Why don't they just air Top Gear on NBC?

arsebiscuits · February 17th, 2008, 09:33 PM

Honestly this "gear" show is going to be a terrible knock off type show I just don't understand why NBC dosent air BBC's Top Gear it would be a lot cheaper and most of the cars are the same especially the exotics. The cars that we don't have in the states usually are twinned so they go by another name or Marque and cars we really don't have i.e Renault's and Alfa's are interesting anyway. The truth is Jeremy James and Richard play off each other so well it makes most of the show without the hosts top gear wouldn't be quite as good.

efoolution · February 17th, 2008, 09:48 PM

... perhaps you should let them try to make it something worth watching and something unique before you condemn it. If they mess it up, you´ll still have plenty time to complain. For now, let them try ...

MattD1zzl3 · February 17th, 2008, 11:10 PM

Because I (as an american) have never heard of half of the cars on top gear and 90 percent of the celebrities?

Viper007Bond · February 18th, 2008, 01:34 AM

Plus, honestly, all the America bashing, the accent, and the odd sense of humor probably wouldn't make it a big hit in primetime on network TV.

Steve Levin · February 18th, 2008, 02:20 AM

The other thing is that even with editing, getting Top Gear into 46 minutes from 60 is a tough job to do cleanly. The BBCA episodes are okay, but not really 'primetime' quality. Too many disjoints and stuff.

You notice the same thing with a lot of BBC shows; "the F word" is one that comes to mind.

Steve

trpnbillie11 · February 18th, 2008, 05:20 AM

Probably because they like to ruin good shows. Like American Gladiators. Or, if anyone had the miserable experience this evening, Knight Rider.

Prost264 · February 18th, 2008, 05:59 AM

We love Top Gear and we are [mostly] open minded people.

The US as a whole is not open minded, which means segments like Star in a Reasonably Priced Car, most of the news, and the "foreign" cars will just turn people off.

This country ~~sucks~~ is too isolated from the rest of the world to bring TG here. Until people get it through their heads that not all of Europe drives on the left side of the road and isn't all third-world countries something like airing Top Gear on network television wont work.

wlmmn · February 19th, 2008, 07:15 AM

Careful what you say. If you give your well-thought-out opinion about this "Gear" show along with your well-informed prediction about how America handles these types of special interest shows and people don't agree with your post, they can just abuse the reputation feature and give you an anonymous harassing message about your post and call you a fucktard.

images/smilies/blowup.gif

*got a negrep for this post, proving my point*

argatoga · February 19th, 2008, 07:30 AM

I don't see a problem with an American version, if it's good we get another car show to watch, if it's bad Top Gear won't go away. Clarkson and co. are helping with the U.S. version, this bodes well for it. Will it be exactly like Top Gear? No, but that doesn't mean it will be horrible either.

Give it a chance; if it is crap I will join you, and the rest of the new members who signed up only to rag on this show, in calling it such.

Surf Monkey · February 24th, 2008, 04:52 PM

Aside from the obvious reasons (the show is far too "British" for an American mainstream audience, it's too long to fit the commercial format without severe editing and so forth) I guarantee the biggest road block is the music. Top Gear uses tons of contemporary songs that would be a nightmare to untangle broadcast rights for in the US.

toycollector · February 24th, 2008, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surf Monkey

Aside from the obvious reasons (the show is far too "British" for an American mainstream audience, it's too long to fit the commercial format without severe editing and so forth) I guarantee the biggest road block is the music. Top Gear uses tons of contemporary songs that would be a nightmare to untangle broadcast rights for in the US.

It's sad that you say "too British"
We, in the UK, watch American shows hourly.
We never say (unlike the French) they are too American.
Live and let live.
Its all about education, not racism.
I holiday in the US every year.Love it.
The fact that 80% of Americans don't have a passport, must say something for the psyche of the average Joe.

argatoga · February 24th, 2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toycollector

The fact that 80% of Americans don't have a passport, must say something for the psyche of the average Joe.

Why would the average American need a passport? An American can cross the boarder into Canada with only a driver's license. America is not Europe, there aren't a whole lot of countries with different languages and cultures around us.

toycollector · February 24th, 2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by argatoga

Why would the average American need a passport? An American can cross the boarder into Canada with only a driver's license. America is not Europe, there aren't a whole lot of countries with different languages and cultures around us.

Thats exactly why the average US citizen does not have have a passport.
You seem to be very afraid of leaving your shores.
To travel, is to be educated.
Iraq's fear leaving their country, as do Afgans.
Other cultures seem to be feared.
That breeds predudice.
America is a land of multiculture.
Sadly, they all stick to their own ethnic backgrounds.

argatoga · February 24th, 2008, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toycollector

Thats exactly why the average US citizen does not have have a passport.
You seem to be very afraid of leaving your shores.
To travel, is to be educated.
Iraq's fear leaving their country, as do Afgans.
Other cultures seem to be feared.
That breeds predudice.
America is a land of multiculture.
Sadly, they all stick to their own ethnic backgrounds.

