SpeedTV did a video podcast featuring Adam Carolla -- along with SpeedTV's Kendall, and 50 Cent -- flogging a Pontiac G8 around a track. Carolla gets a check mark for being able to make jokes at speed and while in a spin. Whether he's actually funny, we'll let you decide. Since it wasn't done as a trial for the US Top Gear, and we have no idea what he was meant to be doing -- or allowed to say -- we shouldn't judge too harshly. But Clarkson doesn't have anything to worry about just yet...
[Source: Final Gear via Jalopnik]
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
Blake @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:03PM
That exhaust note heading into the tunnel was drool-worthy.
Anik @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:13PM
Not gonna lie, carolla's voice is kind of annoying. But he isnt to bad.
TriShield @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:23PM
Bert, have you ever watched Jeremy's car shows, read his articles or any of his books? The man is hilarious and probably the best automotive writer in the world. I'm not sure how any of that doesn't make him a bonafide car guy. It's exactly how he makes his living.
Tagg @ Apr 24th 2008 12:30AM
"Best automotive writer in the world" is reaching a bit. Granted I don't read his books from what I have seen of his reveiw process on the show leaves alot to be desired in my veiw. His unabashed bias for British cars is far too severe to be taken too seriously. That in itself is funny since there really are no British cars left since they are owned by US, German, Chinese and Indian companies.
Regardless, I find it amusing and scary that so many follow Clarkson and his opinions like lemmings. Its like he is the automotive Oprah.
TriShield @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:23PM
What NBC is making is not Top Gear in any way, shape or form. It's their own automotive show inspired by the UK show, and a shell of that show to boot.
I'll continue enjoying Top Gear downloads, on BBC America and their magazine and website.
Jon55 @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:45PM
Exactly. Was this for "Gear"? No, the damn title says so. Who's to say he was even trying to be funny? I think too many of you guys are shooting down everyone too quickly. I love Top Gear, and think the 3 presenters are awesome, but alone they really aren't that funny (well, Clarksons pretty entertaining on his own, not so much the other 2).
I'm excited for "Gear". I think NBC will be able to pull it off, and do it well. It seems like you guys are setting your expectations so high, you're expecting something even FUNNIER than Top Gear.
LOs @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:31PM
I'm surprised at the hardon some of you people have for Jeremy Clarkson. Just looking at the man he strikes me as the type of guy who wouldn't so much look at you much less sit down and talk cars with you. But then again, that's my own probably unfair assessment of the man.
I'll give Adam Carolla respect where it's due. He's got the chops to due the show, considering he's got everything from a Datsun 510 in his garage to a Ferrari, I'll give him credit.
The success/failure of these shows falls more on the production of them, and what the execs will and will not allow.
But then again I used to get a kick out of watching MororWeek back in the day and that show was far from the pinnacle of excitement.
Tagg @ Apr 24th 2008 12:28AM
I agree with you about the man-crush so many have with Clarkson. If he were a car people who speak so highly of him would be call "fanboys".
I find him to be trite, bitter, and mildly funny at best. Is Adam Carolla a comic genius? No, but Clarkson is not God, yet people take his biased veiw as gospel when it comes to car that they have never driven themselves.
But hey, if he can make a living out of it then more power to him.
Benfolio @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:42PM
Ha! Lets hear Clarkson make a joke about Tab while running 'round the track!
TAB!!!
Insiderunknown @ Apr 24th 2008 2:02AM
Half of what makes top gear is whats not said, just the reactions and faces all three make. People don't honeslty watch these shows as thier only means of reasearch to buy a car.
I think Corolla can make a car show work, but I don't see him coming up with the crazy contraptions that the top gear guys do. The americanized version has to have the same zany stunts as the real version or it is sure to fail. I want to see cross-state races cars vs. ANYTHING they can find (I know we have speed limits but that just adds to the challange). I want to see them turn basic econo boxes into rock crawlers, anything as long as its unique. Don't just rehash what the Brits have already done.
PJ @ Apr 24th 2008 2:19AM
Clarkson is amusingly biased towards British iron, but--let's face it--it's no worse than the hard-on that America's auto press has for its own products. Blind nationalism is ubiquitous.
