Should Top Gear...

Status
Not open for further replies.
They should end the show when they're ready to call it a day, not a moment before.

Wallio said:
Scary thing was on the 60 minutes interview, JC mentioned how easy to replace everyone is,
Click to expand...

I don't think it's as easy to replace everyone as he claims (I also don't remember if it was said in sincerity or if it was more tongue-in-cheek; I'll have to watch it again). For a lot of viewers, much of Top Gear's appeal lies in the rapport Jeremy, James, and Richard have with each other. Get rid of one of the three and, IMO, you fuck things up, chemistry-wise, and you lose viewers. Not to mention I seriously doubt any of the trio would really be willing to go on if one of them left the show, and personally, I say if you get rid of one, you should replace the other two as well.
 
skylock said:
They will end it when THEY get ready to end it. How people like the OP think they know how a television show should end is beyond me. Every single season someone decides it should end. But yet, I log in 5 minutes after the torrent is up on the site I download from and there are 23,000 people downloading already. By the time I finish getting it in about 20 min, there are 106,000 people downloading. That means over 100,000 thousand people have basically been waiting at their computer to click the download button. And that is just from the place I get mine from.
Click to expand...
Popularity is not a sign of quality. See [country]'s idol, the X factor, [country]'s next topmodel, ...

skylock said:
Here is an idea, sod off. If you think it is past it's prime, move on. Stop torturing yourself and other people with your stupid thoughts on the subject. There are shows I used to like too that make me sick now. You know what? I stopped watching them.

I don't go around moaning, giving other people my thoughts on why they have failed me and other crap. The only part you have in a show is by watching it. If it is not delevering, STOP WATCHING IT. You will live, then you can go back and watch the shows you do like to the point your eyes are bleeding, but you will not have to be annoyed they are not making the show you want anymore.

I don't care one lick about what car I drive as long as it gets me from point A to point B in a reasonable time and with as low a fuel cost as is possible, because I would rather spend my money somewhere else. I think petrolheads are stupid, but I can talk them under the table with what I have learned from TG. Sometimes when I get bored I go to the car dealers just to see how stupid the guys are that are trying to sell the cars. I don't go often, but I have never found one that knows more than me.

As long as Top Gear is entertaining me, I will keep watching, when I decide it has turn into something I do not like, I will stop watching. See how easy that works?
Click to expand...
He's not forcing you to read this thread, nor reply in it, is he? Think about it. You tell him to stop watching Top Gear when he's fed up with it, yet you don't stop reading and replying to threads about TG's quality when you're fed up with them. Notice anything?
 
The difference is that this is a forum, designed for the exchange of ideas - and not a TV show.
 
I'm not sure why you're saying it's immature and confrontational? I've watched all the recent ones and while they might not be the best episodes ever, I haven't noticed anything that I would consider more immature than what they've been doing for the past 10ish years.
 
the Interceptor said:
Popularity is not a sign of quality. See [country]'s idol, the X factor, [country]'s next topmodel, ...

He's not forcing you to read this thread, nor reply in it, is he? Think about it. You tell him to stop watching Top Gear when he's fed up with it, yet you don't stop reading and replying to threads about TG's quality when you're fed up with them. Notice anything?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I notice something.
 
Argh, I had this long post typed up (but I was logged out when I was about to post) about the differences between 'Classic' and 'New' Top Gear and differences between fans and also why economically it doesn't make sense for them to revert to 'Classic' Top Gear, even if I would love to see it happen. I will post what I mentioned at the end of my previously attempted spiel. Personally, I think Top Gear will end after it's 20th season. I believe series 20 will air sometime in 2013, which I believe will mean the current version of Top Gear will have been on air for 11 years. 20 seasons seems like a good time to stop. Also, bear in mind Andy Wilman himself wrote in his blog after series 14 that the current version is closer to the end than the beginning. I can't see the boys going on for a 25th, 26th, 27th season etc.
 
Last edited:
Deeds said:
Stop after this season?
Click to expand...
Possibly. :hmm:

Asking a question like this always makes people overreact, so the timing is critical. I think this has been the only time in the shows history that it's now worth a thought.

If the last two episodes are of any quality, I think it would have been the perfect time to go out. They won't, obviously. But I think I'd rather see them go out on top, than fade away to just be like everything else on TV. This isn't a well constructed argument, just my opinion.

In short: Pull the plug early. Perhaps not now, but while they're still on top of their game. If you're saying no because you still want to see Clarkson and co., I'm sure they'd end up on another Car show somewhere. Maybe not together - but you'd still watch it.

Polonius said:
Argh, I had this long post typed up (but I was logged out when I was about to post)
Click to expand...
If you would have clicked log-in, it should have re-directed you back to your post allowing you to click submit again.
 
Last edited:
rideclutch said:
Possibly. :hmm:

Asking a question like this always makes people overreact, so the timing is critical. I think this has been the only time in the shows history that it's now worth a thought.

If the last two episodes are of any quality, I think it would have been the perfect time to go out. They won't, obviously. But I think I'd rather see them go out on top, than fade away to just be like everything else on TV. This isn't a well constructed argument, just my opinion.

