BBC Top Gear 2017 Thread
Discussion
I liked the initial Chiron piece although the "race" was the usual suspension of disbelief, more a window for various expensive fripperies of no relevance to the average man - more of which anon.
Regrettably, Harris' reaction to all extremely fast cars seems to be the same (albeit the programme is blessed with riches in that department)and he seems to lack Clarkson's ability to provide creative metaphors, it's just "Wow, this is really fast"...no sh*t.
Somewhat concerned by who would order a Jewish Racing Gold Chiron or indeed a red and black Bentley but not as disturbed as a rapper who buys a Lamborghini and wraps it matt black. So very noughties.
I trhought Rory's piece on the Twingo was largely an unnecessary apology for it not being a 911. We're not all obsessed with Porsches and supercars and good cars need no apology, no matter what sector of the market they occupy but the reference to the 205 GTi is a bit of a cliché, why not reference the equally good 5 GT Turbo from the same stable? Referring to "retro" is also ironic when you're not old enough to remember what retro was.
The Pac Man piece was stolen from Adam Sandler's Pixels which did it rather better with Minis and didn't have that bloody annoying woman jabbering away. Please get rid of her.
The track piece between the Brabus, Twingo and Up was good and using the Teen Stigs worked well. Humorous almost.
I still don't mind the guest piece, it is far more casual, far less "in your face" product placement and actually blunts the pain that section used to elicit. Good work, TG.
Overall, it still hangs well together, I still watch it from beginning to end. I like Le Blanc, he has charm. I'm indifferent to Harris because he has little charm and Rory still needs to find his niche but it will come together, given time.
It was only Sabine that gives me the nail-scraping down the blackboard moments.
Regrettably, Harris' reaction to all extremely fast cars seems to be the same (albeit the programme is blessed with riches in that department)and he seems to lack Clarkson's ability to provide creative metaphors, it's just "Wow, this is really fast"...no sh*t.
Somewhat concerned by who would order a Jewish Racing Gold Chiron or indeed a red and black Bentley but not as disturbed as a rapper who buys a Lamborghini and wraps it matt black. So very noughties.
I trhought Rory's piece on the Twingo was largely an unnecessary apology for it not being a 911. We're not all obsessed with Porsches and supercars and good cars need no apology, no matter what sector of the market they occupy but the reference to the 205 GTi is a bit of a cliché, why not reference the equally good 5 GT Turbo from the same stable? Referring to "retro" is also ironic when you're not old enough to remember what retro was.
The Pac Man piece was stolen from Adam Sandler's Pixels which did it rather better with Minis and didn't have that bloody annoying woman jabbering away. Please get rid of her.
The track piece between the Brabus, Twingo and Up was good and using the Teen Stigs worked well. Humorous almost.
I still don't mind the guest piece, it is far more casual, far less "in your face" product placement and actually blunts the pain that section used to elicit. Good work, TG.
Overall, it still hangs well together, I still watch it from beginning to end. I like Le Blanc, he has charm. I'm indifferent to Harris because he has little charm and Rory still needs to find his niche but it will come together, given time.
It was only Sabine that gives me the nail-scraping down the blackboard moments.
prand said:
Hitch said:
... really enjoyed the Chiron at DWC ...
I did wonder with all that sand blowing around the runways how much of that would have ended up inside the car's workings. AndrewEH1 said:
98elise said:
Viewing figures down another 100k
http://www.tellymix.co.uk/ratings/305974-ratings-t...
Viweing figures have rocketed says CH
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-43525...
Edited to add....
Countryfile 6.3 million
Antiques Roadshow 5.1 million.
Top Gear 2.3 million.
Maybe learn to read? CH said that ratings had "skyrocketed"...http://www.tellymix.co.uk/ratings/305974-ratings-t...
Viweing figures have rocketed says CH
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-43525...
Edited to add....
Countryfile 6.3 million
Antiques Roadshow 5.1 million.
Top Gear 2.3 million.
Edited by 98elise on Monday 27th March 13:59
k how many people are watching it anyway? Unless you're a BBC Exec or involved in media marketing for car based programmes on terrestrial telly on a Sunday night it is utterly pointless to care. This thread is full of people looking for an opportunity to be miserable!
