Do you think Leno helped put the kibosh on Top Gear America?

[Elroy Jackson Jr.]

Hey there fellas, I browse these forums every now and again for TG news, so today when I saw this thing about the format for Leno's new show I figured I'd register and post.

http://warmingglow.uproxx.com/2009/0...histles-races/

I see this as breaking down in one of two ways because I hear just as much about him being kind of a jerk as I do about him being a good guy.

This is pure speculation on my part but I think either Leno put pressure on the network because he didn't want a Top Gear America competing with what he had in mind for his new show or he added the car stuff after Top Gear failed to get traction at NBC as a way of showing them that the format could work.

[jenna42]

http://forums.finalgear.com/top-gear...america-38237/

Hi Elroy - I found your post really interesting - hope you don't mind that I crossposted it to the Top Gear forum, with questions, as above.

[invisiblecake]

That does sound a bit suspicious. It also sounds like it could be really horrible, although it may just be the way the article was written. From the way it sounds, I'd much rather have TGA than whatever this show is supposed to be. I hope that he didn't have anything to do with the show being canned though!

[Elroy Jackson Jr.]

Originally Posted by jenna42

[url]Hi Elroy - I found your post really interesting - hope you don't mind that I crossposted it to the Top Gear forum, with questions, as above.

No sweat man.

[Karoug]

Originally Posted by Elroy Jackson Jr.

No sweat mam.

FTFY!

[Elroy Jackson Jr.]

Haha, I wasn't even paying attention.

[Jakain]

Wow, good job by Leno for having that star in a green car segment on his new show.

Its going to be a blast, Leno > Top Gear America imo.

[Kiskaloo]

Reading the description of the new show, I don't see how Top Gear America would have had any impact on it, to be honest. His idea to interview guests who then drive around a track is only one segment of a Top Gear episode and when you consider how dull some of them have been (especially on TGA and TGR), it can often be one of the least-desirable segments of the episode.

So I don't really see how having TGAmerica on NBC would have hurt Jay's new show.

I think what doomed TGAmerica is that the networks (NBC and cable) probably focused on having the car companies themselves as the primary underwriters/sponsors of the show (since they could probably be able to commit up front to a full-season so as to ensure the funding is in place before shooting/production) and that if their cars were panned or lampooned, they'd pull out and the series would die at the end of it's first season (and therefore be a financial failure).

[Bosch]

That and the biggest economic meltdown in history.. No one was wanting to buy super cars, they want a toyota prius instead..

Sad but true.. At least here in Seattle..

Oh and don't forget Adam Corrolla - that killed it for me.. And lots of other people, we hated him on radio his voice grated on us, we really didn't feel the need to see while he cheese grated our ears..

[Inspectah13]

Originally Posted by Kiskaloo

I think what doomed TGAmerica is that the networks (NBC and cable) probably focused on having the car companies themselves as the primary underwriters/sponsors of the show (since they could probably be able to commit up front to a full-season so as to ensure the funding is in place before shooting/production) and that if their cars were panned or lampooned, they'd pull out and the series would die at the end of it's first season (and therefore be a financial failure).

That was one of the reasons Leno gave when he turned down hosting TGA before it was offered to Carolla:

http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/j...in-it-6853.php

Also, the network would have valid concerns on seeing a return on investment, Top Gear is high budget for a car show, but the target market is still basically the same as any other american car show, and that market is not huge, and is shrinking daily due to global concerns. When the demand is small most people will not dump money into the supply.

As far as the cars, id bet my money its more a case of letting the 'King of Late Night' do whatever he wants to on his probably last network show in the twilight of his career, and the man does love cars so if he wants to finally work them into one of his programs id be willing to bet nbc allowed him that leeway. Maybe he was inspired by his recent appearance on TG and thought it was an entertaining experience for himself as the guest as well as the audience... Still i probably wont watch it, i just dont find the man all that funny or entertaining.

I had heard they filmed the pilot for TGA and id like to see that at least but i doubt itll ever get released, also tanner foust would have had arguably the best car control of any TG host in any of the various versions, professional drifter, rally driver, and hollywood stunt driver, he comes off a little dry in interviews but the boy is bad behind the wheel.

Heres one, Jay Leno, great actor, or greatest actor to ever live?

+ YouTube Video

[danmead]

How about they just do Top Gear America and let Leno host. All they have to do is drive around in the cars in Jay's garage and that has the first two seasons covered.

[ninjacoco]

It's odd...before I saw Leno's appearance on TG, I was hoping Clarkson would eviscerate him. His late-night show always just kinda rubbed me the wrong way. But, lo and behold, I actually kind of liked the guy when he started talking about his cars. Maybe he just had awful writers on The Tonight Show or something, but dang.

The more Leno works car stuff into his show, the better, IMHO. The problem with semi-ripping-off SIARPC is that Leno's most annoying to me when he's dealing with celebrities, and that segment makes for some of the dullest points on Top Gear, IMHO. Of the two options there, I think I would have rather seen TG: America get a chance.