Leno fears Top Gear USA may suck
NBC has officially purchased the rights to produce an American version of Top Gear, and seeing as it has one of this country's biggest gear heads on its payroll, it's a no-brainer that they would at least ask Jay Leno to host. In his most recent editorial for The Sunday Times, Leno recounts being asked by a corporate suit with practically no clue about of the hit British show to host the American version. It goes something like this. "Well, the network has bought the TV show... um... High Gear? Top Gear? Top Gear! Top Gear, yes. We know you like to build cars." Sigh...Thankfully Leno turned down the offer, not because he's unworthy, but rather because he knows he couldn't do the show justice and because the idea of an American Top Gear is doomed from the start. Being part of the BBC, the original version is not reliant on advertising to stay on the air, so talking smack about a particular automaker and its wares is no biggie. As Leno notes, things work differently at NBC and any episode in which a sponsor gets lambasted would immediately be followed by what The Tonight Show host calls, "the meeting". And then, bye bye sponsors and bye bye show.
Rumors of comic Adam Carolla hosting the show have us optimistic, because he's a bonafide gear head and if anyone could keep it real about cars on camera, he could. Plus, his last name is phonetically identical to Toyota's little econo-sedan, which would be great fodder for ridicule by the other hosts, whoever they might be. The fact is, however, the task of doing justice to this great export from Great Britain is near impossible, and Jay knows it. Thanks for the tip, everybody!
[Source: Times Online]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
cellularcoffee 4:58PM (3/31/2008)
I tip my hat to Leno.
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cellularcoffee 4:59PM (3/31/2008)
...and Letterman sucks
Eric Liberatore 11:04AM (3/31/2008)
Well this just confirms what I've been fearing for the series from the start.
Thanks to BitTorrent (and BBC America as a backup) I don't need an American version.
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Injected 11:14AM (3/31/2008)
Ditto. Beyond that, we don't have enough variety in our car offerings to even make more than a few episodes, whereas in Europe, there are far more options available. Also, as pointed out (and the biggest point), there is no way in hell that you can go on tv and lambast these cars and stay on the air.
Luis 12:06PM (3/31/2008)
Good way for Carolla to put an end to what's left of his career. Is there no one left in TV land that can come up with their own ideas anymore?
SenSpeed 12:55PM (3/31/2008)
ah...I can see it now..
"Ford Mustang is the best car ever."
geo.stewart 1:11PM (3/31/2008)
how does BBC acquire their cars? If the mftr is not going to hand them over for flogging, they have to buy them or get private cars. Same issue here.
As for advertising: Allstate, State Farm, Nationwide, Advance Auto, AutoZone, AAMCO, Firestone, Goodyear, Michelin, Tuffy, AAA, Carfax, EbayMotors, Jeggs, NASCAR?, Budweiser, Coors, Michelob, Sprint, Farmer's Insurance,...
more than enough for a 1/2 hr show without touching mftrs. dont see getting an hour here.
jon 1:27PM (3/31/2008)
@geo.stewart
NBC has manufacturers advertising for other NBC shows. Even if the American Top Gear didnt have any manufacturers directly sponsoring it, they still couldnt say anything bad because they sponsor other shows on the network.
Val 1:24PM (3/31/2008)
In one episode Clarkson went into a shop and bought some malaysian car, and after that he smashed it with a hammer, because it sucked so bad. In another episode, they ridiculed the new cars sold as rovers after the company went bankrupt. Clarkson also borrowed nick mason's Enzo for a test and a fst lap, and in exchange he and mason lauded (in a very satiric way) Mason's new autobiography (or was it Pink Floyd`s history...) Anyway, there is much more pesonal bias in the show than obvious sponsorship praises, and people seem to like that.
John R 11:05AM (3/31/2008)
Jay went up a couple of points in my book.
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Ryan Storzbach 11:16AM (3/31/2008)
I agree with Leno, an American version of the show is going to be terrible. Advertising dollars will win out over show content every time and we'll end up having an hour long Ford, Chevy or you name it commercial. Its going to fail, hopefully we keep getting the real Top Gear on the BBC!
Chad 11:18AM (3/31/2008)
Have to agree with you there. Why can't we just get the British Top Gear? Why does it have to be a US version??
Franz 11:23AM (3/31/2008)
I agree. I've always thought this was a bad idea. At least Leno is smart enough to realize it.
Injected 12:00PM (3/31/2008)
@Chad,
Do you really think that NBC would put it on? Really? It wouldn't work for the same reason a US version wouldn't: criticizing the advertisers is setting yourself up for being canceled.
C.W. 11:10AM (3/31/2008)
they should ask tim allen.
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BAMF 2:05PM (3/31/2008)
Wow, I think I totally agree with that.
wompa164 6:59PM (3/31/2008)
I've been saying this for WEEKS!
Tim Allen would be the best host for this show, ever. He's a super petrolhead too, and he's got a great on-camera personality. Adam Carolla is one of my legends (I honestly believe that he's the funniest man alive), but casting him for this show doesn't suit him at all.
IamZardoz 11:47AM (4/09/2008)
Though he isnt my favorite late night comic, Jay has an "everyman" quality, esp. his interest in cars and bikes and other stuff that hasnt been developed right for tv (yet). I wish they would just package the "Jay Leno's Garage" into a tv show, he knows his stuff and still shows his sense of humor.
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JayP 11:13AM (3/31/2008)
The BEST reason for a TG:US would be to use a track in California. It never rains in California.
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Donte 11:17AM (3/31/2008)
Damn you Jay, I think he would have been great for the show. Him tim allen and jerry would be the great.
Am i the only one that wants this show to become great. I think they should employ some writers from the BBC version to help with the show.
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