Hitch said:
And....who gives a fk how many people are watching it anyway? Unless you're a BBC Exec or involved in media marketing for car based programmes on terrestrial telly on a Sunday night it is utterly pointless to care.
This thread is full of people looking for an opportunity to be miserable!
Just look at how many of the same posters mosnee last week and the week before, say they've given up but they're back again this week.... I genuinely think if I was that joyless I'd just do myself in.k how many people are watching it anyway? Unless you're a BBC Exec or involved in media marketing for car based programmes on terrestrial telly on a Sunday night it is utterly pointless to care. This thread is full of people looking for an opportunity to be miserable!
Anyway, I enjoyed it again this week. The PAC MAN bit was ok but not the best sequence ever. As always with TG it was filmed brilliantly and Extra Gear gives an insight as to how tricky that was to actually film. Rest of the episode I really enjoyed, at least Tinie Tempah seemed genuinely happy to be there and chat s
t for a while. I thought the race was one of the best they've done for a while to be honest, purely for the inclusion of the Ducati, I like the fact they're making a point of showing the presenters doing the driving/riding unlike TGT which has been purposely blurring out windows.... Yes there will be a few bike moments where it's s researcher riding purely to get the shot but that's been an open secret do these races since day 1. Presenters do the race in live time and the crew go back to get the extra bits to make a TV sequence.P-Jay said:
Reading the posts about the latest episodes highlights how hard it must be to make - "More Sabine" "Get rid of Sabine" for example.
I've never been fan of Bugatti's I think VW said it was a technical showcase, but to me it seemed more like a vulgar display of wealth for people in the Middle East and the US - found the Bentley slightly more interesting but the Honda Jet and that Ducati were lovely to see.
Pacman bit, meh - I know some people like it.
The only thing that really annoyed me - CH said something along the lines of "we can thank Bugatti for the McLaren P1, the La Ferrari and the 918"... Nah, I don’t see it – they’re razor sharp hypercars designed to destroy track times – they’re a continuation of the Enzo, Carrera GT and F1 coupled with hybrid technology that’s meant to help bridge the gap between F1 style Kers and normal hybrid road cars.
IMHO The Veyron was a car evolutionary cul-de-sac, a massive 1000Bhp rocket that could only reach it’s headline gabbing top speed at a handful of places around the world and couldn’t hold a torch to ‘lessor’ supercars on a track. The Chiron is the same but more. If anything we should thank the McLaren F1 for the Bugattis – McLaren never chased pointless top speeds for the F1, it was a result of BMW over shooting their target for power because they missed their target for weight – I think Bugatti needed a USP and a silly top speed was it, I’m glad I got that off my chest, I was thinking of buying a Chiron, but I’ve decided on Skoda with a 155mph top speed, just to keep it real you know ??
I've never been fan of Bugatti's I think VW said it was a technical showcase, but to me it seemed more like a vulgar display of wealth for people in the Middle East and the US - found the Bentley slightly more interesting but the Honda Jet and that Ducati were lovely to see.
Pacman bit, meh - I know some people like it.
The only thing that really annoyed me - CH said something along the lines of "we can thank Bugatti for the McLaren P1, the La Ferrari and the 918"... Nah, I don’t see it – they’re razor sharp hypercars designed to destroy track times – they’re a continuation of the Enzo, Carrera GT and F1 coupled with hybrid technology that’s meant to help bridge the gap between F1 style Kers and normal hybrid road cars.
IMHO The Veyron was a car evolutionary cul-de-sac, a massive 1000Bhp rocket that could only reach it’s headline gabbing top speed at a handful of places around the world and couldn’t hold a torch to ‘lessor’ supercars on a track. The Chiron is the same but more. If anything we should thank the McLaren F1 for the Bugattis – McLaren never chased pointless top speeds for the F1, it was a result of BMW over shooting their target for power because they missed their target for weight – I think Bugatti needed a USP and a silly top speed was it, I’m glad I got that off my chest, I was thinking of buying a Chiron, but I’ve decided on Skoda with a 155mph top speed, just to keep it real you know ??
Cobnapint said:
Yes, agree with that. The Veyron had eff-all to do with the P1, 918 or LaF. The Macca F1 did though.
Indeed. I thought exactly the same when I watched it today. 
I thought it was a good enough episode. I found myself skipping through the two SIARPC parts but other than that watched it all and it was fine.
