So, the BBC Top Gear fronted by Chris Evans will return for 16 episodes in May 2016.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s265/...pqt4FvJLDwmy6m
Which one do you think will be better?
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So, the BBC Top Gear fronted by Chris Evans will return for 16 episodes in May 2016.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s265/...pqt4FvJLDwmy6m
Which one do you think will be better?
I've got a feeling that they will both be crap. The BBC one will just be for obvious reasons, and the Amazon one will either be 1) over-blown and incoherent to the point of shitness or; 2) phoned in and a bit tired.
I do wonder how the Amazon Prime one will cope without the infrastructure and other benefits the BBC clearly offers.
I suspect the Evans one will be more about cars, and no-one really wants to see that.
The reason Top Gear was so good was that the charisma of the presenters (well, of Clarkson) combined with the namby-pamby might of the BBC and the result was basically the best from each camp. Now, each will be unfettered by the other and so both will be worse, although I'm more of a Chris Evans fan than some so who knows.
The Amazon one for definite. I'll give the BBC one a go if there's nothing else on because cars, though Evans is normally intolerable.
I think Evans is alright and he was probably the best choice, but I fear he suffers from that affliction that a lot of rich middle aged men start to suffer from when they hit that time of life, being fucking boring.
http://i58.tinypic.com/2n1ewjo.jpg
The three cars they had been trying to line up finally too.
The real question is who would get Amazon Prime just for that shite?
Do what what Giggles?
Oh yes. :drool:
James May in a Ferrari. :drool:
People who loved Top Gear but don't know how to use the internet presumably. Although it should be pointed out that you don't only get that by signing up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pepe
Indeed, you also get the privilege of them sending you your packages right away instead of holding them for a few days to try and get you to sign to Prime.
And a shit load of other tv shows and movies on demand...
The LaFerrari, McLaren P1, and Porche 918 test they'd been trying to organise during the final series on the BBC before it was cut short. There had been a problem getting one of the cars each time they tried to get the three together. Either that or they were saving it for a series finale before the rug got pulled.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
So that'll be in their new show?
Yeah Clarkson tweeted that photo today.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
http://i59.tinypic.com/5lcj10.png
Have they got a name for it yet? They should just do a Roger Waters and call it Top Gear until somebody sues them otherwise.
Gop Tear.
It was reported a few weeks back that they had copyrighted the name Gear Knobs, but I couldn't see it.
Fracas
Flappy Paddles.
That's the documentary about Trump when Clinton destroys him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Disco
You mean Bernie.
Voting for the wrong option fail.
https://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com...0&h=354&crop=1
Evans is being joined by Sabine (:drool:) who has done some stuff for Top Gear before including driving round the Nürburgring in 10 minutes and 8 seconds with a Ford Transit van, Chris 'Who?' Harris and David 'The Chin' Coulthard.
Picture taken from the Metro and they've made Harris look like he has one of those caved in skulls/John Hartson.
Coulthard means instant not watching here.
I don't watch much F1, but isn't Coulthard, well, a bit dull?
DC is a lovely man but boring on TV to the point of infuriation.
Chris Harris was obviously the blackest car person they could find, although you would have thought Lewis Hamilton's brother could have killed two birds with one stone there.
Presumably they'll have Evans and the other bloke doing the talking, Coulthard driving things quickly as a Stig figure, and Sabine doing anything where quality driving needs to be married with the existence of a personality.
Chris Harris is a boring cunt, look at his YouTube reviews why the fuck did they pick him?
Sounds utterly awful especially with Evans at the helm.
Sabine is going to have to carry that show frankly.
Chris Evans is probably better than you all think. Why they've broken the One Steve Rule for that man pictured above I don't know however.
I like Chris Evans so I don't understand all the negativity. Mind you I think Top Gear is shit since I'm about as interested in cars as I am washing lines. I'm still not sure what half the buttons and knobs in my car do and it's better that way as I'd only break something.
I'd guess that loads of people watch Top Gear who don't care about cars. I watch it and don't give a shit about them.
I don't think that's a bad line up (although I have no idea who this Harris guy is) apart from the obvious disparity of having two professional drivers. The only thing that will matter is them having decent chemistry, that's what made the previous lot watchable.
I think the Stig is still there.Quote:
Originally Posted by John
It might work if people just don't expect it to be Top Gear. No more matey piss-taking around every segment, etc.
:drool:? Really?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mahow
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images...397/sabine.jpg
Really?! :cab:
Matt LeBlanc seems like an alright enough geezer whenever I've seen him interviewed, but... Wot? Which other turn of the century figures have they got lined up for a role? Antoine de Caunes would be good if it doesn't have to be a woman.
DC ditching it after about half an hour for his bent F1 deal was pretty lol.
I knew we all said it would be shit, but it really is going to be shit isn't it?
Have they got anyone who actually knows anything about cars? Say what you like about Clarkson et al but between the three of them they had a pretty encyclopedic knowledge of the subject.
James May's car (industry) programme the other day was great.
They're still getting Sabine and the other Chris.Quote:
Originally Posted by Disco
http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-...ris-evans-show
RadioTimes.com understands that Harris and Schmitz will not be part of a conventional “gang” alongside Evans and LeBlanc in the way that "Three Amigos "Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond presented the show.
The new structure is expected to see Evans with the sole main presenter credit and Harris and Schmitz as the most regular guest presenters, followed by other members of the "family" including LeBlanc and other personalities who are expected to be named in the coming days.
It's going to be bad on a biblical scale.
Was that the 4x4 of the people thing the other night or the one when he followed the mini through production?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Though both were great.
Coulthard leaving was a blessing, but Matt Le Blanc? Will he basically be reprising his role as Joey?
Isn't he a personality-free gimp in real life? I thought he knew quite a bit about cars when he was on as a guest.
They've gone the wrong way entirely, rather than getting presenters who like cars they should be getting motoring journalists/afficionados who can also be presenters.
Whenever I've seen him interviewed he seems quite coy and certainly doesn't come across as having the required self confidence to present that sort of show as himself.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
Joey it is then.
This sounds like utter trash. Joey, for fuck's sake. :D
It's going to tank so bad.
Eddie fucking Jordan :nono:
The shock twist is The Stig will be revealed as Miss Chanandler Bong.
Only pieces missing was a muslim beard or burqa and a sikh turban
Eddie Jordan is quite entertaining in the F1 coverage, I think. I don't think it will be as good as the trio's show, but it might not be as bad as some people seem to think.
I've thought the opposite. He's seemed very self assured to me. But sounds like he'll only be featured every few episodes or something anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
EJ is a decent choice actually. He was pretty fast in his day and he's likely to say whatever pops into his mad old head.
I saw some of James May's programme the other day. It's just his bits from Top Gear getting a full hour. The style and production are exactly the same.
Reading about about the two I've never previously heard of.
Ugh.Quote:
Chris Harris is well known for fronting various motoring programmes on YouTube.
Referencing the show's cheeky and irreverent style, Harris said: "I'm quite gobby and happy to get into trouble, so I'm hoping I can underpin the programme with journalistic credibility but still cause some mischief."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ting-Gear.html
Ugh. It's going to be horrific.
I've seen Harris and he's decent but that other guy sounds like a complete joke.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
Harris is a boring gimp.
I tried one of his Youtube videos, I only lasted 30 seconds.
It's all making me quite optimistic about the new Clarkson vehicle, to be honest.
Jesus.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mahow
I can only imagine that the core (Big Breakfast, Joey, Magda Goebbels) will do the Top Gear stuff, and the others will do the Fifth Gear stuff. It makes sense in some ways because it avoids direct comparisons with the old one, but there has to be a divide along the lines suggested or it will be too random and shit.
I can see it being the better show but the BBC one will last longer because it's the BBC and not some flash in the pan vehicle that won't exist in 5 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Evans looks like the walking personification of a mid-life crisis in that photo.
I'm sorry but the 'public' token black guy that looks like he has a disability. :D
That line up is like an NHS employer's wet dream. Black, female, European, Ginger, American, half-cast, old and Irish.
I liked the BBC's attempt to own the mockery. If ever an entire organisation was SEETHING...
'Ruined Billie Piper' slipping through quality control as well.
I had a pensions leaflet through the other day, the photo on the front of which in just four people managed to cover literally everything except disability. I was quite impressed.
Middle aged white man
Young black man, with his hand on the white man's shoulder
Young Asian woman
Old Chinese woman
They were all standing up and leaning over a table looking excited about some form of academic work.
