BBC Top Gear 2017 Thread

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Discussion

Nardiola

1,165 posts

218 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
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Tuvra said:
bodhi said:
Completely and very strongly disagree. Whilst GT wasn't quite as good as TG in its prime, current TG is but a tribute act. Occasional moments of being half decent, but most of it is just tedious arse. Every time it threatens to get half decent (the Alfa review), they ruin it completely with half arsed attempts to be wacky (the Styrofoam bit). MLB sounds bored through most of it, Rory sounds like an excited schoolboy who's won a chance to be on Top Gear, and CH is great until he's asked to interact with any of the other presenters - then it all goes horribly wrong.

I'll keep watching as I want 2 entertaining car shows to watch, but as it is, there's only one. And I'm not paying a license fee to watch it.
I agree with this, I keep watching it later & later into the week which speaks volumes.

I'd keep Harris from interacting with anyone to be honest. He's fine on his own, as soon as he talks to someone else his acting skills breaks the whole illusion that it's fake/scripted nonsense.

That Pac man game they did was rubbish, as was the "race" in the Chirion....
Also in agreement with this. I felt TGT ended on a high, some really good and funny moments. The cinematography is on parity with TGT and TG I think, they're pretty much on the limit of what can be done both creatively and technically, so that leaves it to the presentation style.

I like Harris reviewing/driving cars, but he's wooden and uncomfortable in the studio, MLB is nice bloke but seems to only be able to read from an unfunny script, Rory doesn't add anything for me. Conversely, Clarkson is a shouty moron but has moments of genuine insight, Hammond is a shouty moron but is sometimes funny, May is great and sharp witted - him falling over in mud was funny too.

I'll continue to watch both and enjoy some puerile car related stuff on TV.


briSk

14,291 posts

225 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
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I have been enjoying TG.
For the first time in years I started to actually like Clarkson again during the final two TGTs but..
...***IMO*** revised TG makes me realise how over Clarkson May Hammond I am.
Even the now infamous shipping containers (which is obvious filler) reminded me of the Manchester airport M5 touring video - it looked really nice and was visually different.
I like Harris and always have. I hope they don't over do the pantomime baddie thing.
I also quite like the Joeys Machines bits. At least it's different.
TGT was full of arrogance. Perhaps because TGv3.0 flopped they now are being more humble and that is appealing to me..

Either way I definitely prefer TG now.

All the DIY shows on YouTube appeal more but that's a whole diffferent discussion..!

bexVN

14,682 posts

210 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
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Have to say I really liked the Oman race. OK so it was nothing new but it was a great chance to see the sort of vehicles open to you if money is no object. But what did it was seeing MLB on the Ducati. He rode that with ease obviously knew what he was doing. I enjoy watching bikers at ease with their machines. And a bike in Top Gear!!

ajprice

27,314 posts

195 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
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Some of the sections do go on too long, and the ones that do tend to be the silly pointless ones... Alfa Romeo through the wall was too long, Golf GTi Clubsport at the ring was too long, Twingo Pac Man was too long. They could cut some of the sections down, and do something else or maybe put a few Extra Gear bits into the main show instead of iPlayer (Haven't watched this weeks EG yet).

J4CKO

41,279 posts

199 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
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Loving it, it isnt "too PC", Harris is good, quite like Joey from friends and Rory Reid is growing on me, it is less bigheaded and tttish than TG got, Chris Evans didnt work but this is doing, and we get two big budget car programmes, remebmer, TG used to be 30 mins about seatbelts and Tony Mason on about Tractors in living memory, so Chirons in Dubai, I will take that.

Pac Man thing was crap.

Tuvra

7,920 posts

224 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
quotequote all
bexVN said:
Have to say I really liked the Oman race. OK so it was nothing new but it was a great chance to see the sort of vehicles open to you if money is no object. But what did it was seeing MLB on the Ducati. He rode that with ease obviously knew what he was doing. I enjoy watching bikers at ease with their machines. And a bike in Top Gear!!
I just think it could have been so much better. You knew there was going to be a helicopter/plane in there somewhere so the boat was totally pointless. It could have for example been, reach point A using land, sea and air and then it would have worked, as it was, it just felt incredibly rigid and scripted.

For example he could have got straight on the Boat, taken the boat to an offshore helipad (super yacht?), helicopter to the bike and made it feel neck and neck all the way rather, as it was I was a bit bored to be honest frown

Bullett

10,873 posts

183 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
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I enjoyed it, way better than last week.
The Pacman bit went on a bit long but other than that, good. Even the guest didn't feel too forced.

bexVN

14,682 posts

210 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
quotequote all
Tuvra said:
bexVN said:
Have to say I really liked the Oman race. OK so it was nothing new but it was a great chance to see the sort of vehicles open to you if money is no object. But what did it was seeing MLB on the Ducati. He rode that with ease obviously knew what he was doing. I enjoy watching bikers at ease with their machines. And a bike in Top Gear!!
I just think it could have been so much better. You knew there was going to be a helicopter/plane in there somewhere so the boat was totally pointless. It could have for example been, reach point A using land, sea and air and then it would have worked, as it was, it just felt incredibly rigid and scripted.

