Top Gear at sea

Matt Holcomb · Matt Holcomb's Garage

I caught the 8th episode of series 12 of Top Gear last night, the Vietnam special -- an entire, extended episode (75 minutes) devoted to the Top Gear trio's cross-country motorcycle ride from the south of the country to the north. I've enjoyed some of the Top Gear challenges, especially the '£1500 Porsches' one, but I found this challenge to be painfully emblematic of why I think the show has lost its way.

Top Gear used to be a charming and unassuming show about cars -- by car geeks for car geeks. As the show grew in popularity, the producers and the presenters obviously decided that the show's recipe needed some tweaking. So they added some spice -- elaborate vehicular challenges for the presenters to complete, designed to showcase the chemistry between Clarkson, May and Hammond, and skew the show toward a broader demographic. And it worked, so well in fact that women all over the world starting tuning in. Almost overnight, the show had become a mass-market, cross-gender entertainment. The fact that it was a show about cars was almost beside the point. Clarkson, May and Hammond had successfully amplified their laddish, private boy's school repartee, which often made for compelling and amusing viewing. The show had also become bigger and more lavish, complete with cinematic production values. The challenges had become more elaborate, too. Clarkson, May and Hammond were now unlikely rock stars, quickly cashing in on their newfound fame and the strong awareness of the Top Gear brand by touring the world with a live version of the show.

But while watching the 75-minute 'Nam special, and even the North Pole challenge from the previous series, it has become clear that the challenges, like the cars, are moot. Top Gear is no longer a quirky little show about cars or a big budget entertainment about cross-continental adventures. As evidenced by the 'Nam special, it's now a self-conscious, self-indulgent paean to wealth, fame, ego, and Peter Pan syndrome. Clarkson and co. have traded journalistic insight and their uniquely British cynicism for ribald banter and frivolity. Clarkson wearing a tin bucket instead of a helmet because he couldn't find a helmet big enough for his head in a South-East Asian country isn't witty. It's not even funny in a Vaudevillian kind of way. It's just insipid. And Clarkson buying Hammond a large scale model of an 18th century Spanish sailing ship that Hammond must somehow strap to the back of his motorbike is not clever or funny television, either. The model ship's visual incongruity with the episode's Vietnam context makes it pure self-indulgence. But it's also unintentionally symbolic of the current state of the show: at sea.

It's time for the H.M.S Top Gear to return to port.

gprsh924 · 02-23-2009, 04:38 PM

I watch TV for one simple reason: to be entertained. Top Gear does that better than any show on television for me.

Stanley · 02-23-2009, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gprsh924

I watch TV for one simple reason: to be entertained. Top Gear does that better than any show on television for me.

I agree 100%. Even when it mostly a "car" show, the information that you got in the reviews was the equivalent of a one paragraph summary. There are plenty of other places to get real car news, for me Top Gear has never been one. The show is strictly entertainment.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

I agree. Entertainment is what I want too. Top Gear delivers.

fwiw I liked the Vietnam segment.

Ian

unimog406 · 02-23-2009, 06:48 PM

top gear themselves had a good blog post about this a while back, something to the effect of 'should we be great for the die hard car fans, or just cock about for a wider audience'. obviously they chose the latter, and I think it was the right decision. I for one enjoy it, and I've actually been able to introduce a number of my non-automotive friends to the show.

onewhippedpuppy · 02-24-2009, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gprsh924

I watch TV for one simple reason: to be entertained. Top Gear does that better than any show on television for me.

Agreed. It's entertaining for non-car people, but still has enough car porn to work up a good drool. The North Pole episode was one of my favorites. It's not only the best car show on TV, it's also one of the best shows.

NICKG · 02-24-2009, 09:05 AM

I think that Top Gear is really the best show on TV...it is witty, informative and just plain entertaining, way better than our stupid reality show tv based shows that degrade and stupify most americans. I watch the brit version, the bbc usa versions are getting close to being the uncut brit versions...i love that show

willtel · 02-24-2009, 09:17 AM

I enjoyed the Vietnam episode, when I first found out that there would be no cars in it I was disappointed but I forgot about it 10 minutes in. The Africa episode was my favorite followed by the polar special but I have a hankering for automotive adventure travel.

