Top Gear US (spoilers inside)

[defstartrooper]

Just watched the first episode i thought it was ok.

The Viper was pretty cool although i gotta say those limited editions are ugly as sin was the designers remit make it as tacky and tasteless as possible ?

The interview with Buzz seemed a bit rushed would have been nice to have a bit more converstaion with him.

Three Lambos on the first episode who was it that was thinking the US show would be all about American cars ?

Nice to see they have a proper track not those ovals you Americans call racetracks

And American Stig seems to have been on a crash diet since Clarkson,Hammond and May's road trip accross the US. :lol

 

[fuelish]

I thought it was Ok for a first go. The chopper v/s Viper segment was solid altho I think it could have been edited tighter to create more drama. It was also to much, "The VIPER is so AWESOME". The Buzz Aldrin segment was decent, but the interview was a little stiff. Buzz can be funny(The Ali G interview for example).
The presenters need some time to get comfortable with each other and the format. It took the UK Top Gear a while to get there act together as well.
If there was no UK Top Gear to compare it to people would think it was great.

 

[TheNickFox]

The presenters also need to have a better grasp on what their "roles" are in the show.

I think what works so well for the British version is that each host fills a distinct personality and specialization. Hammond is the over-eager little kid who likes things that go vroom and look pretty; May is the stodgy, old-fashioned guy who prefers carburetors and drum breaks to fuel injectors and disks just because they're older and have a history; Clarkson...well Clarkson is the elequent creep, who exists on a strange line between sexualizing beautiful, sleek cars and wanting the biggest motor in the ugliest assembly just because it has RAW POWER!

The three American presenters so far don't really have that, yet and they sort of mixed and mingled their roles a bit too. I think having more competition on the show will help draw those differing traits out a bit. Animosity (even fake animosity) will necessarily make the differences more pronounced.

The helicopter bit felt like it could have been done better too. It just felt odd having two presenters in one car. Why not say that that are going to have a little "race" putting one into the Cobra and the other into the Viper. Since the "three lights" set up they had just reeked of false jeopardy, I would have really reveled in a moment of surrealism if, the "helicopter host" then launched off a "real missile" at the end (With the helicopter pilot putting up a fake fight) seemingly blowing up the Viper and the other presenter at the end. Just having a red light go on and calling the whole thing done seemed a bit anticlimactic.

The Lambo race was okay, but once again lacked drama. Why not have a "boffin" in a lab coat give them their speeds? (Or if you want to Americanize it: a pointless sexy lady)

The other thing that is missing is the beautiful cinematography of the original. We saw hints of it in the Lambo/Bull Fighting segment, but it seems rushed and not as artistic. And during the helicopter chase segment, the whole bit where they started playing "The End" by The Doors (I think that's what they were playing anyway) just seemed poorly edited and rushed partly because there already was no drama to the segment.

That said, it was a good start. I definitely liked it better than the first episode of the Australian Top Gear. So I guess we'll see what happens.

-Nick

PS: Is anyone else bothered by the moving image of the Stig? It distracted me so much.

 

[Wes R]

This was an odd place for Buzz ALdrin to appear. He's always come off as a really nice guy and very funny. Struck me odd that one of the largest supporters of manned space exploration is on a show about cars.

 

[defstartrooper]

This was an odd place for Buzz ALdrin to appear. He's always come off as a really nice guy and very funny. Struck me odd that one of the largest supporters of manned space exploration is on a show about cars.

Do you think he travels everywhere on top of a Saturn V rocket ? :lol

Good point TheNickFox about the presenters not really seeming to have defined roles.

 

[The Stig]

I see where they're going with this and it has potential.
I think for the first series they're mostly going to be leeching off the UK show for ideas, this will be mostly to introduce those not familiar with the series to how the show works.

