Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

goneps · Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 5:46 am Post subject: The "all-new" Top Gear?

Well, for my money the Beeb has well and truly shot itself in the foot.

I'm not a masochist, so having endured the first two editions I shall inflict no more upon my battered sensibilities. What a pathetic excuse for the real thing. An excitable four-eyed little twerp leaping about and yelling and screaming like a five-year-old with ADHD; and a swaggering Yank in a swaggering leather jacket with more zips than I've had hot dinners. How on earth could they have thought these clowns would be any good?

It's worse, far worse, than the Australian and US franchises, and I thought they had plumbed the depths.

If this miserable substitute survives to a second series I shall be greatly surprised. What do you think?

Richard

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22828 Location: UK

A few more comments can be found in this older thread on the subject: http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10107

I agree, I'm not sure that it works all that well. Too many presenters and only 6 episodes mean it'd take forever for them to gel properly as a team IMO.

RJ
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Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

The old Top Gear was pretty poor to start with until the presenting team changed. Even then it took some time before the three found their feet yet people seem determined to condemn the new line up without giving them the same opportunity to gel. Yes, the first programme was grim but the second and third have been better and some segments, I would say, have been actually been good viewing. I don't like SIARPC, never did, and adding a rallycross element hasn't improved it and the 'chat show' bit is a waste of time. Other than that, it's really not that bad.
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MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2737 Location: South Cheshire

I've warmed to it a little bit - the first two weren't really all that good, but it has improved in the third and fourth ones. As someone who enjoyed the challenges (in particular those that involved a long trip, like last night) it was good to see that side still there, but the "best first car" and "best best car" bits are a waste of time. In a way I'm glad they've changed that section rather than trying to keep it all the same.

It's not the same as it was, but it's not the train-wreck I was half expecting. I can't quite put my finger on what's not quite right about it, and it might just be the ever-present repeats on Dave that (to me) show how much better the previous show usually was, though with 22 series to practice in that's only to be expected. I don't really like most of the new presenters, though MlB is probably the one that comes across best - surprising given that Chris Evans has far more presenting experience, though if it's as scripted as we're led to believe, maybe a professional actor is bound to make a better job of it.

It has at least cured me of my habit of recording each episode - while I'll happily watch it, I don't see a need to keep them all.

Rootes75 · Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 10:41 am Post subject:

Have dipped in and out of it to be honest, what I have seen hasn't made me want to watch more. Cant say I'm a big fan of CE.

American Pickers is probably my most watched show of classic interest now, probably a repeat but the one I saw at the weekend the chap managed to hit a deal for a lovely barn stored 1939 Plymouth Salesman Coupe. Very nice car.
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Dipster · Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 2:22 pm Post subject:

I have not watched it as I cannot abide the two who, I understand, are the main front men.

The old version was often tosh but the 3 who presented it had their interesting moments and quips that, for me, just about lifted it out of total tosh.

And it hurts me to see machinery being abused to create a spectacle. Just not my thing at all.

52classic · Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 493 Location: Cardiff.

I had high hopes for the new Top Gear.

Used to be a big Clarkson fan but in latter years I thought he became far too arrogant and the format just too immature for me. Not really a car show at all IMHO. Maybe Clarkson was overdue for a fall and he got one big time didn't he?

CE is a bloke I have warmed to since he's been on Radio 2. An innovative broadcaster and a real petrolhead..... So it is all the more pity he has missed an opportunity to take TG to a new level IMHO. I find it hard to tolerate his shouty delivery and the setting in the aeroplane hangar is just too cliched. Sabine is a breath of fresh air though but not sure what I think of Matt.

Surely there's only so much you can do with a procession of faster and faster cars interspersed with stupid stunts.

Ashley · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 1426 Location: Near Stroud, Glos

Audience is the lowest in the program's history despite the Midwife not competing this time and they've thrown away 350 million paying viewers overseas. All over the web, TG is being panned, Evans is mainly the complaint.

Time the BBC was privatised IMO.

Ashley · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 1426 Location: Near Stroud, Glos

Apparently even Leblanc wants rid of Chris Evans.

Dipster · Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 4:27 pm Post subject:

I wonder whether Evans wants to get rid of Leblanc?!

Ashley · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 1426 Location: Near Stroud, Glos

http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2016/06/reports-claim-matt-leblanc-wants-to-leave-top-gear-unless-chris-evans-goes-first/

goneps · Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 10:53 pm Post subject:

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7219 Location: Edinburgh

Yipee! I just saw a Top Gear trailer anouncing it as the series finale.

I assume we can soon look forward to the burial of this dead body.

Peter Very Happy

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Peter_L · Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 12:20 am Post subject:

Edited to include.. The following contains remarks that are my opinion.

Life is strange at times.

I worked for some 50+ years doing work that I was good at and got paid accordingly. I don't think I am the only one on this forum that could say the same.

Are so called "stars" any different ? Once it was actors and musicians, but now it seems that any run of the mill "presenter" can command huge amounts of money for little work or effort.

MLB is what exactly, a person who appeared on a pathetic TV show in the US.

and CE who fell into various shows because he is loud and obnoxious.

OK my rant over.

lowdrag · Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Posts: 1600 Location: Le Mans

Strangely in some ways I prefer some of the presentation to the previous incarnation. It had got stale with the passing of the years. But it seems that there are inner conflicts and that Matt LeBlanc and the others do not want to work with Evans any more because, according to the news posted, he is too egocentric. At least I haven't seen them trying to cross the channel in this series, and some of the "lesser" presenters are pretty clued-up. But perhaps it is because it was the best-selling and viewed programme world-wide that has caused all the furore; people watched because they new what they were getting. I don't know, but since I was never really addicted to the old show I don't mind the new changes. Whatever, a new series is to follow it seems.