Top Gear: USA

[BullDog71ss]

That's right, it would seem that we could have our own (most likely watered down) version of TG some time in 2006. I picked this up from the Final Gear forums, it came from the TG mag and I think the guy just typed it from the mag, which is why there are so many typos.



The Top Gear telly programme has quietly become a global phenomenon. Recent figures suggested an extraordinary viewership, something in the region of one billon people across the globe. This explains why Jeremy gets mobbed on the streets of Dubai, why Richard Hammond is swooned over by housewives in Auckland and why James May will shortly appear on a series of commemorative stamps in Luxembourg. Probably. Only one country has been strangely resistant to the charms of three blokes cocking about in an old aircraft hangar - the United States of America.

Untill now. Earlier this year, Discovery decided they wanted in on the Top Gear action, starting with 18 repackaged programmes using existing items from TG UK. Accordingly, our pluckly lads spent five days at the Top Gear base recording new studio linkds in a more American-friendly way. Basically, getting Jeremy not to call them fat and stupid. This, however, was a mere entree for Discovery's main plan: to make thier own version of Top Gear on US soil. Thier own studio, thier own test track, even - since our boys were too busy and anyway James May doesn'y like places that don't server a decent cup of tea - thier own presenters.

That's why earlier this eyar a brand new TG USA production team assembleddeep in the Mojave desert to create a pilot show for thier version of Britain's favourite almost-BAFTA-winning car programmer. And, liker thier idea of what constitues a decent cup of coffee, the American take on Top Gear wasn't entirely the same as ours. Instead of a shabby hangar and a track built around arifield taxiways, they got a pit garage and a proper circuit. Instead of filling the studio with 200 grunting Subaru drivers, they did without an audience. And instead of The Tall One, The Short One and The Other Oen, they hired three rather different American presenters. Bruno, a professional drag racer with casual tales of crashing at 230mph. John, the super keen jock, blessed with quaint 'sir and m'am' good manners that only Americans can do. And, Johnny, a former reality show winner with a nice line in wierd humor.


Fortunatly some reference points remained, including Star In A Reasonably Priced Car. But, to set the power laps, there could be no substitue - the Stig was flown to the US and stunned everyone with his blistering pace as he hammered the CLS55, Charger, and Mustang round the circuit.

After two days' shooting, the show that popped out of the other end was something familiar and yet rather different. For one thing, filming in sunshine gives the show a glossy feel a million miles from another drizzle sodden canter down a runway in Surrey. And shouting "Bring on the Stig" just sounds cooler in an American accent.

If Discovery likes the pilot show, a series will follow in 2006. Then Americans can enjoy a weekly shot of Top Gear, just like the rest of the world.


What are your thoughts on how this will turn out?

I'm really hoping it won't turn into a Nascar love fest (as much as I like Nascar, I want to see something else) and they will stick to the formant of the UK TG. I'm also upset that there will be no live audience for the presenters to heckle and harrass in our version. That's half the fun of watching the current TG! However, my biggest concern with this new version is the vehicles they will be testing. It will most likely be American cars only, with very biased oppinions about them...

[mason_RsX]

Us Canadians will never understand your obsession with Nascar, its got a niche market here, but don't left turns get kinda boring?

I would like to think that American top gear would be as informative and innovative as the original top gear, which is what made it so popular.

[BlackGT2000]

I don't know I guess we will have to wait and find out. As I recall they were pretty biased against the american cars on TG anyway. I really just want to see a car and driver type show I don't really go for the heckling and what not. 5th gear (I think it was called something else over seas) was an awesome show. I would like to see more of that.

[TatII]

so thats why they canceled it. well if they're gonna change top gear, i won't watch it as top gear anymore cause the main stars are no longer there. its like watching the old save by the bell series but after they changed cast, the show got lame.

i will just watch the show as another car and driver type show, but however i'm not a fan of car and driver cause its super lame and not as brutaly honest as top gear. i guess american taste doesn't match the rest of the world. but i loved top gear, and they are only biased against crappy cars. richard hammond loved the C6 vette, and jermey clarkson loved the ford GT, and dodge viper.

edit: blackgt2000 i can understand why you say they're biased towards american cars, because they flamed the hell out of the mustang and the chrysler crossfire or other average american cars like the impala or malibu. but think about this, what can they possibler offer over what the europeans and japanese rivals can't? esp in overall packageing?

not to mention every episode of top gear has a very interesting skit, where they would race a rally car against a bobsled, or a plane traveling 1000 miles vs a ferrari ( the car won ) and such. when they start making their own shit we won't see stuff like that no more.

the more i think about it the more i hate it. damn these bastards. its always americans and their damn censorships!!! if they dont' like it don't watch it, why the fuck they gotta ruin such a great show for.

