UK may force Top Gear to diversify cast
This past Monday, the UK's Labour deputy leader, Harriet Harman, unveiled the so-called "Equity Bill" which requires state-funded organizations (like the BBC) to increase the amount of female, black and gay staff to better reflect the diversified population of the island. If the reforms go through, everyone's favorite motoring show might need to kill off one of its presenters Stig-style and add a female cast member to the trio.
Naturally, the controversial reform is bound to have consequences beyond Top Gear, but much of the Daily Mail's coverage of the bill revolves around Clarkson, Hammond and May, along with some particularly quotable academics. Take, for instance, Dr. Louise Livesey, a tutor in sociology and women's studies at the Ruskin College in Oxford, who said the show is "entrenched, institutional sexism." No... really. One of Livesey's colleagues was kind enough to add that Top Gear should be more "female-friendly," which struck us as odd, considering our significant others (wives and girlfriends, since the Autoblog staff is primarily composed of auto-obsessed males, much like Top Gear's) enjoy the program as much as we do. Why? Because it's great entertainment and – shockingly – women like cars too!
Thankfully, Top Gear's producer Andy Wilman released a statement in response, calling out the mandate and its supporting egg-heads by saying "our regular viewers know, on account of them normally having more common sense than politicians or academics, Top Gear is a male show, in that it revolves around three males enjoying their love of cars." Wilman went on to say, "this sort of claptrap is very patronizing to women, because it assumes women can't enjoy a show's presenters on merit, but can only appreciate a program if spoken to by one of their own sex." We won't bombard you with the rest of Wilman's insightful critiques on the measure, but instead, make the jump to read it for yourself and make your own voice heard in the comments below.
[Source: Daily Mail, Top Gear US]
From TopGear.com
The statement below is written by Andy Wilman, the Producer of our favorite hit TV show, Top Gear, regarding a recent plan unveiled by Britain's ruling political party, Labour, to ensure diversity in state-funded organizations. This includes the BBC and, by extension, Top Gear.
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I was going to write about how the new series is getting on, but that'll have to wait, because Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman, obviously completely happy with the way the economy is going, has decided instead to turn her attention to the massive issue of women and Top Gear.
Under her new proposals we'd have to boost the number of women on the show to reflect the make up of the population. That means mathematically one of our three presenters would have to be a transsexual, so James is firing up the bandsaw and digging out the Kate Moss Top Shop collection as we speak.
And just as we duck to dodge Harriet's missile, in comes a two-inch mortar from Dr Louise Livesey of Oxford University, who claims Top Gear is shot through with "entrenched institutional sexism," and that the show has a "boys' club" production team.
Interesting that last bit, since this woman has never spoken to us, or been near our office, but never mind: if it's more women in the office she wants, I've already put the call in to Spearmint Rhino.
As for the institutional sexism, and Harman's other stuff, as I said in the paper this morning, if our show is so female unfriendly, then how come almost half our audience is female?
I also do believe that this sort of claptrap is very patronizing to women, because it assumes women can't enjoy a show's presenters on merit, but can only appreciate a program if spoken to by one of their own sex.
As I'm sure our regular viewers know, on account of them normally having more common sense than politicians or academics, Top Gear is a male show, in that it revolves around three males enjoying their love of cars.
That doesn't make it macho, or exclusatory, it just means one of the show's editorial pillars involves a journey into the male mind, in the same way that the excellent What Not To Wear veers more towards the female mind.
We don't even have three male presenters because of the notion that it's blokes that like cars. That's actually bollocks – loads of girls enjoy cars. And I think loads of girls also enjoy our show because a journey into the male mind can often be quite a funny one.
You get trivia, petty bickering, stupidity, arrogance, passion, mischief, the lot. I'm looking round the office right now, and yes, there are more blokes than girls working here. That's because we need male minds, thinking like males do, to help make the stories that work for this particular show.
We're all here on merit, and so can we be left alone to get on?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Bill P. 7:29PM (4/29/2009)
You mean neither of these three guys is gay?
Reply
Coolio 8:05PM (4/29/2009)
LOL !
refugee7 7:38PM (4/29/2009)
LOL, but why is it necessary to promote homosexuals? It is not like that is visible or soon on a resume or during the interview.
homunculus 8:10PM (4/29/2009)
You only use neither when dealing with two things. Use none next time.
A lot of the appeal of Top Gear is that it's chauvinist, about manliness and about Britain. Most people are bright enough to see that it's tongue in cheek. Most, not all. Maybe not even Clarkson.
Seminole 8:14PM (4/29/2009)
Make a new Pink Stig. That'll show those idiots to force diversity when it didn't need to be.
Protzenegger 7:29PM (4/29/2009)
Oh, right, because true diversity is based only on skin color, gender and sexual orientation -- never on personality and talent!
Unbelievable, these people.
Reply
OubelhaNegra 7:41PM (4/29/2009)
+1
Also, I don't think this is a problem, I believe the bill don't specify the work they do.
They are talking about the complete staff that includes people behind cameras.
Alex 7:42PM (4/29/2009)
The only woman who deserves to be on TopGear cast is Sabine Schmitz...
Lucas 8:12PM (4/29/2009)
This can be added to Jon Stewart's list of "s4it that's never gonna happen" along with Obama reeducation camps and a global currency. :-)
AMcA 8:18PM (4/29/2009)
Lesbians of color are going to be much in demand.
wilbonnet 8:31PM (4/29/2009)
Why exactly would they have to get rid of one of the presenters? The chemistry of the three should not be touched as it is unbeatable... But their's nothing wrong with adding a female presenter, there was one on the older version.
Kitko 10:04PM (4/29/2009)
May I suggest that the same rule be applied to the British parliament, the Government and ... the royal family? They are ALL public institutions, after all, financed from the taxes of British subjects.
If Elisabeth Windsor have had a brother, albeit younger one, she wouldn't have become the queen. Sexism at the highest level. What about monarchy leading the way and lead by example. However, the proposition of Charles Windsor is not exactly attractive.
zamafir 10:17PM (4/29/2009)
may's gay, they're already covered, nothing to see here.
Ken 12:02AM (4/30/2009)
Well put, sir!
If only there was more common sense like this in the world. Very much a South Park episode conclusion, which is to say a good thing.
Noidor 1:27AM (4/30/2009)
Audience is primarily male, and they like male hosts, if viewers didn't like it then they could easily respond by not watching. Communists being the Labour Party are being stupid yet AGAIN.
OMG they are such hypocrites, they assume everyone is equal, but they are not. And government does not need to decide for the people as to who needs to host their favorite TV programme!
Even if it is Mr Satyan Patel with background in chemical engineering.
john 4:02AM (4/30/2009)
Haha, see what happens when state run the business? Business see what generate $ and what doesn't. Good luck regulating business UK.
Allen 6:28AM (4/30/2009)
Excellent post, other than the fact that they are all white males, they are quite different.
Besides, they could always make the case that Hammond is a midget...
Ben 8:39AM (4/30/2009)
+1 on Sabine.
+1 on May.
Great comments! LOL
Quasigriz 10:38AM (4/30/2009)
Aren't James May and Susan Boyle were the same person... Female, check!
RX-8 SS 3:43PM (5/02/2009)
maybe just once they could remove the Stigs helmet, and show it to be Danica Patrick, put the helmet back on and that would be the end of the issue.