US Top Gear... if you can call it that?!

[salsashark]

Well... the first episode hit the air last night.

I'm hoping that they are working on improving this show because if every episode is as dry and boring as the first, they won't last long.

I felt the show lacked in several critical areas that the UK version has
1. Charismatic hosts - the US guys were about as exciting as watching paint dry. They had nothing exciting to say about anything. All in all, it was just boring.
2. Driving skills - other then Faust, these guys have none. Even Captain Slow could wallop these boneheads
3. Writing - the feeble attempt at humor was completely lost
4. Turns - I don't care that the Lambos can go 180 in a straight line. If you're looking to gain the acceptance of the NHRA, I think you're spot in.
5. An appreciation for something other than american muscle cars. I thought they were just going to dry hump the viper for the first twenty minutes. Yes, it's powerful, Yes it's audacious... who cares. One of the things I really appreciate about the UK version is seeing cars that we, here in the US, won't ever get. If these guys are just going to kiss ass to the big three, I'm out.

Anyways, the UK version has 14 seasons under it's belt, here's to hoping the US version will improve.

[Keyser Soze]

I didnt even bother. Boardwalk Empire is FTW

[salsashark]

I wanted to give it a chance.

I'll let the DVR catch them but I'm not going out of my way.

I think they really need some people like Adam Carolla. I remember he was rumored to be a host on the show. They need people like this.

Oh, and the interview with Buzz Aldrin?! Holy crap is was like rubbing a fork on a chalk board.

[Keyser Soze]

The Aussies havent been able to pull it off and they get cooler cars We'd be hard pressed to find 3 guys with better chemistry, wit, and hair...

[salsashark]

maybe we should start a petition to take all of the money they wasted on the US and Aussie versions, and give it to the UK version to ensure they can keep doing what they do best.

[MetaLord 9]

The commercials turned me away. They made the three guys seem like dude-bro's bred with rednecks. They seemed way too excited to be in the cars which made it look like they had no idea what they were talking about. I was also surprised to realize that History Channel was putting it on, and then the dryness of it all made sense. In the end, the commercials made it seem like the show just lacked a watchable quality.

[Mother Goose]

It's sitting on my DVR right now, I'll check it out at lunch. I wasn't expecting it to be anything spectacular, nothing can replace the original.

[thaitanic]

US top gear..not impressed at all. boring as hell. ill take the original UK version.

[Wrider]

Shows' host chemistry and humor is forced, they seem to know less about cars than my sister does, and while Buzz Aldrin is a badass, he interviews poorly. Well done...

[asp_125]

OMG I would rather watch Tanner Faust argue with Paul Tracy on Supercars, and that's not saying much. What's with the Viper vs Cobra helo? Lame. The hosts were uninteresting, but chemistry takes time to develop, so on the strength of one show it's hard to tell. They should have Adam Corolla or Jay Leno be the host.

The only watchable part was the Stig's lap of the track. Anyone know the scoop on the US Stig? Is he the same tame racing driver as the UK Stig?

[sprtbkbabe]

I would rather watch a Nascar race... NOT

[Sleev]

Havent watched it yet, and after reading this i probably wont

[konichd]

As soon as the NASCRAP host was announced you could only tell it was going down hill fast.

Foust is good but the other two are horrid. Why not someone like Tommy Kendall, Mario Andretti, etc. that actually have some race-proven credibility.

I was praying a Hurricane would hit Homestead/Miami speedway yesterday. God if you can hear me I'm still praying

[Mother Goose]

Would you like it if you didn't have the influence of the original?

[salsashark]

Would you like it if you didn't have the influence of the original?

ahhh... the New Coke v. Old Coke v. Classic Coke argument

That's it, actually this is a cleverly disguised conspiracy to kill off the Aus, Russian and US versions of Top Gear so everyone who has forgotten about the show will instantly fall in love with it when the History Network starts airing the UK version next year...

got it, thanx

[konichd]

Only if Dennis Guage was the host. Other than that I'd rather beat my d*ck with a hammer for hours on end.

[Ghost]

Would you like it if you didn't have the influence of the original?

No.

Tanner's own show sucked and was boring as hell to watch. The other two are even worse than he is.

But, that's not the point, because this IS a "TopGear", so it's not just any other Car-tv show, it's supposed to be an offshoot of, as good as, and will be compared to, the original.

You can't come out with a show that's 'TopGear' and then judge it solely on its own merits, comparisons are going to be inevitable.

But, even on its own, it sucked, or blew, whichever you prefer.

I mean their intro show rips off the UK Elise Vs Chopper as their big event?

What's next, an F-22 vs the Viper ACR?
Maybe some custom US Big Rigs?
Crossing the Delaware in a Toybota?

Lame. Doubly so for the intro episode.

And yes, I own Seasons 8-13 of the UK TG, and I've seen The first seasons (1-7) and I know that the show got better over time, but that's not the point.

I'm not waiting 7 years for this one to finally "get good" when the UK version's out there and is far, far superior (even in the bits where you can tell it's scripted it's still more amusing).

The hosts suck, the scripting is shit, the driving was boring.

The Fail Boat has sailed.
Hopefully it'll hit an iceberg, sink, and not be renewed (ever).

I'd rather watch a marathon of BullRun or have Pat Goss massage my balls with a belt sander while he blathers on about key fob batteries.

As to the US Stig, while they'll never say, I'd be willing to bet it's not the UK Stig as "The Stig" is actually several people in the UK (up to 4 last I heard) and they use whichever one is available.

So, I'm sure the US Stig was...well, probably just Tanner in a Stig suit (where, thankfully, he can't talk.)

F-U TG America. You are to TopGear what Phantom Menace was to Star Wars.

[TurboGizzmo]

This was the show with the chopper chasing the Viper right?

If so the editing of just that scene alone drove me up the wall....it was so hacked together...I changed it

[Mother Goose]

ahhh... the New Coke v. Old Coke v. Classic Coke argument

That's it, actually this is a cleverly disguised conspiracy to kill off the Aus, Russian and US versions of Top Gear so everyone who has forgotten about the show will instantly fall in love with it when the History Network starts airing the UK version next year...

got it, thanx

[Pharmgirl]

It was utter shit.

endthread\

[Snowman]

With a global market the UK show has, why you want to try and copy it for different countries?

It would be much easier to just expand the UK show to 15 episodes, get a real race track to run on, bigger name actor in their reasonably priced car, multiple guess Stigs, etc…

[Mother Goose]

Their Stig looked slow.

[Snowman]

Their Stig looked slow.

Probably a NASCAR Driver...

[Ghost]

Probably a NASCAR Driver...

Or just Tanner.

Why pay for another driver when, unlike the REAL TopGear, you're paying a racer to (poorly) host your (pathetic) show?