[09x03] February 11th, 2007

[jayhawk]

I made the mistake of watching this episode....




...while eating. Oh my God, that was possibly the funniest Top Gear I have watched. The rants from Jezza came across as, well, an Englishman driving a shitty RS Camaro with no a/c across the deep south. I cant blame him, he and the others must have been miserable.

Hats off to Top Gear. A good episode. It is too bad they really didnt get to know the people, the majority of people, in the south. Stereotypes be damned, the are some of the friendliest people you will meet, I think only Australians can top that.

[CaptainZeroCool]

Originally Posted by Mr-Stabby

Bloody Alabama lot though, scum of the earth or what lol

[Carey934]

I am in American and you should know that Americans that do not live in the South often make fun of those who do as being racist, stupid and inbred.

So, I found this episode quite funny, although the part with the cow just seemed cruel, especially when they could have used Richards Pickup truck for that.

Still, it was dead and it was funny. Just seemed disrespectful.

The end credits were great!

Cletus Clarkson
Earl Hammond Jr.
Ellie May May

and

Roscoe P. Stig

Good stuff!

Of course, Miami is full of guns and drugs, Georgia, Alabama, Lousiana and Mississippi are very 'back woods' states. To suggest not going to America (a Top Gear Top Tip from Clarkson at the end) implies Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and 39 other states are not worth visiting. I mean, they drove the distance of Britain and only saw 4 of the 48 contiguous states...

I agree not to visit those 4... but they don't represent the majority. And Britain has cities I wouldn't enter into without a native there to protect me. That doesn't mean all of Britain is similar.

Very entertaining! I only wish I could have been there and watched them film it or help in some way!

[m3cadet]

Originally Posted by Speedtouch

SO FUNNY!!

I do agree. How will the Yanks react to this one? I'm sure something to do with 'States have different laws' will come up. But think, in the UK, and maybe most places in the world, we would just give them a sigh or if the worst comes to the worst, shout at them. But of course, the most powerful place on Earth decides to either throw rocks at everyone, or (the guys were lucky here) shoot them.

I love their TopGear Top Tip: Don't go to America.

And the fact that the Americans will sue anything; Jeremy threatened to be sued for giving an older car away than said. How self mannered must you be if you want exactly what you are told you will be given - for free? Fine, if it were said to be a Camaro and turned out to be a Camaro without wheels, or an engine, or doors etc, then maybe.

I truly think America is a great country; just look at the Grand Canyon. But unfortunately the large majority of Americans ruin it all. They just got lucky in where they were placed by nature.

You seriously sound as ingnorant as some of the people during the show.

[Martin]

What an incredible episode! I was laughing so hard at moments I was in pain. Though the moment I read the slogans on the cars I knew instantly that they were going to be in trouble.

As a German/Belgian ex-pat (German/American citizen) living in the States for years now I can appreciate this episode from several angles. I do live in the south, but it's a nice place if you aren't too deep in the back country. Nonetheless, Jezza makes several astute observations that are apt.

I'm sure the American audience here on the forums is much more understanding, but it's an unfortunate streak in a number of Americans that they do not take criticism well. Considering how some Americans rip on Western-Europe, I think JC's counter-attack is justified.

Also, lets please not get into the politics of New Orleans. It's quite complicated, and highly charged.

[hyper_snyper]

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I thought it was about time to register because of the responses to this episode. I'm American and I thought it was a pretty hilarious episode...if a bit biased. Not all of America is like what was portrayed.

Anyway I just want to chime in and say, Top Gear is going to make up for it next week with a big nod to the USA. They're going to turn a Reliant Robin into a model of the Space Shuttle.

They could have modeled it after any generic spaceship, but they chose the one with 'soul and character,' sort to speak. A product of the good side of America. To me, the fact that they chose that is a bigger complement than any 'insult' they did this week.

Ironically enough, the Space Shuttle was designed in Alabama (Marshall space flight center), its components are fabricated in Louisiana (Michoud assembly facility) and it is launched from Florida. The same states they just visited. Looks like not everyone is stupid down there.

[MacGillaZ]

Forum observation: Why do people take such offense at others poking fun at some people in their country and their governments? Sounds like some people need to get a nice COLD beer into them, thats come from an ESKY, not a cooler

As an Aussie, we take the piss out of ourselves and everybody else, its part of life. If you get ahead, you get cut down, you fall behind, you get cut down. You act like a tool or hero, you'll get jibed by somebody... Maybe its because we are some what more relaxed, or were more relaxed, looking at what Cricket Australia has just done; banning the Mexican Wave, What a bunch of Poofters

Cant wait to see this episode as it sounds like its going to be Sen-bloodly-sational

Just wish TG would finally come DownUnder so we can hear what they think of the crappest road surfaces in the world and our Cars

[R-Type]

Just watched this episode and it was far less stereotypical cocking about than I had anticipated from comments on here. It actually walked a fairly straight line, with only the quote "I don't see how american's can sleep at night knowing this is here" made me raise an eyebrow. As has been pointed out in this thread already, much was done for New Orleans all ready.