The pacman segment overstayed its welcome a little, but it was good how they segued from the actual review of the Twingo into the pacman part.
LuS1fer said:
I trhought Rory's piece on the Twingo was largely an unnecessary apology for it not being a 911. We're not all obsessed with Porsches and supercars and good cars need no apology, no matter what sector of the market they occupy but the reference to the 205 GTi is a bit of a cliché, why not reference the equally good 5 GT Turbo from the same stable? Referring to "retro" is also ironic when you're not old enough to remember what retro was.
Although the greater irony is that you don't realise he's 37. Although, in fairness, neither did I until a few posts ago. 
Rich_W said:
Yipper said:
Latest episode was absolutely rubbish. Pacman stunt was lame. Interviewing a lame rapper. Chiron race was lame and predictable. Lame jokes and no lol moments.
Score it just 3/10.
We get it, you don't like it. Not sure its a 3/10 though. Just the cinematography and the products tested gets it a 5/10Score it just 3/10.
But this latest episode 4 was terrible. A bit stilted, and not a single belly-laugh moment. It was a reminder that none of the presenters shares Clarkson's effortless humour and the show will prolly never reach the heights of old TG in the mid-2000s.
I watched this week´s episode on repeat last night and, like the rest of this series, really enjoyed it. The presenters seem to be settling in with each other and it "feels" a little less rehearsed.
The Pac-Man thing washed over me a bit, but I don´t skip through anything because I like to listen to what people have to say rather than prejudging with "Oh this is a bit that will be boring, I won´t bother". It´s like talking to someone at a party and then wandering off when they´re in mid-sentence just because you don´t agree with everything they´re saying.
Good to see a bike on there, it looked like MLB was actually riding it for a lot of the time. And at one point in the Bugatti piece CH mentioned he´d been involved in the development of the Chiron: true? I wonder what?
The Pac-Man thing washed over me a bit, but I don´t skip through anything because I like to listen to what people have to say rather than prejudging with "Oh this is a bit that will be boring, I won´t bother". It´s like talking to someone at a party and then wandering off when they´re in mid-sentence just because you don´t agree with everything they´re saying.
Good to see a bike on there, it looked like MLB was actually riding it for a lot of the time. And at one point in the Bugatti piece CH mentioned he´d been involved in the development of the Chiron: true? I wonder what?
DanielSan said:
Just look at how many of the same posters mosnee last week and the week before, say they've given up but they're back again this week.... I genuinely think if I was that joyless I'd just do myself in.
Anyway, I enjoyed it again this week. The PAC MAN bit was ok but not the best sequence ever. As always with TG it was filmed brilliantly and Extra Gear gives an insight as to how tricky that was to actually film. Rest of the episode I really enjoyed, at least Tinie Tempah seemed genuinely happy to be there and chat st for a while. I thought the race was one of the best they've done for a while to be honest, purely for the inclusion of the Ducati, I like the fact they're making a point of showing the presenters doing the driving/riding unlike TGT which has been purposely blurring out windows.... Yes there will be a few bike moments where it's s researcher riding purely to get the shot but that's been an open secret do these races since day 1. Presenters do the race in live time and the crew go back to get the extra bits to make a TV sequence.
Well I'm on here everyweek, so far, writing that it wasn't all that good. Not because I don't want to watch it, but I would simply like it to be better.Anyway, I enjoyed it again this week. The PAC MAN bit was ok but not the best sequence ever. As always with TG it was filmed brilliantly and Extra Gear gives an insight as to how tricky that was to actually film. Rest of the episode I really enjoyed, at least Tinie Tempah seemed genuinely happy to be there and chat s
t for a while. I thought the race was one of the best they've done for a while to be honest, purely for the inclusion of the Ducati, I like the fact they're making a point of showing the presenters doing the driving/riding unlike TGT which has been purposely blurring out windows.... Yes there will be a few bike moments where it's s researcher riding purely to get the shot but that's been an open secret do these races since day 1. Presenters do the race in live time and the crew go back to get the extra bits to make a TV sequence.The ratings matter because it's TV. And in TV-land ratings are the only thing that matter. If the show continues to lose viewers it will get canned. And that won't be because of me, or all the other "joyless" posters, it will be becuase the show they make hasn't attracted sufficient viewers to continue.
