Top Gear [US]

[SkyLander]

The only real car guy on Top Gear UK is James May....

Not sure where that came from.  I can't speak for Hammond although he clearly cares about cars, but Clarkson makes semi-regular appearances on shows like QI and when he talks about cars he clearly knows what he's talking about.

I'm talking about in the first episodes of Top Gear that even though all the presenters love cars, that James May was really the only one that had true knowledge of them. Hammond was a radio DJ, Clarkson started out as just a journalist. I'm sure they all loved cars to a certain degree, but I would say by no means did they start out with the awesome car knowledge they have now. This is stuff that I gleaned from wikipedia.

But I could be wrong. Just because he couldn't do a burnout shouldn't disqualify him from an entire show.

[Thin_J]

The only real car guy on Top Gear UK is James May....

Not sure where that came from.  I can't speak for Hammond although he clearly cares about cars, but Clarkson makes semi-regular appearances on shows like QI and when he talks about cars he clearly knows what he's talking about.

Yeah, and they all at least know how to drive.

Clarkson drifting the ZR1 around big sweeping curves when they came to the US and were on their way to the salt flats? Awesome. He may not be a race driver, but dude knows how to have some fun in a car.

[cheeba]

But I could be wrong. Just because he couldn't do a burnout shouldn't disqualify him from an entire show.

Yes it should. Step on the gas, release the clutch... if you can't do this simple thing you shouldn't be hosting a show about cars. In fact, if you can't do this simple thing you shouldn't have a driver's license, period.

[Lee]

I don't care if they are car guys or not. I am not a car guy, but the UK show is one of my favorite shows on TV. For me it's not about how much they know about cars or if they can do a donut as long as they are funny and interesting. So far they aren't, but I haven't given up on them yet. I think the show could be decent once they get into their groove, but it's clear they will never match the UK show. They just aren't that likable (especially Faust).

[gellar]

Yeah alright, I tried.  I'm watching the V12 Vantage bit right now (a car I adore) and the bearded presenter guy is awful.  Even the 'in car candid' bits are obviously scripted and just flat.  I can't do it.  It's an unfair comparison since the original is so, so good.  This is probably average on it's own, but in comparison... it's just bad.

[lildrgn]

The in-car footage is terribly blurry too. They need some shock mounts for their cameras or something.

[Zekester]

But I could be wrong. Just because he couldn't do a burnout shouldn't disqualify him from an entire show.

Yes it should. Step on the gas, release the clutch... if you can't do this simple thing you shouldn't be hosting a show about cars. In fact, if you can't do this simple thing you shouldn't have a driver's license, period.

Which reminds me......wasn't it a couple Dodge cars, the Charger and Challenger, that can't even do a burnout because the traction control can't be turned off?

[Huw the Poo]

The first episode of the new series was shown in the UK last night, excellent as always.  It was the first episode since Stig decided to unmask himself...all I'll say is you need to watch it.

[Razgon]

The first episode of the new series was shown in the UK last night, excellent as always.  It was the first episode since Stig decided to unmask himself...all I'll say is you need to watch it.

There's a new season starting here in DK january as well - is the new season the one with Ron from Harry Potter or is that an older one? Thats all I gleaned from the preview.

[metallicorphan]

The first episode of the new series was shown in the UK last night, excellent as always.  It was the first episode since Stig decided to unmask himself...all I'll say is you need to watch it.

There's a new season starting here in DK january as well - is the new season the one with Ron from Harry Potter or is that an older one? Thats all I gleaned from the preview.

Raz:-Rupert Grint Episode was episode 3 of series 16,originally transmitted here in the UK in July,though that's from Top Gear episode list wiki


i think that wiki page is a bit wrong wrong,it says this weeks episode(that has just been on) was the last episode of Series 15-episode 7 after episode 6 was in August ,i am pretty sure as Huw says its series 16,but wiki says Series 16 starts this Boxing day with a Middle east special(which i can't wait for)

gotta agree with Huw on this weeks Top Gear,i loved the ...

Spoiler for Hiden:

Drive By testing..and the targets

[lildrgn]

I canceled my BBC America subscription with Dish Network to save a few $$$. Are the new episodes of TG UK available online? I don't have iTunes, so rule that out.

[gellar]

Downloaded the real, proper TG off teh internets last night and it further reinforced how bad TG America is.

Great episode.  GREAT cars.  The Mercedes sounded EPIC.

[Soulchilde]

Downloaded the real, proper TG off teh internets last night and it further reinforced how bad TG America is.

Great episode.  GREAT cars.  The Mercedes sounded EPIC.

Actually like thew Amercanized version better

[metallicorphan]

seems this Christmas special that is aired this coming Sunday here in the UK should be interesting,as James May(Captain Slow) has to go to Hospital after getting injured

for the special they are recreating the journey that the 3 wise men travelled

Sky News

May, 47, was helping fellow presenter Jeremy Clarkson tow his car from a ditch in Syria when he fell, hit his head on a rock and lost consciousness.

Suffering a severe concussion, the presenter was taken to hospital, given a brain scan, put on a drip and given stitches for a head wound.

I don't want to pretend I had an accident as bad as Hammond. He bashed his head on the whole of Yorkshire. I just hit mine on a stone.

[gellar]

Downloaded the real, proper TG off teh internets last night and it further reinforced how bad TG America is.

Great episode.  GREAT cars.  The Mercedes sounded EPIC.