Based on 30 seconds of a youtube video? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Mahow
Not sure how all this will pan out but he knows his shit and can drive.
That being said, I hadn't properly watched Top Gear for ages because it was becoming a bit crap, save the odd interesting short on a car. Star in a reasonably priced car is and always has been the worst thing about it.
You're the sort of wank that watches it purely for the cars, though.
Of course, given the rest of it was pretty crap.
Oh my fuck I missed this. :harold:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
It reads like 'just find any black man who's ever been filmed driving a car'. They probably thought they would be taken to pieces like the Oscars if they didn't have one.
After his three hour interview on TFI Friday, thank fuck Lewis Hamilton already has a job.
I bet OJ is available.
That reads like a transcript of a Big Brother audition tape.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
I've no idea how many episodes they're doing, but I remember reading that they were budgeted at something bonkers like two hundred million quid for the series.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
If they're not blowing up caravans on Mars then that's too much.
Over the entire shows run of five years. I'm guessing 6 episodes and a special every year and a half.Quote:
Originally Posted by John
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35802386
Guess that's what happens when you appoint an immeasurably dim, arrogant American on a British show. Evans is seething. :harold:
All a bit Helen Lovejoy.
Not really, do anything near or with a memorial and it's asking for trouble.
As if it would have been Le Blanc's idea.Quote:
Originally Posted by Magic
Is the OUTRAGE purely at doing a stunt near the Cenotaph? Because that is so American.
Bit of respect needed, yes, but you'd think he was doing them round it, rather than in the general vicinity.
It's a lose lose situation, Evans is pandering to his BBC Radio 2 personality by saying it's a disgrace etc so he just looks like a pathetic, moaning cunt and Top Gear are losing their EDGINESS by not showing it yet making a huge fuss about it on the BBC.
Why put yourselves in that situation in the first place? We can't even laugh at it because it's another country ala THE SUN.
Surely there is no way Evans didn't know about this.
I'm guessing Le Blanc will get the hump now due to not being backed publicly and storm out. Scenes.
Fixed.Quote:
Originally Posted by John Arne
Unless it's a memorial commemorating those who died fighting against reckless driving I don't really see the issue, and if it's a proximity thing then within what radius is a doughnut/burnout deemed disrespectful? This smacks of BBC yoghurt knitters forcing an apology where none was needed in order to deflect criticism.
IMO Evans has made it infinitely worse with his comments. Could you ever imagine Clarkson publicly critisising May or Hammond for something like that? Again, to re-iterate, not that they would have done anything like that in the first place.
Do me a favour. We're not the fucking land of the free respecting the FLAG and HEROES.
Tony Blair has ruined remembrance.
The previous lot were relatively untouchable because of ratings and syndication income, just look at how much crap they (Clarkson) got away with before he eventually got sacked so they could basically say/not say whatever they liked. Anyway, this was probably all worked out beforehand, I'm sure Joey understands how PR works.
Yes but saying nigger isn't as bad as DISRESPECTING the Centopah, to most of middle England.
Are they from Dr Who because I don't watch that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Magic
James and the Giant Peach, mate.
It's nothing to do with publicity, it's already arguably the biggest tv show/franchise in the world.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
It'll just be fucking morons in a production company having no idea what is going on around them.
Yep.
It's also feasible that all Chris Evans would have known about it was "we're doing a bit with Matt and a Rally driver in central London" (which sounds rubbish by the way) if he wasn't directly involved.
This is what the idiots want.Quote:
Originally Posted by Don't Forget Your Toothbrush
What do 'these images' look like? A guy doing some manoeuvres with a war memorial in shot?
Le Blanc abusing some children beside the war memorial.
Who's with me on building a bitching ramp over those monuments whilst the national anthem plays?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35802386Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
The Grand Tour. Right. The adverts for the BBC one look alright actually.
Uz weantin a fiukin square go eh
BBC Two now.
It's going to be so bad.
Jesus, this is so bad.
Was Evans taking the piss out of Clarkson with his intro voiceover thing?
Pretty sure they told the audience to find that catering joke hilarious too.
I really do hate Chris Evans.
The rest of the show needs to be good because Evans may make it unwatchab;e for me.
Or at least make it something I record and pick which bits I watch carefully, which would be a shame.
He's trying so hard to be like Clarkson as well, it's just bizarre.
It's just awful.
Not that it wasn't before, but at least it was it's own type of awful, rather than this bizarre masquerade.
As if you'd nail the breaks at 100mph with a $100k car (or whatever it is) right on your arse.
"Bizarre masquerade" sums it up.
Wow, Chris Evans is annoying. Joey has been alright so far.
LeBlanc has been significantly better than Evans so far, but then so would a jug full of acid to the face so I'm not sure if that's saying much.
That Friends actor is actually donning it so far.
I think he's actually been good, I'm genuinely surprised.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
Evans is horribad though.
A rally car?
Well this just escalated quickly.
Gordon Ramsay and Jesse Eisenberg?
I don't understand.
Ramsay and Eisenberg are a really strange pair.
I thought the two would at least know each other.
I've just turned this on...What the fuck is this shit? :D
I hate it and it's only one minute in.
Assuming this is going to be how they do it regularly (which is fine, changing it up makes sense) then you would have thought getting people who know each other would make more sense, yes.
This segment is shot to hell
I don't think so, he's trying to copy the winning formula and is failing miserably.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
They commissioned 16 episodes of this? :cab:
A dirt section? :face:
I actually don't mind the new version of Star In A.... but I could do without Chris Evans shouting for applause when a car goes through a fucking puddle.
It's a little long, especially with Evans taking it.
I reckon you could jog round the course faster than Eisenberg did his lap.
This makes me even more excited for the actual Top Gear (torrent).
Has Evans changed all the lap time cards with his own hand writing? :D
Joey is donning this.
Mid-season transfer to Amazon? :drool:
#GiveJoeyAShow might be trending after this.
Aye, Le Blanc has just picked up from Episodes and run with this.
Evans to be cut and replaced with Chandler in a fortnight.
I suppose there's a chance people have forgotten Joey, yeah.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pleb
Didn't they get them because the original two pulled out? Brad Pitt and someone wasn't it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mahow
That and they needed people Americans were aware of because, apparently, thank fuck for them, they've never heard of this Evans twat.
It'll be interesting when it comes to the special shows / challenges. Chris Evans just doesn't cut it unfortunately.
Just meant to be Brad but they thought Eisenberg and Ramsay would be enough to cover.Quote:
Originally Posted by Magic
I wish they'd have just totally changed the formula and did something totally different. The fact that the other one will be roughly the same but a million times better is even more awkward.
John Anderson showing up for no reason :D
That moment of Gladiators nostalgia was the second best thing on the show after LeBlanc.
I've turned it off midway through that STAR shambles. Bag of shit. I've never turned off an episode of TG or even 5th Gear.
Joey :cool:
Give the lad a show.
The strange in jokes about the old version is just batshit too.
The whole thing was just an odd, uncomfortable mess.
Seen a few people posting pictures in response along these lines:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CjpmNGQWYAEdqcS.jpg
EDIT:
:DQuote:
Back to the show. After a film about Chris Evans driving around wildly and trying to avoid a laser gun, we’re now being treated to a film about Matt LeBlanc driving around wildly and trying to avoid a photographer. It’s the same idea, which seems like a huge mistake for a first episode.
Tomorrow: a film about Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc driving around wildly and trying to avoid reviews.
"FlopGear" :D
They should sack this off really.
Watching this, Evans is absolutely unbearable.
edit: He actually just said "It couldn't be more exciting" after asking a frustrated audience whether they liked a LaFerrari better than a random Porsche he showed. And now he's just cheered about a puddle. I'm going to bed.
Did anybody watch "Extra Gear"? Some comments saying it was much, much better than the main show.
LeBlanc was astonishingly good. I thought he'd be awful - I actually detected a whiff of personality from him.
Evans though... jesus. Wracking my brains to think of who could replace him.
I didn't watch it, but what made Chris Evans so bad?
I'm guessing he just shouts a lot.
He's shouting all the time, that might be his delivery style but his 'jokes' are all cringeworthy. Not that I find Clarkson's jokes to be the pinnacle of humour, but at least he has his persona and owns it.
His performance during the Stars segment was abysmal, it was one the worst interviews I've ever heard probably. It seemed like he was checking off a questionnaire. "What was your first car?" "What was your best car?". It doesn't help that Jesse Eisenberg seemed to have the same level of interest in cars that James Harden has in defense.
