Top Gear: A little history about everybody's favorite TV show
What if the Stig was known as the Gimp? It's doubtful Top Gear's mysterious racing driver – or the show itself – would have proved as enormously popular. Would you walk around in a shirt proclaiming, "I Am The Gimp?" Doubtful, but if Jeremy Clarkson and the show's producer Andy Wilman had had their way, that's what we'd be calling old Stiggy. Luckily, cooler angrier heads prevailed. Though it should be noted that the Stig was, in fact, based on the Gimp from Pulp Fiction, an "anonymous masked driver who never spoke."
You can read about all that and more in a very interesting article by the Guardian's Patrick Barkham. And it's not all about the motor-mouthed Clarkson and foul-mouthed (trust us) Wilman, Richard Hammond and James May get their proper due, too. For instance, May claims that he never would have done the show had he known how successful it would be, a point Hammond quickly dismisses. We don't want to spoil it too much more, but if you're a fan of the biggest TV show in the world (350 million viewers, constantly illegally downloaded), you're going to want to have a read. Tip of Stig's blanco racing helmet to Jon!
[Source: Guardian]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Malaycobra 2:07PM (11/12/2009)
Err...it's Andy Wilman, not William
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Malaycobra 2:21PM (11/12/2009)
By the way, when you get called on a typo, it's polite to line through the mistake instead of just correcting it. That way, I don't look like an ass for correcting an error that isn't there any longer.
Thanks.
Steven 2:35PM (11/12/2009)
It's ironic, that the second comment makes you look like an ass.
Can you post a link to the blogging by-laws so we can all read up on what you have memorized?
Ross 2:53PM (11/12/2009)
Too much caffeine today, Steven? Malaycobra's comment makes perfect sense.
Rich 7:33PM (11/12/2009)
Steven: you must be new here. It's called "netiquette". Look it up some day. Put it into practice another day.
pdxghr 2:14PM (11/12/2009)
This is NOT everybody's favorite TV show. I hate the show and I hate the hosts ... especially Clarkson.
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Arkz 4:32PM (11/12/2009)
Then what the f**k are you doing here? You read AUTOblog, and yet you hate a show about cars???
kaslings 4:54PM (11/12/2009)
so Arkz, I'm assuming you also torrent every episode of Motorweek? and Car&Driver TV? and Trucks! ?
...it is possible to dislike certain car shows...pdxghr is entitled to his opinion.
Arkz 5:10PM (11/12/2009)
Of course it is. Unfortunately, I have never even heard of the shows you just listed, so I can't really comment about them, but guess what, if I don't like something, then I just avoid it, I don't whine about it.
z-man 6:19PM (11/12/2009)
Then what the f*** are you doing here? Go dump some manure on his lawn!
(there Arkz, fixed your comment)
fmwso 6:56PM (11/12/2009)
Damn, I feel sorry for you.
James 2:18PM (11/12/2009)
"Illegally downloaded" is such a harsh term. I prefer "shared amongst the masses who don't benefit from the BBC's lack of crappy commercial breaks and asinine censorship." :)
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Rich 7:35PM (11/12/2009)
There's also the fact that it's legal for UK Citizens to watch BBC programmes without having to own a TV licence. You just need that for watching it on a TV as it's broadcast. So torrenting is legal for UK Citizens.
hoov23 10:02PM (11/12/2009)
Well I can't wait to Torrent some "shared" Top Gear this weekend.
husyk 2:33PM (11/12/2009)
I wouldn't have to resort to illegal methods if BBC aired it at the same time as in the UK, without any modifications or commerical. Until that is done I will keep using those methods, I need more Top Gear ASAP. Can't wait for sunday.
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mk15 2:43PM (11/12/2009)
The Gimp just doesn't have the resonance that The STIG has. STIG sounds more authorative.. and mysterious too.
They need to get with the times and try to provide alternative forms of distribution. There are a lot of people who would otherwise have no access to Stig and company without resorting to pirating. I don't even have cable TV service.
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nardi 3:33PM (11/12/2009)
You probably know this but Stig comes from the childrens book 'Stig of the Dump', which was my most fave book when I was a sprog. It has been done as a BBC show so you can probably illegally download that too.
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Rich 7:41PM (11/12/2009)
It was also used in the same way as "fag" -- as in a public school fag -- at Clarkson's school. Look it up: https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Fagging
Will 4:33PM (11/12/2009)
"It's the most watched show...........in the world!"
You have to add the pause.
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RR 5:12PM (11/12/2009)
BBC should just sell the rights to PBS! PBS doesn't have commercials so its a perfect avenue for them, plus their ratings would go thru the roof!
PBS already broadcast some crappy comedy's from the BBC already.
If the BBC sold this show to PBS I would be more than happy to donate more than $20 a year to them.
Come On American TV executives! You already pollute my television with hours and hours of half arse idiots with half arse talent, dance shows with "B" list celebrities and attention whores!
Give me TOP GEAR already!
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