[01x01] November 21st, 2010

[01x01] November 21st, 2010

  • 10

    Votes: 10 1.8%
  • 9

    Votes: 14 2.5%
  • 8

    Votes: 71 12.5%
  • 7

    Votes: 145 25.4%
  • 6

    Votes: 122 21.4%
  • 5

    Votes: 71 12.5%
  • 4

    Votes: 47 8.2%
  • 3

    Votes: 33 5.8%
  • 2

    Votes: 28 4.9%
  • 1

    Votes: 29 5.1%

  • Total voters
    570
Well I will give this one 3/10 for the effort. Yes it is a first, did not totally suck but unless things will have improved dramatically by the 10th episode, I'm thinking it will have some serious trouble justifying its existence thereafter.

Star deductions:
2 for soundtrack. Which in a word was utter shit. Everything else aside, how could they not get this one right.
2 for presenters. Rick Astley can definitely drive but that's about it. Adam, I actually do otherwise like, but apparently is contractually obligated to leave his personality at home. And Ruthledge....he's the Jason. For now, no, there's no chemistry at all and frankly they all sound and behave absolutely the same. And boring too, with Adam bordering on sufferable and Ruthledge on "somebody-fucking-kill-me-now". This can be worked on, but it will need a lot of work.
1 for no funneh whatsoever.
2 for production. What a letdown. You can definitely see the TG "touch" but I'm afraid the severe budget restrictions are rather apparent.

It really reminded me of TG AUS, and that's not a good thing. The Lambo segment was only so-so. Felt like a better produced version of Motorweek. The Viper/Snake race had a potential but fell flat, and if Tanner was excited to drive the V10 monster, he kept that to himself. Or maybe he wasn't really. Adam's "Fuck" on every shift was actually pretty funny but on a whole, either have History not bleep it out (not gonna happen in this retarded country) or clean the language up, cause it makes you sound like a simpleton while all we hear is a goddamn beep...beep...beep.

Other than that I think that the show exhibits the same shortcomings the BBCA and old Discovery mash-up attempts did: it seemed neutered. Of course obligatory "Coming Up", "Welcome Back" and "Here's what you missed" not to mention History Channel's love affair with crawlers, overlays, pop-ups and other kinds of distracting nonsense. I'm quite certain History's execs tried to convince TG folk that it would be all really super cool with their WWF-styled intro instead of this "Jenny" or "Jasmin" thing that's so unimpressive. The show's only 42 min so of course no time for news or other banter, which most agree is rather a big part of it. This, also being the prime time to talk shop, I would rather see the BS-SC go. It all felt really droning and rushed at the same time.

I tried to view it as its own car show but you really can't because it does try to imitate it in so many ways; and if they truly want to make it so, they'll have a hell of a time trying. To be perfectly honest I don't think the BBC/TG producers truly have a grasp on why is it that the (original) Top Gear is so unbelievably successful and loved by so many people - all around the world.
 
that first interview that Jezza did on season 1 was terrible when he just kinda got up and left him there. you could tell they werent sure what to do yet

Yes, TGUK obviously had growing pains as well, but the VERY FIRST SEGMENT of that show was Jeremy taking the berlingo to that gin palace. And that was awesome. That's what an awesome host can do, and that's what the US version needs- a good host capable of carrying the show through the rough beginning. And none of these 3 is capable of doing that.

I think that's why none of the TG spinoffs have been any good- obviously nobody is going to be able to replace Jeremy, but none of the hosts has ever even been a dynamic personality. I'm not sure why they can't find somebody with a bit more flair and passion (deposits a coin in the TG reviewer swear jar)
 
To be perfectly honest I don't think the BBC/TG producers truly have a grasp on why is it that the (original) Top Gear is so unbelievably successful and loved by so many people - all around the world.

I think they do, but it's pretty hard to find 3 people who have good chemistry off the bat, and that's why TGUK is so great. It's all about the hosts. None of the spinoffs have had hosts that could approach the big 3, and without that no top gear version can really survive.

