Discussion
fatbutt said:
Utterly bloody terrible. Scripted, no chemistry between the presenters, dull features, etc.
Not exactly a surprise but surely they can see for themselves that they've got it hopelessly wrong?!
Do you enjoy the UK top gear? Thats obviously scripted, and it took them a while to get the chemistry there between the presenters.Not exactly a surprise but surely they can see for themselves that they've got it hopelessly wrong?!
Haven't seen it yet, but give it time.
I watched Top Gear USA last night.
The show started with a "Cobra versus Cobra" Dodge Viper feature where the boys outrun an attack helicopter. It didn't appear to be the most well thought out TG feature and by the end of it I was looking forward to the next piece. The Stig then drove the Viper around the TG track - which was good.
They moved on to "Big star, small car". It was promising, and they had Buzz Aldrin do the driving, it would have been nice if they had shown him practicing, but he seemed to acquit himself reasonably well for a guy up there in age. The segment was just ruined by the interview - it could have been so interesting and it was just plain dull.
By this time I was yawning so I switched off and figured I'd watch it at a later date.
I hope the next one is markedly better.
The show started with a "Cobra versus Cobra" Dodge Viper feature where the boys outrun an attack helicopter. It didn't appear to be the most well thought out TG feature and by the end of it I was looking forward to the next piece. The Stig then drove the Viper around the TG track - which was good.
They moved on to "Big star, small car". It was promising, and they had Buzz Aldrin do the driving, it would have been nice if they had shown him practicing, but he seemed to acquit himself reasonably well for a guy up there in age. The segment was just ruined by the interview - it could have been so interesting and it was just plain dull.
By this time I was yawning so I switched off and figured I'd watch it at a later date.
I hope the next one is markedly better.
It wasn't very good.
I read this article which sums it up perfectly:
http://jalopnik.com/5694780/first-drive-top-gear-u...
The presenters had no chemistry, but that could be a good thing to see it develop.
It felt like a bad rip-off and looks like they use a lot of the original's ideas (Water filled cars, cars versus miltary/skiers etc.) but I'll keep watching for a few episodes at least. I do quite like some of the more recent Australian episodes that I've seen, whereas the first few were awful so a similar thing may happen here.
I read this article which sums it up perfectly:
http://jalopnik.com/5694780/first-drive-top-gear-u...
The presenters had no chemistry, but that could be a good thing to see it develop.
It felt like a bad rip-off and looks like they use a lot of the original's ideas (Water filled cars, cars versus miltary/skiers etc.) but I'll keep watching for a few episodes at least. I do quite like some of the more recent Australian episodes that I've seen, whereas the first few were awful so a similar thing may happen here.
GavinPearson said:
I watched Top Gear USA last night.
The show started with a "Cobra versus Cobra" Dodge Viper feature where the boys outrun an attack helicopter. It didn't appear to be the most well thought out TG feature and by the end of it I was looking forward to the next piece. The Stig then drove the Viper around the TG track - which was good.
They moved on to "Big star, small car". It was promising, and they had Buzz Aldrin do the driving, it would have been nice if they had shown him practicing, but he seemed to acquit himself reasonably well for a guy up there in age. The segment was just ruined by the interview - it could have been so interesting and it was just plain dull.
By this time I was yawning so I switched off and figured I'd watch it at a later date.
I hope the next one is markedly better.
Sounds just like the UK version, which is to be honest, pretty lame nowadays....The show started with a "Cobra versus Cobra" Dodge Viper feature where the boys outrun an attack helicopter. It didn't appear to be the most well thought out TG feature and by the end of it I was looking forward to the next piece. The Stig then drove the Viper around the TG track - which was good.
They moved on to "Big star, small car". It was promising, and they had Buzz Aldrin do the driving, it would have been nice if they had shown him practicing, but he seemed to acquit himself reasonably well for a guy up there in age. The segment was just ruined by the interview - it could have been so interesting and it was just plain dull.
By this time I was yawning so I switched off and figured I'd watch it at a later date.
I hope the next one is markedly better.
Apparently it gets better after the third episode. I'll give it a chance till then but given that one of the presenters (Tanner) is from another programme (Speed TV's 'Battle of the supercars') and is just as dull as on Top Gear, I don't hold out much hope.
