[11x01] June 22nd, 2008

[nefarious79]

Too much clarkson in the beginning, stuntman bit could have been cut out, scuderia review was bland I think as long as Clarkson has been doing reveiws he seems like hes tapering off a bit, sort of getting long in the tooth. As far as the Scud review I would have let the car do most of the talk and kept the dialog breif.

Oh well theres always next week to look forward to.

[Frederic]

Originally Posted by knopix

The reverse car jump wasn't nearly as entertaining as they probably wanted it to be.
It was as if someone in the production studio (or wherever they decide these things) said "we have to do at least one stunt" and this was all they could come up with.

Maybe I'm being too harsh, but the police cars segment felt way too scripted. Everything from the outfitting of the cars to the acting seemed like it was diligently planned out by a group of writers sitting in a room with coffee and laptops -- i.e. it didn't seem like the natural spontaneous characters we've all grown used to.

I'm sorry bit I'm a bit bored with this sort of comments. When will you all accept that in S6/S7 we were spoiled, S8 was ok, S9 was bad, S10 was better and S11 is again a little bit better?
You can't say that it felt too scripted: TG is scripted! That's just TG style, like it or not. Can't you just enjoy the show without hammering on every single detail?

I just can't accept that anyone who watches this episodes (and is obviously being entertained) can give less than a 7. I mean, come on? What do you want more?
-JC style review
-funny bit at the beginning
-great challenge
-funny news
-SIARPC takes less time than it used to do. Also, they now only talk about their cars (where as a couple of series ago the first talked about what projects they were doing).

[Dsemaj]

It was good, but I still felt a tiny bit disappointed.

Although, on the bright side, the Supercar race was good fun, especially with all that noise! The Scuderia review got a bit confusing, but I still liked it. I also liked how they didn't bother with the build this time in the police cars. That can get a bit tedious. The sirens were hilarious, but everything else felt a bit empty. If they can do another one like the Porsche challenge with a bit of a journey, i'll be happy.

Oh, I acknowledge that there will be a laughter filler track, but could they stop with that damn one with that giggling fat bitch in the background? Drives me up the wall..

[Scooby5]

You can tell you watch too much TG when you realise that as soon as Jeremy starts to slate a car like he did the Scuderia that in actual fact he'll love it and visa versa. This test was pretty much like every other Ferrari/Porsche test done so far, but ........

It was almost the "tried-and-tested" TG formula but it lacked just a little bit of something.

The Prius test just confirmed what most knowledgable people already know....... Hybrids are a con-job and the marketing guys are laughing in their socks.

8/10 from me.

[dragonboy3000]

A good episode but i dont think top gear stuntman is a great addition. I mean yes its just like the ones they used to do in the earlier series and they were great, but i think adding a specific person to this segment has maybe wet it. If they had made him like the stig, an unidentified pro stuntman and made it just bit more exciting, then i would enjoy it alot more.

[MadCat360]

I thought it was brilliant. I laughed more on that episode than I did on any of the S10 episodes. I liked the more rapid-fire pace of the news. Guests could've been more interesting but they said some funny things (never heard of them though). The cop car challenge could've been longer, but I don't think there are many more ways to test a cop car for chase vids.

The Stig vs. the cops though was a bit unfair. I mean, he's a racing driver in a BMW. Even an old BM is going to be quicker than a Suzuki or a Lexus... Still fun.

Oh and LOL at the police takedown procedure. If that was America we'd've just spun the guy. Or if that was a real criminal he would've just gone offroad.

[steka]

Who the hell were those unbelieveably gay guys in the SIARPC segment ? Can't even be bothered to listen to the annoying voice of the one with the black hair.
Nice girl behind clarkson though

[f1freak]

I generally agree with the comments so far (jeez, that Carr guy was annoying. And for a gay guy his hair style was pretty bad. I think that was some form of mullet). The cop car segment was amazing, if flawed. I thought the stunt man bit was a little pointless but they did set a record. The 430 film was very well shot and the review was alright.

Now to get nitpicky.

The M3 vs. Prius part was accurate in message, that driving style matters more than anything else, but the test was hardly scientific. A Prius going flat out is on the gas engine all the time, thus making it just like any other small car, and since it was at full throttle most of the time it used way more fuel than in normal driving where the electric motor makes more of a difference. All the M3 had to do was cruise around behind it on part throttle, where the engine is designed to be fuel efficient. The M3 also had the benefit of a slight slip stream from the Prius, which probably made the difference in the mileage between the two cars.

I tend to over analyze things though.

[Venturisection]

yay it looks like they did my suggestion and raced the shinkansen - i sent em enough suggestions to do it

I wanna be a Top Gear Producer!!!

and there's a really annoying woman laughing in the background

[NooDle]

I liked the stupid challenge (ofcourse, the spikes on the wheels and "stinger" had me in stitches) bit but the rest of the show was a bit weak.

James's backwards car stunt was lame, and the Ferrari bit was more of the same (poweeeeeeer! smoke! slidey around!)
And the celebrity in a reasonably priced car bit was far too long (although funny)

only 8/10 for me though, I expected MOAR

[WillDAQ]

Originally Posted by Plissken

I'll put a fiver that that photo that got zoomed away is that one with the bloke in womens underwear with his bits up an exhaust. If you've seen it, you'll know the one I mean*. If not, for the love of God, don't go looking for it.


