I've been watching Top gear since the 2nd or the 3rd season.
It used to be my favorite show.
I don't know exactly when it started, but I find myself skipping through the show more and more.
For example the typical Clarkson "test".
Never on the road anymore, cause all the road-money goes into those gimmicky challenges.
So, it's just going around in circles on the airfield.
And every test is the same.
Talking about the car a little, and then something like "you might wonder why you should buy this car, well, watch this"...
Tire squealing, tire squealing, guitar chords, flying by the camera, tyre squealing, flying, flying, flying, squealing, squealing, flying, squealing...
Slowing down, a few words, end of test. Duh!!!
That doesn't tell me anything about a car.
With the right camera shots and angles, the same footage could be produced using a Fiat Panda!
Talking about camera shots.
The show was always known for a certain look, like those shadows/filters on the top, that make it look dramatic.
It used to be just a slight touch, to create a certain mood. And it worked. Then it got more, and more, and more.
These days, every shot has to look like a scene from "Lord of the Rings". It's terrible.
Soon it's going to be Clarkwain, Maydalf, and Smeagmond.
I can't wait for the next test of some Korean clunker, accompanied by "Oh Fortuna". That music hasn't been used on British television for at least...two days.
The producers need to lay off the special effects and filters, and whatever illegal substance might be involved, allegedly.
That "Noble" yesterday. Kit-Car Deluxe.
What could possibly be a reason not to buy this car?
Porsche? Sanity?
There used to be good road tests.
And there used to be good challenges.
Like the one with the DB9. Or the one with the Scaglietti, going to Switzerland. I must have watched the one with the Scaglietti at least 20 times.
As the show became bigger and popular, it moved towards the mainstream audience.
Everything has to be a big showy something, even if there isn't anything. It's about goofing around and pompous effects, not about cars.
The show has become the "Nintendo Wii" of car shows.
It's all pointless noodling around.
Cause any real road test of a car, or just a tiny detail too much, could scare away the masses.
The ones that would never watch Top Gear again if there was a 24h Simon Cowell channel.
The ones that would watch Simon Cowell sell T-Shirts.
The ones that don't care what they are watching, as long as it is a big, flashy, something.
That's the audience Top Gear caters to these days.
Yesterday while skipping through the show (again), I was contemplating the idea of a Top Gear spoof.
It had to be done by three British comedians.
Of course Hammond had to be played by a midget, and the other two had to have crazy hair like Phil Spector.
Just using the clich? the show has become. It would be a riot.
BTW, my critique is not about "not liking the three guys anymore".
"The News" was the only part of the show I watched completely.
And my opinion is not reinforced by some "current trend".
I used to come to this board only to check when the show will be on.
I was kind of surprised that other people have a problem too.
It could have been just me, being over the show or something.
The whole forum could have been full of "yesterdays show was the best, the guys at the art gallery, I never laughed so hard".
But apparently...
It's all blown out of proportion, and catering to a mainstream that doesn't know, and doesn't care...., as long as it's loud.
The one producer wrote in his blog that peoples critiques never made TV shows. Well, that's like his opinion.
Remember Michael Jackson's "History" album?
When it was released he had a giant statue made, the one on the cover of the CD.
The music sucked, but that statue...was big.