Allow me to second this, if I may, please...and point out a few other things.
1. If Americans LIKED American cars, then the industry wouldn't be in as sad a shape as it is today. Clarkson....have at it!
2. Did anyone in this thread catch the program a number of years ago where Clarkson came to Texas? I'm telling you people, that boy GETS us(Texans, that is).
3. I've heard it said that people here who really love cars already watch Top Gear. Rubbish--some of them MAY have caught those sad, dumbed-down, humorless episodes that ran on Discovery, but I'd be amazed if one out of a hundred thousand Americans had even
heard of it. Just how many petrolheads here watch BBC Canada or BBC World? However, that's good news for the writers....all the old material can be recycled!
The best case scenario is that Discovery's original rights to the show have expired and that the BBC is negotiating with a pay channel, such as HBO or Showtime. That kind of platform for Top Gear is as close to the editorial protection they get at the BBC as they're likely to find here. The liability question though, does bother me. I can see having to do stunts (such as darts with cars) overseas and then playing them here. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of the old material replayed here in the US as it has never been seen on broadcast TV here.
As far as ASiaRPC, I'm sure there is no end of B-list actors, politicians, and various hangers-on that would kill for this kind of exposure.
And on top of everything else, there's a wealth of material to be gained by comparing driving in the US with driving in the UK and Europe.
In short....bring it on, if for no other reason than there isn't a decent American program devoted not just to testing cars...but to commenting on the joy of driving and how we are in a very real danger of losing it, not just here in the US, but around the world.
Gentlemen....where do I line up...excuse me,
queue....for tickets?