In short: Pull the plug early. If you're saying no because you still want to see Clarkson and co., I'm sure they'd end up on another Car show somewhere. Maybe not together - but you'd still watch it.


If you would have clicked log-in, it should have re-directed you back to your post alloowing you to click submit again.
Click to expand...

Why is now the only time in the show's history that cancellation is worth considering? For all we know series 17 and 18 (since they've confirmed another 2 seasons after this one) could be the best yet. It would be a shame for them to go out when it's possible they could still produce quality TV. Sure, the next two seasons could be utter rubbish...but that's the risk you take in TV.

Also, thanks for the advice regarding my previous post. Thing is, I did log back in and it took me back here, but my typed up post was missing...and I couldn't be bothered typing it all up again. Weird.
 
Polonius said:
Why is now the only time in the show's history that cancellation is worth considering? For all we know series 17 and 18 (since they've confirmed another 2 seasons after this one) could be the best yet. It would be a shame for them to go out when it's possible they could still produce quality TV. Sure, the next two seasons could be utter rubbish...but that's the risk you take in TV.
Click to expand...
You're quite right, and to be honest I was just trying to balance the argument a little. In regards to cancellation, what I meant was that those who had suggested it prior to this latest series were generally just trolling, where as now I believe the OP has a genuine case. It's the first time that people have used the word 'peaked' in regards to the quality of the show.

17 and 18 could be the best TV we've ever seen. But like you said it's a risk. It just reminds me of all the times I've been at the Casino and decided to stay on for an extra hour and then end up losing half my money. Poor comparison I know, but why not just call it a day after a decade like The Beatles, instead of going on for 50 years like The Stones, slowly degrading. In regards to leaving some of their best work on the table, they could always present that in a different way or different TV show. It doesn't necessarily have to be under the Top Gear brand. I think pulling the plug at the right time is hard to do, and very few shows get it right. Let's hope Top Gear can make the decision, whenever it comes.
 
You've made some fair points, rideclutch. The thing is, ratings are still high, even if the show has 'peaked' for the old school fans. The casual viewers are still there, the majority of old school fans still watch and Top Gear is a cash cow for the BBC and makes the presenters extremely wealthy. Assuming the next few series go well, I'll stick by my prediction that series 20 will be their last. If the quality declines significantly, like it did in series 14, and ratings drop, then that could change.
 
Skylock summed up my thoughts on the subject. It seems like someone posts to say this every series and they always think they're saying something new. Sigh. Top Gear is serious business, never forget. :rolleyes:
 
I don't want to blow this up bigger than it is. A few people bring up the thought that Top Gear has probably run its course, and that the makers should consider putting a cork in it. I understand and certainly accept that it is a difficult subject on a Top Gear-dedicated fan forum. I also understand and accept that it makes a number of people mad to see such discussions pop up once in a while. The only thing I'm asking for is to live and let live.

If you think that Top Gear should continue, be my guest. But please, just let those who think otherwise have a proper discussion in a thread like this. And if you don't want to hear such things, you're free to just leave the thread and let them be. If you want to partake in the discussion, please ask yourself whether you have at least a basic amount of understanding for the "other side". You don't need to agree with them, but you should be able to accept where they're coming from. If you can't, leaving the thread might be the better option before it gets out of hand.
 
Last edited:
The only thing wrong with TG since let's say S13-14 is that JC, RH and JM are acting themselves too much. News for example; it gets interesting, good gag running and then a pun bomb or a lame written joke is thrown in.

Also, ease down on the challenges. There are SO MANY exciting cars to drive, do that instead...something in the lines of 2 presenters get 3 cars and do stuff with them.

These problems mostly stem from the fact that we are die hard fans of TG. We watched every single episode once or multiple times and we get distracted by anomalies. Yet the show is still top of tree, best there is regarding cars and entertainment.

Me? I have my problems with it...but consider this. I still get a rush when I see that the download is complete. ;)
 
What if it hadn't changed/evolved/dumbed-down (delete according to personal opinion)? Suppose it had gone on in the same format as in 2003/2004/2005/2006 (once again, delete according to whatever you believe to be Top Gear's "golden age")? Would it still be fresh, witty, entertaining?

Or would they be repeating themselves and getting desperate trying to think up more extreme ways to review yet another affordable car? Would Jeremy have, by now, tried to drive three or four executive saloons from the back seat, or maybe James and Richard would have spent the equivalent of a whole week living in a variety of small four-seaters? Would FG posters still be loving it, or complaining that they've reviewed every version of the same car several times before and why can't they do something different?

Trouble is, nobody knows. Whether it's a better or worse car show now, or just a better or worse show now than it was, it's still like nothing else on TV (British TV, anyway, can't speak for anybody else's). I'm sorry if some people are becoming jaded, but there are new fans coming along all the time and it's their show too. It'll end when it ends, and not before.

Here endeth the lesson.
 
Polonius said:
Heh. I swear I read it on this forum recently, but now I can't find the source
Click to expand...
GreenBullet said:
They're confirmed to go for another 2 seasons.
Click to expand...
I've read it elsewhere I can't remember, but GreenBullet is fairly reliable on such matters :p.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top