Actually like thew Amercanized version better

I did not know your kind existed.

[EngineNo9]

Downloaded the real, proper TG off teh internets last night and it further reinforced how bad TG America is.

Great episode.  GREAT cars.  The Mercedes sounded EPIC.

You can download episodes from Final Gear (they also have Fifth Gear, the US TG and the Aussie TG). 

[Thin_J]

There's more fun and more humor in the little one or two minute preview they did of all the upcoming episodes of the original show than there is in an entire hour of the US version.

[Huw the Poo]

seems this Christmas special that is aired this coming Sunday here in the UK should be interesting,as James May(Captain Slow) has to go to Hospital after getting injured

for the special they are recreating the journey that the 3 wise men travelled

I finally got around to watching this last night, it was brilliant.  May's fall looked pretty nasty didn't it?  Fair play to him for continuing.  The sight he was greeted with when he emerged from hospital was priceless!

[coopasonic]

Downloaded the real, proper TG off teh internets last night and it further reinforced how bad TG America is.

Great episode.  GREAT cars.  The Mercedes sounded EPIC.

Actually like thew Amercanized version better

I did not know your kind existed.

Yeah, just the concept boggles the mind. There's a very easy humo(u)r in the real verison. with the US guys it's all forced and not funny.

[metallicorphan]

well i haven't seen any of the US Top Gear episodes,but i know its still early for them,i remember it took me a while to like Richard Hammond,James May and Jeremy Clarkson as a threesome(not the threesome you are thinking off CK)...but right now i can't think of Top Gear without any of them(however,they have just released a Top Gear DVD(Apocalypse) with no Jeremy Clarkson,LOL)

[Huw the Poo]

A Top Gear DVD without Jezza?  Fuck that.

[lildrgn]

Thanks for the Fifth Gear reminder. Will check it out for the new eps.

[EngineNo9]

Thanks for the Fifth Gear reminder. Will check it out for the new eps.

Heh, looks like I screwed up that post by quoting the wrong one, but at least you saw it. 

[cheeba]

Saw Top Gear UK last night and was going to come here and say, "holy shit, if the Americans had said what the UK crew said about Mexicans, there'd be riots!" Turns out the Mexican ambassador indeed wasn't very happy, and wasn't sleepy enough that he couldn't complain .

(For those that didn't see it, they were looking at a Mexican sports car and made brutal fun of Mexico, saying they're all sleepy and lazy and that Mexican food is barf covered with cheese.)

[Huw the Poo]

Funny as hell though wasn't it?   Sometimes when Americans appear on British talk shows they express their amazement at what they're allowed to say that they'd never get away with back home.

Also, that episode featured the Top Gear Australia team - UK vs Aus challenges.  Fantastic stuff!

[Zekester]

I have it DVR'd. Lookin forward to watching it.

[metallicorphan]

just realised that i missed this weeks episode,so over to BBCi player i go...thanks for the reminder

[cheeba]

Is it just me or is Amber Heard stunningly hot? I had no idea who she was. Horrible driver, but who cares.

Last 2 episodes of the UK version haven't been too great. Way too much BMW.

[metallicorphan]

Is it just me or is Amber Heard stunningly hot? I had no idea who she was. Horrible driver, but who cares.

Last 2 episodes of the UK version haven't been too great. Way too much BMW.

and she likes Guns and muscle cars

the snow plough/harvester was funny though

[gellar]

Haven't watched the episode yet, but YES, Amber Heard is spectacular.

[EngineNo9]

If you're a fan of Amber Heard, you may enjoy her part in the movie The Joneses. 

[spigot]

I heard Amber Heard being mentioned in this thread. I concur she is hot:



Her and Laura Ramsey ... unf.

[Rumpy]

We just started getting this in Canada last week , and 2 episodes in, I have to say, I'm pretty impressed. Much better than I thought it would be with the comments here. The only thing is, I feel they should have an older wisecracking host like Jeremy Clarkson to even things out a bit as the hosts feel a bit on the young side of things. Wish they'd have an episode where they have a challenge between the American and UK teams.

[Zekester]

It got better for me the more episodes I watched.

My favorite has to be the pickups in Alaska.

[lildrgn]

It got better for me the more episodes I watched.

My favorite has to be the pickups in Alaska.

Agreed. They came into their own in Alaska, and then they ruined it all with their horrible stage banter on the recap show. But a decent start to the season.

[coopasonic]

Yes the trucks in Alaska was the best part... and pretty much the only good segment on the entire show. I hate every last one of them as opposed to being a big fan of all 3, yes even captain slow, on the UK version. It's America, lets represent ourselves well... let's see, we need a guido, a redneck and a... well whatever the hell Tanner Faust is.... yup, that about covers it.

[gellar]

and a... well whatever the hell Tanner Faust is

I believe the word you are looking for is 'douchebag'.

[cheeba]

Bump! New season is out and ep 3 was last night. Er, new season of the UK series, that is .

Apparently the new McLaren has no "zing."

Even though it beat the Veyron and everything else on the track except the Atom, which is of course a glorified go-kart. Weird.

Kind of a boring season so far, other than the McLaren, imo.

As an aside, this forum *really* needs a "bigimg" tag like OO has.

[gellar]

Whoa thanks for the heads up.  Will look for these tonight.

[lildrgn]

The M1 thing was sorta cool. It's the new GTI!