Anyway, a few things really stood out to me, first, the look of it. There were no fancy camera filters, this, I think, made it LOOK bland.
Secondly, the music used was generic, I don't know the deal that record companies have worked out with the BBC, but the original Top Gear does not use generic music. It takes its cues from old film soundtracks and popular music.
Thirdly, there's no polarizing figure, I know these guys have their own personalities (which we'll be seeing in the next few episodes), but part of what makes TG work is the fact that Clarkson will likely say something that will dig under someone's skin. Couple that with the chemistry they share and you have people who don't even like autos tuning in to watch.

It has potential, and gawd do I want it to work (people in this country need to be excited about cars again), but it's going to take some time.

 

[fuelish]

The two presenters in one car may be the producers expectation that American audiences can't handle (what is basically) the internal dialogue you often get on the UK show.
There were some nice shots mixed in but they need to get some one that knows how to pan and track on staff. Lots of fixed shots, no angle work.
As for the Lambo match, the UK show would have had a side by side run. The method used was safer and padded the segment but had no kick.

 

[TheNickFox]

There were some nice shots mixed in but they need to get some one that knows how to pan and track on staff. Lots of fixed shots, no angle work.

I'll do it! I mean, I am technically rocking a TV/Film degree, so I might as well put it to work...and I love cars and the original Top Gear.

Can you hear me, producers? I'll work for free so long as I get to drive around in the cars when they're not being filmed. Ehhh????

-Nick

 

[Zombie_61]

If there was no UK Top Gear to compare it to people would think it was great.

This one sentence pretty much sums up my feelings about the premiere episode. Aside from that, I'd have to say I concur with the well-written post above (post #3) by TheNickFox. If the presenters and crew find their way without being a carbon copy of the U.K. version, it could be a decent show; if not, I doubt it'll last long.

 

[robo3687]

we've tried twice here in australia to have our own version of top gear, on 2 different networks....

both time the hosts let the series down immensley basically because they were boring and nowhere near as entertaining as the UK guys

we seemed to have the same level of production (as far as camera work, filters....all the good stuff) but it was the hosting that let it down...

i'll have to track down a copy of the US one to see it for myself...

 

[Nwerke]

Well, be fair - both series were actually quite reasonable car programs. Any show with the misfortune to be named "Top Gear" without actually BEING "Top Gear" is doomed.

 

[ralphee]

Sorry, but your never going to beat Jezza, Hamster, and Captain slow, no matter how hard you try, as its been said, each presenter, has a distinct character.....my god, ive watched this show since i was like......10, maybe 11 LOL.....who remembers William Woolard :lol

lee

 

[dbuck]

It's still way too early to be harsh on the hosts, but let us hope they figure out their roles. There is no banter, or byplay. (well, at least until the very end) The simple fact that they are not Clarkson, Hammond, and May is a huge hurdle. Is it just me, or do our American hosts sound nasal?

The Stig should've laid down a lap with the Suzuki, to give a baseline for the stars to judge against. I do like the track.

I do have hope that this show can improve. Were it not for the existing BBC show, this would have been pretty good. The BBC show actually makes me laugh out loud while it entertains me, but the first season of the BBC show wasn't really the show it is now, either.

 

[TheNickFox]

I do have hope that this show can improve. Were it not for the existing BBC show, this would have been pretty good. The BBC show actually makes me laugh out loud while it entertains me, but the first season of the BBC show wasn't really the show it is now, either.

Hahaha! What, you didn't like hearing about the deal of the week?! Wasn't that everyone's favorite segment?

I'm hoping they find a way to incorporate Top Gear News into the shorter format, since it really gives a great opportunity for the hosts to interact with each other and build some character!

-Nick

 

[takevin]

Sorry, but your never going to beat Jezza, Hamster, and Captain slow, no matter how hard you try, as its been said, each presenter, has a distinct character.....my god, ive watched this show since i was like......10, maybe 11 LOL.....who remembers William Woolard :lol

lee

You got that right, cant touch the UK version.