I enjoyed it - pacman was silly but I actually like SIARPC and Mr Tempah seemed a decent enough chap . What does shine though is MLB's sheer likability - he has a terrific voice (And it is easy to forget how important that is ) and comes over as laid back , good humoured and just a nice guy .
I had the misfortune of re watching an old TG on Dave the other day- maybe 2005? God it was terrible - wooden, silly(not in a good way) and Clarkson was already looking and sounding like a parody of himself.
CH is fine - SS (God , shock initials alert)utterly horrific(that bloody endless screeching -'Now we ze big skids are making , ja ? ) and RR seems , if a tad anodyne, about OK .
I must admit that I never did fall under the thrall of Saint Jezza so I don't miss his sneers . Do miss James May though - best of the bunch by far
I had the misfortune of re watching an old TG on Dave the other day- maybe 2005? God it was terrible - wooden, silly(not in a good way) and Clarkson was already looking and sounding like a parody of himself.
CH is fine - SS (God , shock initials alert)utterly horrific(that bloody endless screeching -'Now we ze big skids are making , ja ? ) and RR seems , if a tad anodyne, about OK .
I must admit that I never did fall under the thrall of Saint Jezza so I don't miss his sneers . Do miss James May though - best of the bunch by far
Can someone explain all the comments about it "not being funny"?
Does it have to be? Ok, so it's not Panorama, but does every episode have to be laugh-out-loud Laurel & Hardy hilarious?
Maybe, just maybe, there's a deliberate move to make it a little more......refined?
Perhaps the BBC feel that for those who need penis jokes to complet their weekend there's always Amazon ;-)
Does it have to be? Ok, so it's not Panorama, but does every episode have to be laugh-out-loud Laurel & Hardy hilarious?
Maybe, just maybe, there's a deliberate move to make it a little more......refined?
Perhaps the BBC feel that for those who need penis jokes to complet their weekend there's always Amazon ;-)
Crossflow Kid said:
Can someone explain all the comments about it "not being funny"?
Does it have to be? Ok, so it's not Panorama, but does every episode have to be laugh-out-loud Laurel & Hardy hilarious?
Maybe, just maybe, there's a deliberate move to make it a little more......refined?
Perhaps the BBC feel that for those who need penis jokes to complet their weekend there's always Amazon ;-)
agree about penis jokesDoes it have to be? Ok, so it's not Panorama, but does every episode have to be laugh-out-loud Laurel & Hardy hilarious?
Maybe, just maybe, there's a deliberate move to make it a little more......refined?
Perhaps the BBC feel that for those who need penis jokes to complet their weekend there's always Amazon ;-)
that was tragic on amazon ...hence I deleted my sub ...rubbish
Crossflow Kid said:
Can someone explain all the comments about it "not being funny"?
Does it have to be? Ok, so it's not Panorama, but does every episode have to be laugh-out-loud Laurel & Hardy hilarious?
Maybe, just maybe, there's a deliberate move to make it a little more......refined?
Perhaps the BBC feel that for those who need penis jokes to complet their weekend there's always Amazon ;-)
The large majority of TG viewers don't want a serious car programme. They're interested in cars and want a little humour.Does it have to be? Ok, so it's not Panorama, but does every episode have to be laugh-out-loud Laurel & Hardy hilarious?
Maybe, just maybe, there's a deliberate move to make it a little more......refined?
Perhaps the BBC feel that for those who need penis jokes to complet their weekend there's always Amazon ;-)
This is why fifth gear failed, and "old" top gear.
E65Ross said:
Crossflow Kid said:
Can someone explain all the comments about it "not being funny"?
Does it have to be? Ok, so it's not Panorama, but does every episode have to be laugh-out-loud Laurel & Hardy hilarious?
Maybe, just maybe, there's a deliberate move to make it a little more......refined?
Perhaps the BBC feel that for those who need penis jokes to complet their weekend there's always Amazon ;-)
The large majority of TG viewers don't want a serious car programme. They're interested in cars and want a little humour.Does it have to be? Ok, so it's not Panorama, but does every episode have to be laugh-out-loud Laurel & Hardy hilarious?
Maybe, just maybe, there's a deliberate move to make it a little more......refined?
