Andy Wilman's latest Blog

[Martin]

I'll give the stuntman bit the benefit of the doubt for the rest of the series (since it's not going to be that long ). Though if doesn't start getting better, or at least having a point then I'll call for it to go.

[Mr. Nice]

I'm not in the UK, but I really enjoy SIARPC. That said, SIARPC is at its best when Jeremy has people on that challenge his wit. Mundane conversations with mediocre stars are not very interesting, though I assume that every now and then such things must happen. Jeremy is renowned in the biz for being a tough person to get interviewed by, and I really enjoy it when he is up against the big names, or when the person is also a tough interviewee.

[vikiradTG2007]

Originally Posted by Mr. Nice

I'm not in the UK, but I really enjoy SIARPC. That said, SIARPC is at its best when Jeremy has people on that challenge his wit. Mundane conversations with mediocre stars are not very interesting, though I assume that every now and then such things must happen. Jeremy is renowned in the biz for being a tough person to get interviewed by, and I really enjoy it when he is up against the big names, or when the person is also a tough interviewee.

Yeah, exactly, that's why the best guests in S10 were probably Cowell and Dr. Who.

[mclarensmps]

Good to read that entry, more car reviews = fun!

The SIARPC is the only thing I take issue with, though.

[tone76]

Originally Posted by Mr. Nice

I really enjoy it when he is up against the big names, or when the person is also a tough interviewee.

I'd add that any SIARPC that is also a car/driving nut tends to be more enjoyable, too. Jennifer Saunders, for example - arguably the highlight of SIARPC in Series 10.

There's nothing worse than seeing some gormless 'celebrity' who is obviously only doing SIARPC due to contractual obligations or because they have some crap new book or movie to pimp.

[Quadrax]

^ Yeah like the ones who don't know the names of the cars they have owned/own.

"It was a sort of metal thing, with wheels"

Do they even know what show they are going on?

[Karoug]

Reading back through that lot, you may notice something quite worrying - basically his week we've made a car programme, and you know what, it feels really nice.

Everyone loves the films where we do challenges and cock about and explode, but they are a rod for our backs because of the pressure to keep doing them - top that, bigger laugh please etc etc, and this week we've said no, here's some beautifully shot stuff and we do hope you like it, but if you don't then we certainly did.

I honestly think this is where the show will end up one day. The massive millions of audience will drift off, and we'll be left with a respectable few million still buying our albums - filling arenas rather than stadiums.

I can't wait for top gear to be a car show again, with not so many crowd pleasing stunts! Moar cars please!

[Ottobon]

I would love to read a post where Andy tears into his critics as they tear into his show, that would have made my day. Update sounds good, i'm personally still excited. All the vague haters can go eat some slug pellets for all i care.

[fbc]

Everyone's jumping on SIARPC way too much. IMHO it's a good, enjoyable segment. Yes, it was crap and very flat last week, but so what? That's just one week.

[Viper007Bond]

Originally Posted by fbc

Everyone's jumping on SIARPC way too much. IMHO it's a good, enjoyable segment. Yes, it was crap and very flat last week, but so what? That's just one week.

Agreed. There's been many times I enjoyed it and many times where I think I would have enjoyed it if only I had some clue who the person was. It only utterly fails rarely.

[aaurora]

I really loved reading that blog, and by the looks of things, Andy pays a lot of attention to the audience and our views and I for one think that is a fantastic thing. I really appreciate his efforts to please the audience - what other show would bother doing this? Especially something as massive as Top Gear - and yet he treats the viewers as we are important. Such a rarity. Thanks, Andy.

Actually, I am looking forward to this weeks show - cocking about is awesome fun, but beautifully shot cars are just as breathtaking.

[skylock]

I like SIARPC. I even like it when I have no clue who the person is. I esp enjoy it when the star is just overjoyed to be there.

I was not over joyed with this past weeks stars. Had nothing to do with not knowing who they were. They were annoying. But that said, I still sort of like it. We found out James doesn't smoke because his mother doesn't know. We found out Jamie Oliver likes to invite people over and have sort of top gear type challenges. We found out really gay guys can't multi task in the car. Among other things, so while I did not care for the guest, I still ejoyed the spot.

