Top Gear fans: Favorite host?

[MorningGlow]

I've been on a Top Gear bent lately even though BBC America is between seasons. So, due to my TG withdrawal, I've created a poll for any and all Anglophile car fans. :hi:

[flvegan]

1. What are we voting for? Which one is our favorite presenter?

[MorningGlow]

3. Yeppers n/t

[flvegan]

16. Tough choice.

Matter of fact, I've tried to make one and can't. I can't imagine the show w/out any of the current three. Matter of fact, Season One, which was before May, wasn't very good, IMO.

[MorningGlow]

18. Fair enough

They all have their roles to play. Makes sense.

I can't imagine watching Top Gear US. Blech. These guys ARE the show.

[flvegan]

20. I think gun to my head I'd choose May.

Top Gear US is going to SUCK! Adam Corolla? Oh, come on.

[MorningGlow]

22. I respect that choice

But my female hormones influence my choice, so... :D

I am totally boycotting Top Gear US. When will American television bigwigs figure out that the odds of recreating a successful BBC show are ridiculously high? Coupling, anyone? :puke:

[flvegan]

23. Originally, Top Gear US was going to have the Clarkson/Hamster/May

team doing the show, just over here. I think it was Clarkson that nixed that because he'd have to spend a good chunk of time away from his family doing the show.

THAT would have been cool. Considering how much they make fun of "the colonies" and despise American cars, it would've been hilarious.

[MorningGlow]

25. Ohhhh that would have been excellent

Can't imagine Clarkson testing a GM car...
:rofl:

[DS1]

31. Corvette

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urP7cFUZy4c&feature=related

[flvegan]

34. He did that Cadillac CTS...which he hated.

He hated the Ford Lightning. Hated the H2. I think pretty much every American car he's tested, he hated.

[MorningGlow]

39. Color me surprised!

:rofl:

Thanks for the linkie--can't wait to get a good TG fix. BTW, were you the person who posted a YouTube link to their spot on the subcompacts a while back? I wanted to show that to Mr. MG but haven't been able to find it.

[flvegan]

44. I am, and here you go:

Part I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3oGj_2v9SI

Part II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl5XHfjCo5A


Sorry for the quality.

[MorningGlow]

50. Schweet!

Thanks! :hi:

[kentauros]

41. He seemed to understand the appeal of the F150

but in the end, he hated it, too, and I had to agree with the points he made. I loved how he degraded the Caddy. "Bong!" "Bong!" "Bong!" :rofl:

[flvegan]

45. "I know the door is open! There's a gap. It's how I got out!"

[kentauros]

48. .

:rofl:

[WolverineDG]

53. did you see him test drive a pick up truck in the UK?

can't remember which US auto maker it was, but he hated it. :rofl:

dg

[flvegan]

54. Ford Lightning. "It's rubbish"

[mwooldri]

62. Ford F150...

He said a few positive things about it... like it goes like a rocket... but then goes on about build quality being completely naff, using technology from the 1800's... and that it's completely unsuitable for Britain.

But do you remember what they did with that Toyota pickup truck? They perched it on top of a high-rise building that was about to be demolished... blew up the building, recovered the truck and then drove it... now that's a truck that was built tough!

Mark.

[flvegan]

64. Thing is, that was terribly misleading.

He did say it was the F150 (the vehicle sold more than anything else). The ONLY good thing about it was the power. Well, that's because it was the Lightning model of the F150. That's like testing the Mustang but using a Saleen to do it. So, for Britain, the F150 has zero redeeming qualities and is total, complete rubbish.

The destruction of the Hilux was an awesome string of events. I love that one.

[kentauros]

67. I know the Hilux isn't imported to the US

but is there an equivalent Toyota brought here? Or maybe under a different name? I would think showing clips from Top Gear as part of their advertising would make it as popular as the F150 :D And they wouldn't have to rely on cheesy special effects like meteors or falling off cliffs to achieve their goal ;)

[MorningGlow]

68. Oh hell no

Americans are so stupid that the car makers dump their planned-obsolescence shit here and we buy it without questioning. The more high-quality versions are overseas only. But I agree that we'd buy something like the Hilux, absolutely. The car makers misunderestimate us.

