Should Top Gear return to its original pre-2002 format?
Discussion
Prior to 2002 Top Gear was a weekly car consumer show of 30 mins long. In 2002 Clarkson revamped the show and it became a lot more popular and yes I enjoyed it with all the challenges and humour. Clarkson, May and Hammond made the iconic show but in 2015 that ended.
No matter who hosts TG it will never be the same as it was with Clarkson et at. They had the perfect chemistry and made a show about cars comical. Viewing figures are now less than half what they were.
I think now is the time TG should return to its original pre-2002 consumerist format. If people want a comical car show then make a new one from scratch with another name. There certainly is a gap for a topical motoring consumer show and that’s where TG comes in.
What do you think? Is the current TG format past its shelf life and should it go back to how it was originally?
No matter who hosts TG it will never be the same as it was with Clarkson et at. They had the perfect chemistry and made a show about cars comical. Viewing figures are now less than half what they were.
I think now is the time TG should return to its original pre-2002 consumerist format. If people want a comical car show then make a new one from scratch with another name. There certainly is a gap for a topical motoring consumer show and that’s where TG comes in.
What do you think? Is the current TG format past its shelf life and should it go back to how it was originally?
No point - old TG was of it's day (pre-internet etc etc).
Nowadays you can find out pretty much everything you need to know about mundane cars in an instant (and can even book a test drive online).
I want to see cars I'd love to drive, but probably never will - rather than ones I wouldn't want to - and could pop down to my local car supermarket even if I did.
Nowadays you can find out pretty much everything you need to know about mundane cars in an instant (and can even book a test drive online).
I want to see cars I'd love to drive, but probably never will - rather than ones I wouldn't want to - and could pop down to my local car supermarket even if I did.
That show was canned due to low viewing numbers, Fifth Gear did the format on channel 5, it was canned due to low viewing numbers, it was rebooted on Discovery, then moved to History (yes a current TV car show on the History channel) before being moved to ITV 4 and it's death in 2016. So I'd say no.
I think the big mistake that they made was trying to replicate the TG of the Amazon three. They were a huge talent and made fun programs, albeit a bit blokey - the current replica is simply awful and a bit amateurish in comparison.
They needed another pair of talents, like Clarkson and Wilmot to reinvent it again, perhaps more family oriented Dad/Mum in car Vs Son/Daughter on PlayStation. Wheel change challeng etc.
It works with Dr Who, so I am sure there must be potential for a better format.
They needed another pair of talents, like Clarkson and Wilmot to reinvent it again, perhaps more family oriented Dad/Mum in car Vs Son/Daughter on PlayStation. Wheel change challeng etc.
It works with Dr Who, so I am sure there must be potential for a better format.
rdjohn said:
I think the big mistake that they made was trying to replicate the TG of the Amazon three. They were a huge talent and made fun programs, albeit a bit blokey - the current replica is simply awful and a bit amateurish in comparison.
They needed another pair of talents, like Clarkson and Wilmot to reinvent it again, perhaps more family oriented Dad/Mum in car Vs Son/Daughter on PlayStation. Wheel change challeng etc.
It works with Dr Who, so I am sure there must be potential for a better format.
Where on earth do they find another Clarkson and Wilmot? I stopped watching TG when Clarkson, May and Hammond left. I tried watching the Chris Evans offering but really TG has surely had its day.They needed another pair of talents, like Clarkson and Wilmot to reinvent it again, perhaps more family oriented Dad/Mum in car Vs Son/Daughter on PlayStation. Wheel change challeng etc.
It works with Dr Who, so I am sure there must be potential for a better format.
Video killed the radio star.
YouTube killed the TV car show.
When I can find ~90% of what I need to know about a new Porsche within 5mins of an embargo lifting, via Motor Trend or whatever, then the desire to watch a repeat of mostly the same stuff on Top Gear or Fifth Gear (or whatever) a week or month later is greatly diminished.
YouTube killed the TV car show.
When I can find ~90% of what I need to know about a new Porsche within 5mins of an embargo lifting, via Motor Trend or whatever, then the desire to watch a repeat of mostly the same stuff on Top Gear or Fifth Gear (or whatever) a week or month later is greatly diminished.
Most car reviews are boring on tv, even with supercars. Id like to see a new show involving cars and various challenges or adventures across the world, e.g. driving across africa, drive to north pole, race across europe etc. The hosts need to be friends with good banter, but mainly the cars (new or old) are the star of the show themselves. The only top gear episodes I really enjoyed was where they bonded with the cars or achieved something unlikely in them.
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