The main reason Americans don't travel abroad is cost and inconvenience. It costs thousands of dollars to travel to Europe for instance. My trip to Italy last September was well over eight grand, and that was with over ten hours of flying from Seattle to Heathrow to Rome; each stop requiring an anal probe by airport security. You can't just hop on a ferry and be in France.

I have to disagree with your "travel is education" point, as you seem to be pretty ignorant despite having been to the US several times. America is not full of xenophiles, despite the stereotype.

toycollector · February 24th, 2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by argatoga

The main reason Americans don't travel abroad is cost and inconvenience. It costs thousands of dollars to travel to Europe for instance. My trip to Italy last September was well over eight grand, and that was with over ten hours of flying from Seattle to Heathrow to Rome; each stop requiring an anal probe by airport security. You can't just hop on a ferry and be in France.

I have to disagree with your "travel is education" point, as you seem to be pretty ignorant despite having been to the US several times. America is not full of xenophiles, despite the stereotype.

Travelling to Europe is cheap, if you do your homework.
An American friend of mine holidays in the UK, for the same as i can in the US.
Please don't call me ignorant.
I am Fifty One. I have travelled to Italy,France,Germany,Russia,Tunisia,Egypt,Canada,
Greece,Morroco,US,Malta,Gibralter,Canary Islands,Denmark,Sweden.
Many of the countries i have visited, have been distrustfull of "foreigners"
These have been the countries where the seem to stay within their own borders.
Who said the US was full of xenophiles?
Are you sure of the meaning?
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/xenophile

MattD1zzl3 · February 24th, 2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toycollector

Travelling to Europe is cheap, if you do your homework.[/url]

The point is, why should we? Our country is so varied and ridiculously huge that you could never even hope to experiance all of it in a lifetime, why spend thousands to go there when there are so many great things here?

I've traveled to europe, i loved it, but dont come down on people because they dont have as much of a boner for intercontinental travel as you do. You might not be ignorant, but you sure are closed-minded and needlessly condescending to people you dont even know.

argatoga · February 24th, 2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toycollector

Are you sure of the meaning?
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/xenophile

Yea I should proof read my posts. I meant xenophobic. Thank God my Ancient Greek prof. doesn't read these forums. images/smilies/smile.gif

Quote:

Originally Posted by toycollector

Who said the US was full of xenophiles?

Quote:

Originally Posted by toycollector

Thats exactly why the average US citizen does not have have a passport.
You seem to be very afraid of leaving your shores.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toycollector

Travelling to Europe is cheap, if you do your homework.
An American friend of mine holidays in the UK, for the same as i can in the US.

Can you give detail on how he did this then?

Quote:

Originally Posted by toycollector

Please don't call me ignorant.
I am Fifty One. I have travelled to Italy,France,Germany,Russia,Tunisia,Egypt,Canada,
Greece,Morroco,US,Malta,Gibralter,Canary Islands,Denmark,Sweden.
Many of the countries i have visited, have been distrustfull of "foreigners"
These have been the countries where the seem to stay within their own borders.

I don't care where you have been or how old you are, you still claimed that most American's are xenophobic and ignorant of the world. As someone who has lived in this country for most of his life I strongly disagree with you. I have traveled across this country and lived in several different places in it, and I have not seen what you claim as widespread.

Surf Monkey · February 24th, 2008, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toycollector

It's sad that you say "too British"
We, in the UK, watch American shows hourly.
We never say (unlike the French) they are too American.
Live and let live.
Its all about education, not racism.
I holiday in the US every year.Love it.
The fact that 80% of Americans don't have a passport, must say something for the psyche of the average Joe.

Excuse me? Racism? Please.

I have a passport. My sister lives in London. I've been there many, many times. I love the UK. BUT, Top Gear is still too British for most American audiences. Why? Let's take the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segment for example. I doubt most Americans could name more than 10 of the people who have done the circuit so far. Is that racist? No, of course not. It's simply a matter of living in a completely different media environment. Further, many of the references that Clarkson and crew make would be completely lost on Americans. Slang terms, mentions of officials, musicians and actors all go right over most people's heads. It's not a matter of racism, the lack of a passport, xenophobia or any of the rest of it.

BlaRo · February 25th, 2008, 04:15 AM

God, who let the trolls in again?

Viper007Bond · February 25th, 2008, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlaRo

God, who let the trolls in again?

Well, with all the old trolls banned, the new ones sensed the troll vacuum and are now asserting their place.

