Autoblog

REPORT: BBC says Top Gear doesn't ban gay couples from show audience

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:09:00 EST

Is the BBC discriminating against gay couples? As is often the case, that depends on whom you ask. How so? It seems that Top Gear, the Beeb's ridiculously popular car show, has created a rule stipulating that its audience be made up of 50 percent males and 50 percent females, and at least one gay couple was allegedly denied tickets "unless [they] took a couple of female friends."

A BBC spokesperson has responded to the kerfuffle saying, "We do not - absolutely do not - discriminate against same sex couples... the whole implication that Top Gear is in any way homophobic is completely wrong." Ben Summerskill, chief executive of gay rights charity Stonewall, doesn't quite seem to agree: "It's very odd, but what do you expect from pigs that grunt? Regrettably, with Jeremy Clarkson involved, it's not surprising. The show itself is full of stereotyping of both men and women - but it's funded by gay and lesbian license fee cash as well as everyone else's."

The BBC adds that it doesn't even handle the actual ticketing for the show. A company called Applause Store issues the tickets in quantities of two. Says the spokesperson, "We don't ask people to apply as a couple, we ask them to apply as people."

[Source: AOL TV UK]
Note: AOL owns both AOL TV and Autoblog, but the two share no editorial affiliation.

REPORT: BBC says Top Gear doesn't ban gay couples from show audience originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next in line to get irked by Jeremy Clarkson? The Romanian government [w/VIDEO]

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

Top Gear in Romania - click above to watch video

Another day, another country that hates Jeremy Clarkson's guts. Or at least, another country that is seeking an apology from the Top Gear host for his no doubt rude, but no doubter funny comments about said country. In this case, it's the former Iron Curtain nation of Romania. Seems that during the series' season 14 opener, Jezza had some less than flattering observations about the country that shot former "Conductor" Nicolae Ceauşescu and his wife before they could even be tied up and blindfolded.

Clarkson's offending remarks? He referred to Romania as "Borat country." He also donned the silly-looking pork pie hat above and stated, "I'm wearing this hat so the gypsies think I am one. I'm told they can be violent if they don't like the look of you." He also called Romanian water "Communist water" and mentioned that Romanians like to express their sense of humor with guns. Pretty innocuous stuff if you ask us. Especially compared to cracks Clarkson's made about other non-British places. Like Germany, America and Malaysia. Regardless, the Romanian government is apparently expecting an apology. We think they'd have a better chance at satisfaction by issuing a Whamber Alert. In any case, you can see the offending footage in its entirety by clicking through to the jump.

[Sources: Telegraph; YouTube]

Continue reading Next in line to get irked by Jeremy Clarkson? The Romanian government [w/VIDEO]

Next in line to get irked by Jeremy Clarkson? The Romanian government [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Simply the Best - Clarkson shows Ferrari 348 much love on Top Gear circa 1991

Noah Joseph — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Ferrari, UK, Humor

Grab yourself a Zima and click above to watch the video after the jump

The Sixties came back for a while. Then the Seventies returned for an encore performance. Now, even things from the Eighties are coming back into style. But we're praying to everything holy that the Nineties stay far, far behind us. Especially after taking this trip down memory lane to a 1991 episode of Top Gear.

Yes, in case you were wondering, Jeremy Clarkson was hosting the BBC car show even back then, having started in 1988. And yes, his Brit-fro was even bigger then, even when juxtaposed against his big-shouldered, blinged-out biker jacket and high-top sneakers.

As if to foreshadow how far Top Gear has come over the past couple of decades, Clarkson (Sideshow Bob wig and all) climbs behind the wheel of a Ferrari 348 - widely remembered as a low point in Maranello's history - and loved it. Hindsight being 20/20 and all, we did manage to extract one juicy nugget of Clarkson perspective that stands the test of time: namely, that driving a 160mph sportscar around town at 30 is every bit as justifiable as driving a four-seater by yourself. We'll just edit out the Tina Turner soundtrack the next time we pull that one out of the mental Rolodex. Follow the jump to see what we're prattling on about.

[Source: Top Gear via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Simply the Best - Clarkson shows Ferrari 348 much love on Top Gear circa 1991

VIDEO: Simply the Best - Clarkson shows Ferrari 348 much love on Top Gear circa 1991 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear faces mounting criticism over costly new stunts. Again.

