The Grand Tour
Discussion
I'll be looking forward to this closer to the time. It'll be interesting to see what they have/haven't learnt from the first go at it and what they have changed. Certainly keeping it in the UK is perhaps a smart move, I think the British audience just has more of a symbiotic relationship with the presenters; particularly with senses of humor.
I hope to god they drop the celebrity death thing.
I hope too that the script writing and delivery is more natural. I am patently aware that, as it is now and as it has been for a long time, TG/TGT just cannot be un-scripted. Perhaps in the past the show was made on some of the more "un-scripted" comedic events but you just cannot rely on the stars aligning to deliver you a "funny" for every film.
As for Amazon prime, well I have used it less and less recently.... though we do use the video service more now. I enjoyed Man in the High Castle (which is a bit slow burn, but that is Philip K Dick for you) and I really enjoyed Parks and Recreation. My OH watches all kinds of crap on it and its coming up to Christmas so no doubt the prime delivery will be getting its annual workout. On the whole, still don't mind paying for it but I suspect that may change in the next year.
I hope to god they drop the celebrity death thing.
I hope too that the script writing and delivery is more natural. I am patently aware that, as it is now and as it has been for a long time, TG/TGT just cannot be un-scripted. Perhaps in the past the show was made on some of the more "un-scripted" comedic events but you just cannot rely on the stars aligning to deliver you a "funny" for every film.
As for Amazon prime, well I have used it less and less recently.... though we do use the video service more now. I enjoyed Man in the High Castle (which is a bit slow burn, but that is Philip K Dick for you) and I really enjoyed Parks and Recreation. My OH watches all kinds of crap on it and its coming up to Christmas so no doubt the prime delivery will be getting its annual workout. On the whole, still don't mind paying for it but I suspect that may change in the next year.
Lucas Ayde said:
Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:
Bristol spark said:
Clarkson mentioned in an interview the other day that certain aspects they got wrong, and are changed in this series.
I would say moving the tent was one.
This is the best we can hope for IMO, as long as they've correctly identified these aspects. Most shows take a bit of time to bed in. Watch a few year one episodes of TG from however many (15?) years ago if you need a case in point. My view on the first TGT, there were a few stinker episodes, but largely pretty enjoyable. It's not like TG under C/H/M didn't have some dire episodes!I would say moving the tent was one.
The problem was that it had gone stale on TG and for the most part continued to be stale on TGT. However, just like on TG there were still some moments where it worked and there were a few decent eps of TGT as well as a bunch of so-so ones.
They definitely messed up by moving the tent around the World but not actually making use of the exotic locations to any degree, with the possible exception of the Dubai episode where they did some stuff 'locally'.
Bristol spark said:
Clarkson mentioned in an interview the other day that certain aspects they got wrong, and are changed in this series.
I would say moving the tent was one.
I thought the tent wasn't too bad. It's a nod to the fact hat the show is worldwide and they're giving people around the world the impression that they now have an opportunity to be part of it.I would say moving the tent was one.
rodericb said:
Bristol spark said:
Clarkson mentioned in an interview the other day that certain aspects they got wrong, and are changed in this series.
I would say moving the tent was one.
I thought the tent wasn't too bad. It's a nod to the fact hat the show is worldwide and they're giving people around the world the impression that they now have an opportunity to be part of it.I would say moving the tent was one.
We have Prime for half price as my wife is finishing off her Master's through work so is a valid student. I wouldn't mind paying the full price if we needed too, since we buy a lot of things off Prime now.
I have heard that you can enrol on an online course for as little as £5 which then results in you getting an NUS card that can then be used for half price Prime alongside the other benefits an NUS card gives.
I have watched the first episode with the Hypercars a few times over, the rest of them I watched as and when I felt like it, though a lot of it was fast forwarded over too. Just not engaging enough to me and I preferred the new Top Gear in comparison.
I have heard that you can enrol on an online course for as little as £5 which then results in you getting an NUS card that can then be used for half price Prime alongside the other benefits an NUS card gives.
I have watched the first episode with the Hypercars a few times over, the rest of them I watched as and when I felt like it, though a lot of it was fast forwarded over too. Just not engaging enough to me and I preferred the new Top Gear in comparison.
KarlMac said:
rodericb said:
Bristol spark said:
Clarkson mentioned in an interview the other day that certain aspects they got wrong, and are changed in this series.
I would say moving the tent was one.
I thought the tent wasn't too bad. It's a nod to the fact hat the show is worldwide and they're giving people around the world the impression that they now have an opportunity to be part of it.I would say moving the tent was one.
The hangar studio became a tent that moved about.
Celeb appearances never took place because they died.
Even GT it TG backwards.
It may have been fun to sidestep the restrictions in this way but it made for a program that didn't make a lot of sense sometimes.
I hope they have now got this out of their system and have something new that hangs together better this time around.
swisstoni said:
I think a lot of the stranger elements of the first series were a reaction to the legal limitations that were put on them by the Beeb. The new program could not contain or resemble the old one's most recognisable features. So the Stig became some strange Redneck.