It just seemed to me like they've abandoned any attempt to make it good, and are simply thinking about how can we sell this to America. Which is idiotic because the reason the old one sold to America was not because they were thinking about how to sell it to America, but because it was good.
They sold America their own version. Its on its sixth series.
The pandering to Americans was too much, "What's Blackpool? lol Brits amirite" and all.
He also sounds like he's actually trying to be Clarkson.Quote:
Originally Posted by Baz
I dunno. It can't be worse than Clarkson's one with Amber Heard. "Oh, a Lesbian?! Sod cars. Let's focus on that for 10 minutes."Quote:
Originally Posted by Vim
It's only their first go, it'll probably be fine after a while.
Anyone who has listened to the insufferable Radio 2 show should have known it was going to be unbearable.
Watched it, liked it.
I suppose you're probably in the Chris Evans, Radio 2 demographic these days.
I moved to local radio years ago because Evans was annoying me too much.
I watched it, it was shit. But then so was the original.
I genuinely thought Revrage would emerge over this. Quite shocked.
Awfully cringeworthy.
Evans is a fun host when given freedom to do what suits his style and without a script. He's not particularly funny and not overly engaging, but can (TFI, Radio 2, Big Breakfast) carry a show with his giggly schoolboy routine.
The set piece heavy world of Top Gear is NOT the place for that unless they give it a huge overhaul.
LeBlanc? Meh. Less irritating than Evans and knowingly deadpan it seems, but still, meh.
Perhaps it's because I don't mind Evans, but I thought for a first episode it was a good start. Evans was fine and the chemistry between him and Joey looked promising, with the latter being a real find. The original was at its best when they were just fucking around and I have reasonably decent hopes after the opener that Evans and Joey will be able to maintain that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Magic
Oh and I liked the soundtrack, which presumably Evans had an input into too.
The Amazon show should be better, but we knew that anyway.
It wasn't that bad. Chris Evans will hopefully tone it down a bit, but they need more actual car stuff to move it away from what they will obviously fail to replicate. They should also ditch the celebrity lap times as well, since they were always shit.
The Grand Tour is what the proper one is called. It sounds shit.
Nobody wants to watch 'actual car stuff' though, do they?Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
Nobody wants to watch Chris Evans screeching like he's introducing Keith Allen to a bunch of pissed nineties yuppies either, so you have to balance it out.
After not thinking the opening episode was too bad, the first half an hour of this second one has been a complete mess.
'Noisy' could probably be used to sum it up best, either through Evans shouting or tires screeching there's just constant noise - I feel like I have a migrain.
It was decent until this horrendous celebrity section that is lasting forever.
The 'Star in a reasonably priced car' bit has always been shit, though.
How long does it take this to go up on iPlayer usually?
I've recorded it. Worth watching?
Also did anyone else see Evans' utterly cringeworthy rant on Twitter about THE FACTS i.e viewing figures? Seemed like a desperate shouty arrogant cunt.
His first mistake was engaging with shitter.
Last week Evans claimed that viewing figures growing during the hour shows it was a hit and it 'won its slot.'
This week he claims overnight viewing figures are irrelevant. Early reports suggest they lost nearly half the viewers of week 1. I wonder if those last 2 are connected.
Down from 4.4m(4.7m peak) to 2.8m(3.3m peak).
He can go full on Rafa all he wants, but claiming the figures make a good show will be his downfall I think.
I still haven't watched the second.
I can't bring myself to watch more of Chris Evans attempting to be Jeremy Clarkson.
:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Gray Fox
I love this. What a fucking bell. For all to see on Twitter as well. Embarrassment.
Admittedly I've only seen one episode but they appear to have binned 'The News' and they had only a cursory road/track test. Replacing it with shit celebrity stuff is definitely worse.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
I havent wacthed any of this new gear yet, but i hear its awful.
That's what the Amazon one should have been called.
Again, enjoyed LeBlanc, hated the rest of it. Waste of Jenson Button too, he was on for like a minute.
Getting the crowd to cheer throughout that rally bits and at the mention of the Stig is properly awful.
It is ok, but not great. I was hoping they would go another direction. Chris Evans is just trying too hard and the format is the same.
Matt is the only decent thing on this show.
I thought the latest episode was better and more in line with what I was on about. The celebrity bit it still far too long, but there was a nice mix in the other segments, and the two non-white geezers were good (the full-black one especially).
Joey is fatter than he thinks he is though.
Tonight might be the strongest episode so far and Lewis is right about Harris and Reid but I'm still bored of the apparent inferiority complex (whether it be Evans or whoever) at times. "THAT MIGHT BE THE BEST TEST FILM TOP GEAR HAS EVER HAD!!!!!! ISN'T EVERYTHING GREAT!? RIGHT, GUYS?? RIGHT???? OH MY GOD PLEASE CHEER HOORAY WOO YEAH!"
I thought last nights was quite good. If they could just sort out the star in a car section they could be on to something.
Still not watched an episode since. The content is irrelevant to me when the shit Ian referred to is still happening.
Yeah I saw the first because her brother insisted on watching it (and he likes it, but he does have odd taste) but Evans was strangling it. The Le Blanc only section was a nice break.
I only watched a bit of it last night but noticed that thing after the Aston Martin bit being THE BEST TRACK FILM WE'VE EVER HAD ON TOP GEAR. Felt a bit needy.
I wonder what Evans will say about the viewing figures dropping yet again :harold:Quote:
Originally Posted by Magic
Episode 4 was only 2.34m, they're haemorrhaging viewers.
6.42 > 4.06 > 3.44 > 2.34.
Edit: Just spotted that 2.34m is pure viewers on the night, so that compares to 4.4m for episode 1, 2.8m for episode 2, 2.4m for episode 3 and 2.3 for 4.
What did the old one get?
Averaging around 6m for the last few seasons.
Bit unfair to use this last one as any example. It being bang on the same time as the football and all.
Watched it last night and when the best bit of the show has a 'what's the point' feel to it you know you're in trouble.
With the alternative being France v Switzerland ratings should have been through the roof.Quote:
Originally Posted by phonics
Its the kind of thing people want to fail anyway. Kinda unfair on the guys involved, really.
Something about Sabine in the last episode has got my juices flowing. :drool:
Matt Le Blanc has tired of Evans being a twat quite quickly, it would seem.
The ginger has left the building.
Presumably the real reason is that he's about to get done for being a dirty bastard, not because he realised he's a loud tit and was ruining things.
A dirty bastard in what sense? Is he a paedo too?
He's being investigated for a sexual assault but it's nothing to do with kids.
Good, I was only able to get through the first episode because he was too fucking annoying.
Glad that Joey is staying on which I really didn't think I'd be saying.
:drool:
It's no real surprise, has Evans really done any regular 'prime time' entertainment recently? There's probably a reason he's mostly on the radio these days.
Having caught up with the last few episodes, I think too many twats wanted it to fail. Launching it during a football tournament hasn't helped, and you were always going to lose half the audience who only watched for lol caravan banter, but the series was better than half of what Jeremy Clarkson presided over.
Wrong. The old re-runs on Dave are leagues better than the shit the new one has offered up.
The last episode was dull as fuck. I don't want to watch a car review show, I want car challenges and trips I can laugh at no matter how crap the jokes are.
The challenges were mainly crap for the past few years now.
The India one was the only shit one I can recall. I watched the Africa special, it was great. Also the Vietnam special was brilliant.
They got tamer because two of the three were significantly older, I don't think you'd get Clarkson and May doing Botswana or Bolivia again for example.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Shearer The 2nd
He said challenges, like the cringe-worthy ambulance one, or all of the aforementioned caravan banter. The current team could make a decent special.Quote:
Originally Posted by Magic
I hope that it'll be Le Blanc fronting it, primarily assisted by Harris and Reid.
Suspect they'll get somebody in to do Evans' job though, unnecessarily.
Sabine whatsherface was decent in sporadic appearances in Old Top Gear but she's rubbish when she's expected to speak too much. "I LUFF PRESSENTER CHALLENCHES!!!"
Yeah. Hopefully if Evans is the fall guy they can ditch the celebrity wank as well.
"And our guests tonight........... Gordon Ramsay and Jesse Eisenberg!!!!!"
"u wot"
"Yeah!!!!"
I'd watch Gordon Ramsey race cars.
Fair play to Evans for seeing he wasn't suited/was pissing everybody off and doing the right thing.
I thought the series was ok overall. Joey was a real find, but there were too many segments of people just driving, the shelebrity stuff made time stop and the challenges were poor.
Joey I'd keep, but the rest of the presenters could be lost and I wouldn't bat an eyelid.
