NBC working on Top Gear remake for the States
Bionic Woman. Knight Rider. And now....Top Gear? NBC, America's remake network, has ordered a pilot of an Americanized Top Gear. Expect to see all the usual Top Gear conventions, including three presenters; a masked Stig-like driver; a private test track; taping in a hangar before a live audience; and (probably D-List) celebs driving midsize cars. Unfortunately, you won't see the program's British hosts, Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond. And this is where it gets dicey. You see, those guys are the reason Top Gear is what it is. They're clever and witty, and they endear themselves to gearheads with segments like Clarkson's hilarious Peel P50 "review" (it's pasted after the jump). NBC's going to have a hard time finding US hosts who can replicate that vibe without being relentlessly annoying in the process. As BBC remakes go, we truly hope that a US-flavored Top Gear succeeds like The Office, but we're concerned that it might just turn into another Coupling. Thanks to all who sent tips.
[Source: Reuters]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
WISEGUY 7:17PM (1/25/2008)
Top Gear will never be the same again without the fantastic trio... they are who made top gear the most popular uk tv show... not any other tv presenter!
I doubt the remake will ever compare!
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weldor22 2:47PM (2/02/2008)
You couldn't have Dannica Patrick as the STIG, you need someone who has won a race or two.
Without real car guys like some of the dudes from Spike or Speed this program will not work!!!!!
Big name stars wont make fun of themselves as much as the brits do...that is the real humor of the show. I can't see any of the people listed above willing to do stoopid stuff on tv just for laughs. And the "star" in a reasonably priced car spot just wont be the same without the "star struckness" Jeremy does when someone he really likes. Can't see Joe Rogan getting all funny and Giddy when Carmen Electra does some laps.
And to be brutally honest the big stars they would get, have all sold their souls to someone and couldn't say anything bad about certain things. I bet Jay Leno would not be allowed to even drive a new Ferrari and not have to say "......yes it is a super car...but nothing compared to the new Cadillac CTS"
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Anthony 3:55PM (2/11/2008)
I agree with a few post, I was looking for information about when the rest of series nine was going to be shown on BBC America and I can set my MCE to record it.
I vaguely remember the Discovery Network pilot show(s) so I can't really comment on them.
If done correctly it doesn't have to be like the British show.
Our market is unique and you can go many directions here. This is also the largest car market in the world, only a few makes aren't available here. In fact we get many "clones" of current Euro market cars like the Astra and Focus anyway. There engine and suspensions are tuned for a different market, but the cars are basically the same.
My problem is that "auto magazine tv" has already been tried :ie Motor Trend TV (still on the radio) and Car & Driver TV both DUDS for the most part with print writers that are not what I would consider TV friendly.
The host are what drive the British show, how in the world do you do that with are pension for pretty faces over substance and who said they would only have access to D listers???
Tom Cruise would be interesting as he has an SCCA Competition License. If he can keep his Scientology rants to a minimum I think he would surprise a few people.
In fact there many in Hollywood while they wouldn't appear on the British show and if this version proves to be popular would come on this show. You treat it like "Jay Leno" where contracts and network conflicts go out the window.
I think its narrow minded to think you would only have access to D list talent.
I do have a issue with adverts paying for the bulk of the production and that could lead to some disappointing and interesting car reviews.
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Anthony 4:00PM (2/11/2008)
Okay, if the rumored Stigs are correct, what have they won???
Danica would be a "Star in our Reasonably Priced Car" not the Stig.
The Stig wouldn't be anybody you know about unless you are a hardcore racing fan, do you know who Julian Baliey is without using Wikipedia???
Speaking of Leno, with that impressive car collection, maybe unlike the Brit version couldn't get VW AG to give them a Veryon to test, I don't "THINK" that would be a problem in the good 'ol US of A....
All kinds of cars would end up on this show to the envy of many in Britain
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TheDepressingTruth 9:44PM (2/23/2008)
Clarkson IS Top Gear....Without that "cheeky British Ba$#erd" don't even bother
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Dave 2:48PM (3/25/2008)
If you watch this on BBCA then you need to watch it on demand, as i have seen JC talk up a Ferrari and make it sound like a great car. I saw the same episode on demand and after stating what he liked he critized it heavely for not having a soul and generally said not to buy it.
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downwardblog 3:59PM (6/16/2008)
Wouldn't it be funny to see David Hasselhoff on this show since he was the kight rider. Adam Carrolla and he can switch. Adam can go on America's Got Talent and The Hoff can go on this one.
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downwardblog 2:36PM (6/17/2008)
Okay, so I posted here yesterday and now I read this NY Post article that I wanted to share. I do really like America's Got Talent and I thought after reading this article you might too. Here's the link. Read it and weep.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06172008/tv/drag__not_talentsimons_show_better_than__115836.htm
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Justin 10:37AM (8/13/2008)
I can't believe so many people have said that the current hosts are so funny and witty. British humor is the worst!
