TopGear: America

[Martin]

What happened(or is happening) with this? Does anyone know? After the flop of TopGear UK being cut to pieces for Discovery here in the states the word was Discovery was going to try again with an original program.

[bartboy9891]

i assume its been axed. Its been a long time since they mentioned it, and we havent heard anything since

[Jafo]

Rumor has it, from the discovery forums, that it might be on Discovery Channel Turbo. http://turbo.discovery.com/automobiles/automobiles.html But nothing has been said officially.

[Prost264]

What the hell is Discovery Channel Turbo? Is it an actual channel or just that website?

[BlaRo]

Martin, you own an Xterra. Props. 8)
(<- used to have an 01 in the family)

[Martin]

Originally Posted by BlaRo

Martin, you own an Xterra. Props. 8)
(<- used to have an 01 in the family)

Yep! Love it to death too, and I do have it in yellow as well!

[jayson]

I hope they did Axe it, I am sure over here it would just be a lovefest for American made muscle cars.

[ryzsru00]

Originally Posted by Prost264

What the hell is Discovery Channel Turbo? Is it an actual channel or just that website?

Here you go

http://turbo.discovery.com/news/pres...?clik=turboTkr

[Prost264]

Originally Posted by jayson

I hope they did Axe it, I am sure over here it would just be a lovefest for American made muscle cars.

True, but if I have to hear one more thing about the greatness of the XKR I'm going to vomit. They have tons of British pride, why wouldn't it be the same here?

No matter what country they do the show in, there will always be a bias.

[AndrewBall]

Originally Posted by Prost264

True, but if I have to hear one more thing about the greatness of the XKR I'm going to vomit. They have tons of British pride, why wouldn't it be the same here?

No matter what country they do the show in, there will always be a bias.

yeah but aside from the Vette and the Viper (SRT-10) all our cars suck. Even the Vette and Viper arent that good.

I dont think they are very biased actaully. Yes they lean towards the British cars intially but they are open to anything that performs better. They have alot of national pride of course but they dont just chose the Aston over anything regardless of its performance. I just saw a video and i was suprised. At first it seemed typical they liked the Aston but then there was a Carrera S and M6. the Aston didnt win anyones heart really. Even though they are right it is a very good looking car.

I dont think Americans can do a show like this, in America. Unless they are on a race track which is extremely expensive. It just cant be done. They could never do a test like they do on Top Gear or anything. Just wont happen

[BlaRo]

Originally Posted by AndrewBall

yeah but aside from the Vette and the Viper (SRT-10) all our cars suck. Even the Vette and Viper arent that good.

I dont think they are very biased actaully. Yes they lean towards the British cars intially but they are open to anything that performs better. They have alot of national pride of course but they dont just chose the Aston over anything regardless of its performance. I just saw a video and i was suprised. At first it seemed typical they liked the Aston but then there was a Carrera S and M6. the Aston didnt win anyones heart really. Even though they are right it is a very good looking car.

I dont think Americans can do a show like this, in America. Unless they are on a race track which is extremely expensive. It just cant be done. They could never do a test like they do on Top Gear or anything. Just wont happen

Oh shit, son. You've just started hell again.

[YF19pilot]

Originally Posted by jayson

I hope they did Axe it, I am sure over here it would just be a lovefest for American made muscle cars.

What's the harm in that, besides the fact that Speed already has "American Muscle"

Originally Posted by AndrewBall

yeah but aside from the Vette and the Viper (SRT-10) all our cars suck. Even the Vette and Viper arent that good.

I dont think they are very biased actaully. Yes they lean towards the British cars intially but they are open to anything that performs better. They have alot of national pride of course but they dont just chose the Aston over anything regardless of its performance. I just saw a video and i was suprised. At first it seemed typical they liked the Aston but then there was a Carrera S and M6. the Aston didnt win anyones heart really. Even though they are right it is a very good looking car.

I dont think Americans can do a show like this, in America. Unless they are on a race track which is extremely expensive. It just cant be done. They could never do a test like they do on Top Gear or anything. Just wont happen

I think we can do a show, but you'd need the right people. Getting a track isn't the problem, getting the right directors and the right presenters are. If Speed does this with some enthusiasm, they can pull of a good show. At best, it won't be Top Gear, but at worst, it'll be Fifth Gear.