[kentauros]

69. Well, I would agree that the American car makers would think that way

and maybe even Toyota these days. But I would hope that with the popularity of Top Gear over here that they just might get a clue eventually.

I don't think the Hilux would have survived the "16-tonne weight" (or whatever it was) Jeremy dropped on the Maseratti he was so enamoured of as a kid... ;)

[MorningGlow]

75. American car makers find it very difficult to get a clue in a timely fashion

If they did, GM wouldn't be on a banana peel. They'd have had hybrids, hydrogen-powered cars, and electric cars readily available instead of pushing those stupid SUVs, Hummers, giant pickups, and minivans on us nonstop.

Hee hee I remember the 16 ton weight--a nice homage to Monty Python. :)

[WolverineDG]

66. No! I didn't see that show

:rofl:

dg

[mikeytherat]

2. James or The Hamster

mikey_the_rat

[MorningGlow]

6. Ah, c'mon--pick one!

You can do it. :D

[Reverend_Smitty]

4. I'm a fan of Captain Slow

:hi:

[MorningGlow]

5. Me too

My fixation borders on unhealthy, to be honest. :blush:

[Reverend_Smitty]

7. lol

he's the glue that holds that show together

[MorningGlow]

9. That's true

I didn't watch it before he was on--can't imagine what that was like.

And anybody who can talk cars, write articles and books, AND is an accomplished musician (and has worse hair than I do) will definitely be a favorite of mine.

[Reverend_Smitty]

12. I saw a few old eps on the interwebs...

it was really more of a straight forward car review program with Clarkson wearing the tightest jeans possible :scared: I enjoy the new format much better, especially the challenges.

I forgot he *is* an accomplished pianist...a real renaissance man

[MorningGlow]

15. OW! My mind's eye!

Quick--make with the brain bleach! The last thing in the world I want or need to see is Clarkson in tight jeans.
:rofl:

MG Jr. lives for the challenges. He's especially fond of the amphibious vehicle challenge, parts 1 and 2 (lake/English Channel).

Apparently James majored in music in college. I wonder how he got from there to where he is now.

[mwooldri]

63. Just the name: "Captain Slow"... perfect! nt

[DS1]

8. another one for James

I want to kick Clarkson in the balls. Of course, I'd need a step ladder.

Hammond has gone way overboard with the 'cute little guy' routine, but he's been through enough. I wouldn't kick him in the balls.


The Stig gets my 2nd place vote, just for his willingness to be part of the joke without any celebrity for it.

[MorningGlow]

11. Woo hoo!

I was just thinking about the Stig this morning--MG Jr. is home sick from school and was watching a TG rerun (we're a TG family)--the driver gets absolutely no fame whatsoever and, worse, has to keep his identity a secret. Must be a very special individual (and/or paid very well). If that were me, I'd want to blab to everyone I knew "I'm the Stig! I'm the Stig!"

:rofl:

Totally agree about Jeremy and Hamster. Who TF did Hamster's Keith Partridge retro makeover, anyway? Ugh. (And I was a huge Keith Partridge fan in my day!)

[billyskank]

10. James May.

He's a gentleman. Clarkson is a bit of a dick, but he is entertaining so I'll let him off. I don't think much of Hammond.

The Stig is just so cool though.

[MorningGlow]

13. He has quite the estrogen brigade, as well

But then, lots of women go for low-key, classy guys.

And yeah, the Stig rocks!

New season starting there pretty soon, no? Several months later for us, though. :(

[flvegan]

17. Season 12 starts in November in the UK, I believe.

Now our next season, who knows. Also, will they go to season 7 (this last one was season 6) or will they go to season 11, or will the play season 12 concurrently with the BBC UK?

[MorningGlow]

19. I have no idea either

I never know what BBC America is up to. At this point I'll take anything new--as soon as possible, please! :D

[flvegan]

21. Yeah.

But, you know a show is good if you'll sit through a same episode twice in a single week.