My wife is English and when she was a kid she hated Top Gear, now I have actually walked in on her watching an episode on her own. She has little to no interest in cars but watches strictly because it is entertaining. Not a bad thing in my mind.

gtc · gtc's Garage

What really turned me off of Top Gear was the Tesla Episode. I don't mind their biased reviews, but flat-out lying about the Tesla was pretty poor form, IMO.

I have to say, this was awesome:

Tervuren · Tervuren's Garage

I liked their trip to the US where they had to see if they could make it to New Orleans with buying a car instead of renting one, and seeing if it came out cheaper.

Zeke · 02-24-2009, 04:02 PM

I'm way behind in seeing the latest episodes just catching what they show on BBCA. I'm pretty much done with it, 3 clowns driving trucks (lorries?) thru a brick wall and backing over a grand piano is far from being any kind of quality entertainment unless you are a fool for slapstick.

Now, back to How It's Made.

UconnTim97 · UconnTim97's Garage

Top Gear is the only car show that my wife will watch. She looks forward to it as much as she does make over shows....

gprsh924 · 02-24-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milt

I'm way behind in seeing the latest episodes just catching what they show on BBCA. I'm pretty much done with it, 3 clowns driving trucks (lorries?) thru a brick wall and backing over a grand piano is far from being any kind of quality entertainment unless you are a fool for slapstick.

Now, back to How It's Made.

Its becoming a little bit slapstick for sure, but they still rely on a lot of more subtle, intelligent humor.

I really don't discriminate when it comes to humor. I laugh very easily.

gostraight · gostraight's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtc

What really turned me off of Top Gear was the Tesla Episode. I don't mind their biased reviews, but flat-out lying about the Tesla was pretty poor form, IMO.

I have to say, this was awesome:

Agree... That was pretty crappy, especially when I get a kick out of driving a Tesla every day. I giggle passing exotics on my way to work, while paying $0 for gas...(I charge it free at work) ....

Monza_dh · Monza_dh's Garage

I watch almost only for the Stig. My kids will drop anything they are doing to watch him do a lap and are totally amazed that noone "knows" who he is.

Much of it can be tedious: any Captain Slow bit, or UK personlities, unknown to US audiences, driving a POS around the track.

I also cant imagine anyone watching for unbiased car reviews, who the hell will be buying a Koenigsegg, Gumpert, or Veyron anytime soon? Its all schtick and pure transportaion based entertainment.

You have to admit watching Sabine try to break 10min around the Ring in a van was pretty good and my kids also loved this one:

onewhippedpuppy · 03-23-2009, 04:47 AM

Curious, how die they "lie" about the Tesla?

Schumi · 03-23-2009, 05:17 AM

Recently.. I agree.. the show isn't what I want to watch. I like 5th gear because it is still car oriented...

Although the Reliant Robin space shuttle rocket was possibly one of the greatest TV moments ever.

The Gaijin · 03-23-2009, 05:44 AM

"Gear is no longer a quirky little show about cars or a big budget entertainment about cross-continental adventures. As evidenced by the 'Nam special, it's now a self-conscious, self-indulgent paean to wealth, fame, ego, and Peter Pan syndrome..."

Welcome to popular culture. It kills everything it touches..

onewhippedpuppy · 03-23-2009, 12:24 PM

Something about 5th Gear just bugs me. I never can put my finger on it...... Still better than any US car show though.

t951 · t951's Garage

I am a huge fan of Top Gear (Heck my license plate is: THE ST1G).

In the beginning I wasnt a big Clarkson fan, then I started to get him, now he makes me laugh so hard.

Capt. Slow, believe it or not, is becoming my favorite. He is so damn funny, in a british, subtle way.

Personally, there is not another show on TV that comes close. It is pure entertainment. The only part that I am not gaga over is the Star in a Reasonably priced car, usually the star is someone I have never heard of).

The Stig is awesome, the trio is great, the tests are good, the photography is great. We have NOTHING close to it in the US.

My wife knows when I watch it because of the laughs. The challenges slay me. Did you see the polar challenge? Hysterical! The one where the did Top Garden Gear Force was so good. You have to get the chemistry of the three, that is the magic.

I could go on and on for ever on this show, but I will shut up for now!