The hangar studio became a tent that moved about.
Celeb appearances never took place because they died.
Even GT it TG backwards.
It may have been fun to sidestep the restrictions in this way but it made for a program that didn't make a lot of sense sometimes.
I hope they have now got this out of their system and have something new that hangs together better this time around.
Yes, fewer private jokes please and more concentration on making a decent TV programme.The hangar studio became a tent that moved about.
Celeb appearances never took place because they died.
Even GT it TG backwards.
It may have been fun to sidestep the restrictions in this way but it made for a program that didn't make a lot of sense sometimes.
I hope they have now got this out of their system and have something new that hangs together better this time around.
AnotherClarkey said:
swisstoni said:
I think a lot of the stranger elements of the first series were a reaction to the legal limitations that were put on them by the Beeb. The new program could not contain or resemble the old one's most recognisable features. So the Stig became some strange Redneck.
The hangar studio became a tent that moved about.
Celeb appearances never took place because they died.
Even GT it TG backwards.
It may have been fun to sidestep the restrictions in this way but it made for a program that didn't make a lot of sense sometimes.
I hope they have now got this out of their system and have something new that hangs together better this time around.
Yes, fewer private jokes please and more concentration on making a decent TV programme.The hangar studio became a tent that moved about.
Celeb appearances never took place because they died.
Even GT it TG backwards.
It may have been fun to sidestep the restrictions in this way but it made for a program that didn't make a lot of sense sometimes.
I hope they have now got this out of their system and have something new that hangs together better this time around.
It felt like the majority of the 1st series was sticking two fingers up at the BBC. And also an element of kids running amok with the keys to the sweetshop.
Otispunkmeyer said:
...but you just cannot rely on the stars aligning to deliver you a "funny" for every film...
Dunno. I have some funny friends and they consistently make me laugh. They aren't pro's and often the joke is at the expense of each other. But it works. So if you get 3 guys who are clearly friends off screen. Then it should follow that there will be "banter" (much as I hate the word)The scriptwriters on TGT and the last series' of CHM TG over thought it and made it too tight. They managed to make 3 guys who are friends, look like they'd never met each other before!
I didn't like most of it, but it had some good bits. Trinity springs to mind. As does the SUV test. Worryingly that's the only 2 segments I can remember enjoying from the series a year on. Whereas I can remember several of the better TG episodes. And even some of the better Harris/LeBlanc segments.
There's definitely less interest in The Grand Tour for series 2.
A Grand Tour article on the Daily Wail typically used to attract hundreds of comments in 2016. Now, in 2017, they mostly get dozens.
If they don't retire, CHMW are probably going to see a big cut in their budget for the contract-renewal discussions in a year or two.
A Grand Tour article on the Daily Wail typically used to attract hundreds of comments in 2016. Now, in 2017, they mostly get dozens.
If they don't retire, CHMW are probably going to see a big cut in their budget for the contract-renewal discussions in a year or two.
I was disappointed and often fast forwarded. All those attempts to be outrageous with silly stunts. The unwatchable celebrity stunts. Being in an exotic locale and ignoring it. In a lot afvways a simple old Chris Harris video does a much better job of conveying good info on what a car feels like.
The novelty stuff wore off quickly.
The novelty stuff wore off quickly.
Some people thought the last series of TG was crap and some people enjoyed it and some people thought some of it was good and some of it was bad.
The new series of TGT will have some good stuff in it and some bad stuff you don't have to be so polarised in your views.
The new series hasn't even started and the knives are out and I guess that says it all.
The new series of TGT will have some good stuff in it and some bad stuff you don't have to be so polarised in your views.
The new series hasn't even started and the knives are out and I guess that says it all.
amgmcqueen said:
People forget just how bad the last 2-3years of the old Top Gear was. Most of the best episodes shown on Dave are around 8-10+ years old.
The 1st series was crap because they carried on with the same old clapped out formula.
Not entirely. The very final CHM episode with the SUVs was absolutely fantastic. Some of the reviews were also good (LaFerrari, 918, even others like the Merc AMG GT or the M3 vs i8). The GT cars (M6, Bentley vs GT-R) in Aussie was pretty good and the Patagonia special was also very good, if a bit hair-raising!The 1st series was crap because they carried on with the same old clapped out formula.
I personally thought what I saw of the first series of TGT was utterly diabolical...but I will still 'watch' the first episode of series 2 (which will count in raw numbers as a plus point on their viewing stats). I will watch it because..well..it's 'free' and I may was well see if there is any improvement at all.
Free in this instance = bundled in with Amazon Prime which more than pays for itself in content I actually like, P&P benefits and music streaming. Basically, I get it whether I want it or not so all it costs me is time.
Free in this instance = bundled in with Amazon Prime which more than pays for itself in content I actually like, P&P benefits and music streaming. Basically, I get it whether I want it or not so all it costs me is time.
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