I concur, like the saying goes success has many children and failure is an orphan. But the children are never as successful as the one they are imitating, just as a tribute band will never match the original for many reasons.

I think TG goes with a completely new format, and not even trying to repeat the genius of Clarkson, Hammond, and May.

Top Gear Tour WILL go ahead: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May to reunite - 3am & Mirror Online

http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2015/03/31/top-gear-live-good-news-for-ticket-holders/

110% money driven. Both sides, presenters under contract and BBC who sold tickets, would stand to lose a fortune if they didn't finish it out.

Interesting the BBC felt the "incident" warranted them firing Clarkson from the TV show but not the tour? If they truly felt that it could not be ignored and they had to take action, shouldn't they have fired him completely?

Separate contracts for the TV show and the tour.

He'd likely need to do something equally stupid on tour for the BBC to boot him.

I know they are separate contracts but both entities are owned by BBC which is who made the decision to fire him. Doesn't make sense to fire him from one part of the company and not another.

He was on double secret probation for the TV show.

He was not fired from the TV show.

The event occurred a week before that contract was due to expire.

They chose not to renew that contract.

From the 1st link:

A statement from BBC Worldwide said: "These events will not however feature any BBC Top Gear branding or content. We believe this is a sensible approach in the circumstances.”

BBC Television is distancing itself by withholding branding. And it is BBC Worldwide that is cashing the checks for the live events.

Ian

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1gPtcUKDRJs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

For some reason the thread title has me thinking about this:

Yep, wouldn't be surprised if more heads don't roll in a few years when revenues are way down...

Jeremy Clarkson set to return to Top Gear! - Nerd Reactor

He is back!

Article is from yesterday.

April 1.

Lighting Cameraman TERRY BEDFORD
Special Møøse Effects OLAF PROT
Møøse Costumes SIGGI CHURCHILL



Designer ROY SMITH
Møøse choreographed by HORST PROT III
Miss Taylor's Møøses by HENGST DOUGLAS-HOME
Møøse trained to mix concrete and
sign complicated insurance forms by JURGEN WIGG


Editor JOHN HACKNEY
Møøses noses wiped by BJØRN IRKESTØM-SLATER WALKER
Large møøse on the left hand side
of the screen in the third scene from the
end, given a thorough grounding in Latin,
French and "O" Level Geography by BO BENN
Suggestive poses for the møøse
suggested by VIC ROTTER
Antler-care by LIV THATCHER




The directors of the firm hired to
continue the credits after the other
people had been sacked, wish it to
be known that they have just been
sacked.

As far as myself and my wife are concerned, we will not watch a British Top Gear without Clarkson, Ham, and Capt. Slow.

We love the dynamic between the three, respect the fact that Slow and Ham decided to stick with Clarkson, and are of the opinion that the show will wither and die on the vine without them. The show needs them, not the other way around. They ARE the show, even if the BBC refuses to acknowledge that fact.

If Netflix, HBO or similar are smart, they'd pick those three up and create a similar show based around them. Wouldn't be tough to do.

**** the BBC.

I've seen this a lot and wonder how much is just the usual human resistance to change of any sort. If Motorweek announced a change in format, you'd get much the same response, after all.

While Clarkson, Hammond and May were a good team, I think the show had lost some of its edge over the years. Not saying it needed a reboot, but that some of the recent shtick was getting old and tired.

Top Gear (USA) and Top Gear (UK) seem to be stuck in the "less car content" more "adventure" mode. Sure there are a few new car reviews thrown in here and there, but most of the show now seems to be adventures in either POS cars or wanderlust ubercars.

I think Clarkson will be back on TV along with Hammond and May...but just not on this show. IF Top Gear reboots with a new cast, I will watch a few episodes just to see if it is good. Don't think the BBC can catch lightening in a bottle twice though. (Although David Tennant and Matt Smith were good consecutive doctors....)

^^^

Exactly. People are reistant to change.

Maybe, but I think its because we have seen all the other Top Gears and they sucked. The big oaf and his sidekicks are what makes TopGear UK so great.

Some shows have been fine with new hosts, IE late night on NBC. Jimmy Fallon is great, and I don't miss Leno. I liked Leno, but I think Fallon is more current and funny in a different way.

But its the bad experience with other Top Gear shows that has us all bemoaning the loss of Clarkson.

I think one of the biggest problems that Top Gear and its imitators make is trying to make the same show. Top Gear UK is good because of the way the presenters get along. Hammond as the angry little man, May as the clueless boffin and Clarkson as the trickster. They all have good chemistry together.

All the other Top Gear shows seems to think they can just plug this person in here and this one in here and they have a perfect copy...now give us the ratings. Look to just a few years ago. There was a good show on BBC called Coupling. NBC copied the BBC pilot down to the script and camera blocking. The difference was the cast. BBC cast had chemistry and the NBC cast did not. Lightening in a bottle...

I get the whole "resistant to change" and I get this from my parents all the time when we go to frequent restaurants, I usually order the same thing because I like it. I HATE ordering something new and it turns out to be crap when I know there is something already on the menu I really like.

I liked TG BBC, I didn't need to see the US version to know I liked the BBC version (even though I did). I don't think its always a resistance to change, they are welcome to change whatever they want on the US version, I couldn't care less.

I get the whole "resistant to change" and I get this from my parents all the time when we go to frequent restaurants, I usually order the same thing because I like it. I HATE ordering something new and it turns out to be crap when I know there is something already on the menu I really like.

I liked TG BBC, I didn't need to see the US version to know I liked the BBC version (even though I did). I don't think its always a resistance to change, they are welcome to change whatever they want on the US version, I couldn't care less.

Bring William Shatner as the captain on Star Trek! He was the only real captain and the show sucks without him!

And when Twilight Zone and Lost in Space changed from black and white to color they were dead to me.

I thought Sergent York played Darrin? :)

Sheesh, old timers. You could at least say you hated the new Becky on Roseanne or when they changed Aunt Viv on The Fresh Prince.


:-)

The BBC may get decent ratings from the new Top Gear just from people "hate-watching" it - people watching solely to grouse about how it sucks, under the guise of being open-minded. I think that audience is what's kept the Simpsons on so long - people grousing about how it's not as funny as early seasons, the new plots are rehashes of old eps, etc. SNL is another good example.

I'll continue watching Top Gear unless they totally destroy it. The car porn and cinematography is still unmatched.