Trouble in U.K. TelevisionLand: Has Fifth Gear been canceled?
News coming out of the U.K. today suggests that everybody's second-favorite British motoring television show may be facing the axe. According to the Daily Mail, Fifth Gear, which has never quite mustered the following of rival Top Gear, has been put on ice. Or has it?
A quick check on FinalGear.com indicates that the report from DM may not be entirely accurate. Fifth Gear's own Jonny Smith has fired off a series of Tweets from his personal Twitter account, and he suggests that reports of the show's demise are somewhat exaggerated, saying that "nothing is official."
For what it's worth, while we do prefer to burn an hour watching the antics from the rival crew at Top Gear, we also find Fifth Gear's brand of vehicular commentary worth watching. Even if Clarkson and Co. are more entertaining, at least some Autoblog staffers find Tiff Needell and Vicki Butler-Henderson's driving impressions to carry more authority. If nothing else, we find Fifth Gear vastly superior to U.S. motoring shows like PBS' MotorWeek, which appears to be perpetually stuck in 1985. Where's the justice in that? Thanks for the tips, Sylvester and Eddie!
[Source: Daily Mail]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
chconline 2:38PM (10/19/2009)
I had to admit though, I'm hooked on Top Gear. Watched Fifth a few times, and it just doesn't get to me personally. :P
If I really need to find a serious review on some car, I personally just search and read.
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Chris 4:13PM (10/19/2009)
Point taken.
So I think its safe to say that you watch TG more for the comedy and entertainment value than you do for the review and information on the vehicles on the show. In fact, this is pretty much true for everyone that watches TG.
FG, on the other hand is a more authorative review on the performance of a car. (The same could be said for TG if the Stig actually spoke) Tiff and Vicki have way more information to give about a vehicle than anyone on TG. Afterall, they know how to drive. I'm not sure how or where you search for a review on a car, but from a performance perspective you wouldn't find better info than what FG has to offer.
It's sad if FG goes under. It's also sad that a show that's strictly about vehicle performance can't succeed on a primetime level. I guess the main problem is that a show like that only caters to the male demographic....and half of that demographic doesn't control what's on the TV during primetime. TG is able to captivate a larger audience because of the comedy that's infused....its just too bad that they can't give informative or non-biased reviews of the cars.
Bryan 2:39PM (10/19/2009)
God should only be so just.
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biggins 3:58PM (10/19/2009)
Yeah, true. the ONLY good thing about Fifth Gear is Jason and Tiff's dogfights. Everything else is too scripted and too cheesy. And good lord is Vikki annoying...
butch 2:43PM (10/19/2009)
Cancelling would definately be a shame. While each are entertaining, they are entertaining in completely different ways.
Fifth Gear provides actual usable information, generally without bias to the car, and they are entertaing to watch as well.
Top Gear ... well ... one would never take home improvement tips from Tim Taylor and the same would be said of taking car tips from any of the guys from Top Gear.
They are, however, exceedingly entertaing.
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Hiimandy1 2:43PM (10/19/2009)
That's what they get for burning down Top Gear's warehouse!
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paul34 2:43PM (10/19/2009)
Finally. Although, I will say, please send Vicki and Tiff over to Top Gear. Yes, they'll have to get a bigger backseat-sofa, but it'd be worth it just to see Vicki, I mean, more awesome people on TG. And I agree, I have massive respect for Tiff.
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Yaroukh 3:06PM (10/19/2009)
It would be pity should Tiff disappear from our radar. As for Vicky, I'd prefer her over the (IMO über-annoyng) Sabine, who many suggest to hire into TG.
But Including those two would inevitably change the whole format of the show. That said I'm not saying it couldn't work.
Nateb123 4:19PM (10/19/2009)
Wasn't the whole reason for Fifth Gear's existence that Tiff and Clarkson became huge enemies? I can't see much changing...
Bloke 4:56PM (10/19/2009)
"Although, I will say, please send Vicki and Tiff over to Top Gear."
Butler-Henderson and Needell both used to be part of the TG crew in the days when it was a proper motoring programme. As accomplished motoring journalists, I doubt the current TG format would suit them, just as it doesn't really suit Clarkson or Mays 'real talents either.
Flyboy 6:17PM (10/19/2009)
@Nateb123
I don't believe Clarkson and Tiff became enemies. After Top Gear's old format was canceled, Tiff tried to revive the Top Gear name on channel 5, but Clarkson and Andy Willman had already created their new version for the BBC. I think Clarkson and Tiff are actually good friends, seeing as Tiff is in Clarkson's new DVD fighting the Stig.
Weaksauce 2:53PM (10/19/2009)
Send it stateside. It'd do well. Just don't put it on a busy night like Thursday.
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okiedokie 2:51PM (10/19/2009)
that picture make them all look oily and dirty except for tiff
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Slipstreamer 2:56PM (10/19/2009)
Good. When they tried to make it more like Top Gear they failed massively. Goodbye.
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cool_ozzyfromkalush 7:07PM (10/19/2009)
They never tried to make it like Top Gear... Fifth gear and TopGear had a good balance, you watch top gear if you want fun, you watch fifth gear if you want a consumer advice.
Its wasn't that bad of a show after all.
Luso 2:57PM (10/19/2009)
That's a shame. Just a reflection of our times.
Don't know why, but always felt Fifth Gear should have been merged with The Gadget Show (not enough auto content there).
http://www.carnorama.com
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benzaholic 2:58PM (10/19/2009)
While I do regularly catch MotorWeek, since it's one of the few US auto review shows, it really does highlight the challenge that a US version of Top Gear would have faced. MotorWeek does not have car manufacturers as advertisers (although they obviously get the cars from the manufacturers), and they still almost never say anything bad about a vehicle. They may avoid saying anything about certain aspects, but that's as harsh as they get. TG certainly doesn't restrict what they'll say about a car, good or bad.
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Eh 6:22PM (10/19/2009)
Motorweek sucks. All they do is narrate the spec sheet and tell you things you can get from the car's website. Im not convinced that they review anything, it seems more like an advertisement.
Top Gear may be biased and full of staged dramatizations but its entertaining and you get to see the cars being pushed to their limits and driven in an unconventional way. It may not be intentional but you learn a lot about what a car is capable of when you see it playing hockey, a hell of a lot more than what you would get from Motorweek's explanation of the optional features.
Venom 3:06PM (10/19/2009)
Even though I love and prefer Top Gear, I do like Fifth Gear also.
After all, who can get enough of kick ass super cars and their reviews.
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Nuieve 3:08PM (10/19/2009)
Dull uninformative program. I'm sure the world will stay the same without it.
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