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:35:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Earnings/Financials, UK, Celebrities

Top Gear fans greet each new season with more eager glee. Top Gear critics have taken to welcoming each new run with more criticism. According to the Belfast Telegraph, the latest "How dare they!" comes from a Minister of Parliament (MP) and Friends of the Earth, who want to run TG up the flagpole for "extravagant costs" and 'wanton destruction" -- those two things coincidentally being two of the things that fans love most.

The show went to Belfast, Ireland to film a few segments that included lofting a car to the top of a gigantic crane, launching a Renault Twingo into the sea, as well as a bit of garden variety drag racing. The MP, Gregory Campbell, is aghast at the apparent cost of such stunts, and even more aghast at the fact that the BBC won't reveal exactly how much the stunts cost. The supposed tally is £200,000 ($315,150 U.S.) for Belfast segments that might make up 10 minutes of the show.

Joining Campbell in outrage is Declan Allison from Friends of the Earth, who said: "The wanton destruction of tens of thousands of pounds worth of machinery impresses no-one. It's a wasteful extravagance and, in the middle of a global recession, in very poor taste."

So there. The complaints will probably have as much effect on the show as previous complaints, which is to say, pffffft. We're far more interested in finding out what Clarkson meant when he said that show heads want "black Muslim lesbian" presenters.

[Source: Belfast Telegraph]

Top Gear faces mounting criticism over costly new stunts. Again. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hammond says Top Gear crew's scariest moment was infamous Southern U.S. episode [w/VIDEO]

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Celebrities, Humor

Top Gear's Rednecks in Alabama USA - click above to watch the videos

Seems like forever since we've run a Top Gear post, no? And hey, when the world's most popular car show is on hiatus we tend to get a bit... withdrawn. Because, well, we just love the antics. Like the time Clarkson had a Bugatti Veyron and Hammond was stuck in the back of May's Cessna as they raced back to London. Brilliant, right? Or how about the £1,500 Porsche challenge. We try to watch it once a month. And let's not forget the time they bought a bunch of used cars in Florida and drove 'em across the South. Actually... was that even real? Like, did Confederate Flag crazed rednecks really try to kill all three of them? Here's what the tiniest but toughest member of Top Gear has to say about it:

It's a pretty lengthy story, but in the course of our trip, by way of an entertaining diversion to keep up our spirits during an especially lengthy drive, we had devised a plan whereby we would each try to get the others killed.

Hmm, okay, yes - very funny, but really? Like, for reals?

[W]e all felt that we would cause, at worst, a ripple of offence no deeper than that which might be generated among the residents of Cornwall by three visitors driving their cars through Truro with "Cream teas are rubbish" painted down the sides. We covered three miles before being placed in genuine fear for our lives.

Fun! And then they pulled into that gas station where they were approached by a woman that asked, "Y'all queers trying to see how long you can last in a hick town?" If you've seen the episode, you know how it ends. And if you haven't, we've got it after the jump. And we strongly advise you to read the rest of Hammond's remarks, as they are quite, um, enlightening.

[Source: Top Gear]

Continue reading Hammond says Top Gear crew's scariest moment was infamous Southern U.S. episode [w/VIDEO]

Hammond says Top Gear crew's scariest moment was infamous Southern U.S. episode [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Top Gear host James May crashes camper-dirigible near freeway, unhurt

Dan Roth — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., UK, Celebrities

No guts, no glory, and it wouldn't be a Top Gear episode without some kind of outrageous stunt or challenge. The propensity of autodom's favorite trio to flirt with danger has led to mishaps in the past, most famously, Richard Hammond (right) and his near-death tussle with a high speed rocket car, and now it's James May's (left) turn for a cock-up.

The UK's Daily Mail reports that May was riding in a caravan (that's a camper to you, buddy) lashed to the bottom of a dirigible, only to be blown off course by wind that had been uncooperative all day. Rather than land on a busy cricket green full of white-togged players, the whole rig wound up succumbing to the wind and crash landed in a farmer's field. May was unhurt, and will live to crash another day - provided the BBC doesn't succumb to pressures calling for the program's demise.

[Source: Daily Mail I Image: Chris Jackson/Getty]

REPORT: Top Gear host James May crashes camper-dirigible near freeway, unhurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear posse spotted filming with bevy of exotics in Romania

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:33:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe

The Top Gear crew is preparing the show's 14th season and they've gone to the home of Vlad the Impaler for some help. Piloting a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder, Aston Martin DBS Volante, and Ferrari California, the production closed down the Transfagarasan Road that climbs over Romania's Carpathian Mountains.

