BBC decides to back Top Gear against complaints
To think, we here in the U.S. would love nothing to more than to see the salty hosts of Top Gear on our own tubes instead of being forced to bittorrent episodes off of the web, and some viewers in the show's native land have taken to complaining about "controversial" remarks made by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May during recent episodes. The BBC reports it has received 500 objections on its complaint website in the last six months. Some of the complaints, for instance, were focused on Clarke's use of Nazi salute in one episode. To its credit, the BBC said in so many words that those watching the show should know its antics aren't carried out with any degree of seriousness.
We can't help thinking that if a network in the U.S. were in the same situation as the BBC that Top Gear would be watered down before you could say "FCC fine". So props go out to the British Broadcasting Corporation for backing our favorite show and not bowing down to the vocal minority. Now if you wouldn't mind just getting The Discovery Channel to start airing it again...
You can read the BBC's response in full here.
Thanks for the tip, James!
[Source: BBC News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Troy 8:42PM (8/01/2006)
It might be Autoblog's favorite show, but many ppl on forums are not that impressed with Clarkes overuse of opinion and attempted humor at the expense of objective testing. That's a polite way of saying he's full of s**t.
If taken for what is is... strictly entertainment, it could be fun. But too many fools take him seriously and start quoting him like some kind of gospel... what a joke!
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Albert 8:42PM (8/01/2006)
"Jeremy Clarke"
You mean Jeremy Clarkson... right? :)
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DJ 8:44PM (8/01/2006)
PLEASE. PLEASE, PLEASE offend us in the United States!!!! Whatever it takes to get the real Top Gear here, we'll put up with. Just do it now....PLEEEEAAASSSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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peep-chirp-quack 8:47PM (8/01/2006)
Jeremy Clarkson is an idiot. Here is a proof: http://www2.nationalreview.com/images/paperforgreg.jpg
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David 8:51PM (8/01/2006)
It's a great show. . . I download it religiously every week. Cinematography and entertainment value are their top priorities, but the show is not without its automotive merit. After all, it would be nice if BBC can attract an audience wider than just car enthusiasts. . . it's in primetime, you know.
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gek 9:08PM (8/01/2006)
You know, this is not really all that brave for the BBC. Unlike American networks, they have no advertisers, and every person in the UK who owns a television is required to pay for it via the television tax (~11 pounds/month, about US$20), whether they watch it or not, or want it or not. That would be on top of any cable or satellite bills.
This cuts both ways, as they can afford to be imperious whether they are right or wrong.
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JR 9:26PM (8/01/2006)
It does not surprise me at all that this American cars basher john neff finds the nazi dude is his favorite show.
Considering how that show constantly bashes American cars such as the Corvette is junk clearly shows this neff is jerkoff but I saw that show twice and agree it stunk and deserved being yanked off my cable I pay for.
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Mike 10:09PM (8/01/2006)
An Australian comedian once described the ARIA awards as yoga for the incontinent - everyone is bending over backwards pissing in each other's pockets. The American automotive media is guilty of similar gymnastics.
So Top Gear adds some editiorial content. So some people take them seriously. Whose fault is that ? If you don't like Top Gear's politics, don't watch it. Last time I checked, it was a BRITISH show, and thus in no way obligated to fellate the US car industry. Has anyone noticed that it's not ONLY American cars that draw their ire ? They'll blast ANYTHING they feel is crap, or oversold.
Just as everyone should take their OPINIONS with a grain of salt, anyone who touts their OPINIONS as gospel should be treated with similar skepticism.
I feel that Speed should not show as much NASCAR as they do, and think that should be "yanked from the cable I pay for", so I guess we're equal.
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Barnaby James 10:15PM (8/01/2006)
I've given up on Discovery airing Top Gear any time soon since they're doing they're on americanized version. The real question is why doesn't the BBC get a distribution deal with the iTunes Music / TV Store? There is no chance I would pay money for episodes of Lost that I've can see on network television but I'd gladly be willing to pay for episodes of Top Gear (and World Rally Championship / Formula 1 / 24 Hours of Le Mans).
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Sam 10:15PM (8/01/2006)
I am a longtime torrent-watcher (U.S. viewer) of the show, and have seen every episode to date (including some non-series special episodes). I can say with some qualification that the show is a highly entertaining, and well produced, automotive review show. That being said, in any review, there has to be some objective opinion.