[-The Stig-]

I already don't like it.

Gimme them three blokes any day.

[BullDog71ss]

Like I said, it'll be really watered down without the 3 hosts that we've come to love, along with American censorship that we've come to hate. But, maybe, just maybe it'll turn out to be clever and informative in it's own way. If it's at least as good as 5th gear, then I'd be an avid watcher.

Hey, at least we're being thought of right?

[DinanM3_S2]

Nascar + Drag Racing =/= Top Gear

[GForce957]

This doesnt look good at all. The chances of a tv show doing something right and what the viewers want are never really high. Already we won't have the same presenters, which brings it down alot IMO, and then if they just use American cars and act like the new Monte Carlo SS (Crappy looking blandness, power is good with 5.3 liter 303hp, but fwd?!) is the best sports car in the world or something, I think ill pop a cyanide pill. Just give us the Top Gears unfiltered, starting from the first ones with the 3 presenters they have now.

[BlackGT2000]

Originally Posted by GForce957

This doesnt look good at all. The chances of a tv show doing something right and what the viewers want are never really high. Already we won't have the same presenters, which brings it down alot IMO, and then if they just use American cars and act like the new Monte Carlo SS (Crappy looking blandness, power is good with 5.3 liter 303hp, but fwd?!) is the best sports car in the world or something, I think ill pop a cyanide pill. Just give us the Top Gears unfiltered, starting from the first ones with the 3 presenters they have now.

That has some truth to it but I do want new episodes. Also, it will need to be more americanized. I mean its all well and good to hear about european cars, but half of them aren't sold here and 1/2 of the ones that are sold here are different here. Also I want to see (as bad as it sounds) the montecarlo against other cars just to see a real comparo. If there is anything nice to say about that car I want to hear it haha.

[CBFryman]

Car and Driver is boring most of the time, they dont do all of the cool things like let profesional drivers go full tilt on a track with them, they test cars that nobody cares about (ohhh boy, i want to waste 15min of my life watching TV about the new Toyota Avalon!!).

Top Gear, on the other hand, Test cars that we can only dream of driving. That is why we watch TV, to see hella sweet stuff we could never actaully have.

This show is going to turn in to a Car and Driver, Nascar, or Horsepower TV. Because they will think all that will watch it is backwoods rednecks. If it goes in an interesting direction it will end up like that Tuner TV or w/e it was called on Spike. The show that was building up a 1000hp Supra and got Canceled... WTF?
Sure the guys where anoying and gay but they showed decent stuff, minus all the Nopi like car shows.

[Polygon]

I don't want to hear one damn word about NASCAR. NASCAR has about two million shows dedicated to it on Speed, we don't need any more! Anyhow, I am sure I will watch to see reviews on some cars that the real Top Gear can't or won't review from the big three here in America. However, I will still watch the real Top Gear and I am sure I will continue to like it more.

[BullDog71ss]

If it does indeed turn into a Nasfest, I will be mailing in to whomever it may concern and give them a peice of my mind about how crappy I think it is. The only reason I'd do this is that I'm pretty excited about the upcoming new show and I really don't want to see it turn into some Americana cheese fest of an auto program, as appossed to the awesome show it could be.

I'd hope the rest on this site would do the same, it may just help them get the idea.

[Dreamspawn]

Personally i think top gear should stay with jermey unless they want to put jermey and tiff together but i highly doubt that it would be so great though. Tiff great race car feed back and jermey's comical antics. Never forger the first top gear episode i saw. The one were the Atom destoryed his face it was pricelss and i've been hooked ever since.

[BlackGT2000]

To me Tiff was the best part of that show. That was crazy when he raced the helicopter with the GT3.

[CBFryman]

I would like to see a few domestic cars on TG

Dodge SRT-8, SRT-4 (maybe it already was? i dont know), Charger. Crossfire (w/e it is that resembles the vaxuall 220)

Courvett C6/Z06, New Comaro SS (if/when it comes out), hell, everyonce and a while they do cars along the lines of the Colbalt SS and Saturn Ion Redline.

Ford...they dont have anything out right now that im interested it other than the GT...