The ONLY thing that is bad about the current show is the hosts! They are generally snobbish to anything american (like when they cadillac CTSV blew away the audi quattro so they couldn't risk giving it a fair chance on the time trial so they did the time trial in the rain).
Everyone knows American cars generally can't compete with the foreign performance cars and that's why I think American hosts will be able to give all cars a more fair chance than the current hosts. The new American hosts will not have the British ego associated with the legendary European automotive industry.
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JayP 8:42AM (1/15/2008)
Wasn't a pilot already made for the US and was dumped? I believe the show was hosted by some of the people from "Spikes" truck-building shows for Saturdays.
Too bad the guys wouldn't come here, run Stig at Watkin's Glen or Laguna Seca. No rock throwing please.
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SOhp101 8:51AM (1/15/2008)
Part of the charm on Top Gear is the British humor and the willingness to criticize every car they review.
I think this is also apparent in their print publications. Compare Car/Top Gear to Motor Trend/Automobile Mag, for instance.
TwinTurbo3000GT 9:04AM (1/15/2008)
Thats the thing. It's completely dependent on the hosts (and also their avbility to get high end cars to test).
I have been thinking about a "Top Gear America" since i first was Top Gear. I think it's a fantastic idea, specifically becsaue theres so many USDM cars that they just dont test or talk about.
Ben H. 9:23AM (1/15/2008)
When comparing U.S. auto review shows with Top Gear, the best one that comes to mind is Motorweek - and that's not saying much. The U.S. shows are too fact-based making for very boring television.
DriverG 9:36AM (1/15/2008)
Discovery Channel shot like 12 episodes with a couple of reality show stars hosting and decided against it. Imagine putting that kind of money into a cable TV show and not even running it.
This is a disaster in the making.
Richard 11:02AM (1/15/2008)
NBC wants in because they are keen on Jezza's America-bashing and pro-green-ness.
The latter of which is great, the former is somewhat tongue-in-cheek, though I imagine that NBC fail to grasp that subtlety...along with the value to the show of the British humor....which they'll certainly erase.
Besides, what interesting cars will they test in the USA and how will they deal with potential big 4 ad revenue disruption with straight talk one might imagine like: "Well, the new Challenger faithfully harkens back to a bygone era in the American automotive industry where wild paint jobs with plenty of flat-black vinyl applique masked construction that was crap...and the interiors were and remain worse"?
rgseidl 12:05PM (1/15/2008)
Top Gear is successful for three reasons:
a) like all of the BBC, it is funded by license fees (aka taxes) and therefore completely independent of commercial sponsors. Ergo, they can afford to have very high standards and are more credible if and when they do give a car the thumbs up.
b) the UK has only a tiny remnant of an auto industry left, so they can keep the Union Jack-waving to a minimum. Again, more credibility because viewers' glasses aren't quite as rosetinted when it comes to imports.
c) the capture a quintessential slice of British national character, a robust no-nonsense approach to cocking about at the edge, with entirely predictable results. Plus, they don't call it British *Racing* Green for nothing, to aficionados there performance on a track - with bends! - is hugely important. No Stig, no Top Gear.
None of these elements will translate to the US market, regardless of the presenters. Unlike those effete upper-crust Brits poncing about in their Astons, American car culture is essentially a blue collar affair. Its practicioners pride themselves on beating out competitors with much deeper pockets by knowing their stuff and getting their hands dirty. Racing is strictly in a straight line or around an oval, i.e. about raw power and cojones rather than driving skill.
Of course, there are classic car collectors as well, especially in no-rust California. And electric car start-ups, world-class car design studios and a bunch of other things that Europe just doesn't have in the same way.
The best bet, therefore, would be to set up a program as a thoroughly American counterpoint to Top Gear, even inviting them to a friendly competition once a year.
naggs 3:58PM (1/15/2008)
"Racing is strictly in a straight line or around an oval, i.e. about raw power and cojones rather than driving skill."
this is total BS
there is more road racing in the US than any other country on earth. SCCA and NASA are the 2 largest organizations of their kind in the world and they both exist side by side in north America. when you take into account all the solo II and HPDEs, there are more semi pro road racing drivers in the US than the rest of the world combined. the main difference between the US and european auto enthusiasts is that they think racing is a sport for the super rich only and everyone else gets to watch.
so please, no more of this 'mericans only go straight bullcrap. just because we have drag strips and noone else does, doesnt mean that is all we do.
william tell 8:42AM (1/15/2008)
no one comes close to clarksons appeal. he makes me ROFLMAO, funny a f***.
Check out the the review he done in the last episode of season 10 (C63 vs m3) basically calling all m3 drivers wank***
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John R 8:46AM (1/15/2008)
My favorite is, "M3 drivers have no friends."
Mobius_1 9:21AM (1/15/2008)
Or the "If you want a fast, German saloon, you should buy an M3"
"But I wouldn't!"
ROFLMAO I wonder who in America can replicate this (maybe, just maybe, the "Green car committee" of Carroll Shelby, Jay Leno and some Frenchy)