February 17th, 2008, 09:33 PM	#1
arsebiscuits Joined: Jan 4th, 2008 Last Online: November 23rd, 2008 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Why don't they just air Top Gear on NBC? Honestly this "gear" show is going to be a terrible knock off type show I just don't understand why NBC dosent air BBC's Top Gear it would be a lot cheaper and most of the cars are the same especially the exotics. The cars that we don't have in the states usually are twinned so they go by another name or Marque and cars we really don't have i.e Renault's and Alfa's are interesting anyway. The truth is Jeremy James and Richard play off each other so well it makes most of the show without the hosts top gear wouldn't be quite as good.

February 17th, 2008, 09:48 PM	#2
efoolution Joined: Mar 5th, 2007 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Germany Posts: 844 Rep Power: 19	... perhaps you should let them try to make it something worth watching and something unique before you condemn it. If they mess it up, you´ll still have plenty time to complain. For now, let them try ... __________________

February 18th, 2008, 01:34 AM	#4
Viper007Bond Lazy Head Dude Joined: Sep 21st, 2003 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 24 Posts: 20,988 Car: Dodge Viper (I wish!) Rep Power: 234	Plus, honestly, all the America bashing, the accent, and the odd sense of humor probably wouldn't make it a big hit in primetime on network TV. __________________ Fight back against the evil Quiky by +1'ing this post! There is no replacement for displacement. - Wolfgang Bernhard, Chief Operating Officer, Chrysler Group talking about the Dodge Viper SRT-10 ... I ask Herb Helbig, vehicle synthesis manager for SRT and a member of the original Team Viper development group since day one, if they'd ever thought of adding traction control. "It comes with two," he says, pointing at my feet. "Learn to use them." Got it. - Motor Trend on the 2006 Dodge Viper Coupe, November 2005

February 18th, 2008, 05:59 AM	#7
Prost264 Joined: Jun 30th, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Age: 21 Posts: 2,211 Car: 1995 Subaru Legacy Rep Power: 29	We love Top Gear and we are [mostly] open minded people. The US as a whole is not open minded, which means segments like Star in a Reasonably Priced Car, most of the news, and the "foreign" cars will just turn people off. This country ~~sucks~~ is too isolated from the rest of the world to bring TG here. Until people get it through their heads that not all of Europe drives on the left side of the road and isn't all third-world countries something like airing Top Gear on network television wont work. Last edited by Prost264; February 18th, 2008 at 06:03 AM..

February 19th, 2008, 07:15 AM	#8
wlmmn Joined: Dec 25th, 2007 Last Online: November 20th, 2008 Location: Thornton, CO USA Posts: 59 Car: 2002 BMW330ci Rep Power: 5	Careful what you say. If you give your well-thought-out opinion about this "Gear" show along with your well-informed prediction about how America handles these types of special interest shows and people don't agree with your post, they can just abuse the reputation feature and give you an anonymous harassing message about your post and call you a fucktard. got a negrep for this post, proving my point __________________ The following statement is true: the preceding statement was false. Last edited by wlmmn; February 25th, 2008 at 02:03 AM..

February 18th, 2008, 02:20 AM	#5
Steve Levin VIP Joined: Jun 7th, 2006 Last Online: 03:07 AM Location: Sunnyvale, California Posts: 755 Car: Spec Racer Ford! Rep Power: 22	The other thing is that even with editing, getting Top Gear into 46 minutes from 60 is a tough job to do cleanly. The BBCA episodes are okay, but not really 'primetime' quality. Too many disjoints and stuff. You notice the same thing with a lot of BBC shows; "the F word" is one that comes to mind. Steve

February 18th, 2008, 05:20 AM	#6
trpnbillie11 Joined: Apr 9th, 2007 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Fairfax, VA, USA Posts: 83 Car: 2006 Toyota 4Runner Rep Power: 7	Probably because they like to ruin good shows. Like American Gladiators. Or, if anyone had the miserable experience this evening, Knight Rider.

February 19th, 2008, 07:30 AM	#9
argatoga Can't Start His Wank Joined: Oct 4th, 2005 Last Online: 02:34 AM Location: Washington State, USA Age: 25 Posts: 1,969 Car: '97 Mustang GT, '78 MG Midget (12a swap) Rep Power: 48	I don't see a problem with an American version, if it's good we get another car show to watch, if it's bad Top Gear won't go away. Clarkson and co. are helping with the U.S. version, this bodes well for it. Will it be exactly like Top Gear? No, but that doesn't mean it will be horrible either. Give it a chance; if it is crap I will join you, and the rest of the new members who signed up only to rag on this show, in calling it such.

February 24th, 2008, 04:52 PM	#10
Surf Monkey Joined: Feb 24th, 2008 Last Online: April 9th, 2008 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 35 Car: 2004 Subaru WRX Sport Wagon Rep Power: 9	Aside from the obvious reasons (the show is far too "British" for an American mainstream audience, it's too long to fit the commercial format without severe editing and so forth) I guarantee the biggest road block is the music. Top Gear uses tons of contemporary songs that would be a nightmare to untangle broadcast rights for in the US.