For example he could have got straight on the Boat, taken the boat to an offshore helipad (super yacht?), helicopter to the bike and made it feel neck and neck all the way rather, as it was I was a bit bored to be honest frown
Maybe I guess I don't worry about the what if this what that etc etc and just enjoy it for what it is, light entertainment.

e21Mark

16,205 posts

172 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
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It's the silly contrived bits that I can't stand, such as counting the value of cars overtaken at the ring. It's all a bit desperate. Add in a few whoops and high fives and it makes matters worse. Why are they trying to give Chris Harris this weird persona too? It's a shame as without all that nonsense it's a pretty good show in parts.

I can't say I'm looking forward to the return of Eddie Jordan next week either.

GarageQueen

2,295 posts

245 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
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they're missing Richard Porter's script work imo.......

the Chiron piece was very uninspiring and I felt they could have done so much more with that

briSk

14,291 posts

225 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
quotequote all
e21Mark said:
It's the silly contrived bits that I can't stand, such as counting the value of cars overtaken at the ring. It's all a bit desperate. Add in a few whoops and high fives and it makes matters worse. Why are they trying to give Chris Harris this weird persona too? It's a shame as without all that nonsense it's a pretty good show in parts.

I can't say I'm looking forward to the return of Eddie Jordan next week either.
Seconded on Jordan!
I don't wish for the daft bits either but that's just what it is. It's what top gear is and it is what the xerox'd grand tour is too.
At least now it's turned back into a car show!

carl_w

9,154 posts

257 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
quotequote all
GarageQueen said:
they're missing Richard Porter's script work imo.....
Yet on the TGT thread people were complaining about Richard Porter's script work. You can please all of the people some of the time... etc.

briSk

14,291 posts

225 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
quotequote all
carl_w said:
GarageQueen said:
they're missing Richard Porter's script work imo.....
Yet on the TGT thread people were complaining about Richard Porter's script work. You can please all of the people some of the time... etc.
It's weird because I found myself far more accepting of "the three fools " concept as TGT because i was choosing to watch it as an extra 'entertainment show'. I didn't feel the cocking about and casual racism etc was at the expense of a car programme that my licence fee is meant to be paying for. So I am actually happy with the current situation. I prefer TG in current guise but definitely feel TGT has its place.

MarshPhantom

9,658 posts

136 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
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strummerville said:
MarshPhantom said:
FiF said:
strummerville said:
Look on the bright side - you could be forced to watch The Nightly Show. Just when you think it can't get any worse...
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.telegraph.co.uk/t...
What's happened to his hair?
I saw the trailer last night and wondered the same thing.
I think he visits the same barber as James Nesbitt...
Maybe he does.

ClockworkCupcake

74,391 posts

271 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
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For those who seem to want Top Gear to be a dry, humourless, car review show, might I point you in the direction of the Internet?

From the Golf R Lease thread, someone posted this link to a YouTube review of it and I think it may be right up your street.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H5uFdpvJ2M

No Pacman, no shrieky German ladies, just a straight, dry, car review. Fill your boots.



e21Mark

16,205 posts

172 months

Thursday 30th March 2017
quotequote all
ClockworkCupcake said:
For those who seem to want Top Gear to be a dry, humourless, car review show, might I point you in the direction of the Internet?

From the Golf R Lease thread, someone posted this link to a YouTube review of it and I think it may be right up your street.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H5uFdpvJ2M

No Pacman, no shrieky German ladies, just a straight, dry, car review. Fill your boots.


I think it was a lack of actual humour people were speaking of? The Pac Man bit was certainly devoid of it.

I know what you mean about people posting their different opinions though. It's almost as if this were a discussion thread on an Internet forum.

People are just talking about the parts they did and didn't like. No harm done. smile


Adenauer

18,564 posts

235 months

Thursday 30th March 2017
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Oh well, at least I tried biggrin

-Sabine, try not to shout and scream too loud, it scares my Cat.

Dankeschön.


- Sabine Schmitz - Too late...sorry

sandman77

2,365 posts

137 months

Thursday 30th March 2017
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I think TG is doing a great job. Not everybody will like every part of the show. Some like the celebrity interviews, some like the serious car reviews, some like the dicking around and I even like Sabine. The point being there is something in there for everyone.

boxedin

1,351 posts

125 months

Thursday 30th March 2017
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If you want an hour long dry review, with the added 'benefit' of calling out the use of leather in cars, Tomas is yer man:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG0__4AhnoCWRH7TP...

As for TG, on the Oman 'race', whilst it was great to see the Ducati, it only appeared because of VAG. IIRC every wheeled machine in that section was a VAG product, you can't pay for advertising like that. No really...




Alex

9,975 posts

283 months

Thursday 30th March 2017
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The SIARFC at yesterday's recording was:

Sir Chris Hoy