Would you watch Gordon Ramsay pretending to have any kind of interest in the career of Jesse Eisenberg?7
EDIT: Didn't even like Harris and Reid, Yev? I think they've been genuinely good. Despite Reid's Youtube clips looking like the worst thing ever.
Just let LeBlanc pick his co-host so there's actually a connection there.
They're quite good at doing actual car stuff perhaps, but that was never why I (and millions of others) watched the show in the first place.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
Just scrap the whole thing, it has always been shit. No one care about cars, you can just go get your bantz elsewhere.
They should just fucking can it.
Yeah keep that shit to YouTube and your channel subscribers, you fucking wet weekends.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
Voluntarily dissolve a massive brand and one of the most syndicated shows in the world?Quote:
Originally Posted by Magic
Yeah, that's going to happen.
Can we just remember Clarkson is more synonymous with 'Top Gear' than the BBC. It was shite before and it will be shite after.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
Oh I agree with you, but they have to try.Quote:
Originally Posted by Magic
Why? It's going to be an unsuccessful, expensive mess, as has been proven and we're only half way through the new one's first season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
They should can it and re-invest it in live sport.
It'll cost fuck all in relation to the revenues it generates.
Probably right. Seems like everyone is still watching even though they all call it shit afterwards.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
My interest in car stuff is limited but I'll watch them because I like them. Similarly I would watch Clarkson (for being a yobbo twat) and May (for actually being good) talking cars but would often skip Hammond unless I actually had any interest in the car in question because fuck Hammond.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
I thought it improved a fair bit as the series went on. They've done the right thing in losing Evans and just need to dump Schmidt and Jordan now, replace none of them, and it'll be all fine.
Anyone watched the first episode of the Grand Tour yet?
Not sure how long it's been up but I just spotted it.
I'll do it sometime tonight.
Had a ridiculously late night at work and just got in, so why not?
I really don't understand the decision to release this in 5 countries now, and the other 200 odd next month. You are literally encouraging people in those other 200 countries, like me, to torrent it.
Such a bizarre decision.
Torrent time. :drool:
Is this likely to be on that Exodus thing then?
That is dumb.Quote:
Originally Posted by John Arne
It was alright, but it focused very much on cars, so I was bored for large stretches.
In order to let the reception guide the marketing in the other territories. There are very, very few people around who actually torrent things compared to those who watch by conventional methods.Quote:
Originally Posted by John Arne
Never copped first that was the Hothouse Flowers in the opening sequence in the desert.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
I would imagine so. I'll prob be having a look for it tonight.
It's on TBP for anyone interested.
Toggle Spoiler
How do you use those magnet things? If I put it into my browser all I get is a Google results page with a Reddit thread as the top one.
Open your torrent program first, then put it into your web browser and hitting enter should load the trackers, if not open your torrent manager, select something like "add torrent from URL"
The celebs part of the show was strange...
Good show still.
Cheers. It's on Exodus anyway but my Ma wants to see it so I might download it for her next time I visit.Quote:
Originally Posted by John Arne
Bit meh. Brilliantly shot but it feels like they're trying too hard. I was hoping for more challenge-type stuff and less boring close ups of Clarkson's cheeks jiggling as he drives a really fast car.
Remember when Clarkson did documentaries and shit? All three of them are now doomed to do this forever.
I highly doubt they care, fucking rolling in cash.
I think people forget how good he is at them, these two are the best I've seen-Quote:
Originally Posted by Shindig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXusKM5uX0s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpg6h16k8eU
That was good.
What was the whole dead celebrity thing about? Did I miss an in-joke?
That was a bit odd, and 'The American' stopped being funny after about five seconds; but otherwise it was about as good as it could have been.
The bit about the RAF was really odd too. They seem to think it's a sitcom.
I thought the 'American' driver bit was the only miss. The rest was quite good, I thought. The intro was just excellent.
The introduction about them all being fired and then shouting each others names like they're superstars? It all seemed a bit bizarre to me. :D
I meant the shot of Clarkson driving and then the other two joining him. Then driving on the desert with all the different vehicles. Great stuff.
I'd agree. That was properly good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vim
Why did they make that clip of them finding Ben Collins in a garage then introduce this American guy? The guest bit was too stupidly contrived, if you weren't going to have a guest then just don't have that section. Other than that I quite liked it.
I thought it was really good, but they need to tone it back a tiny bit. It's fairly obvious they've got a blank cheque book so now they've displayed that I'd still like it to go on like it has some BBC constraints.
The celebrity bit was weird, presumably a 'look what we can do! #hollywood' and the sitcom bit felt a bit forced. But then again it was an American audience so perhaps it needed to be.
Overall, 8.5/10. The cinematography was great, much like the BBC one but better. The opening was absolutely outstanding too. Really looking forward to the rest. The BBC Top Gear should can it pretty much now.
Just watched it. Wasn't as good as the old Top Gear but still enjoyable. The best bits are when the three of them are having genuine "bantz" but more often them not it's obviously fake and comes across as too try-hard. I'll watch them all though.
Thread title needs updating.
Finally watched it last night and I really enjoyed it.
As mentioned, the intro was the best bit with The American and the celebrity section being proper shit.
I wonder if we'll have 'The South African' next week as the main driver.
I hope they get more racing car drivers in, liked the D'Ambrosio bit. If they're in South Africa I'd like to see Brad Binder.
He'll have been a bit busy when they were filming I would think.
Episode 2 is crap. Another dead celebrity thing that didn't make sense, the shit American driver and the main feature video in Jordan was boring and had less to do with cars than normal (which isn't a lot).
We need more long distance races/adventures in decent cars, please.
Spoilers please, you lunatic.
Yeah I didn't like it near as much this week. There were worse episodes of TG when they used to do it, but they can't afford them so weak when they're so much less frequent and the budget is so high.
I'd never seen those until this morning. The first is fantastic. Reserving the latter for tomorrow morning.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Shearer The 2nd
Cheers, basically.
The second one is just as good, ending is a nice touch too.
I thought the studio bits in the second one were even better, the whole conversation thing was very well made, but the Jordan bit was just weird. I didn't hate it, but I didn't really understand what they were trying to do so it fell a bit flat.
Just to be clear, I'm referring to the second documentary I linked above.
We know. Merse quoted that post.
I really didn't like it.
I found the Jordan thing incredibly shit and I really don't get why they're doing the dead celebrity thing again.
The second episode is bollocks, and that Aston Martin is stupid.
Yeah what a weird pile of shit. Clearly that was Clarkson's brainchild.
The second episode was kinda fucking stupid.
Mike Skinner (The American) wasn't even a really successful driver in NASCAR so I'm a bit surprised they got him for this gig.
At any rate. The second episode fucking draaaaaaaaagged. What was the point of half of that shit? Especially when they would do the "die and restart" shit.
I thought it was going to be a "which car would be best for a car chase" bit and they'd do different cars. Blow some shit up.
But it's just them fucking off with guns and such! Nevertheless the entire "oh kill me kill me they're doing stuff to me just shoot me in the face!"
What. The. Fuck.
The dead celebrity shit is stupid, too. Just say you don't see a point of using celebrities and be done with it.
Ben Collins didn't exactly have a stellar racing career either.
Best episode so far and by quite some distance.
thank fuck. can't wait to get home to watch it then
I started, but the first few I checked had sound sync issues. I'll try again later on.
This second episode is comfortably the worst episode of Top Gear or Grand Tour they've ever made. It's fucking awful.
I wasn't as keen on the first half of the episode but the second half was really good, bar the dead celebrity bit ofc.
As Yev says, it's the best of the series thus far.
Ep 4 still persists with the stupid celebrity thing, and the annoying mediocre American.
Is the celebrity thing not a dig at the BBC because one of the 'clauses' was that they can't interview celebrities on the new show?
Yeah but it wasn't funny the first time they did it but still insist on doing it.
I'm guessing those segments are all in the can by now, so it's not as if it's going to change this series.
It's also pretty weird to take the 'joke' as far as this, plus how many people watching are going to know why they're doing it?
It would have been marginally funnier had they claimed that the BBC were killing them off in the first episode.
Probably wouldn't have gone down too well in the courts though.
This has got really poor really quick.
I thought episode 4 was as good as three (which I liked a lot), but there is something quite tired about the whole thing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Arne
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-r...eremy-clarksonQuote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
One of the most downloaded TV shows ever - which was entirely predictable.
Downloaded an estimated 1.2m times in the UK alone. Estimates put Amazon Prime users in the UK at 2m.
