MadeBackwards

As Andrew911tt mentioned, a few of us had a chat with Andy Wilman as the studio was clearing out and I was lucky enough to be able to ask several spontaneous questions.

I'm British, and have been watching Top Gear since the William Woollard and Chris Goffey days. I emigrated out to San Diego three and a half years ago so I had a good few years of the new (superb) format before leaving the UK and have kept up with the show since. This gave me quite a unique perspective (although I know there was at least one other ex-pat there). I attended (as did many) as a nervous skeptic, but left happy and looking forward to more.

Before talking with Andy, I spoke with Eric Stromer for a bit while Adam was signing gtrietsc's Top Gear Magazine. I know people here have been panning him, but I could tell he was respectful of the position he was in, and was therefore nervous. I told him I had enjoyed it more than I was expecting, and he thanked me for my words of encouragement. His pre-recorded films were much funnier and relaxed, and I'm sure once the pressure to perform and gel is gone, he'd settle right in. Remember, whilst Tanner Foust has some strikingly Hamster-like characteristics, the task is not to hire an American James. If anything, Eric will likely to appeal more to the average US based car guy/girl. Remember, NBC aren't trying to make a show for us. If you think about it, Neither Adam nor Tanner NEED TopGear to work, but for the potential global audience awaiting Eric if TG USA makes it, it's a huge opportunity for him. Cut him some slack.

Okay, so once I got back to the car, and was finally reuinted with my phone, I made some notes so hopefully I wouldn't forget much of what was said and what I can recall is below. Some of these answers you will have already have read elsewhere on this board as I didn't field all of these questions myself, but in the interests of completeness, I'm putting down all I can remember:

On the subject of the UK show, I asked why there had only been six episodes in the current run, he answered that there would be eight in the October run, and that he only wants to make fourteen per year from now on as he doesn't want it to get tired, and for them to run out of ideas. He said he didn't feel this was the best series of all. He admitted they'd not got TopGear Stuntman right, but that he'd re-emerge at some point.

I asked if he was happy with how it had gone. He said he was and seemed genuinely enthused. I asked if this pilot was purely for focus groups or if it would ever see the light of day. He responded that that morning, he was expecting the former, but now it was all done, he'd happily put it to air, albeit likely not episode one of a series.

The US version would be running at 43 minutes, obviously completing an hour slot with commercials. We were all there for several hours so a lot would be cut down, but you could feel where that might come from. Andy did say he felt a couple of the film pieces would be cut down too.

The Star In A Reasonably Priced Car lap board was marked with Adam Corolla's own time. I asked why we'd never seen Jeremy, Richard or James on the UK list, and I think Andy said they couldn't be bothered (said in a funny way, not dismissive). I suspect that meant they didn't really see the need, plus, I'm not sure what it would really do for the mechanics of the show if Captain Slow, say, actually turned out to be the fastest!

There was no introduction to the track used, but, if this were to air as a later episode, that could be addressed. Andy said that whilst the track (designed by Tanner) was a great circuit, it didn't work so well on TV. We mentioned that the drama of the follow-through wasn't there etc and that it felt more like you'd be looking where to go next rather than committing yourself 110%. He was thinking of changing the track and getting David Hasselhoff back to do a lap on the new one, and was sure DH would gladly do so. It didn't appear that Andy had been present at the filming of the SIARPC.

With so many people driving automatics in the US, I was pleased to hear the Kia Rio used was a manual.

He said he would think about getting Jeremy on the US show at some point, but would want to 'let Adam piss on his patch first'!

He said he thought Adam Corolla was funnier than Jeremy, all the while knowing we would blog or post what he was saying, I'm sure this was half for fun. Although, AC WAS naturally very funny indeed, and if this gets to air and succeeds, it will have been aided in no small way by Adam's contribution. Andy acknowledged that Adam was his first choice.

He was looking for a January '09 air date, but I could tell this was a million miles from set in stone.

I really got the impression NBC are taking a backseat and letting AW and BBC Worldwide do their thing.

I would like to add that, Andy came across as a great guy, who not only cares what we or people like us think (as you all know, Final Gear was mentioned several times), but that above all else, he really cares about the TopGear 'brand'. So, with that in mind, I declare TopGear USA in safe hands.

nocturne1

Great notes, thanks! Yeah, I was VERY impressed at how hands-on Andy was. It really put me at ease. Although it does concern me that it sounded like he was looking to hand it off at some point (when his Visa was up, if I recall correctly).