And as if the road itself, the area's scenery, and connection to Dracula weren't enough, it is said that the Transfagarasan has more tunnels and viaducts than any other road in Romania. It should make this particular TG episode a pump-up-the-volume affair.

Naturally, there are TG side stories to go with the news. When they weren't driving -- and putting scratches on the Gallardo and DBS -- they were drinking local "nectar" and relieving themselves in the woods. Ah, Top Gear, bring on season #14.

[Source: Romanian Times | Image: bortescristian via CC2.0]

Top Gear posse spotted filming with bevy of exotics in Romania originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Mos-Def High-Def: Top Gear shooting in 1080p

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:32:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos

Regardless of what viewers may think of the opinions of Jeremy Clarkson and his cohorts at Top Gear, no one can argue with the production values. The cinematography is magnificent and even those who couldn't care less about cars find themselves getting sucked into the BBC program's visuals. Amazingly though, aside from one 2007 special, the show has always been shot with standard definition cameras (*cue Clarkson voice*).... Until now. In a post on the BBC's blog, Danielle Nagler, head of the HD division, announced that the upcoming 14th series of Top Gear is being shot with high definition cameras.

The new series will debut in the UK on November 15, which means that we should be seeing it on BBC America sometime in 2019. Give or take. The U.S.-based BBC America cable channel just started running series 7 of the show. While we love the show here at Autoblog headquarters, we sincerely wish we didn't have to resort to the torrents to get our fix at the same time as our British friends.

[Source: BBC Internet blog via EngadgetHD]

REPORT: Mos-Def High-Def: Top Gear shooting in 1080p originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember that 'No Women on Top Gear' thing? Forget it. Hammond wants Angelina

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., UK, Celebrities

Last month, Jeremy Clarkson said that introducing a female host to Top Gear "would be a disaster." The relative youngster among the Top Gear crew, Richard Hammond, isn't so sure he'd call it a disaster, depending on the female in question. Hammond's opinion is that old fogies Clarkson and May are simply out of it, and "If we had to have a female co-host, I think we'd all choose Angelina Jolie," because she "has a Land Rover and guns."

It doesn't hurt that a fair bit of the population finds Jolie rather attractive, and Hammond is no different. And there is where Hammond might have just proved Clarkson's point about a female host being a catastrophe. Calling Jolie "utterly, utterly gorgeous," Hammond says with her on the crew "I'd just keep fainting." And how good could TG be with Clarkson, Captain Slow, Jolie, and a comatose Hamster?

[Source: IOL | Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty]

Remember that 'No Women on Top Gear' thing? Forget it. Hammond wants Angelina originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Jeremy Clarkson against female Top Gear host, calls audience members 'oafs'

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., UK, Celebrities

Top Gear chief oaf (read: presenter) Jeremy Clarkson is no stranger to controversy when he speaks. In fact, he rather seems to thrive on it, which undoubtedly is a big part of the appeal of the show. Earlier this week, he spouted off again apparently in an attempt to irritate (or bemuse) women everywhere while at the same time alienating his core audience.

While discussing Top Gear at a television conference in Scotland, Clarkson apparently indicated that he didn't think a female presenter would be able to hold her own in the testosterone-infused environment that is the Top Gear studio. According to Clarkson: "I think a girl would be a disaster, seeing the chemistry we have now...you bring a girl in and you start taking the piss out of her, that would look like bullying."

At the same event, Clarkson also referred to most of the live audience at the show as oafs, using that as a justification for bringing some of the attractive women in the crowd up to the front. In this case, it may be hard to argue, and Jezza was probably just verbalizing what the hosts of many programs such as NBC's Today Show are thinking when they look out the window at the people standing in the street hoping for a few seconds of screen time.

What do you think - is Clarkson right or wrong? Could Top Gear benefit from a female voice, or is it better off as a boys' club? Drop your fellow reader a line in 'Comments.'