Quote:
Jeremy Clarkson’s new motoring show has become the most illegally downloaded television programme in history, figures suggest.
The data, shared with the Mail on Sunday, suggests the first episode was downloaded illegally 7.9m times, the second 6.4m times and the third 4.6m times. British viewers made up the largest percentage (13.7%) of the total number of illegal downloads.
Muso estimated that Amazon could have lost up to £3.2m in revenue in Britain alone on episode one because of illegal downloads. Chris Elkins, the chief commercial officer at the company, said: “It is the most illegally downloaded programme ever. It is off the scale in terms of volume.”
That drop off in numbers. :drool:
Yeah, that second episode in Jordan really seems to have switched people off.
I just can't be arsed watching the new episode. I know it's never really been about cars as such, but it seems so focused on the three zany guys now, it's lost any sort of interest.
I liked the first episode but my thoughts on the second were pretty much that, that it's like they actively took the stuff that sent Top Gear off the boil and did more of it.
That's a bit shit then. I've yet to watch it but it sounds exactly why I gave up on Top Gear.
I like watching the odd clip on YouTube from about a decade ago when there was still a decent focus on the cars and the humour didn't feel so forced.
The thing is, that they do have very good chemistry together that does come across as humour. So there's no need for them to be scripting the shit out of it like they're doing now.
They've been scripting the shit out of it for over a decade now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
The new show is OK, but I was hoping they would make every show a "special" of some kind. No more studio shit. Just send em to some random country and get em to do stupid shit.
And it's been on the downhill since. The fresh start was as good a time as any to actually look at what was wrong. Instead it's same thing on a bigger budget, I don't think I've seen a clip on on these shows ever that was worse than that die/respawn thing in week 2.hQuote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
What else are they going to do? It's the car show version of Last of the Summer Wine.
Ok, they could actually make it about cars, but then as we've been over many times before, nobody would actually watch it if they did.
And the accusation of the budget being bigger spoiling it is a lazy one as it doesn't look like it is to me. I'm guessing a shit load of it went on their salaries and providing the infrastructure to make such a show that the BBC already had.
They don't need to make it exclusively about cars, they just need to make it a bit more natural and less forced in an attempt to be 'wacky'. That bit with Hammond in the yankmobile in Italy was so forced it was like a cartoon. They've done it before in a natural way and it works so much better.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
Also, on the budget, what the fuck is the track about? Did they only realise last minute they needed one and had a hundred quid left?
I think it came across more naturally in the past as it was new to us and they had loads of ideas. To pull the same thing off for a decade plus is a tough ask.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
You can pinpoint the moment in the original where it got so smug it started to consume itself. They got an award from someone for best unscripted show, and Clarkson made a joke about it, then when the laughter died down he mentioned how he knew it was a good joke when he wrote it into the script last night. All three of them just grinned straight into the camera and the descent began.
Thought the third and especially the fourth were perfectly watchable. Don't mind too much if it maintains a similar standard.
The second was probably the worst thing they've ever done.
I've just seen an advert for this for the first time, and one of the three review quotes they've picked to feature is 'Blockbuster opening sequence!' Right, you've sold three minutes of your eight hour, hundred and odd million quid series with that, good work.
I think this is pretty much right, and the ratings for the old series appear to reflect it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
I watched last week's episode last night, and that eco-car stuff was an obvious example of where they have gone wrong. In the past they would have had the challenge set, bought different cars, lolled at what each other chose, shown them making them more 'sustainable', and then done the challenge. That way you have the car stuff, the BANTER, and then the challenges where it all goes wrong and catches fire. In this they just turned up and lololol what are you like Captain Slow.
The first part of the Marrakesh bit was actually quite good (you know, talking about their cars and stuff). The rest (battleships, when the Morocco trip turned to animals, celebs dying (lol)) was crap.
So general consenus is shite?
I liked the Battleships part, mostly because I know it would be fucking amazing to actually do.
Yeah I enjoyed that episode a fair bit.
Much improved this week I think. Nice Cenotaph Top Gear jibe too.
Yep I really enjoyed that episode. Also weirdly saw a '66 plate Mustang today. Bit weird in my deprived, shithole city.
The last episode was sex. I enjoyed the little battleship thing but the last episode was honestly everything.
As someone who goes to the Daytona 24 every year and saw the new Ford GT debut last year it was really awesome to listen to that bit of history.
I want to like that new Ford GT, but they have done everything they can to make it lame, so President Trump should have a word.
It looks like some sort of weird McLaren copy attempt designed by a bloke in a shed in Hampshire. #Clarkson
It has that 'futuristic' look many cars are going for nowadays, but other than that (which is a matter of taste) what is lame about it? Mind you, it is the first time I hear of it but after five minutes looking at the website it looks good to me. The one from last decade was a stunner.
It looks spot-on; but if you resurrect that name, and make a big deal of the 1966 anniversary like they are, then it needs to be an absolute beast in the true spirit of the original. The 2004 one was (although they built far too many of them), but in 2016 that means something that can compete with a McLaren P1. Until they find another three-hundred horsepower in that V6 (lol), what they have is basically a jumped-up Honda NSX.
Also, their original application process seemingly prioritised people who can brag about them on social media. They deserve praise from trying to stop people just shoving them in garages and never using them, but that doesn't mean letting a nineteen year old tit come up with an alternative.
Don't know anything about the application process and social media. The V6 did raise an eyebrow, but I think there is something nice about having a smaller engine in there, a bit 'F1' if anything. I guess it doesn't really live up to the original's fame and might not really be a 'supercar,' but it is what Americans do best: high performance car with cheap interiors for not so exorbitant prices (unless this one is stupidly expensive.)
There are reports of fifty per cent down payments of $225000, which means 'from' $450000, which means half a million once doors and paint and included. Give or take, that is two hundred grand above Ferrari F12/Lamborghini Aventador/McLaren 650s territory (albeit more comparable to limited edition versions like the F12 tdf, or the LP750-4 Superveloce), where as the 2004 GT was undercutting comparable Ferraris and Lamborghinis by at least fifty grand, and smoking them whilst doing so.
This is the lol application guff, by the way. Ian Huntley influenced public opinion, Ford. It isn't necessarily a good thing.
Yeah, really F1 isn't it. That also means the Ford Mondeo ST220 is a bit F1 too. :harold:Quote:
Originally Posted by Pepe
The Mondeo is also a mid-engined, 600+ hp car, so yes.
They should have promised a bigger engine, taken down payments, and then switched to the V6 like Jaguar did with the XJ220. :cool:
I thought it was only 300bhp?Quote:
Originally Posted by Pepe
Does the Viper still have a gazillion liter V10? Do they even make Vipers anymore?
I thought the 220 stood for 220hp, but I can't remember, they don't sell them in the US.Quote:
Originally Posted by Magic
8.4L V10. :harold:Quote:
Originally Posted by Pepe
No the GT. If it's not what was Lewis on about it being an NSX for?Quote:
Originally Posted by Pepe
It was only an eight litre when they started (in 1932 or whatever), so you can see where all of their research and development goes.
The website says 600+, whatever that means.Quote:
Originally Posted by Magic
At least their interiors are now Camry level.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
It's a 3.5 litre twin turbo engine. Lol at that. It just looks shit, like an attempt at a super car fighter (i.e Supra/Skyline) (note: NOT hypercar) from Japan.
I compared it to an NSX because it sounds like a similar level of output/performance (it may well be much faster and lighter), when, in my opinion, any worthy GT40 successor should be able to stomp whatever Ferrari are offering into the group. But then the original was British, so it had a few more brains behind it.
I'd wholeheartedly agree here. That was the whole fucking point of it, not so it could get blasted by a £60,000 Nissan GTR.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
Lol ok it turns out the new NSX is actually a fucking beast!
EDIT: NSX will be quicker than the GT off the line, top speed is only 191mph though.
Well at least the new Top Gear presenting trio is now sorted.
Me = Clarkson
Lewis = May
Pepe = Hammond
:drool:
Both the NSX and the GT will obviously quick in an objective sense, in which case there is nothing wrong with being a 'jumped up Honda NSX' in itself; but we're now at a point where Audi build 190mph estates, and supercharged F-Types are good for 200mph, so standing out at those levels requires some serious performance. If the million quid hypercars are a step too far, the Noble M600 would have been the ideal benchmark.
Did you know the new R8 V10+ does 0-60 in 2.5 seconds? That's ridiculous performance for a N/A car.
