BBC Top Gear 2018 Thread

[irocfan]

quite enjoyed last night's epi. What I don't get though is....

the disdain for Rory. Is he a great presenter? No, he's an average bloke who's hit lucky and I'm happy for him. Seems a nice enough chap
the hatred for Ken Block. I guess in many regards he's another 'Rory' - only a LOT more wealthy. Again good luck to him.
the worship of CH. To be honest in TG it seems like he is trying too hard, pulls dumb faces and generally seems ill at ease with the camera

[Escort3500]

Doofus said:

Escort3500 said:

I don’t feel sorry for him, he’s just not up to the job.

How do you know? He's not exactly been given the chance, has he.

He’s on his 3rd series and still doesn’t do a good job IMO.

[Doofus]

Escort3500 said:

He’s on his 3rd series and still doesn’t do a good job IMO.

In what way? Genuine question. I think he's alright; pretty harmless. He isn't given a lot to work with, TBF.

[Johnspex]

I don't understand the criticism of Reid's driving ability. How do measure his ability from a few seconds of video?
Someone on this thread has compared his driving to Hammond's. Again, who are you to judge? What's so bad about it?

Moreover , it's been said on here that only an idiot really believes that when they look good in long shots that it is actually them driving.
So, are they driving the cars or not , and if not, who is and why are they sometimes good and sometimes bad? I refuse to accept that TG or TGT are edited to show Hammond or Reid looking good part of the time and bad the rest.

I think there's a hell of a lot of envy on here.

[aaron_2000]

irocfan said:

quite enjoyed last night's epi. What I don't get though is....

the disdain for Rory. Is he a great presenter? No, he's an average bloke who's hit lucky and I'm happy for him. Seems a nice enough chap
the hatred for Ken Block. I guess in many regards he's another 'Rory' - only a LOT more wealthy. Again good luck to him.
the worship of CH. To be honest in TG it seems like he is trying too hard, pulls dumb faces and generally seems ill at ease with the camera

Agreed except for the CH comment in a way, I like Rory, I think people just hate him because they want to really. I think Chris was always better when doing his own thing, CHOC was one of my favourite things to watch on YT. I think we've got 2 good shows whereas we used to only have 1, Top Gear is more car related now, and Grand Tour is what we watch for their chemistry and something to laugh at.

Johnspex said:

I don't understand the criticism of Reid's driving ability. How do measure his ability from a few seconds of video?
Someone on this thread has compared his driving to Hammond's. Again, who are you to judge? What's so bad about it?

I didn't see any real issue with his driving, he's no racing driver, but then again, none of us are either. I do think Hammond is a pretty good driver though, as is Clarkson. May not so much, certainly not a bad driver though.

[Escort3500]

Doofus said:

Escort3500 said:

He’s on his 3rd series and still doesn’t do a good job IMO.

In what way? Genuine question. I think he's alright; pretty harmless. He isn't given a lot to work with, TBF.

He doesn’t have much charisma or commitment, it’s like he’s just there to make up the numbers.

[Yipper]

Escort3500 said:

Doofus said:

Escort3500 said:

He’s on his 3rd series and still doesn’t do a good job IMO.

In what way? Genuine question. I think he's alright; pretty harmless. He isn't given a lot to work with, TBF.

He doesn’t have much charisma or commitment, it’s like he’s just there to make up the numbers.

I was at TG live-filming on Sat. Funnily enough, Rory got the best reaction from the crowd when the cameras were off. But, as soon as the cameras were on, he just looked and acted total cringe. He seemed to be doing a (bad) impression of the real Rory. It was most odd.

[aaron_2000]

Yipper said:

He seemed to be doing a (bad) impression of the real Rory. It was most odd.

Just like you seem to be doing a bad impression of a real person. It's most odd.

[otolith]

Safe.

Inoffensive.

Dull.

[Pistom]

irocfan said:

quite enjoyed last night's epi. What I don't get though is....

the disdain for Rory. Is he a great presenter? No, he's an average bloke who's hit lucky and I'm happy for him. Seems a nice enough chap
the hatred for Ken Block. I guess in many regards he's another 'Rory' - only a LOT more wealthy. Again good luck to him.
the worship of CH. To be honest in TG it seems like he is trying too hard, pulls dumb faces and generally seems ill at ease with the camera

I just don't like him. Almost to the point of finding his presence on the show offensive. I don't really care or even feel I'm best placed to comment on his driving ability but he's there to entertain and he doesn't entertain me.