Damn, wish I would have stuck around to talk to everyone....

BerserkerCatSplat

THE HOFF!?!?!?! Mr. Wilman, I love you so, so much.

WagonMonster

Yes, the Hoff was there, in all his glory.

GeigerSpeed

Hoff was really funny actualy, going back and forth in a insult battle with adam haha. it was great!

I really wish I stuck around but I had to get back to SF that night and it was alrady 930.. and I didnt want to deal with the MAD RUSH of people... Damn it.. did Andy ask all of the finalgear folks to meet up wiht him or did you guys just meet up together and attack him haha.

I grabbed him halfway through the taping and told him that I was really happy (as a TG fan of 8 years) to see how the show was going thus far.. and as MadeBkwds said.. he was genuinly happy to hear about my joy! I just wished that i oculd have introudeced myself and asked him questions.. he was in a rush.. =@ /

If Top Gear does have success (which I do not dought will be the case) I am curious to know if they will be considirng bringing Fifth Gear to the US as well.. I think it would be very smart if they do!!

WagonMonster

So, what we saw will not be episode 1?

fbc

Nice write up - thanks for sharing.

gtrietsc

Thats good to hear. The funny thing is that while the others that signed my TG mag seemed to notice it was a TG mag, when my wife got Eric to sign it he said "Supercars. Cool!" I am not sure he realizes how big TG is globally.

Wanted to clarify, or at least give my perspective here - to my recollection he was worried about how the studio bit would work on the first go around, and was thinking that morning they might cut all of it, and just show the films, but that after the filming was done, he was feeling alot better about it. He did say that he would like to not show it as the first episode, but then one of the others in our circle pointed out that for the lap times board and SIARPC board that would be difficult, and he agreed (kind of a Doh! moment)

MadeBackwards

Yeah, the show we saw is very unlikely to see the light of day in it's current arrangement. If the show airs at all, by January the news will be old so at the very least would need to be replaced, and if the SIATPC does get re-shot with a more dynamic lap (probably again at the old Marine Base at El Toro where I think this was shot), they'd also need to re-shoot anything including the Star Lap Times board. As gtrietsc said, Andy almost had a 'doh' moment when it was pointed out that if the reasonably empty lap-board would be a bit of a continuity error if aired out of sync. It was at that point I realised we share the role of trusted friends AND arch nemeses!

caffine

Well, if the pilot is never aired... we can at least hope for it on the special edition Season 1 Blu-ray set!

thedriver

Good writeup! Man I hope pilot makes it out at some point. I thought it was pretty solid.

Plus I flew 3000 miles to get some camera time and have already told all my family and friends I was successful! haha

gtrietsc

Yea, I really hope they show it, after I made the trip from Texas and all

Hidden_Hunter

I wonder if Andy will be present for the Australian version?

aaurora

Brilliant, thanks so much for that.

pepitko

hopefully they will air the pilot, or we should at least get to see some kind of "behind the scenes" episode

Aston Martin

Do they have a tame racing driver? What colour is he?
If it is Jan, then Top Gear UK series 12 ends in late Dec... and then USA starts.

Cobol74

Red white and Blue of course (a la Evel Knievel) at a guess.

Andrew911tt

I think Andy was already aware that they would have to re tape the SIARPC and the power laps portion because when I brought that up he was sure that the Hoff would come back and do it again, I think meaning that a lot of people are excited to get their chance on the show.

He said that he probably would air but just as a later episode like 5 or 6.

He did say that he was going to stay and help out also long as he could, then hand the reins over to the two Americans. I really wish they were more approachable but they seemed to be crazy busy the whole show. Andy kind of walked around in the audience talking to people. He would watch the show from in the audience and then step out and talk if he had any notes or wanted them to re tape something.

tyndago

Well I made the trip all the way from Long Beach. It was like 10 minutes. Hopefully it makes the air. Doubt you will see me.

Its ok though. I have been on TV before, and plenty of things that have gone straight to video.

gtrietsc

Well, I guess what I mean is, after a near perfect storm of getting the tickets, getting a good flight, decent accomodations, cheap rental car, and attending the taping - the icing on the cake would be for what I attended to actually be shown.