listen to the (constructive) critics and keep trying different mixes of things and people they will eventually find a combination and formula which works for them.
I thought the viewing figures a bit low as with all the publicity and hype I though many would tune in just to hate it.
Viewing figures wise it is the viewers for Episode 6 which it has to be judged a success or not on, not Episode 1.
They really need 2 or 3 series to let it all settle down and then maybe they'll end up with a decent programme.
I thought the viewing figures a bit low as with all the publicity and hype I though many would tune in just to hate it.
Viewing figures wise it is the viewers for Episode 6 which it has to be judged a success or not on, not Episode 1.
They really need 2 or 3 series to let it all settle down and then maybe they'll end up with a decent programme.
AstonZagato said:
Chris Evans - so far dire, hyper and shouty
Matt Le Blanc - very good
Sabine Schmidt - not enough to know. Why wasn't she in the studio
SIARPC replacement - catastrophically bad. They need someone who can interview. Studio voting? WTF?
Challenge - felt like a third rate rehash of past challenges. Felt stale
I think they actually needed to completely rethink the format not tweak it with new people.
I had low expectations and, with the exception of MLB, they failed to meet them.
Sabine and Chris Harris were racing in the N24h this weekend.Matt Le Blanc - very good
Sabine Schmidt - not enough to know. Why wasn't she in the studio
SIARPC replacement - catastrophically bad. They need someone who can interview. Studio voting? WTF?
Challenge - felt like a third rate rehash of past challenges. Felt stale
I think they actually needed to completely rethink the format not tweak it with new people.
I had low expectations and, with the exception of MLB, they failed to meet them.
Lordbenny said:
johnxjsc1985 said:
It is groundbreaking television in so much it had made 5th Gear watchable.
I really like 5th Gear 
t called Tim I think. Anyway. I gather it is no more so less competition for CBBC TG. Edited by Smollet on Tuesday 31st May 10:35
C70R said:
Slippydiff said:
CE's response is about what you'd expect from an egotist.
Surely his response is one of a man who has poured all of his energies in the past year into making the best programme he can, while taking disproportional criticism from all corners?I'm not CE's biggest fan, but if I had put my heart and soul into something, only for a bunch of internet plebs and journalists to try their hardest to rubbish it before they had given it a chance (I think we'd had 4pgs of people saying they would never watch again in the first 5mins), I'd be inclined to post something by way of "facts" to the contrary.
If everything he said is true, then Top Gear wasn't the total failure than so many people desperately wanted it to be. Yes, it wasn't reaching the old show's heights of 6m+. But memories are short if people think that the old show was never so flat.
I'm going to duck out of this thread before it seems like I'm defending CE. Apart from being a bit insincere (something Clarkson was guilty of many times) and over-enthusiastic, I can't see what he has done to incur such incredible ire from PH. Some of the efforts to rubbish him in this thread are try-hard at best, and playgroundesque at worst.
I haven't watched it, but from what I've read so far it's lifted so much from the old version, even catchphrases and speech patterns...what original has been added in the last year of work?
numtumfutunch said:
The Top Gun thing was utterly rubbish and contrived, at least in my opinion, but would this have been Evans' idea or someone anonymous behind the scenes and if so does Evans have editorial control over these type of features?
Weren't most of the previous series had segments that where contrived? It was often delivered in a slightly more comical way. MarshPhantom said:
Pesty said:
problem is evans is not a petrolhead, he collects cars but hes not a driver. This show needs someone who would relish the thought of getting up at 6am on summers day just so they can go belting around deserted country lanes whilst mainling petrol and smearing copper grease over their love spuds
numtumfutunch said:
The Top Gun thing was utterly rubbish and contrived, at least in my opinion, but would this have been Evans' idea or someone anonymous behind the scenes and if so does Evans have editorial control over these type of features?
The laser shooting thing has been done more times than I can remember on Top Gear. They've been to Blackpool at least twice. They've done Reliants to death and the other lot are using them with W Chump as well. All very unoriginal.Next weeks F-Pace feature in South Africa sounds a little bit better.
Biker 1 said:
Why couldn't the BEEB get new, younger talent to do this show? I dread to think how much the ginger git is paid through our license fee; will the show turn a profit from overseas sales??
I don't mind how much he is paid, as almost everyone is saying the show needed a complete refresh. It was a tired format that just about worked because the presenters were comfortable and looked enthusiastic. Take away the presenters and you really see how tired it is. Some "fresh blood" who is young and wants to make a mark on the world may have changed everything. For me the disappointment with Chris Evans is purely that he didn't do anything creative with the show. The shouting was annoying but presumably will calm down.