I read 3.2 seconds, and 205mph. Half the price of these Ford GTs as well (and more than likely better on every count), so this is what I mean about them sitting a bit awkwardly below where me and probably some other purist dorks think they should be.
200mph+ on road cars is some obsence shit. At least that is one part of the car's performance than its owners might be able to realize, because 99.9% of them sure as hell are not using their handling anywhere near its potential.
The first episode of that special was pretty good, if a little overly scripted and a bit stupid in points.
EDIT: Best bits were no celebrity brain crash, no fat stupid American and no Conversation Street.
Quite enjoyed the first episode of the special too, but these things are generally best watched as a whole so the day's wait is a bit of a pain.
Think I'll just wait for both to appear.
I grit my teeth and had a go at the third episode.
Car bits round Italy - Pretty good
Everything else - Ebola
Part 2 of the Namibia special is up.
Good. The first one was woeful. 40 minutes of them driving back and forth through the desert. The second part did look better in the teaser though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
Having seen it, I think I preferred the first part.
It was better than the normal shows but it suffers from the same problem, almost everything is totally scripted.
Watching the first part now and definitely agree with the above. So boring.Quote:
Originally Posted by CJay
I liked the first but hated the second, although I loved the shots of the waterfalls.
This week's episode was pretty good. A nice blend of cars and silliness.
Just finished it there too. Much better.
Wasn't a fan.
The segment with the apocalypse proof vehicles would have been so much better if they'd all built their own each and done challenges.
Anybody still watching this? The last episode (10) was really quite good.
About to watch 11 tonight.
10 was the first one I turned off. I liked the Alfa bit at the start but the beach stuff was horrendously shit. Liked 11 a lot more.
Bit of a return to form this week.
I haven't watched it since the second Whitby episode (I'll catch up at some point), but apparently the Ford GT does 216 mph, and Ford claim to have taken one around some track nobody knows about faster than a McLaren 675LT. Even when taking manufacture claims with a skip full of salt, that sounds a bit more like it, as does the combined fourteen miles per gallon.
Just finished 10 and I'm really disappointed.
It could have been brilliant but I felt that they ruined it.
More bullshit crowd stuff, more fake cock ups etc.
I stopped watching at episode 6, I think.
Are any of them worth catching up with?
Whichever one was last Friday (9?) Easily the best so far. The one before it was the worst of the bunch.Quote:
Originally Posted by John Arne
12 mate.
Yeah 12, easily the best. Looking back at a list it was 10 (the one Mahow said) that was terrible. Only one I never got to the end of, the beach/sea bit is the worst thing they've ever done.
But it could have been one of the best things they've ever done.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
They completely fucked it.
Beyond the bounds of staged.
The whole show has been shit really. I will give the second season a chance and hope they learn from their errors.
New one has been quite enjoyable so far. :clap:
So much better than last series.
I'll actually get round to watching this I suspect. Evans is irritating enough on the radio.
Yep, I gave up last year after about 3 episodes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
This was quite good. I'm a fan of the trio.
Same. Horrific on paper but the chemistry is there. Liked the celebrity bit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry
Much better having them on like that instead of the mess the double celebrity thing was with Evans last year.
Much better than last year and better than most of what I've watched of Grand Tour.
Enjoyed the 2nd episode too. It's weird though because I can watch repeats of the old TG on Dave no bother at all. However I don't think I could watch any of the new episodes again. Ever.
I watched the first one (or whichever one they went to Kazakhstan) and apart from the black guy I found the other two forced and annoying. Could be me though.
Harris and Reid are decent but LeBlanc, who is okay, largely always talks and delivers his jokes like they're straight off the script, even when they're presumably not.
New top gear is still shit. It feels soulless and the presenter relationships come across quite forced.
The celebrity stuff is still a bit pointless (and having guests like David Tennant makes it look comparatively lame), but the first two episodes are much more like it. That four seasons test in America was bang on. There was no shitty staged comedy, but there was still enough light relief to ease the actual car content along, which is what made the programme what it is.
I've quite enjoyed this series of Top Gear, on the whole. I've not even bothered finishing Grand Tour.
The Grand Tour was shit. Really. Hope they pull it back cos I do like them three. Watched one episode of this Top Gear season and I almost vomitted at how shit it is.
I haven't watched last nights Top Gear but it's so much more enjoyable than the Grand Tour and a few of the later seasons of Top Gear.
I loved the Cuba thing last week.
Just watched the first episode of season two and enjoyed it.
Helped that they've binned off the shit celebrity death thing (was the ban on celebrities only one year or did the BBC give up?) and The American.
My favourite bit might well have been the motor museum though, that system was fucking incredible. Picking an exhibit to look at and then having it presented to you? :drool:
Was decent enough. I'd forgot all about the crash too, so it was unexpected.
All the promo stuff has annoyed me, so I might just avoid it completely and call myself a Chris Harris loyalist.
Continuity Top Gear.
I haven't watched anything past the first episode of last season but then I was the same for Top Gear. I prefer just watching Chris Harris's own stuff he still does on youtube under the Top Gear channel.
Have you watched his Joe Rogan podcast from a few years ago?
No although I might get onto that when I have a spare 2 hours. Assuming it's worth it?
Yeah, but I watched it over a couple of days in segments. I don't know whether I could listen to Rogan having his MIND BLOWN for hours on end.
lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
Good on Ford.
lol at him having to sell it for other expenses.
Easiest few-hundred grand he will ever make (or would have been). I doubt he actually needed it.
The first two episodes are crap, and James May looks like he has six months to live.
There's a second out? Nice. I liked the first, though I do reckon he's definitely been ill.
This was really good. Ended up watching most of it in one go.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
You'd think they'd have been able to take steps to prevent such entirely foreseeable 'losses'.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
Like making more of them in the first place.
I doubt they actually care about the financial side of it. It sounds more like protecting the integrity of their policy, which more manufacturers would probably copy if they had the coconuts/bank balance to ride it out.
Do you ever watch any of the stuff Jay Leno has on YouTube? I didn't know Americans didn't like him, but they are right that he is mega on cars.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Shearer The 2nd
No although I probably should. I seem to have a natural dislike of American presenters, more so with car shows.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
Henry Catchpole (formerly of Evo magazine) makes some of the best videos if you like the Chris Harris on Cars style-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bziUYnN8Mg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkAT82-R0S8
I like their dull videos, and I can't bear to watch any of those shrieking YouTube channels run by amateur Jeremy Clarksons that contaminate my recommendeds. Leno is more towards the dull side, to the point where if the car in question is a boring one you won't watch to watch it; but when he's going round something that you are interested in he gets right into it.
That one's a beauty. :drool:
Fuck sake all the torrents on Pirate Bay of this have gone. What's gone on? Can't find anything anywhere.
EDIT: Thank God it was just the search being shite.
It's been very good the last couple of weeks too.
I think the last 2 have been some of the worst they've ever done.
The unscripted bit was so scripted and the Jeremy skidding thing was horseshit.
I don't know what people expected when Amazon started making the show. It's exactly what they did on Top Gear when they were on it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry
The sheep thing had me properly lolling.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry
It's still balls, and I should have given up when they raced that Kia against the skateboarders and told you absolutely nothing about the car.
Ball & Boe were comfortably the best guests ever.
The whole thing wreaks of them running out of ideas (and this year's 'Christmas Special'/two parter, if they even bother doing one) will probably confirm that.
Yep by a mile. That segment hasn't been bad, it's just a pity the track makes the laps look so slow on camera.Quote:
Originally Posted by Magic
This is all stuff people were saying during their last two years of Top Gear too. Like I said, I don't know what people were actually expecting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
I watched the first couple of episodes of this season and thought it was better than most of the last one but still haven't cared enough to go back.
There are enough cars coming out all the time to not really need 'ideas' beyond comparing them in different places and having some of their shit BANTER, so that might be their problem.
You were saying this about Mad Max too and it's such an odd line. People don't need to have been expecting genius to comment when something is shit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
It's not really. I've heard people complain, and get quite worked up, that they're not reviewing any normal cars on the grand tour. Yeah that had been a staple for years.Quote:
Originally Posted by John
People can, of course, think something is shit but their reasons still might be dumb.
I don't care about them not actually reviewing cars and never have.
Are they doing some sort of two part challenge this year? It was over Christmas last year. In theory those are my favourite episodes, but their last few have been poor. Last year’s was terrible.
The show is beautifully shot and put together, which helps make up for the parts where it’s a bit boring.
If I recall right, I think they were about to go shoot it in South America when Clarkson got the pneumonia. Not sure if they shot it later or didn't bother at all.
thoroughly enjoyed that. :)
Jag skiing was absolutely class.