[kentauros]

14. Captain Slow is good

but I still prefer the Hamster. Loved his little Opel "Oliver" in the African desert run they did :D

[MorningGlow]

24. That was a good ep

I have to admit I was partial to Oliver and was pulling for him!
:rofl:

[kentauros]

28. And yet,

the ever-present little Beetle won over them all :)
If Hammond hadn't decided to 'ford' that stream without wading through it first, he could have won easily. Of course, you have to wonder how much is set up beforehand ;) Like Clarkson setting the caravan (and the one next to them) on fire because he wanted to make some "crisps" :rofl:

[MorningGlow]

30. OMG the caravan burning down!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

That is my personal all-time favorite! (Although I love any and all caravan abuse they dish out!)

I can't imagine they set that one up--how dangerous to start a fire in a camping area. But then again, folks get away with so much more on British TV.

Do you think the pool-opening attendees were in on it, when Clarkson drove the Rolls into the pool? I'd suspect so, because they just stood there. I was thinking that if they didn't expect it, they would have made more of a fuss. Just a guess, though.

[kentauros]

33. I agree that they had to know

mainly because no one was in the way when the Rolls drove up an obvious yet well-hidden ramp to "fly" into the pool that way. And yes, they were all standing around too calm about it. Maybe they knew it was going to happen but were still not happy about it and that was the reaction they got for the show? ;)

I could imagine them not being happy with it since they had just restored the pool for their community and here was Clarkson messing it all up again with all that oil, grease, petrol and unmatched silver paint

[flvegan]

35. I think the Rolls/pool was BEFORE the restoration, honestly

which would give right to BBC paying towards restoring it to get the shot.

[kentauros]

37. Okay

I only saw the episode once, so maybe it wasn't made that clear. Or it's those damned British accents again! :P (this from someone with an online GF in New Zealand )

[Xithras]

71. That was my understanding about the pool thing.

It was a community pool for children, but it was damaged from age and use and there was no money to rebuild it. The Top Gear guys wanted to help but weren't allowed to just make open donations using BBC money. So, they jumped a car into the pool, wrecked the bottom, and gave them the money to rebuild it under the guise of repairing "damage" caused by their filming.

Kind of cool, actually.

[MorningGlow]

40. TG must have a show budget the size of the Vatican's treasure

The things they do and must atone for... :wow:

[kentauros]

43. Yeah, but they still can't afford to buy a Bugatti Veyron

so they can hand it over to the Stig and their track ;)

[flvegan]

47. Ah, that's Bugatti's fault.

They won't let them take the Veyron around the track.

I don't think they buy many of the expensive cars that are tested.

[kentauros]

49. I know they likely don't buy any of those expensive supercars

but that's probably the only way they'll ever get to take the Bugatti around their track. That or some rich bloke loans his ;)

[flvegan]

36. Spoiler.

The caravan fire was a set up. The fire squad being basically onsite is proof.

Seriously, there's no way a caravan is going to survive on that show.

[kentauros]

38. I may have read that it was a setup

and they do seem to have a prejudice against caravans ;)

They should do a race or challenge with coach buses! :D

[flvegan]

42. Hammond did try motor home racing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohkAxbeMxVo

And of course caravan conkers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtztZz7A4xA

[kentauros]

46. I remember the motorhome races :)

Did you see the recent one with the car-soccer game? Reminded me of a similar "sport" done with Fiats on a grass field and a big cageball like theirs :)

[flvegan]

52. I did. They did much the same during their Winter Olympics special

except it was hockey. Very funny.

[MorningGlow]

51. Ooh caravan conkers

I just read about this (I think James mentioned it in an interview or something) and was going to try to find it on YouTube--you just saved me a search!

[redqueen]

26. I don't know their names...

but the big/tall one seemed rude/dismissive and possibly anti-gay, so I know I don't like that one at all.

Pretty much put me off the show entirely.

[MorningGlow]

27. Ah, you've been Clarksoned

He's amazingly rude. Some people find it endearing. Some people get pissed off. I tend to fall in the latter category more often than not. But I say give the show another chance--it's so entertaining.

