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Subscribe to this threadNBC working on Top Gear remake for the States
(Page 1 of 1)
JayP @ Jan 15th 2008 8:42AM
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.
SOhp101 @ Jan 15th 2008 8:51AM
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 @ Jan 15th 2008 9:04AM
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. @ Jan 15th 2008 9:23AM
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 @ Jan 15th 2008 9:36AM
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 @ Jan 15th 2008 11:02AM
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 @ Jan 15th 2008 12:05PM
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 @ Jan 15th 2008 3:58PM
"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.