I do agree they should have driven up the east coast instead, as that would have given a much better cross section of America.

On a side note, I thought plump stig was pretty funny, but how can they make fat jokes considering the size of that dude May replaced from series one? He was bigger than 99% of the people I see wandering around NY


Definately the best episode since series 7 though!

[thedguy]

I was on the floor I was laughing so hard at times. One of the best episodes they've done.

Perhaps they should have asked an American before they did this, and they would have been told to stay out of the South. Most American's aren't welcome there either*








*I was only kidding. They might as well have gone to Compton or New York with "White power" painted on the sides of their cars.

[Racin]

Really good episode! Maybe one of the funniest episodes ever.

Can't wait untill next week

[paulbeattie87]

That was brilliant watched it about 3 times now it is so good. Turns an hour into what seemed like no time.

Loved the joky nature and fat stig.

That is what I pay my license fee for!!!!

I also wonder if this is in anyway related to the post sometime ago looking for a car in Miami? Which would be located here: http://forums.finalgear.com/showthre...ighlight=miami
Just a thought as they wanted a Cammarro expert and Jezza had one in that episode.

[Susurrate]

That ep was funny as hell. My car doesn't anything about man love written on it and I still avoid stopping in Alabama as much as possible. As for New Orleans that place is corrupt as all hell, it's a money pit.

[Demigod555]

Really good and really funny episode. Glad to see TG still has it.

I saw Clarkson's Good Bad and Ugly DVD and it was awful and I was expecting more of the same, but thankfully we were spared that.

[Greenjack]

Originally Posted by m3cadet

You seriously sound as ingnorant as some of the people during the show.

I agree....and we weren't placed here by nature.

[pfrocker]

This episode was hilarious,
I live in San Francisco, it's amazing how different the deep South is than here

but what gets me is that why don't the Top Gear guys come to SF, I'm very interested to know how they feel about it.

[argatoga]

I’m American and I loved it.

As for those who are now afraid of America, let me point out that America is not just Texas and a few other surrounding states. I’ve lived in Colorado and Western Washington and can say I have met more good people than not. Saying America is horrendous based on the Deep South is like saying all of Europe is identical to Serbia or another Baltic state. America is a big place, there is plenty of space for normal considerate people and the less considerate to live.

[E36/5]

Well, I can't wait to see this!! You guys are driving me crazy

#1) One thing to remember is that this is just a TV show. It's sensationalized to attract an audience.

#2) I think many people don't quite understand how large the USA is (physically). The distance from Bangor, Maine to San Diego, California is about the same distance as London, England to Tehran, Iran. Are you gonna suggest there's not a HUGE variety of people, religions, lifestyles and cultures in that span?

[KaJuN]

That was absolutely fantastic! I've been in Florida a couple times in a car like Jeremy had and it was so freaking hot in there. I feel his pain. I loved when they kept running into each other, it was hilarious. The best part was when they wrote stuff on each others' cars. "NASCAR sucks" I'm shocked that people got so mad about that. Scary stuff!

The cool thing is that now I can say I've driven on the same road as the Top Gear presenters: Interstate 75 (even though I'm over a thousand miles north of where they were, it still counts to me )

[nweibley]

Originally Posted by argatoga

As for those who are now afraid of America, let me point out that America is not just Texas and a few other surrounding states. I’ve lived in Colorado and Western Washington and can say I have met more good people than not. Saying America is horrendous based on the Deep South is like saying all of Europe is identical to Serbia or another Baltic state. America is a big place, there is plenty of space for normal considerate people and the less considerate to live.

I'm an American, and I loved it too... but I have a bone to pick with this idea that the deep south is some stereotypical inbred cesspool.

I live in Gainesville, FL I recognized a damn sight more than I thought I would (in the shots) and I think they portrayed alot of the south correctly... Florida is hot, humid, overrun by developers, etc. LA is decimated, neglected, etc. However 'the south' is not infested with inferior citizens like you imply, argatoga. We do not misrepresent the rest of America. We have our flaws, yes, but what can be said for the south can be said for most everywhere else in America too.

I think the commentary and satire in this episode were spot on, and taken in context is very funny and very worth watching. The who 'near death' experience with the rednecks was exactly what they were hoping to get... I was more amused that they were surprised they got the reaction they set out to get than anything else. Still, a good episode, and when taken in context it was both poignant and funny. May have been the best bit TG has done yet.

And for the record I can feel Jeremy's pain. I had to deal with a dark blue SUV with no aircon all summer last year and it was hell.

[Viper007Bond]

It's Alabama, what did they expect? *hides*

But seriously, a lot of the country down there is like the black sheep of the family.