Agree with most everything else you said as well.
 
It was okay and I'd watch to find if it improves but I haven't watched Top Gear AUS since the first season so I think for me the peak might just be the poorly named celebrity segment.

Buzz Aldrin as the star was the most interesting part of the program.

The only other parts that caught my attention was at the start when I thought one looked like Seth Rogen and the intro to the Lamborghini segment, and only because he started mentioning tractors and I remembered what else Lamborghini made.
 
so is anyone else bothered that one of the sponsors in mercedes?

LOL

If the first episode is anything to go by (3 Lamborghinis and a Dodge Viper) the show isn't going to be giving too much real life consumer advice. For a light entertainment show, I think it is probably irrelevant that auto manufacturers are sponsors.

As a first effort, I thought it was quite good (as in polished). The Viper chase and Lambo segments were quite watchable, but I can't say I was really entertained .. in fact I got a bit bored to be honest. The biggest low of the show was Big Star/Small Car. Did Buzz Aldrin even get to speak? What a great guest to have first up though ... I'm sure Clarkson would love to have him on Top Gear.

In summary, better than Top Gear Australia, but (similarly) not worthy of the Top Gear name yet.

PS: I hope the History Channel aren't spending too much money on the show. They need to have plenty left in the kitty to make more shows about Hitler.
 
The show:

I liked it. 7/10. The guys really seemed to be enjoying themselves with the Lambos--the trash talking especially seemed very loose and real. They could probably have stretched the segment into an entire show. The helicopter vs car bit was fun but could have benefited from more cameras and more footage that could have been cut together with a faster, action movie-type pace. Maybe give the car a one minute head start and do a point to point across town with the stated rule "one death and it's over." Stop the film in the middle of the chase to do the SIARPC or BSLC or whatever they called it right as the heli gets missile lock on the car for the "first" time. Cut back to the chase after the Star in a Car segment, with the boys evading missile lock and blasting the last bit of the course to "win" their race all the while looking seriously cool. Film ends and cue huge applause from the audience. Ferrara steps in waving his arms and saying "no, no, wait a moment" to calm the audience then says to the other two, "that's not really what happened, is it." "Of course it is," says Foust. "Well, mostly," says Rutledge. "Not really," says Foust . "No," says Rutledge. "No," says Foust. "Not at all," says Rutledge. "As it so happens," says Ferrara, "I have the uncut footage. Who wants to see?" Big cheer from audience, Rutledge and Foust hide their faces in their hands. Tape rolls showing a series of images of Foust spinning out, Rutledge screaming like a little girl, and kill after kill after kill.

The hosts:

Foust desperately needs to loosen up. It's like he spends all his energy trying to tone down his deep technical knowledge of cars and driving to suit the format and loses almost all his joy with the effort. He'd probably make a better commentator for auto racing than a host for Top Gear.

Ferrara has good charisma and good camera presence, but his interview skills are shit.

Rutledge I'm not sure about. I haven't seen enough of him to have much of an opinion but he seems reasonably okay so far.

If I were producing it, I'd probably drop Foust for Adam Carolla, even if it means the show would have two Adams. Carolla has the interview skills that Ferrera lacks and the simple joy in cars that Foust lacks.

The track:

It's a puppy dog's head with floppy ears and everything. Don't even try to deny it.
 
I quite liked it. A little more technical than "true" Top Gear. Lots of good action shots and noise. The only let downs are minor technical production issues that I'm sure will be addressed in the future, and the Viper segment. Tanner Foust may be a fast driver but he's boring. Like Tiff.
 
It is not that bad......downsides:

+ Pretty good camerawork there, better than the first season of TG:AU
+ the hosts might work, need some time though

- Ad breaks in the middle of a segment
- Repeating what has happened after ads makes them even worse
- Hairy guy is just throwing in catchphrases, annoying :/
(- Taking Lambos for a drag race is so pointless)

Right now my ranking is

TG:UK
TG:AU
TG:US
Fifth Gear
 
I did like the power laps , and how it shows the location of the car while they go around the track. Viper ACR FTW!
 
