Top Gear America in the works by Discovery Channel
We all noticed the conspicuous absence of Top Gear on the Discovery Channel after the show enjoyed a short stint on the channel. According to a recent article in the last issue of Top Gear, the show’s disappearance was due in large part to the fact that DC began shooting a pilot for an American version of Top Gear. The U.S. version differs from the original U.K. in a few areas, including three new hosts, a studio in which to film and a proper track around which to punish autos. The always affable and enigmatic Stig, however, was flown in to conduct Power Laps for the show with a CLS55, Charger and Mustang.
It’s great that DC thinks enough of Top Gear, as we all do, to go ahead with a project like this, but we fear there are many pitfalls on the way to pulling it off and we could wind up with horribly over-produced version of the original. (American Iron Chefs, anyone?) We were pleased just fine with the U.K. version we got, even if they did haul Jeremy, Richard and James into the sound booth to re-record bits of audio to make the show less insulting to Americans.
Whatever, if you’re down with torrenting you can find nearly every episode of the show at this page over at FinalGear.com. Enjoy.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jeff Davis 10:47AM (12/30/2005)
Great. Another awful remake of something that doesn't need remade in the first place. From what I understand, the hosts will be, uh, "interesting." A drag racer, a jock and some lame former reality show contestant.
Look, DC, you're not doing yourself any favors here. Remember "Coupling?" The American version? I see the American TopGear doing the same thing.
Thank Heaven for BitTorrent.
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Michaelarchangelo 10:47AM (12/30/2005)
Without Jeremy, it won't be worth watching
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Fred 10:51AM (12/30/2005)
I'm not a huge fan of the new variety show format for TG, although it's been hugely popular, especially with the non-car-loving demographic. However, and let's face it, the "US version" is sure to be absolute trash.
It's just going to be yawn-inducing product placement, involving big flashing subtitles about closed courses and professional drivers, and no doubt ending with an announcement from a fake-tanned, polished-toothed freak that "new Corolla [true to car industry marketing weirdness, there will be no definite article] is a real great drive, Hank!"
Thanks Bubba, and now back to the studio for the Bud Lite Nascar hour. Tonight: man with mullet goes fast, turns left.
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John Stotler 11:03AM (12/30/2005)
What are they thinking? Is DC owned by NBC who keeps trying to remake British comedies? Leave my Top Gear alone! Yeah I remember the NBC version of Coupling... awful. Now we have NBC's version of The Office. Thank goodness for Fifth Gear on Speed Channel. Maybe we can get BBCA to run the British Top Gear without editing! Jeremy please don't forsake us and let DC do this.
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Charles Ruff 11:19AM (12/30/2005)
Clarksons a legend.
Some best bit of Clarkson on the link below.
http://cars.msn.co.uk/carnews/ttclarksondec05/
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Hank 11:20AM (12/30/2005)
Disappointing. It was bad enough when we thought they were busy hacking up the BBC version. This also means an end to coverage of European cars we don't get, which was part of what I liked before. Who bets we don't get their great camera work, either? If we wanted another C&D, we'd have asked...but who watches that crap?
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HardwareGuy 11:21AM (12/30/2005)
The best thing about Top Gear is the chemistry between the hosts. I don't think Jeremy would be as good on his own; Richard and James make Jeremy's overbearing nature easier to handle.
I'll definitely give an American version a shot, but I'm not expecting any miracles.
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Rocket Punch 11:28AM (12/30/2005)
Jeremy, Richard and James is Top Gear! DC, why come up with an anwser to a question that nobody asks?
Just air the dame show as is!
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Rob 11:29AM (12/30/2005)
Agreed, leave the show alone. Don't let American producers screw it up. Before long it'll turn into another awful reality show of some kind....
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Unbonhomme 11:29AM (12/30/2005)
Agreed. This is pointless. Clarkson makes the show and without him, who really cares? Further, like the remake of the Office, Coupling, etc....its going to be HORRIBLE. Stop it. Just broadcast the real-live-unedited-shows on D/C in the states. And, stop with the "US" overlays. If you can't figure out the GBP to USD conversions....well....you get the picture.
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Louis Duran 11:56AM (12/30/2005)
This sounds lame. Really lame. Another British show that was fine as it was that didn't need to be changed and will now be ruined. Add Top Gear to Coupling, and The Office as "Americanized" shows doomed to fail.
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TennisD 12:15PM (12/30/2005)
I'm kinda saddended by this. I mean, they aren't going to be nearly as funny, because they won't want to offend anybody. Everyone knows that political incorrectness is a crime in America, so it's going to be watered down, not funny, and generally lame. Ugh, why. If only they'd let me do it, not call it Top Gear (I wouldn't want to ruin the show's name if it turned out badly) and let me lambast American cars (well, at least the bad ones) then things would WORK OUT!
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wyatt 12:18PM (12/30/2005)
ugg this is so frustrating. top gear is so good and so much better then other auto related shows because of the hosts. where as in some other shows the host just spits out specs the top gear guys tell you what you want to hear, like the writers in auto magazines do. i cant imagine that discovery channel will find three hosts as good together as top gear has. also what would be the point of taking off the bbc version during filming time for the american version? do they really think that people want to watch yet another repeat of american chopper or whatever else they put on during that time slot?
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Darien Allen 12:23PM (12/30/2005)
I'm echoing other comments hear... coverage on cars we don't get, those test they put said cars through... the interaction between the hosts...looks like I'll be torrenting...
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bgdc 12:36PM (12/30/2005)
I prefer the brit version...their sense of humor is far more biting and their opinions are far more subjective than the kind of limp-wristed reporting we get in america. What a shame they have to mess with something was perfect.
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Za 12:36PM (12/30/2005)
The American version of "The Office" is imo better than the British version because it is faster.
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Finished.Law.School 12:43PM (12/30/2005)
It sounds like Discovery Channel has no idea as to why people like the original.
And there is no need to make "the show less insulting to Americans" considering their comments are directed at American auto makers more so than American people.
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Dave 12:49PM (12/30/2005)
As someone else said, I'll check it out but I'm not expecting much. I doubt they'll aim high since the bar is so low. Anyone who's seen US TV Auto magazines (Autoweek, C&D TV, etc) knows how awful things are here.
But frankly, as long as the real thing is available on the web (and, for the record, if it was available as a pay-per-download, I would support that because I want the show to continue to succeed), I don't care what they do.
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Christian 12:57PM (12/30/2005)
I doubt you could say "C*cks drive Porsches" on the US version, or call the new Porsche Cayman a "Cockster"...Get it? Its a Boxster Coupe..haha..
What makes these shows cool is that they are foreign and different. That's key. Not the fact they are tapping a new genre or some special magic. That's why the other shows never worked. They just become boring sitcoms of which we have enough already.
Still, you know what makes Top Gear tops? Public funding only. This is why the show is enjoyable. Any shows in NA are filled with sychophants, on corporate dough. The most improbable payola car always ends up winning the comparos, never the best one.
-C
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Paul Spehar 1:37PM (12/30/2005)
#5 - Great link! It also reminded me to bookmark his online column.
And yeah, I will probably watch Top Gear US, but I imagine it will be worse than Fifth Gear UK.
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