Tuesday 24th July 2007

Top Gear USA Axed

Clarkson says no to US Top Gear

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Clarkson wants to stay in the UK

The BBC has axed plans to make an American series of Top Gear because Jeremy Clarkson has refused to live in the US.

The series would have made big stars out of all three TG presenters but Clarkson decided that he didn’t want to live away from the UK for an extended period.

In order to film the series they would have had to move out to the States for four months and endure a hectic filming schedule; but Jezza doesn’t want to leave his wife, children and life behind for so long.

Adam Waddell, Top Gear Managing Director, had this to say: “We don’t comment on specific negotiations. Suffice to say, BBC Worldwide still has aspirations to take Top Gear to the US and there’s no reason why those plans shouldn’t include Jeremy.”

Source: The Sun

[Paracetamol]

Clarkson's knicked my car!!!!!!

[sprinter885]

As they say "Respek to JC"- for preferring to stay in blighty (not for nicking Paracetamol's car !) I'm sure he doesn't need the cash it would bring but it could have made all 3 off TG VERY big across the pond. Nice to see he's got principles. (mind you after that TG episode with pink cars & gay accusations the 3 of 'em might well have actually got shot at........

[Mattygooner]

Agreed. I am sure the yanks would prefer to just be able to see the shows when we see them rather than wait ages or download them. I don't think it would translate very well and i doubt american car manufacturers are ready for the negative comments they would surely receive. I think the only posotive comments that an american motor got on TG over hear was the new corvette, and rigtly so.

[getoffmyland]

Lucky them. At least they wont have to endure his bore-some rhetoric.

[r5gttgaz]

Its sh*t anyway. Lucky Yanks.

[Zumbruk]

Well, Clarkson's already a gazillionaire, but it would have been nice for the Hampster and Captain Slow to hoover up some extra wonga.

[waynepixel]

I would like to know what the hell has happened too Top-gear UK, I thought there was going to be a summer show? 4 Months away from home, yeahhhhh, what a killer!

[DaveR]

I dunno. They might all feel a bit twitchy about the good ol' US of A after the Hicksville special:

COUNTRY MUSIC IS SH!T, NASCAR SUCKS AND I LIKE MAN LOVE

[Wacky Racer]

Send over Chris Goffey and William Woollard instead.......

[Shakiras peaches]

"Jezza doesn’t want to leave his wife, children and life behind for so long"

Thats exactly what I'd say if I was aiming for more money

[nickwilcock]

I don't blame Jeremy at all! Americanisation of UK programmes rarely succeeds; no doubt there would have been canned laughter and all the other rubbish you see on US programmes.

Let's keep Top Gear British - and make the Yanks British Racing Green with envy!

In any case, at heart Mr C is a family man who values more than mere affluence as enhancing the quality of life.

I wouldn't move to America for US $10 000 000 - I've been there often enough in the past and am so glad I no longer have to.

Oh - and "Have a nice day...."

[stander]

Hard to see how JC's humour would translate over to the US, what would they make of all "zee German" comments? Far better for Beeb to find some American blood for this.

Ps. WTF is the Beeb making shows for the US anyway?

[A1GOY]

nickwilcock said:

I wouldn't move to America for US $10 000 000 - I've been there often enough in the past and am so glad I no longer have to.

I would.

[Racefan_uk]

stander said:

Ps. WTF is the Beeb making shows for the US anyway?

Errr, to make a shed load of cash? Why else?

[MK4 Slowride]

Likes been said, why is the BBC looking to make programes specifically for the USA? Also after their last outing in the states nearly got them lynched then I wouldn't want to go back in a hurry.

[Colin RedGriff]

All the US guys who I've talked to, love the show the way it is, they've got an edited version in the past and would much prefer to get the full program.

Why can't they just sell them the UK show? It's a typically English comedy show and that is why it's funny, prejudices and all.

Why to producers feel the need to mess with stuff?

[FourWheelDrift]

Racefan_uk said:

stander said:

Ps. WTF is the Beeb making shows for the US anyway?

Errr, to make a shed load of cash? Why else?

Some parts don't understand the UK versions too well, you see there aren't very many fiery explosions, the presenters don't sit behind a desk and the don't introduce themselves each week (the US audiences easily forget names I think.)

[motormania]

MK4 Slowride said:

Likes been said, why is the BBC looking to make programes specifically for the USA? Also after their last outing in the states nearly got them lynched then I wouldn't want to go back in a hurry.

Do you really think that was for real???

That was all staged for the cameras...

[Silver993tt]

A1GOY said:

nickwilcock said:

I wouldn't move to America for US $10 000 000 - I've been there often enough in the past and am so glad I no longer have to.

I would.

So would I. I stopped living in the UK 14 years ago and i've lived in a number of countries since then. We even closed down our UK based company and moved the office to the US. Best thing we ever did. The UK now seems like a little irrelevent island full of transient illegal immigrants - a bit like a large version of Heathrow airport

All the better for idiots with nothing to offer like Clarkson remaining in a place where he feels at home.

The US is a massive place with different time zones, climates and cultures. Amazing place that actually rewards success unlike the UK where the general view of any kind of success is frowned upon and responded to in all manners of jealousy.

[MK4 Slowride]

motormania said:

MK4 Slowride said:

Likes been said, why is the BBC looking to make programes specifically for the USA? Also after their last outing in the states nearly got them lynched then I wouldn't want to go back in a hurry.

Do you really think that was for real???

That was all staged for the cameras...

No I don't think it was entirely for real. How easy do you rekon it'll be to arrange a load of hicks to turn up like that and have them behave?