If SpikeTV does it, it'll be the worst stereotype testosterone fest of a car show. However, it'll still be better than if one of the basic channels (ABC, NBC, Fox, UPN, etc.) picked it up. You'd probably have celebrity hosts that don't know what the hell they're talking about, regular shows or segments dedicated to how green a car is, no fast driving (for fear of lawsuits, etc.), and an all around stupid show. Or they'd try to make it into a reality show.

[SadaPow]

I think a Top Gear US would be cool BUT the cars tested will be the downfall of the show. We do have some very interesting cars but like most review shows here it would most likely turn into Motor Trend testing mini vans and Camrys every week. Honestly I would love to see another Top Gearish show by anyone as long as it isnt biased like TG.

[Narcolepsy]

Top Gear America after "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" - I dunno.

[AndrewBall]

Id direct it if we had funding.

SPEED Channel would work, right genre but between nascar programming the episodes would bew few and far between. Just like thier current Test Drive is it? With Tommy Kendall. Which is a decent show but its irregular. Discovery funds thigns like this all the time but you have more limitaions on it because its not as premium of a channel as SPEED. Ive seen many things on Top Gear which i know would not cut it on American Prime time. Too many people would find it offensive for no reason other than to get pissed off about something.

There are alot of tracks but with local ones to me like Summit Point being booked full for most of the year its hard to get time. VIR works but its really far and expensive. You would need a alrge broadcasting company to fund tests of cars there. Secondly you need entertaining presenters. Not just good drivers. You need someone who will tell you what thier feeling and such. Not easy to come by. But there are a few, then you need a driver that can test every car much like they do on top gear. Thats just casting and such. Let along camera equipment. Lipstick camera setups that top gear uses sometimes are very expensive to get a quality image from.

Given the funding my organization could do it. But it would take alot of funding to get off the ground and then you need to have companies be willing to give you thier cars to test.

[JCE]

Problem is in America is all of the print and car "review" publications/shows are biased. Getting an unbiased review is very hard thing to do. Companies like GM or Chrysler would definately pay under the table for favorable reviews of it's vehicles or even more airtime. Look at Car and Driver for instance, that is the most biased publication ever in my opinion. I cancelled my subscription a few years ago because of this. If TopGear had its own US edition how would the BBC resist all the money that the big three would throw at it to get more favorable reviews or airtime?

My sort of solution would be what TG UK did in one of their earlier series with Rover. Secretly go for a "test drive", then in this case they should take it back to their track and test it. I highly doubt someone like Dodge is going to give a team of opinionated journalists the new Calibur and be happy with the possibility of a negative review.

[GusinCA]

I would love to see an American Top Gear, hosted by Jay Leno...

Now as for as American cars being cr*p, they are, but not for the price.
There is nothing like the Vette, or the Mustang for the money, and certainly not in GB...

[Prost264]

Originally Posted by GusinCA

I would love to see an American Top Gear, hosted by Jay Leno...

+18,000

He would be great as a Jezza type personality, the trick would just be finding another 2 that are all friends and we'll be set.

Leno can't do it, yet. Besides The Tonight Show he regularly goes out on the road to do stand-up. His schedule would be way too much with the Tonight Show and Top Gear. Maybe when he retires in 2009 the BBC will give him a call

[Momentum57]

Originally Posted by Prost264

+18,000

He would be great as a Jezza type personality, the trick would just be finding another 2 that are all friends and we'll be set.

Leno can't do it, yet. Besides The Tonight Show he regularly goes out on the road to do stand-up. His schedule would be way too much with the Tonight Show and Top Gear. Maybe when he retires in 2009 the BBC will give him a call

Exactly what i was thinking Leno leaves in 09 for Conan and he already has that Jay Leno's Garage online. Also he is a fan of Top Gear and sent in a letter after the crash that was publish in the Sunday Times. No only does he have the personality of Jezza he has the dismal dress (denim dan anyone?) Heck he could even film the thing at his place and never have to order out for a car on the history pieces. I think that what has to be done for it to be a hit is for it to be a step away from Top Gear. When discovery tried to do the show as a clone it probably lacked the right DNA to stand on its own.

[Ottobon]

as far as funny people who like cars, i know Jerry Seinfeld collects porsches, i dont know if he would be any good as a presenter of a car show, nor do i think hes interested in doing much now-adays