I sincerely do not want to sound like I am gloating but I am one of the relatively few viewers of Top Gear existing today who started watching it in early 1990s.
The reason I am mentioning this is because the modern-day Top Gear has two separate audiences:
1) the original TG fans who are genuine petrol-heads
2) people who love entertainment in general and found the new reality-TVesque Top Gear very appealing to their taste.
I, by no means, am looking down on the people who falls in the second category. In fact, it makes me happy that Top Gear is so overwhelmingly popular that even non-car enthusiasts are addicted to it.
However, and this is strictly my opinion, in an attempt to cater to the taste of the increasingly big second category, Top Gear (especially the 9th season) has almost entirely lost its original value as a show that reviews cars.
I believe not many will argue that the number of car reviews per show has decreased significantly in recent seasons. And on the other hand, the number of reality-TV based 'adventures' of paving roads or making stretch limos, cutting up cars or what not has become the dominant segment of the show.
Before someone attacks my argument, I would like to put up this disclaimer - these adventures by themselves are extremely enjoyable. In fact, my stomach was hurting as I laughed so much when Jeremy failed to turn his stretched Panda around that slalom course.
But my original argument remains - Top Gear was primarily meant to be a show for reviewing cars. If these funny segments are added on as icing on the cake, its fantastic. But if these are used to replace car reviews and becomes the dominant themes of each episode, then Top Gear will be losing its value as a car show and will become just another (albeit the best) comedy series.
I have seen lots of people complain about little issues of Top Gear - what's the need for Top Gear Dog?; the review of car X was too long; the joke on issue Y was politically wrong or what not.
But I am not too worried about the micro aspects of the show. Almost nothing is perfect in this world and what the guys at BBC have so far made is, in my opinion, the best TV show in history.
If you are indeed reading this (and I am badly hoping that you are), Mr Wilman, please do take into consideration what I have said here.
In the end, even if Top Gear keeps on evolving into nothing but a comedy series which 'mentions' cars every now and then, I will still watch it. But unfortunately, my reason for watching it will no longer be cars, just comedy.
Mishal
The reason I am mentioning this is because the modern-day Top Gear has two separate audiences:
1) the original TG fans who are genuine petrol-heads
2) people who love entertainment in general and found the new reality-TVesque Top Gear very appealing to their taste.
I, by no means, am looking down on the people who falls in the second category. In fact, it makes me happy that Top Gear is so overwhelmingly popular that even non-car enthusiasts are addicted to it.
However, and this is strictly my opinion, in an attempt to cater to the taste of the increasingly big second category, Top Gear (especially the 9th season) has almost entirely lost its original value as a show that reviews cars.
I believe not many will argue that the number of car reviews per show has decreased significantly in recent seasons. And on the other hand, the number of reality-TV based 'adventures' of paving roads or making stretch limos, cutting up cars or what not has become the dominant segment of the show.
Before someone attacks my argument, I would like to put up this disclaimer - these adventures by themselves are extremely enjoyable. In fact, my stomach was hurting as I laughed so much when Jeremy failed to turn his stretched Panda around that slalom course.
But my original argument remains - Top Gear was primarily meant to be a show for reviewing cars. If these funny segments are added on as icing on the cake, its fantastic. But if these are used to replace car reviews and becomes the dominant themes of each episode, then Top Gear will be losing its value as a car show and will become just another (albeit the best) comedy series.
I have seen lots of people complain about little issues of Top Gear - what's the need for Top Gear Dog?; the review of car X was too long; the joke on issue Y was politically wrong or what not.
But I am not too worried about the micro aspects of the show. Almost nothing is perfect in this world and what the guys at BBC have so far made is, in my opinion, the best TV show in history.
If you are indeed reading this (and I am badly hoping that you are), Mr Wilman, please do take into consideration what I have said here.
In the end, even if Top Gear keeps on evolving into nothing but a comedy series which 'mentions' cars every now and then, I will still watch it. But unfortunately, my reason for watching it will no longer be cars, just comedy.
Mishal