[Heres Johnny]

We can say what we want, there are three presenters and we’ll all prefer one or other of them. I can’t stand Hammond, he’s just childish, clarkson when you’re not laughing you want to punch him. Same here on TG, Rory is the fall guy, the but of the jokes and he just takes it.

The format is getting old and both GT and TG are making near identical formula shows,but if you want car reviews watch Harry’s garage on youtube, now that will send you to sleep.

[r11co]

Switched off at the 'duel' segment. Apart from thinking 'what was the purpose of that' as it established absolutely nothing about the cars, the presenters still aren't doing it for me and the show continues to look like it has been put together by a committee working to a formula book rather than a core group of people with a vision. I said in an earlier iteration of this thread 'why does everything have to be done in some far-flung land' (maybe they should take a tent with them and call it 'The Big Tour' or something) as that was never the way with Top Gear.

Worth remembering that LeBlanc, Harris and Reid are leftovers, the best of a bad deal from the last time someone with a vision was in charge of Top Gear.

[p1stonhead]

ash73 said:

Yipper said:

But, as soon as the cameras were on, he just looked and acted total cringe. He seemed to be doing a (bad) impression of the real Rory. It was most odd.

All three have been given ridiculous pantomime roles to perform. Presumably a focus group of idiots told them it just won't work unless they play "characters".

LeBlanc has said that the person on Top Gear isnt 'him'. He is an actor so is acting as a presenter.

“I’m not a host. I’m an actor playing the part of a presenter. Is it really me you see on Top Gear? Probably not. It’s the ‘me’ that suits the film we’re making.”

Harris was fairly wooden first time around too contrasted to how he was in his normal car videos presumably because he was told he had to be a certain way. He is pretty comfortable with it now though I reckon.

[rich350z]

Heres Johnny said:

We can say what we want, there are three presenters and we’ll all prefer one or other of them. I can’t stand Hammond, he’s just childish, clarkson when you’re not laughing you want to punch him. Same here on TG, Rory is the fall guy, the but of the jokes and he just takes it.

The format is getting old and both GT and TG are making near identical formula shows,but if you want car reviews watch Harry’s garage on youtube, now that will send you to sleep.

Say what you like about TG but you are wrong about Harry's Garage. It is one of the best factual car channels.

[Heres Johnny]

rich350z said:

Say what you like about TG but you are wrong about Harry's Garage. It is one of the best factual car channels.

I didn't say it wasn't factual, I actually implied quite the opposite, its still incredibly slow. If you want to spend 15 mins watching the subtle differences between old versions of Ranger Rovers then carry on.

[ThunderSpook]

r11co said:

Switched off at the 'duel' segment. Apart from thinking 'what was the purpose of that' as it established absolutely nothing about the cars, the presenters still aren't doing it for me and the show continues to look like it has been put together by a committee working to a formula book rather than a core group of people with a vision. I said in an earlier iteration of this thread 'why does everything have to be done in some far-flung land' (maybe they should take a tent with them and call it 'The Big Tour' or something) as that was never the way with Top Gear.

Worth remembering that LeBlanc, Harris and Reid are leftovers, the best of a bad deal from the last time someone with a vision was in charge of Top Gear.

Bitter much? Try forgetting the old Top Gear in its heyday, because let’s be honest most of old Top Gear was nowhere near as good as it was in its heyday, and assess it on its own as a car show.

[LuS1fer]

I was entertained by that, more so than TGT.
Rory is still a bit of a square peg but he's OK.

Sabine is still as grating as nails down a blackboard and needs getting rid of.

[Gary29]

Average.

No need for pages and pages and pages of debate.

[cerb4.5lee]

I really enjoyed Extra Gear and I thought Rory worked well on that(a million times better than the Muppet they had previously presenting). John Hennessey seemed a top bloke and he has a real passion for cars/speed.

[Rawwr]

Gary29 said:

Average.

No need for pages and pages and pages of debate.

Phew. That's that settled, then. I'll request the thread gets locked to save us from our own opinions.