Perhaps the BBC feel that for those who need penis jokes to complet their weekend there's always Amazon ;-)
This is why fifth gear failed, and "old" top gear.
te and annoying and so were there reviews
cringe fest
and they all dressed like stoners in some backward middle England town
housen said:
fifth gear failed because there presenters were utter ste and annoying
and so were there reviews
cringe fest
and they all dressed like stoners in some backward middle England town
Disagree on all points (except the dress, but I'm not sure how you feel people should dress for a car show? I'm not sure Harris or Reid are the epitomy of sartorial elegance and LeBlanc dresses like every corporate American on 'dress down Friday' I've ever met...).te and annoying and so were there reviews
cringe fest
and they all dressed like stoners in some backward middle England town
Fifth Gear lost its way because it tried to be a bit of a cut-price TG.
When they did genuinely interesting things, like crashing a car into a 4WD, etc, it had a value and credibility that TG abandoned decades ago.
Sadly, they strayed away from that and the die was cast...
M
E65Ross said:
Crossflow Kid said:
Can someone explain all the comments about it "not being funny"?
Does it have to be? Ok, so it's not Panorama, but does every episode have to be laugh-out-loud Laurel & Hardy hilarious?
Maybe, just maybe, there's a deliberate move to make it a little more......refined?
Perhaps the BBC feel that for those who need penis jokes to complet their weekend there's always Amazon ;-)
The large majority of TG viewers don't want a serious car programme. They're interested in cars and want a little humour.Does it have to be? Ok, so it's not Panorama, but does every episode have to be laugh-out-loud Laurel & Hardy hilarious?
Maybe, just maybe, there's a deliberate move to make it a little more......refined?
Perhaps the BBC feel that for those who need penis jokes to complet their weekend there's always Amazon ;-)
This is why fifth gear failed, and "old" top gear.
They can't win. Penis jokes a la Clarkson and everyone says they're being childish, less humour such as MLB's machinery fetish and they're being boring.
I prefer the new toned-down version. If I want mindless jokes about genitalia I'll watch Mock the Week.
marcosgt said:
housen said:
fifth gear failed because there presenters were utter ste and annoying
and so were there reviews
cringe fest
and they all dressed like stoners in some backward middle England town
Disagree on all points (except the dress, but I'm not sure how you feel people should dress for a car show?).te and annoying and so were there reviews
cringe fest
and they all dressed like stoners in some backward middle England town
Fifth Gear lost its way because it tried to be a bit of a cut-price TG.
When they did genuinely interesting things, like crashing a car into a 4WD, etc, it had a value and credibility that TG abandoned decades ago.
Sadly, they strayed away from that and the die was cast...
M
but that lanky dark haired guy they had ...was a dik !!!! jonny smith
I'm enjoying this series lots, seems to be finding it's own way. I like the presenters, MLB especially, he's got a lot of charisma. Sabine does my head in though, the screaming and histrionics are just too much.
As for the Chiron race - that boat! Cor. That little jet was like something from the future too.
As for the Chiron race - that boat! Cor. That little jet was like something from the future too.
coppice said:
I enjoyed it - pacman was silly but I actually like SIARPC and Mr Tempah seemed a decent enough chap . What does shine though is MLB's sheer likability - he has a terrific voice (And it is easy to forget how important that is ) and comes over as laid back , good humoured and just a nice guy .
I had the misfortune of re watching an old TG on Dave the other day- maybe 2005? God it was terrible - wooden, silly(not in a good way) and Clarkson was already looking and sounding like a parody of himself.
CH is fine - SS (God , shock initials alert)utterly horrific(that bloody endless screeching -'Now we ze big skids are making , ja ? ) and RR seems , if a tad anodyne, about OK .
I must admit that I never did fall under the thrall of Saint Jezza so I don't miss his sneers . Do miss James May though - best of the bunch by far
Perfectly sums it up for me John.I had the misfortune of re watching an old TG on Dave the other day- maybe 2005? God it was terrible - wooden, silly(not in a good way) and Clarkson was already looking and sounding like a parody of himself.
CH is fine - SS (God , shock initials alert)utterly horrific(that bloody endless screeching -'Now we ze big skids are making , ja ? ) and RR seems , if a tad anodyne, about OK .
I must admit that I never did fall under the thrall of Saint Jezza so I don't miss his sneers . Do miss James May though - best of the bunch by far
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