[Source: The Guardian | Image: Dan Kitwood/Getty]

REPORT: Jeremy Clarkson against female Top Gear host, calls audience members 'oafs' originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Thieves derail James May's bid for toy train record

Chris Shunk — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:40:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Toys/Games, UK, Celebrities

Railroad enthusiasts are a pretty passionate bunch. They're not auto enthusiast crazy, but they're close. Top Gear presenter James May fed off that steam-powered energy by working with 400 volunteers to build the longest ever toy train track for his new BBC series James May's Toy Stories. The track was to travel 10 miles from Barnstaple to Bideford, North Devon in the UK, and the Guinness book of World Records was on hand to record the feat for prosperity in the event that it succeeded.

As the Telegraph tells it, the ambitious toy track likely would have been a record setting effort were it not for some vandals who decided to sabotage the attempt. Sections of the track - which were laid with assistance from the British version of the Boy Scouts - were stolen, and two pence coins were dropped on the track to disrupt power and blow the train's battery. The cowardly acts of a few idiots ultimately resulted in James May and his gang of volunteers missing the opportunity to be added to the Guinness Book of World Records, but organizers decided to stay positive and call the event a success due to the fact that all 10 miles of the track were linked at one point.

We're guessing May will get another shot at Guinness with planned stunts like building a life-size Lego house or a life-size Meccano bridge, but it would have been nice if a few jerks didn't ruin the fun of hundreds of toy train ~~geeks~~ aficionados.

[Source: Telegraph | Image: Dave Hogan/Getty]

REPORT: Thieves derail James May's bid for toy train record originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forget Waldo, BBC Books coming out with Where's Stig? for kids

Noah Joseph — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Toys/Games, UK

Wasted time. All the wasted time we spent as children looking for that ridiculous, bespectacled, striped goon when we could have been seeking out the world's most enigmatic racing driver. As with so many other things, however, future generations need suffer no more thanks to illustrator Rod Hunt and the merchandising-obsessed limeys at the BBC, who have teamed up on this new project.

Where's Stig? features jam-packed, cartoonish recreations of famous scenes from the hit television show Top Gear, with the mysterious driver in white hidden somewhere on each page. Just like Where's Waldo?, only with more Top Gear-iness. The publication goes on sale from BBC Books as of September 17. Follow the link to the illustrator's website to check it out. Thanks for the tip, Jared!

[Source: Rod Hunt via Design You Trust]

Forget Waldo, BBC Books coming out with Where's Stig? for kids originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: World's longest Scalectric track assembled at Brooklands, James May officiates

Chris Shunk — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Toys/Games, UK, Celebrities

Click above to watch the video after the jump

When Great Britain's Brooklands motor racing circuit opened in 1907, it was the first purpose-built motorsport venue in the world. At 2.75 miles, the course is an oldie but a goodie, and the perfect place to make automotive history. To that end, on August 16, legendary slot racing brand Scalextric, along with hoards of volunteers, built the world's largest slot car track around the Brooklands circuit in Surrey. The track was built using 20,000 sections, built over roads, water, wilderness and just about any other condition one could imagine. That's an impressive feat that is more remarkable when considering that power and remote control had to be built into the Guinness record braking track.

The recordbreaking slot track race will be featured by Top Gear host James May in his new BBC2 series James May's Toy Stories. May even raised the checkered flag at the conclusion of the world's longest slot car race. Hit the jump to watch the building and racing of this amazing slot track, as well as a second video that features May waving the checkered flag at the conclusion of the race.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: World's longest Scalectric track assembled at Brooklands, James May officiates

VIDEO: World's longest Scalectric track assembled at Brooklands, James May officiates originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay find of the Day: Clarkson's Cheap Car Challenge Mitsubishi Starion [w/VIDEO]

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Etc., Japan, Videos, Mitsubishi, Celebrities

Jeremy Clarkson's Mitsubishi Starion - click above image for high-res gallery

Oh, yes. Think back to when you first really fell in love with Top Gear. For this author, it was actually the Cheap Porsche Challenge. But it may as well have been the Cheap Coupes That Aren't Porsches Challenge that came later. To refresh your memory a bit, May shows up in a hopeless smoking and leaking Jaguar XJ-S. Hammond brings a BMW 635 CSi, which is... fine, though a touch predictable.

But Clarkson shows up in an honest-to-goodness Mitsubishi Starion, complete with a muscular 2.6-liter turbocharged four and gaffer tape holding the rear louvers in place. The boys then bang the cars around the Millbrook Proving Ground before finally grinding the cars to dust in a grass track race. Better still, if you have the quids, the once was red, but now is Mitsubishi Rally livery Starion could be yours.

