Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Celebrities
Rumormill: Leno or Seinfeld could host NBC Top Gear
If you found the news that NBC had struck a deal for an American version of Top Gear promising, the latest speculation on candidates for hosting the show should have you salivating. The original British program on the BBC uses a mix of automotive journalists and television personalities to make the dynamic and beloved team of hosts. Since Clarkson, May and Hammond nixed the idea of hosting the American show as well, BBC producers then began interviewing American automotive journalists – um, I'm still waiting for my call – in an effort to imbue the new show with some "journalistic credibility", but Inside Line reports that the BBC called several of the candidates this week and told them they were taking a "celebrity direction".
The development has inevitably led to speculation over who NBC could sign to host the show, and like a racing team looking for a new driver, it all comes down to availability. Jay Leno's contract to host the Tonight Show, it has been pointed out, is set to expire next year, and his credentials as a certified car nut are unimpeachable. Another candidate is Jerry Seinfed, an avid Porsche enthusiast who's got a lot of time on his hands since his sitcom went off the air. Both are huge celebrities and genuine gear-heads with long-standing relationships with NBC. We also hear Scott Speed is available if they're looking for The Stig's American cousin... or a new Captain Slow.
[Source: Inside Line, Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)
epilonious 8:38AM (1/31/2008)
Leno I could see.
Seinfeld.... not so much....
Reply
Jay 8:39AM (1/31/2008)
ditto
mikomi 8:42AM (1/31/2008)
Why not Seinfield? He's a car fanatic, he hast an impressive stable, he even built a multi-story garage especially to house his collection.
epilonious 10:18AM (1/31/2008)
"Why not Seinfield? He's a car fanatic, he hast an impressive stable, he even built a multi-story garage especially to house his collection."
Because I very rarely see Seinfeld in stuff that doesn't involve long, convoluted, uncomfortable sitcom plots.
Top Gear is more about having cranky people in silly situations with cars. Seinfeld's shtick isn't cranky... it's whiny. Thus, I feel like Top Gear with Seinfeld as host would be more about him whining about the situations rather than dealing with them while occasionally dropping a swear when he whacks his head on a wheel well or something.
While I know there are people that enjoy Seinfeld's shtick thing, I am not one of them, and it's certainly something I don't find in Top Gear (considering it doesn't make me cringe and change the channel a lot).
416Hammy 8:58AM (1/31/2008)
Leno has proven to be capable of both a monologue and an effective interview.
Seinfeld has the monologue down, but can he really have a semi-serious conversation with other hosts/guests without it turning into a Jerry/Elaine/Kramer/George-sitting-at-the-diner-having-a-witty-chit-chat?
TwinTurbo3000GT 9:29AM (1/31/2008)
i agree. I dont doubt seinfelds knowledge of passion, but i dont think i can get over his sit-com stand-up comedian stigma. He could be talking about the holocaust, but somehow his voice makes it sound like he's telling a joke.
Mr. Oak 10:48AM (1/31/2008)
Leno or Tim Allen. Seinfeld likes cars, not a hardcore car guy though. Queen Latifah is more of a hardcore car\biker gal than this he is.
Besides he is not quick-witted funny. Like he was on his sitcom he would be an awful bore.
The show Seinfeld was a great show inspite of him. One helluva cast on that show.
Ben H. 11:43AM (1/31/2008)
Yes! Tim Allen!
Less likely to be PC, and he'd also hack apart some ugly cars with his power tools..or blow them up.
naggs 12:52PM (1/31/2008)
leno would be completely perfect absolutely the best person on earth for the job
seinfeld has never "hosted" a show before
not to say he would not be good, i think he would, but it would be different than anything else he has done. did he host an awards show once? i know he has done some automotive journalist writing in the past, his review of the Carrera GT for Automobile was excellent, hilarious and obviously the product of a true car nut.
if they got either on of these guys, it would be fantastic
naggs 12:55PM (1/31/2008)
"Seinfeld likes cars, not a hardcore car guy though."
your totally wrong, he is hardcore
tim allen would be just awful, home improvement was a terrible show for stupid people
Andrew 4:41PM (1/31/2008)
Hmm.. Leno may have a lot of cars but every time I have seen him on shows like Rides he cant stop with the lame one liners and random bogus facts about cars.
Sometimes I wonder if Leno really knows that much about cars or if he just likes collecting them like Hot Wheels. When he's in front of something like a Foose one-off show car he will ask something lame like - is that a 350 in there? WTF?
Seinfeld I can't say - he is a huge Porsche fan and did have that Skip Barber racing school magnet on the fridge of his apartment on the Seinfeld sitcom. But again I don't know if he just likes collecting and driving them or actually cares about the mechanicals.
Tim Allen I know for sure is a die hard gear head. I have seen him mod the hell out of a 4door Cadillac and proceed to do a 100ft burn-out on its first drive. He has also partnered with Saleen Racing to race some of their cars. He knows his stuff.
Another good choice IMO would be Jesse James - he has real knowledge of all sorts of vehicles from hot-rods to exotics and has hosted his own shows. he rebuilds rare classic cars so he can drive them as daily drivers, not becuase they are valuable and hes not shy about doing a few burnouts and donuts.
wrussi 8:40AM (1/31/2008)
nothing like the original but if they are gonna copy i think jay leno sould be better fit than seinfeld jay knows a lot about cars. seinfeld will just be reading off a script.
Reply
993C4S 10:14AM (1/31/2008)
As a Porsche guy, I should be routing for Seinfeld. However, I have to agree that I think Leno would make a better host. But not for the reasons you mentioned.
Seinfeld has a very large and valuable collection, but it's 99% one brand (Porsche). Where as Leno's collection is as big and as valuable but much more diverse.
I think people can relate to Leno better as well.
John
http://www.993C4S.com/wordpress
C.W. 8:40AM (1/31/2008)
i say Leno or TIM ALLEN.
yeah... let the tool man handle it...
Reply
typhoon5000 8:59AM (1/31/2008)
yea, The Toolman is where it's at and then somebody will actually do a proper video test of the SALEEN S7 too. I can't believe Top gear hasn't yet.
Big J 9:11AM (1/31/2008)
When I first heard of an American Top Gear I didn't think they would find any hosts suitable to do the show justice. Hearing Leno and Tim Allen actually sounds like something I would want to watch. Not to mention a couple entertaining guys talking cars. Leno is auto knowledgeable and I could definitely picture Allen pushing limits around a track.
HeyHuub 10:10AM (1/31/2008)
Why would Top Gear want to test the Saleen S7? A car that isn't sold in Europe and has hardly been sold at all.
Apart from 2 straight line tests against some tuners by american magazines i haven't seen it tested anywhere.
Andrew 10:17AM (1/31/2008)
Watch Tim Allen get into a Pagani Zonda. "OoohFF OHHHFFF....wait.....what is this thing?" The show would be utter crap if they only focused on American cars, and that's what Tim Allen would do.
WillDaThrill 10:42AM (1/31/2008)
There's the perfect line up. Tim, Jay and Jerry. Tim and Jay are grease monkeys and Jerry is your ritzy guy. Not everyone likes them for this show, but then, no one of them stands out. Jay and Tim are definite picks.
smarkle 8:42AM (1/31/2008)
Wow -- that sounds horrible... I can't imagine Top Gear without Clarkson or Hammond. I predict this is gonna be more like "Coupling" than "The Office" for NBC. Some things just don't translate.
Reply