For those that hate the show because the reviewers didn't like certain cars, then why not just agree to disagree? For the cars that they review poorly, well reasoned cause is presented. Case in point(as mentioned above) - the newest Corvette. It was reviewed, as a road car, as being comparatively loud, a rough ride, and in need of some more advanced traction control. Wow, that sounds about right to me. They even caveated it by saying that it is a fantastically fun track car.
I do hope that the show will find it's way to US television, because it deserves to. I just hope that it is on a more "lenient" network that will allow the original versions to be aired instead of the lame-duck Discovery version with the audience-segments refilmed to suit some ridiculous focus group's sense of impaired humor.
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epp_b 10:26PM (8/01/2006)
["The real question is why doesn't the BBC get a distribution deal with the iTunes Music / TV Store? "]
You shall be banished from Autoblog for mentioning the evil empire that is iTunes!!!!!
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TriShield 10:38PM (8/01/2006)
Kudos to the BBC for supporting their host's creative freedom.
It's an auto enthusiast show hosted by three opinionated guys with razor sharp wit. If you can't take a joke or stand them criticizing your favorite car, don't watch it.
It never ceases to amaze me how bunched American panties get when these guys crack a joke or pan American cars. It's as if they don't watch the show or notice that they pan cars from every country on Earch, including their own. This past week's episode Richard said the new Noble was assembled "in a shed", a comment that would have American car forums up in arms if it was directed at an American car. Absolutely ridiculous.
It also amazes me it will likely never be shown unedited on US television. Especially when we have hugely offensive programs like South Park airing nightly. We definitely exercise a double standard when it comes to our television programming.
We can have all the vulgarity, suggestive themes, and violence we can handle on network television but we're somehow not yet ready for three foreigners making jokes about cars.
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peep-chirp-quack 10:39PM (8/01/2006)
http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/international/bbc.betterlifead.jpg
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CaptSnuffy 10:45PM (8/01/2006)
It's "Clarkson"
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greg 10:47PM (8/01/2006)
i dont know if any of you know this but for a few months the discovery channel did carry Top Gear while it is no longer on the air i know what you mean
for those who love british car show SPEED airs a competing show called Fifth Gear it's on on Saturday morning @ 7:00 am
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pavster 10:50PM (8/01/2006)
Clarkson is a bit over the top. The current season of Fifth Gear is way better than the current season of Top Gear. They test vans and caravans... what the hell? where are the cars?
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Saracen 10:56PM (8/01/2006)
I love the show and for the most part agree with Top Gear verdicts. Keep in mind that they don't hold a distaste for American car makers in general. They love Fords. They adored the Mustang. The Mondeo is one of their favorite cars. Jeremy's got a Ford GT..and he's kept it even though it keeps breaking down.
The Holden Monaro --a GM vehicle guilt in Australia -- is another car they love.
It's not that they don't like American cars; What they don't like are American cars built for the American market, and for good reason. The Vette --base or Z06-- really does have an awful interior. The suspension tuning is average. But the engine is fantastic. The same goes for the Viper except it's far cruder. I can understand their issues with the other Chrysler's they've tested (such as the 300).
These are not cars built for the European market. These are cars built for our wider, straighter roads in the U.S.
IMO the opinions are important only if you take them as such. Top Gear is there two entertain you. It's fun, it's hilarious, it's exciting. It doesn't take itself seriously and I suggest you don't either.
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Keith 11:01PM (8/01/2006)
#4, as an American, I cannot really fault that article. It is criticizing the absolutely stupid things that the government does - and why we should not become complacent.
The stuff about needing permits to film - whoever came up with that needs to be hung, period.
About the response to Katrina - yup, there were some serious mistakes made and they deserve criticism (but there were many thousands who went there to help, and they need to be commended).
Actually, that article should appeal to any American who is not a brain-washed, Reality-TV watching drone!
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Finished.Law.School 11:15PM (8/01/2006)
There is absolutely nothing better on TV than Top Gear.
If Discovery is going to ever broadcast any of it they must do so without changing anything otherwise it will be completely pointless.
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Jason 11:23PM (8/01/2006)
OMG OMG read this, its the funniest thing ever. He is so right.
http://www2.nationalreview.com/images/paperforgreg.jpg
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