Overall, TGT has been "fine" - some good episodes, some not so good. A few haters kicking around here, but hey, it's the internet... But going forwards, what should they change?
For me:
- lose celebrity brain crash (I don't know if the *need* a celeb for any reason? If you do, find a way to use them "properly", or just don't bother)
- use the damn location. Why go to Lapland and *not* do an Ice-driving segment? Why go to Loch Ness but then review the luxury 4WD cars in southern Germany? Use those lovely Scottish roads you showed us! Why go to Nashville and say there's a great museum, but not show it to us? Same for the Porsche museum... I realise this makes filming harder but if you're going to pick the "grand tour" theme, at least do something with it!
- lose lap times. A bit more controversial, but I don't really care. The American got less annoying as time went on, but overall I'm massively indifferent to these
- stop the characterising - the "banter" works without turning all three of them into some cartoon version of themselves. Yes we know James is "slow", yes we know Jezza is an oaf, yes we know Hammond is a secret American... but if you have to do naff gags to explain those personalities, they stop being funny. If you're worried about new viewers not "understanding" who the three presenters are... well just be consistent and they'll work it out.
For the most part, that's all that bothered me to any great extent. Even some of the falling-over/on-fire segments were funny and entertaining; even though I prefer the "road trip" type stuff
For me:
- lose celebrity brain crash (I don't know if the *need* a celeb for any reason? If you do, find a way to use them "properly", or just don't bother)
- use the damn location. Why go to Lapland and *not* do an Ice-driving segment? Why go to Loch Ness but then review the luxury 4WD cars in southern Germany? Use those lovely Scottish roads you showed us! Why go to Nashville and say there's a great museum, but not show it to us? Same for the Porsche museum... I realise this makes filming harder but if you're going to pick the "grand tour" theme, at least do something with it!
- lose lap times. A bit more controversial, but I don't really care. The American got less annoying as time went on, but overall I'm massively indifferent to these
- stop the characterising - the "banter" works without turning all three of them into some cartoon version of themselves. Yes we know James is "slow", yes we know Jezza is an oaf, yes we know Hammond is a secret American... but if you have to do naff gags to explain those personalities, they stop being funny. If you're worried about new viewers not "understanding" who the three presenters are... well just be consistent and they'll work it out.
For the most part, that's all that bothered me to any great extent. Even some of the falling-over/on-fire segments were funny and entertaining; even though I prefer the "road trip" type stuff