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Ronniej · Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2015 8:17 am Post subject: TOP GEAR

With Jeremy Clarkson's face being on every front page I thought I would canvass opinion on the Top Gear programme.
It seems to me that opinion is polarized on this show and, like Marmite, you either love or loathe it.
I would be the first to admit that it is very popular but I am afraid it does not push my buttons.
Jeremy has become a bit accident prone lately and he is said to be on a final warning. (In Glasgow we would say "his jacket is on a shaky peg".)
I don't think he has much to worry about: if Aunty gave him the boot there will be plenty TV companies eager to snap him up.
I would be interested to know what others think.

3xpendable · Joined: 19 Dec 2010 Posts: 222 Location: USA

I'm with you Ronnie, the show doesn't really interest me for it;s badly overacted in my opinion and now just aimed at purely entertainment. It obviously works for many people, but not me.

He will either be re-instated or sacked and get a gig somewhere else. I've read he owns part of the production company or naming rights to Top Gear itself so I doubt he'd be let go. Who knows? It may just be yet another attention seeking publicity stunt.
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peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7215 Location: Edinburgh

I really can't be bothered with any motoring programs but I do occasionally watch TopGear if I have nothing better to do. There is a great sameyness about the TG shows but I do quite enjoy the humour.

Peter
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Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22790 Location: UK

Some of TG I find a bit cringeworthy, or irrelevant to my interests, but on the whole I like it and this series seemed better than it's been for quite a while. It's about the only thing shown on the Beeb that ever gets circled in our TV paper, bar the odd thing on BBC4 and (when it's on) F1.

RJ
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D4B · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK

They will never improve on their moped expedition through Vietnam Cool

Rootes75 · Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2015 10:11 am Post subject:

I tend to watch them for their comedy content not the cars!

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7134 Location: Derby

Top Gear has been around for so long now, I think they have run out of ideas however just occasionally they come up with a little gem. This week they put the F type Jag through it's paces and although JC treated it to his usual 'on the limit' stuff which can't have done it any good, I recon it's a winner. Just wish I could afford one.

The reborn E type Eagle low drag was just achingly beeautiful and although not as good as the new F type in many ways, it hardly disgraced itself.

As far as Clarkson being suspended is concerned, if what it boils down to is just two blokes having a bit of a punch up, then the Beeb has gone too far. Just tell the lads to grow up and move on.

MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2713 Location: South Cheshire

I've found this series of Top Gear a bit of a mixed bag. The St Petersburg trip was quite good but would have been better without interruptions, the Australia trip was very good, the ambulances had some laugh out loud moments but dragged on a bit. I've accidentally deleted the fourth one so have forgotten what happened, probably the Land Rover up a dam one.

I have been recording it since I didn't record the Aston DB9 vs. public transport race to Monte Carlo and regretted not doing so. More recently I've been wondering about whether to spend the time culling out some of the less interesting bits, but couldn't be bothered to make time to do that before my hard disk was full up.

Many of the people that seem to intensely dislike the programme seem to do so because they're used to the old-style Top Gear which was more aimed at the general public, but if I want to know how the latest Astra drives, I'll go and test drive one. What I can't do is ponce off to the South of France with a couple of mates and drive around in supercars looking for good roads to drive on, so it's good to watch someone else doing it. Perhaps a name change for the rebirth would have been an idea.

Like everyone else, I don't know what's happened here and can't really comment on whether it's an over-reaction or not. I don't understand how more than 150,000 people have signed a petition demanding his reinstatement when they don't know what's happened either. I do know that if you went on a train and assaulted a member of staff, action would be taken, and rightly so. But it's speculation, and we'll probably never have full details of what went on. Many cynics have pointed out that we're six episodes in to the series, it usually only lasts six episodes, so it might just be a stunt, though I can't think why anyone would consider that TG and JC need any more publicity.

And to finish off, I've just read a comment on Facebook suggesting Guy Martin as the new host. All I can say is no, no, please no. Aside from anything else, the BBC subtitles people won't be able to keep up, and if there's any time we need them, this will be it. I've just been watching the news in the dentists, and they're about thirty seconds behind that, so imagine how far behind Guy they'd be.

petermeachem · Joined: 23 Sep 2013 Posts: 358 Location: Chichester Sussex

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7134 Location: Derby

If someone as rich as Clarkson punched me and there were plenty of witnesses, preferably on film, I would threaten him with legal action knowing full well he would quickly settle out of court.

Nice little earner!

3xpendable · Joined: 19 Dec 2010 Posts: 222 Location: USA

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7134 Location: Derby

Dipster · Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2015 1:10 pm Post subject:

If a punch was thrown by anybody that is quite wrong in most circumstances, especially at work between colleagues. But in my world it would be dealt with by their manager, perhaps knocking heads together if it was a "six of one" situation.

My thoughts on the show are that you could reduce the show to a few items that I enjoy and get shot of the rest. I like Stig`s exhibitions of what cars can do (perhaps a voice could be found for him?), the celeb in a cheapo car and.... Well maybe that is it. A 15 minute show.

I have no interest in cool walls and other such nonsense and my sense of mechanical sympathy is offended when nice cars are pointlessly thrashed around to get shots of tyre smoke.

Some of the trips are fun, but they could be occasional specials.

Presenters? May and Hammond are fine. Not sure I would miss Clarkson at all. Perhaps a vocal Stig would be an interesting replacement for him.

3xpendable · Joined: 19 Dec 2010 Posts: 222 Location: USA

Ellis · Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2015 1:49 pm Post subject:

Top Gear ?

Puerile and self indulgent and Fifth Gear is no better in my opinion.
I don't watch either.
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