[Necx0]

Originally Posted by upyourego

It's great that there will be a more subdued episode of Top Gear - more car-ie BUT I wouldn't want to see a whole series like that - these are usually the episodes I skip when I go back and re-watch Top Gear.

Nice to watch once but not a great re-watch experience. But a couple of episodes like this in a six week run would be fine - in fact three like this and three high octane cocking aboutedness would be a pretty fair balance I think.

I am EXACTLY the opposite. I always go back and watch the car stuff. The big convertible group tests, the Phantom review, the Touraeg review, the Jag XK review. To me these are the magic moments of Top Gear. Gorgeous scenery, wonderful music and information and the TG teams unique view of what the latest and greatest cars are like.

When I watched the series preview I thought Evo....cool RS6....awesome CLK Black BRILLIANT!!! And now they give me all of them in one episode. This could become one of my all time favourites I think. Hooray for not so much cocking about. Its their personalities that make them funny, not the silly moments.

[LoudMusic]

I remember during the first series of Top Gear in 2002, the crashing sound of uncomprehending silence from the audience as we introduced the Stig. And now, where would we all be without that lovely backward speedy fellow?

Or the other Stig, for that matter!

[Tranquillizer]

i wana see Rowan Atkinson in SIARPC (before andy makes his mind to get rid of this SIARPC foolishness, which i think he would)

[Mineworksfine]

I think the problem with SIARPC is that they started this series with a couple of lame ducks (one who's a bit of a duck in other ways too!!!) but by the sound of it this week should be better "we've got the guys from Spooks in the Reasonably Priced Car - Rupert Penry-Jones is a nutcase at the wheel by the way - and Top Gear stuntman gets his second outing." I think they are just keeping their powder dry so to speak, and having done SIARPC for 10 seasons already it would be a bit odd if they dropped it suddenly. At least they won't be as bad as Lawrence Dallalgio who was so dull his appearance doesn't even make the repeats on Dave!

The segment is essentially a mini chat show, and chat show hosts are always reliant on and to some degreee in the hands of their guests - look at what happened to Parkinson when he had Meg Ryan on his show, but at the same time remember (if you are old enough and live in the UK) some of his other guests such as Billy Connolly, Mohammed Ali and who could forget Rod Hull and Emu.

Then factor in the fact that JC unlike Parkinson doesn't have an international reputation with which to attract guests, that the guests have to be prepared to turn up at an airfield near Guildford on a Wednesday afternoon and have to have at least some interest in cars and you begin to realise what the guest booker is up against.

I agree that at some times it feels overlong, and like many others would prefer more of the News which is rapidly becoming my favourite part of the show, partly because although the subject material is scripted, they are free to ad lib and this is what makes it so entertaining. They haven't lost their way, but what I think they have lost is the ability to make things feel spontaneous even if they aren't. Once they get that back all will be right with the world.

[hardcoreep]

I assumed that his slot was meant to be a dig at the Fifth Gear style stunts which were all taken very seriously, yet quite often fall short of expectations. I fully expect TopGearStuntman to fail to meet expectations on a regular basis!

I thought I was the only one who saw this. Obviously they're making a jab at their rivals over at fifth gear.

[fbc]

Originally Posted by martinthebrit

I assumed that his slot was meant to be a dig at the Fifth Gear style stunts which were all taken very seriously, yet quite often fall short of expectations. I fully expect TopGearStuntman to fail to meet expectations on a regular basis!

Originally Posted by hardcoreep

I thought I was the only one who saw this. Obviously they're making a jab at their rivals over at fifth gear.

I think you're both reading into TG Stuntman just a wee bit too much - it's just a bit of stupid fun with potential for carnage. As for 'ambitious, but rubbish' - that's just the guys taking the piss out of their own efforts.

[ed1911n]

IMO, you cant compare the Stig and the stuntman. The Stig fills a purpose that was immediately understood from the minute they introduced him: They need a pro driver who can post consistant laptimes. The IMAGE of the Stig might not have caught on immediately, but his purpose was clear from the start. The stuntman fills absolutely no purpose other than a cheap laugh, and I dont think he'll be very good at that either. I for one didnt find his bit even mildly amusing. Watching a stunt fail spectacularly can be hilarious, but one that is set up to fail from the start... meh, not so much.

[drnick]

Fast Show references FTW!

my respect for Wilman has just tripled!!