Top Gear Australia 2: Back with a vengeance(?)
Top Gear's planned takeover of the world hasn't been going as well as scripted, and it's not because the Poles or the French actually put up a fight this time. The American series got axed before it even began, and the Australian version has turned out to be a big disappointment. But the producers at SBS, the Aussie version of the BBC, are keen to turn a new leaf and start over again. They've replaced lead host Charlie Cox with James Morrison, a locally revered musician (no relation to the Doors frontman) who appeared as a guest on the first series. Pictured above with Crocodile Stiggee, Morrison is the proud proprietor of a 100-car collection, and he even has his share of experience in motorsports.
Based on the huge popularity of the British series, the Australian version attracted a television audience of nearly one million viewers for the first episode, but disappointed by what they saw, a quarter of those eyeballs dropped off by the second show. Morrison figures the series needs a more Australian feel to it, sharing the spotlight with his co-hosts Warren Brown and Steve Pizzati instead of grandstanding like a certain Mr. Jeremy C, and generally giving the show its own unique flavor. We wish the new crew better luck this time around, but at least one of us wishes that Eric Bana had been available.
[Source: Herald Sun]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mehdi Cheddadi 4:31PM (5/12/2009)
I'll be seeing that on finalgear for sure when it's out!
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Viper007Bond 6:25PM (5/12/2009)
It already is. ;)
http://www.finalgear.com/shows/topgearaus/2/1/
Flyboy 4:45PM (5/12/2009)
I won't be missing Cox. It was apparent he was trying to copy Clarkson- a major turn off. The show needs to become more original to be more successful, but it has potential.
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Venom 4:55PM (5/12/2009)
Top Gear USA failed because they had a crappy cast, not because it would not work here.
I troll the Internet and Youtube looking for Top Gear and Fifth Gear episodes.
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kaslings 5:06PM (5/12/2009)
They replaced the wrong guy. The wormy lookin' guy with the freaky mustache is the guy they should have replaced. ewwwwww.
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Lee 5:13PM (5/12/2009)
The first episode of the first season was actually ok.... looking forward to the rest of the season.
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Jeff Banks 5:28PM (5/12/2009)
We can all speak English. Why even bother with all these Top Gear variants? Top Gear Russia makes sense to me.
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stan 6:08PM (5/12/2009)
It's out. It's solid. It's regionally appropriate. This first episode embodies why you need all the different Top Gears for all the different car cultures.
I wish Morrison was more enthusiastic, but he's a good mix. There is no lead guy on this one, and it works. Not heart-stoppingly brilliant, but it works.
There's no TG USA because NBC is run by dopes. They also passed on Doctor Who.
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superset5 6:33PM (5/12/2009)
saw the show last night and it's still really bad. just bad acting and writing. their test track sucks as well.
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mcmastersmike 9:14PM (5/12/2009)
Uhh, the Aussie version of the BBC sure ain't SBS. It's the ABC.
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Viper007Bond 10:13PM (5/12/2009)
No, Top Gear Australia airs on SBS...
chris 1:04AM (5/13/2009)
That's wasn't what he said. The article says SBS are the Australian version of the BBC, when the closest thing Australia has to the BBC is the ABC. It wasn't about which channel this airs on.
Smeagle 12:46AM (5/15/2009)
I watched the first ep and in contrast to the first series, I actually liked it enough to watch the whole thing. Its not perfect but its a step in the right direction. Fingers crossed they keep up the improvements.
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Javanese 12:02AM (5/13/2009)
It was a disaster... the new host james mor-whatshisname is the worse. The whole show sucks soo bad, it makes the first season looks like TG UK.
Even TG Russia is better.
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TIMMAH! 2:56AM (5/13/2009)
Well hopefully they'll actually talk about the cars this season instead of just poking fun at each other.
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Stumpy 11:32AM (5/13/2009)
To me there is only one Top Gear and that is the only one I watch.
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Kym 8:33PM (5/13/2009)
Time for this embarrassing Top Gear Globalisation caper to end. It must be one of the dumbest ideas ever to surface in TV-land (a Guiness record for that one, people!). Top Gear IS Jeremy Clarkson, and a little bit Richard Hammond (James May could be played by a moderately well upholstered armchair), and that's obvious to everyone, except the terminally moronic TV exec empire builder wannabes. James Morrison doesn't deserve to suffer this kind of ignominy.
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Kym 8:37PM (5/13/2009)
Oh, and Eric Bana as presenter? Hahaha. I'd be very surprised if he wasn't approached, but no chance he would have put his reputation at risk being associated with this low budget mess.
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MarK 6:34PM (5/14/2009)
Sorry, I'm from Poland and words "and it's not because the Poles or the French actually put up a fight this time" are showing ignorance and lack of knowleage (about WWII I supose what you mean here) of an author. Next time I suggest thinking before writing - in this order. I'm tolerant but everything only to some level.
Back to topic for me there is only TG British. It's completely original and no one can copy this style, humour etc.
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