No matter what you think of Carolla and Clarkson as presenters, there's no way that "Gear" is going to hold a candle to its namesake. Just follow the money. The BBC is a state-owned broadcast company, while "Gear" will be funded by sponsors whom NBC must be very, very careful not to upset through (gasp!) honest opinions.
On the other hand, if you ever miss an episode of "Gear," you'll always be able to catch up by reading the "Special Advertising Sections" in C&D... :-/
Hotrod @ Apr 24th 2008 6:02AM
Whatever happened to Tiff Needel? He was my favorite car guy, and he seemed like he would be a cool cat to sit with and talk about cars.
Bert @ Apr 24th 2008 7:04AM
Tiff is on, *GASP* dare I say it, Fifth Gear, a competing car show. The show itself is a little more down-to-earth, but I can't stand Tom Ford and the other guy who is not Jason Plato.
As for Clarkson not being a 'car guy', what I meant was that he admits it himself he doesn't care for the nuts-and-bolts of the car world. He doesn't get the engineering. Leno could probably strip apart any one of his cars and put it back together.
klitorisaurus @ Apr 24th 2008 6:11AM
I must say, the jokes in this video are embarrassing. However, as an avid listener to his radio show, I can assure you that he's much funnier than clarkson, seinfeld, leno, even stern. I think he just gets nervous on film and tries too hard.
That being said, I think we can all agree that UK Top Gear will always reign supreme. No ad sponsors to ruin objectivity combined with cheeky British wit is a sure fire winner. It's just got one problem, for some Mother F'n reason, we can't seem to get it syndicated here on a regular basis! Maybe someone would be kind enough to explain why.
In the meantime I'm just gonna keep my fingers crossed and hope that the American version doesn't get butchered like I think it will. I'll still be a Carolla fan win or lose though.
Bondtastic @ Apr 24th 2008 7:12AM
Did anyone else notice that they didn't once talk about the car while on track? Is there more of this clip that we are missing because .. I'd rather here a joke in between telling me how the car is (Clarkson style) than the other way around (I am assuming what happened in the rest of the clip).
It's a clip of a car review without a single bit of review in it.
Ben @ Apr 24th 2008 8:36AM
Everyone needs to remember that in the beginning of Top Gear, (if you look at the first few seasons) there weren't that many people in the audience, the writing wasn't all that great, and their format was all over the place.
Now that Top Gear has got the rhythm down for their show, it only seems logical that these kind of challenges will present themselves in the American Gear.
Give it a few episodes..maybe even a few seasons. Hopefully they won't talk too much about the boring car stats.
The cinematography needs a bit of work too.
Roni Solomon @ Apr 24th 2008 10:21AM
I think part of the reason why many americans like the BBC version of Top Gear is because it shows us the cars we wish we owned, while making fun of the cars many of us do own. For me, I would prefer that they didn't make a version of Top Gear for NBC. The NBC version would undoubtedly be an advertisement for the Big Three, and we already have enough shows that cater to that audience. (Overhaulin', MuscleCar, etc) As far as I am concerned, we do have good automotive programming to cater to our domestic market. While Clarkson certainly has his biases, he does manage to review a variety of vehicles, albeit with a critical lens.
My reservations stem from the fact that I'm afraid we won't see all the exotics of the BBC version, nor will we see the absurd challenges. Top Gear succeeds because it is so over the top. Fifth Gear is more down to earth, and caters to a slightly different demographic, but as the press continues to hype up the NBC version, I led to believe that "Gear" will be "below sea level."
Justin @ Apr 24th 2008 2:26PM
Roni, I think you're right on the money. I read that Leno was afraid to do the American Gear show because it couldn't be objective because of the sponsors. I'm not judging that clip too harshly because it isn't meant to be Top Gear, but lets hope when the show debuts there is no bad country rock with banjo music and that 50 cent is behind the wheel of anything. Top Gear America has to have the same crazy challenges or it will fail. Top gear is such a great show because people who don't care about cars can still be entertained by it.
RLQ @ Apr 24th 2008 7:22PM
I woun't blame Adam Carolla if American TG suck
Sabi @ Apr 26th 2008 5:43PM
as much as i love adam corolla and the man show...he should put an end to this NOW!