Clarkson nixes U.S. Top Gear
The BBC was reportedly evaluating producing an American version of its hit show Top Gear with the existing British cast. The show's star lead host Jeremy Clarkson, however, apparently having seen enough of the U.S. after filming the show's road trip through the South, has nixed the idea.
The proposal would have involved Clarkson, together with his co-stars Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig, flying stateside for four months to embark upon a hectic filming schedule, a prospect which didn't tantalize Clarkson, to say the least. On top of other concerns, Jezza reportedly wouldn't want to leave his family behind for such a long period of time.
For their part, the BBC hasn't given up, and will undoubtedly look at other possibilities, with or without Clarkson. Stay tuned.
Thanks for the tip, Derek![Source: The Sun via PistonHeads]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Mat 3:38PM (7/24/2007)
Why don't they just show the Brit version on US BBC?
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Toy Yoda 3:40PM (7/24/2007)
How about getting some of the F1-transplants from NASCAR and/or CART?
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Phillip 3:40PM (7/24/2007)
That trip down south is certainly the FUNNIEST episode ever
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Don 4:25PM (7/24/2007)
Yeah, just great...chock full of stereotypes and other stupidity.
Phillip 4:37PM (7/24/2007)
I live in Cypress, Texas, been there done that. Staged as can be. Your as ignorant as a stereotypical "redneck" if you believed that.
A5-14 8:52PM (7/24/2007)
Yup nothing like ANOTHER staged show. Man vs. Wild and Top Gear. Two peas in a pod.
eddie 3:42PM (7/24/2007)
yea, why not BBC america, and just show the british version. Aside from their news show, does that station show anything worthwhile? sundance showed abbey road, for some reason.
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Tracy 7:05PM (8/01/2007)
I'm a transplanted Brit in Canada. I have BBC Canada and I watch Top Gear all the time. That's how I got hooked on the show. It's great. It wouldn't be the same with American presenters.
bd 3:55PM (7/24/2007)
Top Gear w/o Jezza wouldn't be Top Gear. I agree with Mat that they ought to just show the Brit version in the States.
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john 3:43PM (7/24/2007)
Clarkson is probably just frightened by the prospect that he might start to think like an American if he spent too much time here.
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felipe 3:44PM (7/24/2007)
why an american version?
i want the UK version in the USA.
what the hell is wrong with
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menice 3:49PM (7/24/2007)
..them.
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zach 3:46PM (7/24/2007)
Good! Being British is part of what makes the show interesting. I can learn all I want about American market cars from Car and Driver/R&T/etc.
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Johnny D 3:58PM (7/24/2007)
What happened to the pilot they shot last year with American presenters? Was it really that bad that they just wanted to do it themselves?
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paul34 3:56PM (7/24/2007)
Of course they could never do an American version. My fellow countrymen are too big of crybabies to ever handle something like Top Gear.
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GOKARTN 5:51PM (7/24/2007)
Like others have said, just bring the UK version ot BBC America. It would be nice to have something a little more interesting on that channel than Footballers Wives.
Plus, I am guessing that they would probably would tell Jezza not to rip on the US cars as much as he does now. Could you imagine all the damn hell raised by the hillbillies if they heard him rip on the Viper the way he has?
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OC Rider 8:29PM (7/24/2007)
That's fine. I thought the UK Top Gear was too full of dumb humor. I just want a car show. The Speed Channel has failed miserably.
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Silver 4:19PM (7/24/2007)
Geez BBC, just get this show up on iTunes and be done with it.
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Nathan Marks 4:19PM (7/24/2007)
I would love for them to show the UK Top Gear on BBC America
Alas, all they have is repeats of cash in the attic, changing rooms, and bargain hunt
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Chris Jacobs 4:26PM (7/24/2007)
Without Jezza and the boys, the show will lose all of its charm. The version that aired on the Discovery channel with news and most of the show edited was appalling. I love the anti-American barbs and crazy antics. We don't need a new version, just easy access to the jewel that TopGear already is.
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