[14x06] December 27th, 2009 [South America Special]

[14x06] December 27th, 2009 [South America Special]


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Wow. Utterly awesome. Of course, it gets a ten. It ranged from screamingly funny (the tampax in the fuel filler, it's a "not a dude thing", not easily explained to "dudes") to scary- not what you would think, the bugs and heights were bad enough- but the high altitude stuff had me concerned for their safety- never heard of the Viagra fix, I'm not up on the latest in high altitude sickness. Oh, and the staggering scenery. How are they going to top this one?
Yes, many of the bits are recycled, but I thought they were used in such a way as to poke fun at themselves and in general it worked for me. The interactions between the boys seemed more natural for the most part. Sure, Jeremy's passing on the narrow road was most likely carefully orchestrated (I would hope, jeez) but it was done well enough as to be compelling.
I was worried when Andy was "hyping" the special, because usually that means the actual show will be a disapointment. Well, there was no reason to worry, this was truly as advertised.
Congratulations and thank you to all on a fabulous show! Now real life has to intrude and I have to go to work. :mad: (guess I should be grateful for that in the current economy...)
 
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9.99

The whole episode I was wondering where "south american stig" and the "usual if your vehicle dies here's a hated piece of crap to help you along" bits were, but they never came.:(

Other than that the show was epic.
 
It was pretty enjoyable, but for some reason I rank it below the Polar expedition, Vietnam and Botswana epic expedetions.

I do agree short of the Polar expedition, this is one of the most physically dangerous specials. They really have to quit doing this stuff before someone dies, road test cars again on the british roads, it'll bring back what a lot of viewers miss and keep the presenters from dying prematurely.
 
If anyone was wondering what type of snake was in Hammond's Land Cruiser. I did a quick google search and it looks to me like a very small Bolivian Anaconda. Or as it's known locally as the big vicious killer snake.
 
that moment when clarkson was bypassing in his range rover with that other white vehicle on the edge was mindblowing...
I dont know what I have done in that situation, whatching the front left tire right on the edge and just waiting for the whole car to slide down....
bloody hell!
the scariest thing was that he couldnt get out of the car :D
 
Just found this site: love it.

Hopefully I can lay to rest the debate of Hammond's Land Cruiser rolling down:

It was scripted.

I used Fraps to single out the area where I found my proof. Around 1:11:30ish you can see a hand on the side of the LC, and somebody's head (I imagine a crew member's) pop up right before you see the car roll.

Look closely behind Jeremy's neck, by his collar. Watch it over and over and over again and you'll see it. If you've got the video, especially in HD, skip to that area.

Anyway here's the video:Crew Member in Shot


90% of reality TV is scripted at least somewhat, and that's because reality is never very interesting. Enjoy it for what it is, and that at least they've got a better sense of humor than most.

TG forever.
 
Yeah I see it, must've been a desert Ninja out to cause trouble. :D

Good spotting, I think so anyway. And :welcome:
 
Hopefully I can lay to rest the debate of Hammond's Land Cruiser rolling down:

It was scripted.

I used Fraps to single out the area where I found my proof. Around 1:11:30ish you can see a hand on the side of the LC, and somebody's head (I imagine a crew member's) pop up right before you see the car roll.

Look closely behind Jeremy's neck, by his collar. Watch it over and over and over again and you'll see it. If you've got the video, especially in HD, skip to that area.

Scroll back a couple million pages :tease:
 
9.99

The whole episode I was wondering where "south american stig" and the "usual if your vehicle dies here's a hated piece of crap to help you along" bits were, but they never came.:(

Other than that the show was epic.

I WAS TO!!!
so sad they dont bring it.

btw about "panamericana highway"
this advert of the murcielago was filmed there
[YOUTUBE]yKhyF1oCEHc[/YOUTUBE]
 
That song from jeremy's ipod

That song from jeremy's ipod

it was a great episode

btw...is there anyone who can tell me the name of the song played by clarkson's ipod/iphone (at about 36:00 - 36:11 of the show)

thx in advance

TCgod
 
Great special. When clarkson was slowly passing the Toyota on that very high cliff, I just kept thinking "don't do it!" very scary stuff.
 
Oh my. I just watched it for the first time on iPlayer. Feed was rubbish but I enjoyed all 75 minutes of it, and then some as I back-tracked a couple of times to see some bits again. Not once during my viewing have I thought of the word "staged". I like totally forgot about it.

And then I came here and was reminded of it. I can't quite make out at what point during new Top Gear's run had the whole issue of scripting rows started up here. Maybe it was 08x06 when the caravan caught fire and from then on in the scripting madness kicked off here to what we have today. There's almost nothing else to talk about anymore.

Anyway as I said, I never thought about scripting at all during the episode. It all looked pretty genuine and pretty bloody dangerous too. At one point I thought Clarkson was almost going to cry judging by the sound of his voice due to low air pressure. It was very brave of all concerned to have got up to 17,000 feet, and equally brave to turn back and go down again. They could have been killed. A more serious event than the Rednecks. They are three unfit middle-aged men. They weren't doing that for entertainment. They defied the odds.

I give this a 10/10. They have saved themselves after a very mediocre series 14, and if Andy Wilman is to be believed, we're in for a treat next year.
 
I agree with the writing on the cars, it wasn't terribly clever the first time in America and now it just seemed lame. And they couldn't find any way to interact with the locals? If I was traveling to the other side of the planet I'd like to at least see if the residents leave their toilet seats up.

I agree with your point about the writing on the cars, but I did think that Richards advert about his other TV show was actually poking fun at the whole writing on cars bit.
And, I would have liked to have seen more of the locals too. That was one of the best parts of Vietnam, watching the locals watch and imagining what they're thinking-probably something along the lines of "friggin' tourists". :lol:
 
I tell you what's interesting, as time goes on the % of tens is dropping, which tends to suggest that those watching it via slow illicit means rather than as broadcast are less impressed.
 
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