BBC Top Gear has it down: US TG & "Car Show" still lack...

[MarkRobinson]

BBC has molded it's Top Gear into a fantastic program
-Reviews: rotations on most all car types
-Reviews are on stock cars
-Reviews include launching, 1/4 mile testing, top speed, improvements over previous models, comparisons to their competitors, handling, etc.
-Entertaining & diverse competitions, etc.
-Entertainers: real entertainers with a knack for humor.

Our US programs Lack all the above that makes BBC's TG so good.

I don't find any of the US TG guys entertaining as they're not funny, not by comparison. Car show reviewed "Muscle cars" this last week, looking at old cars for which the Camaro had a supercharged LS conversion, roll cage, full Hotchkiss suspension, etc: tell me what qualifies that as an "old car". Rediculous.

Because I'm a car guy, I HAVE to keep watching though all I really do is count the ways that BBC TG is better. Where's the US TG & CS feedback forums????

Why isn't Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld co-hosting either show? I love Adam, but he's the only reason the show even exists.

[herr_oberst]

Are you sure you weren't watching "The Car Show"?

[romad]

Car show is getting good, I like Corolla(sp), its his show. The other two are suspect still, could do better.

US Top Gear blows beyond belief. The host are unbelievable as car guys( even the pro driver whats his name?) with absolutely no personality.

The BBC Top Gear is one of a kind, stand alone, DO NOT COPY, but with out Clarkson its is nothing also.

[lgb240]

The Car Show with Adam Corolla is getting better, still comes across as a little stale with humour that's a little too forced. It was a good idea to switch to 1/2 hour format, and drop one of the hosts. It doesn't quite roll as well as BBC's Top Gear (which is still the top of the auto show heap) US Top Gear lost my interest after about episode 2.

[dienstuhr]

Originally Posted by lgb240

The Car Show with Adam Corolla is getting better, still comes across as a little stale with humour that's a little too forced. It was a good idea to switch to 1/2 hour format, and drop one of the hosts. It doesn't quite roll as well as BBC's Top Gear (which is still the top of the auto show heap) US Top Gear lost my interest after about episode 2.

Who'd they drop? I hope it was the narcissistic print journalist guy, but I bet it was Salley.

d.

[KNS]

I think The Car Show is getting better, not bad really. I like the "60 seconds" segment.

[MarkRobinson]

60 seconds is clever: needed. I think Salley was absent from the last one I semi-watched while wrenching out in the garage. Didn't hear his voice, then the show was over: I was thinking, WTF? An hour already went by???

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by dienstuhr

Who'd they drop? I hope it was the narcissistic print journalist guy, but I bet it was Salley.

d.

It was the former basketball player.

His only qualifications for the show was that he had a lot of money so he had purchased a few expensive cars. He never had a job in the car industry. Of course Adam is just a car loving guy with money as well. He does have a nice collection of old race cars. I guess he made his money with the Man Show.

The 30 minute format is better.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by romad

Car The BBC Top Gear is one of a kind, stand alone, DO NOT COPY, but with out Clarkson its is nothing also.

This.

Although I'd have to say that Clarkson carried the early Top Gear UK's, but now all three blokes contribute almost evenly. Their comedic timing is impeccable!

-Z

[lukeh]

I just took the past few months to watch all the BBC Top Gear episodes on Netflix. While I still enjoy it, it just became way to contrived. Those crazy challenges were great at the start but now you could see their little jokes/incidents coming a mile away. Years back I believed the crazy stuff that happened along the way. Now you just know it's all scripted and set up for each little incident is painful to watch. It's turned into a long running reality show. They feel the need to come up with crazier and more contrived stuff to keep us entertained.

I gave up on the American version...just didn't do it for me.

[Deschodt]

I think season 2 was way better... and pretty funny at times.... To me, there is still enough "nice car" content in there to be more entertaining than other US car shows on TV (what other car shows, you ask ? Exactly!).

Giving up on TG:USA (season 2 especially) would be like saying you gave up on porn because the actresses, while pretty, couldn't act ;-) Ok, bad metaphor... sure, the presenters are not as good as TGUK "yet', but sheesh, you still get to watch nice cars driven fast in HD, it beats wheel of fortune ;-)

I also like the car show, 30min is a better format, and Salley was not bringing anything to the table, so it's a good move...

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

I think season 2 was way better... and pretty funny at times.... To me, there is still enough "nice car" content in there to be more entertaining than other US car shows on TV (what other car shows, you ask ? Exactly!).

Giving up on TG:USA (season 2 especially) would be like saying you gave up on porn because the actresses, while pretty, couldn't act ;-) Ok, bad metaphor... sure, the presenters are not as good as TGUK "yet', but sheesh, you still get to watch nice cars driven fast in HD, it beats wheel of fortune ;-)

I also like the car show, 30min is a better format, and Salley was not bringing anything to the table, so it's a good move...

Counterpoint:
Watching Top Gear - US is like going to the racetrack to watch a bunch of Toyota Priuses driven by a bunch of retired folks from Florida race.
- Both are car-related.
- Both deal with the technology of cars.
- Both have a racing element.
- Both will eventually have destruction and mayhem.
- Both are things I would rather not waste my time watching.