I thought Chris Evans was awful from the get go. The takeaway guys sitting on a car felt a bit TGFI and filled me with trepidation about what was to come. The first piece was nearly a nice review and was over egged with the stupid gun bit. Old TG had some solid reviews and balanced it out with the silly bits. It's like it was over thought about they got a focus group and asked people what they liked and everyone said the silly bits were best so they did that all the time. Thing is they only have impact when they are used more frugally. Chris referencing Clarkson and some of the bits that have been in the paper about the filming felt like he was trying to copy Clarksons edginess but he did it with no charm so it was just clumsy.
I don't know what it was about Evans but he just didn't seem believable. He's a massive car guy but it just felt false when he was driving the Viper about. He's obviously copying Clarkson style with excessive similes but you could accuse Hammond and even Le Blanc of exactly the same. He just feels fake and wooden when he delivers that same style of script, like he tries too hard but still isn't genuine. Le Blanc on the other hand I thought delivered the same style of Clarkson style simile laden script a lot better. However in person with Evans he didn't do anywhere near as well and both came across as nervous and wooden. All the ideas were old TG of TGFI rip off. No real new idea in the whole show. I appreciate it was always going to be tough people were going to criticize if it was all new just as they would if it was just the same.
The robin reliant challenge was irrelevant and disjointed. It felt like it had no real point. The old TG usually prefaced it with some chat like ...'We were in the office talking about whats the best moon buggy you can get for under 10k and could you drive it underwater so we gave it a go....' This was 2 blokes hating life in some robin reliants going to Blackpool. No one knows or cares why. It got stranger from there when they disregarded the cars and used different ones. Make it about jeeps from the start and give Evans a s1 and Le Blanc a Willys and some preface about wanting to find out about who can really lay claim to really inventing the first off roader and you have a segment
The interview and SIARPC was awful. They asked about 3 car questions and had people cheering for them which was very TGFI and was cringy. I have no doubt he felt he was in the zone. He wasn't and it felt like a second rate talent show where they ask you to cheer and the person on stages mum is the only one cheering whilst everyone stands about nervously hoping it will end. The whole thing felt scripted from start to finish highlighted by the prompter crack. Evans did nothing to open up or work the guests to get them to open up or feel relaxed it look like they were on trial. He didn't even talk to them about anything relevant to them. I liked Eisenburg as I felt like he had enough personality that it didn't just dry completely. I like it when they have non car people on as the point when they do that is they are funny people and you can have a laugh at them tearing off through the undergrowth on the lap.
The nomad bit was about the only bit I thought was up to par. It wasn't amazing but was a solid segment.
I forget what else happened. It didn't really engage me. Seems I had more of an opinion than I thought though.
I don't know what it was about Evans but he just didn't seem believable. He's a massive car guy but it just felt false when he was driving the Viper about. He's obviously copying Clarkson style with excessive similes but you could accuse Hammond and even Le Blanc of exactly the same. He just feels fake and wooden when he delivers that same style of script, like he tries too hard but still isn't genuine. Le Blanc on the other hand I thought delivered the same style of Clarkson style simile laden script a lot better. However in person with Evans he didn't do anywhere near as well and both came across as nervous and wooden. All the ideas were old TG of TGFI rip off. No real new idea in the whole show. I appreciate it was always going to be tough people were going to criticize if it was all new just as they would if it was just the same.
The robin reliant challenge was irrelevant and disjointed. It felt like it had no real point. The old TG usually prefaced it with some chat like ...'We were in the office talking about whats the best moon buggy you can get for under 10k and could you drive it underwater so we gave it a go....' This was 2 blokes hating life in some robin reliants going to Blackpool. No one knows or cares why. It got stranger from there when they disregarded the cars and used different ones. Make it about jeeps from the start and give Evans a s1 and Le Blanc a Willys and some preface about wanting to find out about who can really lay claim to really inventing the first off roader and you have a segment
The interview and SIARPC was awful. They asked about 3 car questions and had people cheering for them which was very TGFI and was cringy. I have no doubt he felt he was in the zone. He wasn't and it felt like a second rate talent show where they ask you to cheer and the person on stages mum is the only one cheering whilst everyone stands about nervously hoping it will end. The whole thing felt scripted from start to finish highlighted by the prompter crack. Evans did nothing to open up or work the guests to get them to open up or feel relaxed it look like they were on trial. He didn't even talk to them about anything relevant to them. I liked Eisenburg as I felt like he had enough personality that it didn't just dry completely. I like it when they have non car people on as the point when they do that is they are funny people and you can have a laugh at them tearing off through the undergrowth on the lap.
