OK...I went back and watched the whole episode. In context, the alabama piece was more humorous. Sophomoric but funny. Why? The whole show was based on how goofy the TG crew was trying to be. In many ways it was a parody of themselves as strangers in a strange land. As far as their car shopping exploits, how goofy are their choices of vehicles. A clapped out Camaro RS called a "muscle" car? SHEESH! I can see a group of U.S. college students doing a similar sequence of "Let's buy a POS old car for under $1000 and take a road trip on spring break and goob the locals and film our exploits."
That being said, MUCH of the show was staged... it had to be to punch up the entertainment factor. C'mon...searching for roadkill for dinner? A cow on top of the Camaro? Buying cars in the Miami 'hoods? And what a pu$$ the host was when he was saving the "tortoise" (or box turtle as we like to call them). He was downright effeminate.
As far as the Alabama sequence being almost totally staged? Look at the "escape" sequence footage. In their desparate race for their lives, what are the chances the film crews captured a perfectly framed shot of their shadows in their frightened run for survival.
The one thing that did offend me was the commentary upon their arrival in NOLA to the effect of criticizing Americans for not doing anything to help Katrina victims. Perhaps it was a personal affront as I have made many volunteer trips to do my little part in the recovery effort as have countless others. The devastation was so extreme that its hard to see the progress for someone who wasn't there a week after the storm.
Like I say, in context the show was humorous. At least they refrained from a bunch of buggery jokes the Brits love so much.