I'm still going with this. The Audi vs Lancia bit is the best thing they have done (Jeremy Clarkson was always underrated at 'serious' bits), and it takes the total of good stuff up to about forty minutes across the whole series.
Yeah, that was genuinely great.
That was the last episode I watched though as I took a bit of a break.
Yep, that was great and really enjoyed the last episode too.
The whole thing is generally looking very tired though.
If we go off the Wikipedia series round-up I reckon we've got:
The Bugatti Chiron bit (episode three)
The tank bit and the Volkswagen Up GTI (episode five)
Audi vs Lancia (episode seven)
Nick Mason and Stewart Copeland (episode eight, and I skipped the actual race)
There were a few other things that could have been good if they had been a bit more detailed or had less Richard Hammond in (the nineties supercar test in the most recent one being a case in point, since they cut it short to BANTER about how women take their jumpers off), but it's a pretty crap return.
I liked the Jaguar skiing.
Boe and Ball were the best guests ever.
BTW I've loved this series.
Yeah I really liked them too. And the boxer/wrestler.Quote:
Originally Posted by Magic
Dynamo and 'the lady'. :D
I skipped the celebrity bit, but the rest of Top Gear did their car comparison thing better (that is to say more informative and less not funny) than the Grand Tour has been doing, so promising start keep it up BBC with your unique way of funding.
I did like the Mozambique special for the Grand Tour. I think the second half was a lot stronger than the first half of the season.
The new Alpine. :drool:
The Mozambique special would have been better if they hadn't gone "Hey, James may getting seawater tipped on him might be funny! Richard Hammond falling off a bike too!" and doing exactly that for 70% of the remainder of the episode on a loop.
Grand Tour has improved though.
I did enjoy last night's Top Gear too and Joey / Harris / Reid are getting better as a collective. Presumably just as they get to know each other.
I really enjoyed this series of GT but that last episode was awful. It was only rushed together after Clarkson got pneumonia and couldn't do the proper one (Colombia I think) but apparently that two-parter is done now and still to come.
Forgot about TG last night and no way of watching it back on iPlayer as it's not allowed here. When's the repeat on?
I've enjoyed the whole lot. It's great, Top Gear was always a must watch for me, and now there's two programmes that are excellent? Heaven. Before it was 5th Gear which was shite.
Jesus the guests here are churned out BBC luvvies. Brydon now Mack? Fuck off just scrap the guest shite.
Those Sherps are incredible. People on YouTube take them through all sorts of impossible shit and they just stroll through it like nothing. I skipped the celebrity bit, and that reverse camera race was pointless, but the off-road stuff was fun and the McLaren section was like the old Chris Harris internet days.
Fatt LeBlanc mate keep your coat on.
The new series has been really good so far, though that backwards racing bit last night was beyond stupid and felt so much like filler, not to mention the big continuity fail at the end.
It was obviously a BAME bit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
I liked that a lot, as has been said the celebrity and reversing bit was bollocks but I loved the off-road stuff and Harris fawning over McLarens.
Next week in Japan could be amazing.
I happened across the new Top Gear for the first time. They were searching for bigfoot. Painfully bad.
Grand Tour axed.
http://metro.co.uk/2018/03/11/jeremy...eries-7377592/
That sounds like they've just had enough. Axed implies it was cancelled after failing. Hardly the case as its been the biggest money maker for Amazon.
I'd say nobody signed up just to watch like Amazon hoped. It's easy to watch for free.
It's made them 100m dollars...
When it says 'brought in' does that mean profits? Because they were supposed to have spent more than that on it.
Amazon care more about bringing people to the platform than making money so in that sense it's probably worked.
True, but that suggests it isn't doing that, otherwise they would just tip even more money into it.
They're all too old/unwilling to do the the stuff that made them popular (ie half spectacle half misery tours through the arse end of nowhere) so once the buzz around them going there subsides there may not be much point in pouring the money in. Time for them to make headlines by nicking something else.
Nicking? Clarkson wasn't renewed by the BBC.
Alright Harold.
Harold never dealt in facts. You're probably harolding more actually.Quote:
Originally Posted by Disco
Semantics, you knew what I meant.
They were a high profile terrestrial programme taken off to a new type of service, sports will be next I would assume.
Again, not taken. The main presenter was effectively let go by the BBC. The programme wasn't taken either, it still remains. It's on in about 6 hours.Quote:
Originally Posted by Disco
Disco having a mare here.
They took the presenters and the people behind all the ideas, it's the same thing. 10 years ago they'd have gone to Sky for loads of money, this time it's Amazon signing up established acts for the headlines rather than the viewing figures. Now they've served their purpose there's clearly not that much point spending all the money anymore.
They weren't taken. The main presenter didn't have his contract renewed so his two co-presenters didn't renew theirs either. They were replaced and they signed a contract with another employer. All contracts had expired and the BBC were the ones that made the initial break.Quote:
Originally Posted by Disco
Paul Hollywood wasn't stolen either btw. Deal ran out.
On the ropes.
'Axed'Quote:
Over the past three years, Grand Tour has brought in a staggering £100million for Amazon and has been one of the biggest shows for the TV service.
:D
Brilliant.
Anyway.
The whole story seems to be based on someone's mate phoning them to say there's no deal in place for a fourth series. Television series' are usually commissioned one batch at a time, so that's not a surprise when they're still making the third.
:drool:
:D
Class.
The Type R really does look like someone couldn't stop designing the outside of it.
Saw one last week on my way to campus. Maybe because it was black, but it wasn't as ridiculous looking as you'd think. Still pretty lol, like most things with wings that size. Fifteen year olds must love it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
They have a white one and it's hideous.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pepe
It really is hard to imagine why anyone would spend 40k or whatever they're charging for it on one. Just get an STI and be done with it.
Yeah the white definitely makes it look worse, I could imagine the black isn't bad if they keep all the trim parts black too.
The sisters next door neighbour has a red one and it's not wonderful either. They've a Focus RS too and the ford is a much better looking car.
Wear a rubber.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pepe
I really wanted to see that Supra in this bit. My biggest regret I never bought one when I had the chance.
The Focus does look alright, plus it has the all-wheel drive. Still a lot of money for a bloody Focus.
That car auction looks absolutely fucking mental.
The Porsche :drool:
Used to love the look of that thing.
I've never been all that interested in Porsche road cars (maybe those 73/74 lightweights), but every one of their old endurance racers is unbelievably cool.
I'd be the very same. 911's etc are just ugly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
That Type-R was awesome.
(late) 90s me always dreamed of an Evo 6. As was pointed out, by the time you can afford such things, you'd probably not want them. The car supermarket also looked amazing.
Olden days 911s are funky because they are small (although in that case go for the lighter 912), and - come to think of it - I could see the appeal of one of those 930 Turbo dentist killers until its first crack at offing you; but yeah they are a bit sterile and not necessarily the best looking things. As above the 73/74 lightweights are ace, but those things are obscene money, so whatever.
All of those nineties rice-burners are fucking mega. Unfortunately now they are either pristine and unreasonably expensive, or attainable but only because they have been modded, thrashed, un-modded, and thrashed some more. And they were never particularly low-maintenance in the first place, so good luck anyone going for one of these 140000 mile imported (less powerful) Toyota Supras you regularly see listed. But yeah, an Evo VI. In blue. :drool:
That's why I didn't go for the Supra I'd the chance at. Was the first nearby twin turbo I could find at the time but it had been butchered.
My Dad owned an old 911 variant (I think it was the 930 but I'm probably completely wrong), I was always gutted that I never got to drive it.
Probably for the best though.
Wasn't it even called Lancer or Evo blue?Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
Not that I look for them, but are they as abundant as Impreza's of the same era? I've always imagined not.
What an awesome episode. :drool:
Remember that period in the late noughties when it evolved from Corsa Bs and Paxos to Type Rs, 172s and GTIs?
Can't see that happening again if these things are costing 30k plus. :|
The standard car was the Mitsubishi Lancer, and then the fast ones were the Evolutions. The Evo VI had a special 'Tommi Makinen Edition' as well, which was basically the same except for some trivial mechanical differences, bigger wheels, and 'Tommi Makinen' written all over it. The equivalent Subaru Imprezas were the WRX editions, which were no worse or no more rare; but now people prize the P1 (Provide One) editions, which were a thousand UK-only specials built to stop dealers moaning about imports undercutting them, and arguably the most desirable rice-burner of them all is the 22B STi, which was the fat-arsed, gold wheels one that was the best car on the original Gran Turismo. Those things push six figures if they are in good condition, where as you would do well to find a Tommi Makinen Evo VI for more than half that.