The seller actually sold the car to Clarkson, then bought it back after the segment was finished in 2005. As Jeremy points out in the clip, this is the last Starion ever registered in Britain. Not only that, but since the BBC show taping, the seller has rebuilt the engine, added a new clutch, redone the cooling system, retuned the suspension and even performed a little bit of body restoration. Still not convinced? Jezza signed the roof of the Mitsu, "this is the best car in the world, Jeremy Clarkson, Top Gear." Very nice, and remember: Must Bash Hammond. Watch the Cheap Coupes That Aren't Porsches Challenge segment after the jump, and hurry up - you don't have long to get your bid in.

Gallery: Jeremy Clarkson's Mitsubishi Starion

[Source: eBay via Final Gear]

Continue reading eBay find of the Day: Clarkson's Cheap Car Challenge Mitsubishi Starion [w/VIDEO]

eBay find of the Day: Clarkson's Cheap Car Challenge Mitsubishi Starion [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: Top Gear not dead [w/VIDEO]

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Aston Martin, UK, Celebrities

Jeremy Clarkson waxes euphoric about the Aston Martin V12 Vantage - Click above to watch the video

Internet rumors are a funny thing. Back during the last presidential campaign, 10% of voters polled thought Barack Obama was a Muslim... until his campaign staffers came out and denied he was a Muslim. Then 14% of us thought he was a Muslim. And you can see the same thing happening with another bout of "Top Gear is dead!" rumormongering. Seriously folks, the "TG is dead" gossip that accompanies the end of every single season is getting just as old as "Will Brett Favre come out of retirement?" Both have surpassed the point of story and are now borderline ritual. Actually, it's looking like this year, Favre's staying on the farm down in Mississippi. Which makes the Top Gear rumors even more annoying.

The last segment of the last episode of Season 13 showed an uncharacteristically toned down Clarkson waxing extra-poetic about the Aston Martin V12 Vantage and how he fears that because of environmental worries, the busted global economy and the particularly British "War On Speed," that the days of the supercar are finished. As a result, he seems a bit sad. So sad, in fact, that many around the globe (and especially those at their keyboards) started in with the inevitable, "Top Gear is dead" refrain. Well, that and James May might have been seen crossing a street not wearing any shoes. But guess what? Everyone's favorite car show is coming back for a 14th season.

According to both The Sun and some website called Top Gear, Jezza, Hammond and May are going no where. Says Clarkson, "I can assure everyone I'll be back in November doing Top Gear. We're filming the next series and already have several things in the can. I couldn't think of anything I'd want to do more." So you heard it here first - Top Gear Season 14 starts in November. Amazing what a bit of research can do, no?

Speaking of which - we unearthed Clarkson's actual review of the V12 Vantage. And much unlike the three sentences he said about the car for the now infamous segment, Jeremy didn't like Aston Martin very much at all. See, Jeremy thinks that the real top Aston is the DBS. But it costs $269,000. Now, the V12 Vantage goes for $209,000, but is the new car 99% of the DBS for $60,000 less? Says Jezza, "I was pondering this earlier on today while blasting down a sun-flickered Cotswold road in my wife's 4.7-liter V8 Vantage convertible. And then the obvious answer hit me: The car I'd buy is the one I was in." Indeed. For those interested parties, the notorious video is posted after the jump.

Gallery: Aston Martin V12 Vantage

[Sources: The Sun; Top Gear]

Continue reading BREAKING: Top Gear not dead [w/VIDEO]

BREAKING: Top Gear not dead [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: James May to build life-sized Lego house. But what's in the garage?

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., UK, Celebrities

James May, a.k.a. Captain Slow on Top Gear, has a BBC show called James May's Toy Stories. After building an award-winning Plasticine garden and the world's largest model airplane, the next thing on May's list is a house built of Legos. A two-storey house. And he intends to live in it for a weekend.

The house will be built in Dorking, England and everything that can be made out of Legos will be made out of Lego. Said May, "I've got a man working on a flushing Lego lavatory. We think it's possible." Seeing that Legoland doesn't even have a house made of Lego - and certainly not Lego toilets - this should indeed be a "pioneering Lego cause." So far, three million Lego bricks have been contributed to the build, but May is looking for more in case you have any lying around.

[Source: BBC]

REPORT: James May to build life-sized Lego house. But what's in the garage? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear to recreate the Italian Job Mini sewer chase scene in Belfast?

