Top Gear 2016 Official TV show thread *contains spoilers*
Discussion
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.
There was less car content in TG for me. Yes, it began with Evans in a Viper being chased by Sabine in a 'Vette, but I still don't know anything much about either car. They might have said, but it didn't sink in. The SIARPRC was utterly cringworthy. Nothing of any import was mentioned. A has been TV chef boasting about his La Ferrari and an American 'comedian' I've never heard of. No 'news' at all about cars or what either of them were doing. A pantomime 'clap if you like it' embarrassment. The Ariel thing was okay, but went on too long and what was all the rubbish with Reliants and Jeeps and Land Rovers? It was like they'd watched the last ten years of TG and tried to put it all into one show. Even down to racing a jet plane.
I know the old show was scripted, but it wasn't so obviously so, this new one Evans started out trying to sound like Clarkson, then became Hammond in the first piece. The whole thing was cringeworthy.
Le Blanc sitting on the back of a recovery vehicle in a cut down Reliant isn't Clarkson doing the same thing. There's something about Clarkson sitting in the freezing cold and pouring rain that pleases me, there's nothing that pleased me watching Le Blanc doing it.
I know the old show was scripted, but it wasn't so obviously so, this new one Evans started out trying to sound like Clarkson, then became Hammond in the first piece. The whole thing was cringeworthy.
Le Blanc sitting on the back of a recovery vehicle in a cut down Reliant isn't Clarkson doing the same thing. There's something about Clarkson sitting in the freezing cold and pouring rain that pleases me, there's nothing that pleased me watching Le Blanc doing it.
I've finally managed to watch Extra Gear.
Oh my... I didn't realise that they've f
ked up old track layout. That stty nobody-gives-a-fk rally cross course not only destroyed two fastest corners but also introduced stloads of dirt which of course is known to increase lap times tremendously. Are they brain dead?
Oh my... I didn't realise that they've f
ked up old track layout. That stty nobody-gives-a-fk rally cross course not only destroyed two fastest corners but also introduced stloads of dirt which of course is known to increase lap times tremendously. Are they brain dead?The Ramsey Evans rich off did come across fairly badly. I would hope they don't stick with that whats the best car you have ever owned idea as I just can't see that working. It's the sort of question that works Ok with everyday normal folk but really feels a little uncomfortable when you are asking someone wealthy. Still maybe if the answer had not been a La Ferrari but I am actually getting another even better La Ferrari it might not have been quite so bad.
hornet said:
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.
One single episode of old Top Gear was still the second-highest requested program on iPlayer a month after it had been broadcast this time last year. Every other program in the top 10 was an Eastenders episode (BBC No.1 viewed show by miles).Evans is clutching at straws. New TG performance spot-figures are not dire by any manner of means, but definitely underperforming compared to what went before. Considering the budget is up and the number of episodes for this series is down the whole project is already on the back foot. FACT!
Hitch said:
Why are people so angry? If the BBC had canned the show it would never have returned so just be thankful that there is a car programme with a big budget on free TV. It will get better. Hopefully that will happen as Compo and Co come back with more of their antics in TGT and we'll have two decent shows. That's a good result right?
Oh, and the BBC were always going to keep the format because, well, they paid Clarkson and Wilman an absolute fking fortune for it so they need to make it work else they'll get slammed for wasting public money.
The interesting bit in this 'debate' is that there are very few ideas being banded about. Just lots of whinging. How would people make it better?
Very well put, sir! I can't believe we are up page 60 something with the TG whining. Still, we could always increase the feminisation of TV and have a knitting bee/bake off/middle England antique show instead of something about cars? Oh, and the BBC were always going to keep the format because, well, they paid Clarkson and Wilman an absolute f
king fortune for it so they need to make it work else they'll get slammed for wasting public money. The interesting bit in this 'debate' is that there are very few ideas being banded about. Just lots of whinging. How would people make it better?
strummerville said:
Very well put, sir! I can't believe we are up page 60 something with the TG whining. Still, we could always increase the feminisation of TV and have a knitting bee/bake off/middle England antique show instead of something about cars?
There has been some whining in this thread, yes. But in the ratio of whining to valid discussion, I'd say the whining has been in the minority. However, I suspect there is 'confirmation bias' with some - they came into the thread expecting to see whining and whining is what they saw. Edited by ClockworkCupcake on Wednesday 1st June 14:58
strummerville said:
Hitch said:
Why are people so angry? If the BBC had canned the show it would never have returned so just be thankful that there is a car programme with a big budget on free TV. It will get better. Hopefully that will happen as Compo and Co come back with more of their antics in TGT and we'll have two decent shows. That's a good result right?
Oh, and the BBC were always going to keep the format because, well, they paid Clarkson and Wilman an absolute fking fortune for it so they need to make it work else they'll get slammed for wasting public money.
The interesting bit in this 'debate' is that there are very few ideas being banded about. Just lots of whinging. How would people make it better?
Very well put, sir! I can't believe we are up page 60 something with the TG whining. Still, we could always increase the feminisation of TV and have a knitting bee/bake off/middle England antique show instead of something about cars? Oh, and the BBC were always going to keep the format because, well, they paid Clarkson and Wilman an absolute f
king fortune for it so they need to make it work else they'll get slammed for wasting public money. The interesting bit in this 'debate' is that there are very few ideas being banded about. Just lots of whinging. How would people make it better?
BBC is paid for, the budget is irrelevant and it's not a car show. Old TG was a car show with some great presenters - it was a style which was acceptable to most, very enjoyable for many. The new style is clearly not enjoyable or even acceptable for most people so it's a waste of budget which comes from license fee payers.
Why shouldn't fee payers moan that the BBC have got it so wrong and ruined the show ? They're paying for it !
HoHoHo said:
djdest said:
If that happens I'd watch it 
I wonder how many feel the same
Smollet said:
HoHoHo said:
djdest said:
If that happens I'd watch it I wonder how many feel the same
Only one thing could have made episode 1 worse, Eddie Jordan.
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.
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.
Edited by thetapeworm on Wednesday 1st June 15:39
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.
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.
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