1) Scrap the TG Live Tour
Yeah, I know, I can't believe I typed that, either. But the more I think about it, the more I'm becoming convinced that the tour is more of a detriment to the telly show (which should take precedent, along with the mag) than an asset. While I would love to see a TG Live show in person, I would much prefer they give it up if it means improving the TV show.
2) Get Away from the Track!
Some of the best reviews the trio have done, IMO, have been away from the confeins of the track. Also, there is really not much need to thrash a four-door saloon or a hot hatch there...or even every supercar, for that matter. (I would've much preferred to see the Jaguar XFR, reviewed in Series 13, on the roads, for example.) They have some fantastic locations at their disposal, within and outside the UK. Why is there a need to film every car review at Dunsfold?
3) More Presenter Balance
"Where's James?" seems to have been the question in regards to the show in 2009. I think I can count the number of solo pieces he's done this past year on one hand. Of course, the explanation is a simple one (side projects!); but still. It would've been very nice to see more solo contributions from him.
I also like what
pink piranhas suggested:
pink piranhas said:
I wish James and Richard would stand up more to Jeremy. James did that in a few eps in S13 and it was really fun to watch, and he's got a lot to offer in intelligence and dry humor as is being demonstrated on other projects. I know some don't really care for Richard's work, but I really do enjoy his enthusiasm and he's a great counterpoint for James's seriousness and Jeremy's bombast. I just loved watching Richard wail on that Holden in S13, he was just having so much fun with it.
4) Don't Force the Humour To Happen
I've come to loathe the word "scripted". As has been mentioned several times, every episode needs an order of sequence (if you will). Every car review has to start with a basic idea of what the reviewer wants to say, not to mention it has to -- at some point -- include most of the basic facts about the car in question (engine size, bhp, 0-60 time, top speed, price). Every challenge has to have a premise. If none of this is in place, there is chaos.
That said, there've been times these past two series where things have become too contrived, too predictable. The boys are funny on their own; they don't need to make it happen.
5) Tweak the Editing
At Edinburgh last summer, Andy mentioned how he'd spend hours in the edit suite getting the films right, even long after everyone else had gone home. On the blog, he commented on how he was in the edit on Christmas Eve still working on the Bolivia special. It was (and is) that fastidiousness in there that has helped contribute to some of TG's finest moments (aside from the trio and other crew members, of course).
There've been a few films in S13 and 14 that have suffered from the edit. The Scirocco ad film, for one. Too long. If it were trimmed down by about five to ten minutes, it would've been fine; and they would've had either more time to give to Leno, or time to devote to reviewing/featuring another car.
6) "And Now, The News"...
I think the last news segment I enjoyed thoroughly was 13x03 -- the one featuring Car Sauna. Most of the news in that season and even this one has bored me to death. While I do enjoy seeing them talking about cars being released and other motoring stuff, I enjoy the
natural banter, too. (My favourite news moment is still James's rant on Bill Bryson in 5x02.) This is one bit of the show they should not rehearse per se -- just get an idea of what everyone wants to talk about. That's it.
7) Bring Back the Balance between the Cars and the Cocking About
I'm a TG fan who likes
both cars
and seeing them mess about. However, I do think the ratio is more toward the messing about at the moment. There've been a slew of cars that have been released this past year; only a handful of them made it on to the telly (I can only hope the mag covered the rest).
A bit earlier, I read Richard's main column for the week on the Mirror site, where he was going over some of the cars to be released or reviewed in 2010. The automotive pornography on that page was just astonishing. (Even that new Citroen coupe had me excited!
A fucking CITROEN, people!) If TG continues in this manner, sadly, they probably won't get to reviewing/featuring half the cars he talked about.
8) TAKE A BREAK!
The boys are knackered; they're being stretched too thin. It's been especially evident in 2009. Suggestion #1 will help. So will this, IMO. After this...
9) One Long Series a Year, Not Two Short Ones
I would rather see them do one series of ten brilliant episodes toward the end of the year than see them try to churn out two series of seven episodes each within a year, methinks. Doing this may even give them more staying power.