Noah Joseph — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Mini, UK, Celebrities

It's been six years since director F. Gary Gray assembled an all-star cast including Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Jason Statham and Donald Sutherland to recreate the Michael Caine classic The Italian Job. And though the remake bore little resemblance to the original, the one part which the modern pretenders made sure to include was a recreation of the famous Mini police chase scene. Leave it to the Brits, though, to reclaim their national treasure, as new reports indicate that the BBC's hit car show Top Gear is planning a reenactment of their own.

Both the 1969 original and the 2003 remake featured scenes where the protagonists evade police pursuit in the sewers hauling millions of dollars worth of gold bars. The original was set in Turin but shot in Coventry (whose sewer system was then under construction) while the remake was set in Los Angeles, but Top Gear is gearing up to shoot in Belfast. Okay, you figure, Top Gear has set up lots of off-the-wall races already, right? This segment was actually pitched to the TG crew by the local water company, eager to promote the £100m new works project that has been under way since 2005 to replace the Victorian-era plumbing system in the Northern Ireland. Thanks for the tip, Sam... this ought to be good.

[Source: BBC | Image: Steve Finn/Getty]

Top Gear to recreate the Italian Job Mini sewer chase scene in Belfast? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear coming to America in HD?!

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities

Pinch us. Could it be that our dreams - which, incidentally, we proudly share with Sandra Bullock - of watching Top Gear in High Definition may soon come true? It certainly seems like a real possibility now that BBC America officially launched its HD programming on Monday, July 20 at 6am. Since it can't be seen yet on any cable or satellite service, we're guessing it's still in beta testing.

So far, the British Broadcasting Corporation has chosen to air a brace of science-fiction shows like Torchwood, which apparently was a smart move as it's got people buzzing about the channel's launch on Twitter. Fortunately, it sounds like plenty more is on the way. Says BBC publicity Veep Amy Mulcair:

Everyone's very keen to see [the channel] and we're very keen for them to see it. And we're glad to say there are a number of deals that will be announced imminently.

Naturally, we're hoping those deals bring us Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May in stunning HD beamed right into our living rooms. Now, would it be too much to ask for a schedule that brings us new episodes simultaneously with their British debuts?

[Source: Multichannel]

Top Gear coming to America in HD?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sandra Bullock: "I live for Top Gear"

Chris Shunk — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., UK, Celebrities

When Sandra Bullock married motorcycle builder and former Monster Garage host Jessie James, we were a bit surprised. After all, how many Hollywood mega stars marry glorified mechanics? Now comes news from the California Chronicle that Ms. Bullock is a big Top Gear fan, adding "I love Top Gear. I live for Top Gear." That quote alone instantly makes the successful actress one of the more credible movie-makers in Southern California - well, at least to us.

Bullock reportedly loves TG so much, that she's angling for a spot as a Star in a Reasonably Priced Car, adding "one day I will be on Top Gear, even though the helmet would make me look so bad - and one day I would like to wreck the car in a blaze of glory." If Marky Mark can do it, we're sure Ms. Bullock would be just fine.

Bullock says the reason she loves TG is the show's hosts, and for that reason she says she's glad the U.S. version of the show was a flop before it even started. We never knew we had so much in common with Miss Congeniality. Well, her big break did come in the movie Speed, so she couldn't be too bad, right?

[Source: California Chronicle | Source Image: Johannes Simon/Getty]

Sandra Bullock: "I live for Top Gear" originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jay Leno filming Star in a Reasonably Priced Car for Top Gear?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Lifestyle, UK, Celebrities, Rumormill

Jay Leno's Tank Car - Click above for high-res image gallery

Citing an unnamed though supposedly reliable source, the boys at Jalopnik are reporting that Jay Leno - fresh from his appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed where he's believed to have piloted an awesome McLaren F1 GTR up the hill - was spotted filming a Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segment today with the blokes from Top Gear. What are the chances we'll get surprise appearances by Leno's Tank Car or EcoJet?

Assuming this rumor turns out to be true, we fully hope that Jay can properly represent American gearheads by outlapping Jamiroquai lead singer Jay Kay, who currently sits atop the Star leaderboard after knocking Simon Cowell off his perch as the quickest celebrity in Britain.

Gallery: Jay Leno's Tank Car at Pebble Beach

Jay Leno filming Star in a Reasonably Priced Car for Top Gear? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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