That interview with Buzz was embaressing. Tanner can't interview to save his life and if it wasn't for Buzz trying to make it interesting it would have been as flat as Texas. Tanner has all the charisma of a goldfish.
That interview with Buzz was embaressing. Tanner can't interview to save his life and if it wasn't for Buzz trying to make it interesting it would have been as flat as Texas. Tanner has all the charisma of a goldfish.
SpeedBash said:
Anyone have a link to this episode?
think it is ok to post links to hosted sites http://www.megavideo.com/?d=QC6D4HR6
Your not missing much if you have seen the UK version it is almost identical in format
MrV said:
SpeedBash said:
Anyone have a link to this episode?
think it is ok to post links to hosted sites http://www.megavideo.com/?d=QC6D4HR6
Your not missing much if you have seen the UK version it is almost identical in format
Okay, this being the first episode, I'm willing to cut these guys some slack. The beardy one had a couple of clever lines but was mostly just annoying. Foust can drive, I'll give him that. But I don't think he has a strong enough personality to carry off the role of lead presenter. The show needs a Clarksonesque front-man to set the tone. Overall, it was like watching a cover band perfoming one of your favourite songs; it was okay but you've seen it done better by the original artists.
I have to admit, the choice of presenters is somewhat puzzling. Due to his driving skills (and despite coming from the dubious "sport" of drifting), I can understand Foust's presence. Beardy and the New York-sounding guy must both have really good agents. How else would these two have landed a place on Top Gear, above all the other candidates? I honestly think I could have done a better job.
A fundamental problem with any American take on Top Gear is the need for commercial interruptions. Not only do you lose about 20 minutes to companies trying to sell you things you don't want, it also interrupts the "flow" of the show. A good Top Gear segment tells a story while enticing you with it's visual presentation. The producers really can't pace the segment and build up to a crescendo when the story is abruptly halted to make room for an ad for the new Dwane "The Rock" Johnson action film, another for Apple laptop computers and a plug for Conan O'Brian's new talk show.
All in all, it's a mixed bag of results and I'm sure it will get better with time. And besides, despite it's shortcomings, it's still better than Motorweek (America's longest running - nearly 30 years - television motoring programme. And most boring, too!)
I have to admit, the choice of presenters is somewhat puzzling. Due to his driving skills (and despite coming from the dubious "sport" of drifting), I can understand Foust's presence. Beardy and the New York-sounding guy must both have really good agents. How else would these two have landed a place on Top Gear, above all the other candidates? I honestly think I could have done a better job.
A fundamental problem with any American take on Top Gear is the need for commercial interruptions. Not only do you lose about 20 minutes to companies trying to sell you things you don't want, it also interrupts the "flow" of the show. A good Top Gear segment tells a story while enticing you with it's visual presentation. The producers really can't pace the segment and build up to a crescendo when the story is abruptly halted to make room for an ad for the new Dwane "The Rock" Johnson action film, another for Apple laptop computers and a plug for Conan O'Brian's new talk show.
All in all, it's a mixed bag of results and I'm sure it will get better with time. And besides, despite it's shortcomings, it's still better than Motorweek (America's longest running - nearly 30 years - television motoring programme. And most boring, too!)
Edited by MadmanO/T People on Thursday 25th November 03:23
MadmanO/T People said:
Okay, this being the first episode, I'm willing to cut these guys some slack. The beardy one had a couple of clever lines but was mostly just annoying. Foust can drive, I'll give him that. But I don't think he has a strong enough personality to carry off the role of lead presenter. The show needs a Clarksonesque front-man to set the tone. Overall, it was like watching a cover band perfoming one of your favourite songs; it was okay but you've seen it done better by the original artists.
The only person who springs to mind with the right attitude to truly front the show won't do it - Jay Leno would be absolutely perfect.Beardy was a waste of time and space.
I thought the episode wasn't bad; sure, it looks like they're just taking the best elements of the UK shows ideas, but those should still be fairly entertaining.
DannyVTS said:
Matt.. said:
I gave up trying to watch that. Top Gear Australia is the best of these other Top Gear's!
Australia one was very good, did they do a full season ? Only saw the pilot(?) or maybe that was EP1
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