[redqueen]

32. I think I will...

it's hard to remember it's on... but the ones I've seen that he didn't ruin (:P) were great. :)

[Book Lover]

55. This may make you feel better

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2005/sep/12/highereducation.television1

[billyskank]

59. Strange to find myself jumping up in defence of Clarkson, but that's wrong.

He's not homophobic at all. He's a bit of a dick, which is the worst I can say about him. But lots of people get him all wrong. They assume he must be some uber-right-wing nutjob, and he just isn't at all. He's a loudmouthed blowhard, but he's not anti-gay, or anti-women, or anti-immigrants or anything like that. Though he is so rude about Americans as to make me cringe.

[MorningGlow]

60. Ahhh many Americans deserve it!

:rofl:

And he's welcome to trash-talk American cars all he wants! It's nothing but the truth!

[mwooldri]

65. Ah but Clarkson is a right-wing twit.

Went to public school. (Translation for you Americans: "private school") Got expelled. Anti-environmentalist, anti-establishmentarianism, libertarian twit.

But he sure is the heck funny!

Mark.

[Xithras]

72. If you saw the American episode, you'd understand why he doesn't like us.

Southern rednecks actually tried to assault them for having pro-Hillary and pro-gay messages on their cars. And then they reached New Orleans...and were completely floored at the unrebuilt devastation. As Clarkson said; "I really don't understand how Americans can sleep at night knowing this is here." I couldn't disagree with him on that point.

After seeing that, I kind of understand where his potshots at the U.S. come from. I'd probably be a bit anti-American too if I'd been through that.

[insanity]

29. I love top gear

Every day that I'm back in the states is a day away from top gear.

[flvegan]

58. No BBCAmerica?

There's always YouTube, Finalgear.com and the Top Gear site for a fix now and then.

[WolverineDG]

56. While the Great London Race remains my favorite episode

I did like the one I saw last week when their mothers test drove cars like the Honda Jazz. They all sat in the cars with their mothers & said something like "I'm not here to help, just to make sure you don't cheat." :rofl:

dg

[MorningGlow]

57. Oh yeah! The mothers were great!

The first time I saw it I was only half watching--I think it's going to be rerun soon on BBCA. I've got to make sure the TiVo gets it.

[WolverineDG]

61. Me too nt

[Blue_Tires]

70. Tiff Needell is still the best!

:hide:

[DS1]

73. So true

More passion for driving than all three of them AND the rest of his new crew on Fifth Gear combined.

[Xithras]

74. Did you know there's an American version coming? Hosted by Adam Corrola

No joke. BBC America wanted to get Jeremy Clarkson to host an American version of the show focusing on American cars, but Clarkson backed out early on because he didn't want to spend that much time in the U.S. Instead of abandoning the idea, BBC America struck a deal with NBC and signed Adam Carolla and Eric Stromer (the carpenter from Trading Spaces).

Personally, I expect it to bomb. Half of Top Gears value is watching them abuse cars that cost more than most of our homes. I don't think it will be the same if it's focused just on "American" cars.

[MorningGlow]

76. I do, yet I refuse to acknowledge its existence

:evilgrin:

No JAMES, Jeremy, or Hamster, not to mention Stig, I'm not watching.

And you're right about American cars--like shooting fish in a barrel. Wouldn't even be a challenge to criticize them. Unless TG US ends up like MotorWeek, where they love EVERY car they test because the cars are lent to them by the auto makers, so they aren't going to bite the hand that feeds them. Mr. MG and I always make fun of MotorWeek--always say in a big booming voice "WE LLLLOVE IT!"
:rofl:

[Xithras]

77. And that's exactly why the American version will fail.

I just can't picture Adam Carolla climbing out of a new Ford saying, "This just may be the worst car I've ever driven! I wouldn't wish it on anybody!" when Ford is a major advertiser. Yet, it's that kind of honesty that makes the UK version so fun to watch. I've watched Clarkston climb out of cars that cost more than my HOUSE and proceed to read off a list of everything wrong with them. That would never happen on American TV.

[DS1]

78. The Australian version is pretty shit

I watched the first episode, it just felt like 3 dudes thrown in a room together. The tall one, the short cute one with the hair, and the frumpy quiet one. They were told they were doing a "pulls name out of hat" car show, and to get on with it.

They don't seem to know the cars, the tall one has obviously been told to do Clarkson all the way through.


terrible!