The music choices weren't the greatest. Ferrara made the show. Tanner Foust wasn't as bad as I thought he was going to be...but he still wasn't great...he seems a bit robot-ish for lack of a better term. Rutledge is kind of an annoyance...but I'll give him a couple more shots. It was the 1st episode. I must say, though, a big name with a love for cars is exactly what this show is lacking. If The History Channel had it in the budget...I would 100% endorse Tim Allen. Great presence with a true passion for cars. Jay Leno is too full of himself to be any good on this show. Don't get me wrong he's a heck of a car enthusiast, but arrogance runs thick through his blood. But, it was the first episode, and I'm sure it is only going to get better.

I will say this: I want a Viper now more than ever :) And it's amazing that the ACR Viper topped that whole lot of Lamborghini pornography.
 
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I don't even own a TV, I only watch films and download TV series from the web, so I usually only watch the best shows and what interests me, so with that...

Is all American TV this bad? Specifically the narration...very little information conveyed, talking down to the viewer like they are complete slobbering morons instead of just letting them watch, etc. Just make it funny and show us the rest. I don't need to sit here for 15 minutes of a gunship chasing a muscle car, which you are clearly showing only to be interrupted every 34 seconds by the passenger in the car yelling "there he is!" or something to that effect which adds nothing to the program. You aren't being stalked by an axe murderer...there is no drama. And any drama you manage to create is completely removed again as soon as Rutledge Wood speaks.

I haven't quite finished the episode yet, but you can see American touches everywhere...2 things really stood out to me...the names of the cars on the power board are PRINTED, not handwritten. I don't know why but it just seems so...harsh and unnecessary, un-artistic and American. It is a little thing, but of course I'm looking for things that I don't like...

And the digital map that shows where the car is during the power lap is freakin' huge! It takes up half the screen!

/rant off
 
While im a fan of all the great cinematography in all the TG's, seeing new Top Gear shows without the original hosts makes me realise that it's all about them, their relationship, their chemistry, their comments, there is just a different vibe going round, and that is why for me no other TG will ever get close to the original. Granted it might also be related to the fact that I have been watching the UK version for so long.... anyway I gave this a 7/10 and will follow the series.
 
I don't even own a TV, I only watch films and download TV series from the web, so I usually only watch the best shows and what interests me, so with that...

Is all American TV this bad? Specifically the narration...very little information conveyed, talking down to the viewer like they are complete slobbering morons instead of just letting them watch, etc. Just make it funny and show us the rest. I don't need to sit here for 15 minutes of a gunship chasing a muscle car, which you are clearly showing only to be interrupted every 34 seconds by the passenger in the car yelling "there he is!" or something to that effect which adds nothing to the program. You aren't being stalked by an axe murderer...there is no drama. And any drama you manage to create is completely removed again as soon as Rutledge Wood speaks.

I haven't quite finished the episode yet, but you can see American touches everywhere...2 things really stood out to me...the names of the cars on the power board are PRINTED, not handwritten. I don't know why but it just seems so...harsh and unnecessary, un-artistic and American. It is a little thing, but of course I'm looking for things that I don't like...

And the digital map that shows where the car is during the power lap is freakin' huge! It takes up half the screen!

/rant off

i disagree with you about the helicopter bit. have you ever been chased? in the right situation its a hell of a rush! when you finally are surprised by the person/thing chasing you then you sometimes react like he did. i think that was Rut being himself there.
 
The commercial breaks are a killer...in so much as they have to do the 20-sec recap to remind people of what they were watching 3-min earlier. One of the endearing qualities of the BBC show.

Not a bad first show...lots of room to improve (yes, Season 1 of TP-UK was fairly poor). Took TG-Australia at least until Season 2 to improve -- sadly not enough of Season 3 yet...

Adam's the weak link...so far, per my take on show 1.

What a non-interview of Buzz though...as he's way more than "big hands" and "liftoff."
 
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