The nomad bit was about the only bit I thought was up to par. It wasn't amazing but was a solid segment.
I forget what else happened. It didn't really engage me. Seems I had more of an opinion than I thought though.
C70R said:
Surely his response is one of a man who has poured all of his energies in the past year into making the best programme he can, while taking disproportional criticism from all corners?
I'm not CE's biggest fan, but if I had put my heart and soul into something, only for a bunch of internet plebs and journalists to try their hardest to rubbish it before they had given it a chance (I think we'd had 4pgs of people saying they would never watch again in the first 5mins), I'd be inclined to post something by way of "facts" to the contrary.
If everything he said is true, then Top Gear wasn't the total failure than so many people desperately wanted it to be. Yes, it wasn't reaching the old show's heights of 6m+. But memories are short if people think that the old show was never so flat.
I'm going to duck out of this thread before it seems like I'm defending CE. Apart from being a bit insincere (something Clarkson was guilty of many times) and over-enthusiastic, I can't see what he has done to incur such incredible ire from PH. Some of the efforts to rubbish him in this thread are try-hard at best, and playgroundesque at worst.
Evans is a divisive character, always has been, always will be (as is Chris Harris). PH is not unique in having outspoken individuals willing to rubbish anything and everything a divisive character does, far from it.I'm not CE's biggest fan, but if I had put my heart and soul into something, only for a bunch of internet plebs and journalists to try their hardest to rubbish it before they had given it a chance (I think we'd had 4pgs of people saying they would never watch again in the first 5mins), I'd be inclined to post something by way of "facts" to the contrary.
If everything he said is true, then Top Gear wasn't the total failure than so many people desperately wanted it to be. Yes, it wasn't reaching the old show's heights of 6m+. But memories are short if people think that the old show was never so flat.
I'm going to duck out of this thread before it seems like I'm defending CE. Apart from being a bit insincere (something Clarkson was guilty of many times) and over-enthusiastic, I can't see what he has done to incur such incredible ire from PH. Some of the efforts to rubbish him in this thread are try-hard at best, and playgroundesque at worst.
Evans initially said he wouldn't want and wouldn't do the TG gig, that he did a U turn was always going to give the naysayers their first round of ammunition.
I've spoken about Evans on here before. I watched as his stock grew (and he became increasingly egotistical, narcissistic and generally obnoxious), and then as he subsequently had a meltdown that made him all but unemployable.
But I also remember when the Beeb gave him another chance, albeit on a very limited basis. Those were some weekday Bank Holiday afternoon slots and IIRC a Saturday afternoon slot on R2 standing in for others.
Suitably chastened, Evans returned to his roots and with the aid of his posse, he produced some truly excellent radio shows. But what really shone through was his humility, he realised he'd previously screwed up and and p*ssed off/irritated a lot of people into the bargain.
With no pressure (other than to save his career) his egotism took a back seat, and the resultant individual was an absolute joy to listen to.
Regrettably as his stock rose at the Beeb, the obnoxious Evans once more came to the fore, and when he took over from the now much missed T Wogan, the stage was set for Evans egotism to run riot further still.
Under the same circumstances as he finds himself in now, Evans would no doubt point to the viewing figures he garners for his breakfast shown on R2, but that rather misses the point as I suspect very few individuals who listened to Wogan's show for many years actually went on to listen (consistently) to Evans breakfast show. Sure they may have tuned in for the first show (given very mediocre ratings IIRC), and possibly stuck with it for a week or more, but ultimately many will have looked elsewhere whilst Evans attracted a whole new audience.
Will the same happen with TG ? I doubt it somehow.
So far from villifying him purely for the sake of it, many on here are merely voicing opinions they've held on Evans for many years based on his previous behaviour. Those "Internet Plebs" as you refer to them (do you include yourself I wonder ?)
may well be the very individuals Evans and the Beeb should be trying to placate and produce a show they want to watch/worth watching.Love it or loathe it, TG became a national institution with its three Last of the Summer Winesque figures. As a result many hoped that the Beeb and Evans were going to build on the previous format and additionally breathe some new life into it. Saturday's performance was a less than thrilling result, all the more so if they've had (by your own admission) a year to work on it.
Only time will tell, but I suspect that Clarkson, Captain Slow and the Hamster will produce something truly spectacular that will make the revamped TG look very lame indeed. Clarkson, for all his faults, has the personality, skill and sheer bloodymindedness to ensure that what appears on Amazon later this year will be a fitting two fingered gesture to the Beeb. I for one look forward to "TG the Turbocharged edition" ....
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