BBC Top Gear 2017 Thread

[Japveesix]

PH XKR said:

But the death of a star each week was funny and original.

Every week they did it I found it even more hilarious and imaginative.

Anyway, that trailer to me looks really excellent. Hope they don't overdo the scripted forced comedy like Grand Tour did. Hope the tedious, repetitive studio sections are reduced (unlike on Grand Tour) and hope they feature some exciting and current cars being driven well (unlike most of Grand Tour).

[durbster]

A non-video preview:
http://www.topgear.com/car-news/chris-harris-drive...

Looks pretty good to me, and they have the advantage of really low expectations this time

[Quickmoose]

durbster said:

A non-video preview:
http://www.topgear.com/car-news/chris-harris-drive...

Looks pretty good to me, and they have the advantage of really low expectations this time

pretty much any one of those ideas sounds better than all of tGT

[r11co]

Japveesix said:

Hope the tedious, repetitive studio sections are reduced.

I'm willing to bet that is a given, seeing as they no longer have to worry about the showrunner burning the budget on large chunks of film that can't actually be used because of rights issues, or is short but expensive because they insisted on doing everything in some far-flung location, leaving not enough features for a full series run nevermind keeping some leftovers for a Christmas DVD and two-part special, therefor having to pad what episodes they have by doubling the time spent talking to the guest celebrities.

Edited by r11co on Tuesday 28th February 23:03

[bodhi]

durbster said:

A non-video preview:
http://www.topgear.com/car-news/chris-harris-drive...

Looks pretty good to me, and they have the advantage of really low expectations this time

As I said. Top Gear by numbers.

[r11co]

bodhi said:

As I said. Top Gear by numbers.

Did Harris really write that?

The forced narratives accompanying that series of pictures is giving me a sense of foreboding. We don't yet know enough about the remaining presenting team to be able to know if the characterisations they've been given in that little storyboard are natural or forced.

Just my 2p's worth, but I reckon for this series they should have just given the three plenty screen time with cars and minimal scripting until the audience had got a feel for their personas.

[schmalex]

It's a shame they kept Harris IMO. He's the only presenter I've ever seen who was able to make a review of exotica less interesting than doing your tax return.

[strummerville]

Just flicked through the preview - I'm looking forward to that! And let the 142 pages of moaning begin..

[Zoobeef]

Hated the evans ones, just watched the trailer and I have to say I'm actually excited!

Anyone know what part the rocket plays in a film?

[durbster]

Zoobeef said:

Hated the evans ones, just watched the trailer and I have to say I'm actually excited!

Anyone know what part the rocket plays in a film?

• spoiler*

They strap Chris Evans to it.

[Japveesix]

Beefmeister said:

It's not the producers. This was Rory's own idea pre-TG:

https://youtu.be/Yd_6P_AQj6U

<cringe>

Apart from the the fact that some of the language in that was a bit 'yoof' and urban for me I actually thought that was a pretty imaginative car review that told you a fair amount about the car and somehow fitted quite well with the RR Ghost in a way that it wouldnt have with many other marques. Not bad rhymes or flow to be honest.

[anonymous-user]

Japveesix said:

Beefmeister said:

It's not the producers. This was Rory's own idea pre-TG:

https://youtu.be/Yd_6P_AQj6U

<cringe>

Apart from the the fact that some of the language in that was a bit 'yoof' and urban for me I actually thought that was a pretty imaginative car review that told you a fair amount about the car and somehow fitted quite well with the RR Ghost in a way that it wouldnt have with many other marques. Not bad rhymes or flow to be honest.

Agree (oh and Beefy has flounced from the thread so he won't see your reply)

[hairykrishna]

Zoobeef said:

Hated the evans ones, just watched the trailer and I have to say I'm actually excited!

Anyone know what part the rocket plays in a film?

According to the site they do a film in Kazakhstan where they all have to buy cars that have done equivalent miles to driving to the moon and back. It looks like a 'proper' launch rather than something for the show so it's probably a launch from here; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baikonur_Cosmodrome that happened to be going on at the right time.

[chrispmartha]

hairykrishna said:

Zoobeef said:

Hated the evans ones, just watched the trailer and I have to say I'm actually excited!

Anyone know what part the rocket plays in a film?

According to the site they do a film in Kazakhstan where they all have to buy cars that have done equivalent miles to driving to the moon and back. It looks like a 'proper' launch rather than something for the show so it's probably a launch from here; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baikonur_Cosmodrome that happened to be going on at the right time.

That challenge sounds a better base s to an episode than any of TGT ones, it will all succeed or fail on how the presenters go, looking forward to seeing it.

[foxsasha]

schmalex said:

It's a shame they kept Harris IMO. He's the only presenter I've ever seen who was able to make a review of exotica less interesting than doing your tax return.

I'm a Harris convert. Was watching his reviews the other day and I thought about those who criticise him and wondered who they think would do a better job of it.

[98elise]

foxsasha said:

schmalex said:

It's a shame they kept Harris IMO. He's the only presenter I've ever seen who was able to make a review of exotica less interesting than doing your tax return.

I'm a Harris convert. Was watching his reviews the other day and I thought about those who criticise him and wondered who they think would do a better job of it.

If I knew that I'd probably be producing TG

His reviews are completent and informative and he can clearly drive. The problem is its not very entertaining, and thats what I liked about old TG. I'm not a big fan to TGT either so its not a TGT vs TG thing.

[schmalex]

foxsasha said:

schmalex said:

It's a shame they kept Harris IMO. He's the only presenter I've ever seen who was able to make a review of exotica less interesting than doing your tax return.

I'm a Harris convert. Was watching his reviews the other day and I thought about those who criticise him and wondered who they think would do a better job of it.

I don't know. All I know, as a watcher of TV, is that he is boring to watch and makes intreresting and entertaining topics too painful to watch and enjoy as light entertainment.

[SpikeBmth]

I'm looking forward to it.

We attended filming of episode two last weekend. The Alfa featured was a well balanced, well edited bit of filming, with the humour levels at the right levels.
Seems much better than the last series, the new set is impressive too.

[foxsasha]

schmalex said:

I don't know. All I know, as a watcher of TV, is that he is boring to watch and makes intreresting and entertaining topics too painful to watch and enjoy as light entertainment.

You find him boring, I find him entertaining. Takes all sorts

[segart]

98elise said:

The problem with budget cuts is you end up with Fifth Gear. On paper I should love Fifth Gear. I like the presenters, they have some chemistry, and its about cars. The problem is it just didn't entertain me so I never watched it. I watched old TG because it was entertaining.

Unfortunately I don't think the latest line up will be entertaining, no matter how good Chris Harris is behind the wheel, i find watching somone drive a car competently to be quite dull. Worse still i didn't enjoy Grand Tour enough to warrant another subscription, so I gave up on that too.

On the upside Jay Lenos garage has been excelent and is now my car program of choice

Totally agree with that. I feel I should like 5th Gear too as I like VBH and JP and don't have an issue with TF, but something about it doesn't quite gel. No spark. JLG is a all about cars and enthusiasm, not pratting around for the sake of it.
The more car shows the better but quality wise I think we have been sold some crap lately. TGT is bullst. I am keeping fingers crossed for the new TG.
Rick