*It is impossible to forget. Someone needs to invent mind bleach.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle4186068.ece

And let’s not forget, shall we, that some people are aroused by goats. I’ve even seen one photograph of a man making love to his Range Rover.

I think we have a winner...

[Richmondgal]

Aren't we all too critical these days? Well I do for one.

Anyway, I just watched it on the internet (after a very long download), I thought the trailer looked brilliant and stuff (I hope it's a full ep of Japan), the first part was the usual Clarkson stuff, I skipped the Scuderia part because let's be honest, the 430 is better. I was a bit disapointed about the stunt man, but oh well they gave it a shot. Trial and Error people. The interview was fun and the news was always good (The car looks like Pikachu rofl). I absolutely laughed too much in the police part. Richard's suzuki=LMAO. James's siren=LMAO. Clarkson's wheel thing=LMAO. I love how the stig uses the window wipers. And Richard eating the paper.

Overall, not a bad start, but could've done better. Although this is Top Gear, so we should be happy with what we get.

[Ali_NZ]

I didn't really enjoy that episode. 430 review was too plain; boring stars, and they picked terrible cars for the stunt & police segments. I hope they have road trip episodes, and better challenges later in the series!

The American road trip and English channel crossing springs to mind

[garrydb7]

Disappointing last night. Annoying guests too.

The only car feature I can remember from last night was the Ferrari. Then it slides back into last of the summer wine mode with the overlong police car thing - and as for the Top Gear Stunt Man piece – well, TG should issue an apology. Not only was it embarrassing (poor James who had to front it) it was not even funny, and more to the point, eh, what was the point? Reversing up a ramp to a jump record! Duh??? Complete waste of time and this Stunt Man piece needs to stop right now, before it pollutes the whole show. Put him down like TG did with the Top Gear Dog.

Do you remember when TG used to feature cars on the show? I think they have run out of ideas how to road test them in a unique way? May I suggest they tune into Dave…

[Frederic]

Originally Posted by garrydb7

Disappointing last night. Annoying guests too.

The only car feature I can remember from last night was the Ferrari. Then it slides back into last of the summer wine mode with the overlong police car thing - and as for the Top Gear Stunt Man piece – well, TG should issue an apology. Not only was it embarrassing (poor James who had to front it) it was not even funny, and more to the point, eh, what was the point? Reversing up a ramp to a jump record! Duh??? Complete waste of time and this Stunt Man piece needs to stop right now, before it pollutes the whole show. Put him down like TG did with the Top Gear Dog.

Do you remember when TG used to feature cars on the show? I think they have run out of ideas how to road test them in a unique way? May I suggest they tune into Dave…

Yeah mate, you try making your own show, 11 series long and every single car review/challenge you do must be in a brand spanking new concept.. Good luck

[arcticfox]

I am rather disappointed, but i reckon is still okay!

8/10

[upyourego]

Ratings were pretty good - 6.2 million viewers with a 24.4% audience share - considering it was against The Royal and the Football - that's impressive.

It's almost the same opening figures as Series 10.

More details in the Ratings thread
http://forums.finalgear.com/top-gear...ratings-28166/

And background on my Ratings Guide
http://upyourego.com/topgear/ratings/

[Ziggy Shadow-Dust]

The Allegro stunt was rubbish and pointless. I didn't really like it. But then the limo jumping over a wedding party was rubbish and pointless. And I liked it. Maybe I still haven't gotten over the diabolocal that was the last few episodes of season 10. All this fuss (well mentioned in the Sky epg synopsis) over a new member of the Top Gear team. There was no such fuss with Theivin' Ian, was there?

The guests were OK. The gay one had a reasonably hilarious start to his lap. The police cars challenge was short but sweet. It has to be when the three guys arrived at the scene of the accident with May's ice cream jingles in play.

Why couldn't they just cut the whole porn gag out so we wouldn't have known there was one? Loved the Pikachu gag. 9/10

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally Posted by edkwon

Did anyone notice the bad editing during Hammond's power lap in his Suzuki police car? The front wheel/Stinger fell off early, then at the 2nd to last bend it appeared back on his car again, then when he crossed the finish line, it was gone again and the torn cardboard box was back in its place.

is it bad editing, or is it some subtle joke about similar gaffs made in many films. continiuity errors seem to have been in many top gears now... maybe its just something for the die hards to find.

i certainly didnt notice it at the time so i cant see the big deal.

[Archie411]

Originally Posted by ChaoZ

The preview of the season excited me more than the rest of the episode to be honest. Jeremy's Fiat was nice (sans wheel mods) and James' Lexus looked the part. Hammond did his usual bling thing.

Great visuals for the Ferrari review though.

What on earth were you on when you wrote that.
Im sorry but for me the the visuals were absoulute HORRID
I like the review and the car but it looks as if the review came out of a ancient movie.

And for the other parts of the episode I have smae feelings as everyone else here but most of all Im happy that Top Gear (The sad thing is My school started today (Monday) how on earth did they manged to get the two close to each other )