EDIT: I'm actually mis-remembering that. Gran Turismo pre-dates the 22B STi. That was the second game (which was the best one). The don of the first game was the WRX STi Type R.
Bit late to the party, but this is one of the laziest bits of journalism I can recall. From there seemingly being no substance to the show being axed to the "made £100m", which they couldn't possibly know and has clearly been confused with the cost. Fucking piss poor.
I like the GT3 RS. Apart from that, all 911s are basically the same.
The 906. :drool:
I always lol when I see adds for SRT-4s, '100k miles on the body, 500 miles on the engine, mod list:' *internet melts*Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
I found a pretty decent looking stock Focus SVT which seemed like a good deal, but then I went for the Abarth instead. If I ever find a stock SRT-4 I might go for it.
Evos and STIs still seems to go for $20k+ no matter how old they are.
Speaking of:
https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/d...519059200.html
For half the price I'd be tempted.
There are so many great things from back in our youth. The Ford Puma. :cool:
'The price is $20,000 *firm* I will not negotiate at this time'. Ring him up and offer forty.
I don't think that one ever made it to Mexico. We mostly got all the junk. They still sell brand new third generation Sentras over there. :harold:Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media...jupjee4g6v.jpg
:harold:
Must be 18 to ride mate.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
I like unnecessarily aggressive adverts like that. My old man sent me one for a BMW 840 a while back which was basically daring people to find a better one.
I always used that in one of the Colin McRae games.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
One of my Sister's friends had one too, it was brilliant but she had a shit personalise number plate on it.
When I was looking for a car in Miami, ten years ago or so, I called to inquire about a really nice older M Benz.
*Hi, I would like to go check out your car.*
*Do you have the cash in your hand right now?*
*Ermmm, no?*
*Call back when you have it. Clicks.*
Such a fucking wanker.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C9XRT-AFxc
They still look fresh when you spot one. I bet it would be a great project with a more modern engine.
The Racing Puma was another one I craved, even though it wasn't really worth the extra money. I remember finding a website claiming it could be imported from Europe for about the cost of a normal 1.4l one at the time (I think it was about £13,000) and I almost persuaded my dad to get one (would never have worked out as they couldn't be imported from Europe). I still search for them every now and then on the internet. Being both awesome, of a very limited initial run and totally pointless in real terms makes them fairly scarce these days.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
That was another one in blue. Must have been the time.
Yeah, nobody bought them because they were barely any better but pitched (price-wise) against more powerful Japanese things. I think they were a bit ahead of their time in terms of styling, like the BMWs that came through in the early 2000s looking all bloated and weird, but in hindsight seem to have led the way.
Was that to Australia? They don't seem to like people importing stuff. I bet it's easier to open an off-licence on aboriginal land than register a left-hand drive car.
No, to Guernsey.
The problem was there weren't any in the EU/Europe to buy/sell - they were all just sold in the UK (I think). The website I found was some sort of VAT dodge as I recall, and it listed the Racing Puma as an option, but for various reasons that never happened.
I don't know why they didn't bother with the performance a bit more. It was a cracking little car.
Fucking Ed Byrne.
Ffs I said last week it was a who's who of BBC shit cunts.
That Dodge though. :drool:
Yep, I fucking love an American muscle car.
I also liked that they used it to help bring in a U2/ER2 which is an amazing plane. You need a week of training just to go up in it as a passenger.
I also love Joey though. Class guy.
Jesus Christ it's O'Brien too. Fuck this.
I have as hoping after last week they'd binned the interview section altogether.
Same. That's the first time I've skipped the guest bit, other than Dave repeats.
The egg bit in the 2CV was fairly fastfowardworthy.
It's been done to death at this stage anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by niko_cee
I'd rather have that Chevrolet than the Ferrari.
Another nobody.
Jason Manford? Nope.
Lol at the Renault bursting in to flames.
Edit: in fact every single guest has been utterly shite.
The fact it gets half the viewers it used to probably stops the really famous people from turning up, but they can surely still do better than middling BBC players.
Liked the SUV bit. Really enjoyed the series as a whole. :)
Me too. Thought the whole thing was really good.
I'd sack off the guest bit altogether if they're not ever going to get anybody properly famous but otherwise I've enjoyed this series. It seemed they barely had any bits with all three of them this time and I'd like to see them get a proper special but if the viewer numbers are down I guess that may not happen.
LeBlanc leaving.
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-44320696
Fuck sake.
They should just let Harris and Reid do it as a two and play up their differences, but watch them get a woman in.
They're way past that now. Gender fluid.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
A bit disappointed as he (and the trio together) were really starting to gel.
Ugh.
:sick:
And Rory Reid only doing the extra thing as well.
What? Why?
Harris still there?
That's amazing. They must have thought long and hard about whether they could find a worse pair. Redknapp and Corden?
This will kill it with any luck and then it can be rebooted properly in few years time.
Freddie Flintoff's media career is the opposite of the gift that keeps on giving. The thief that keeps on stealing?
That's fucking hilarious.
Star in a reet good car sponsored by Jacamo
Harris will be there attempting to give a shit about cars but really just wishing he was dead.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry
What are they thinking? The statement put out in Harris' name sounded like he had been kidnapped.
Didn't realise it was coming back already.
Watched it. Underwhelmed.
The hashtag they’ve used to advertise it got a shameful smile out of me.
#Amazonshitcarshow
I mean it worked on me when I saw it in the train station at 7am before my brain got it's act together.
That was quite a good one. That McLaren Senna - lame name aside - is incredible.
Was good, happy days. I hope they do just switch to permanent specials type things from next series though.
That McLaren is pig ugly though.
I though LeBlanc was leaving now with Paddy and Flintoff (fucking hell once more) coming in for this series.
I've just seen that LeBlanc's last is the one that starts soon so we get one more of the good trio.
I've got as far as where they're going around the city with the cameras. It's done lads, it's finally done.
Can't help but agree. Comes across as so tired.
I felt that way last season and I've yet to bother with any of the new ones.
I wouldn't, they're shit.
Do they still review cars now or is it just challenges at the bank of Amazon?
There's a bit of that, but the main problem for me (as someone who never enjoyed that bit anyway) is the lack of imagination in the challenges/trips. The double episode was just a bit crap, for example.
That was a good episode. I love when they do segments like the one on Clark.
Amazing. Love the new series so far. My dad has Prime, and I may never move out. :drool:
I want some battered spag bol :drool:
I thought the first Top Gear was good, but my Prime has lapsed so no more of that oh well.
That's one of the best specials they've ever done.
I quite enjoyed it.
Any news on whether the show will be renewed?
It has been renewed and they are scrapping the tent part of the show and only doing specials from now on. No timed laps,conversation street or May's brilliant automotive history bits.
That's a good sign of the show's future, then. :moop:
Hmm. I liked both.
You all need to go and watch the latest episode that just came out. Just watch it.
I've seen Clarkson refer to putting his heart and soul into writing it. It's about the Mondeo isn't it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Limoutsonik
Yes but after you watch it,you will understand what i am on about.
I watched it at half five this morning when I read your post :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Limoutsonik
Last 5 minutes tugged into the heart strings for sure.
What is it?
Hadn’t it already been posted about in this thread?
They’re changing it so it’s just episodes like the specials, with no tent, times track laps or audience.
See!Quote:
Originally Posted by Limoutsonik
Basically they announce that the current format of the tent with the audience,laptimes and car chat is scrapped and they are only going to do big adventure specials.But you can see Clarkson tear up while saying this and showing a montage of the their best moments throughout the years with footage from Top Gear being added as well and they did mention BBC by name.But it was presented in such a way that was genuinely moving and could make a grown man cry.
It was nice that they got some BBC clips for their montage.
To be fair I knew that was happening but it did not immediately spring to mind as something that should be reducing anybody to tears.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike
I can only assume they wanted to continue in its current format, but Amazon said no. Which for me is the right decision.
The last special trip they did was good, up there with the best ones (Botswana, S.America). If they can do more in that style then I might start watching again, it felt less obviously scripted than everything they've done since the switch to Amazon.
Yeah it was one of the best shows since the switch, possibly the best.Quote:
Originally Posted by Disco
The new Top Gear line-up works weirdly well.
I meant to post about it in here. There's a bit of the "LOOK WE'RE DOING BANTER!!!" because they're still working on it but I actually haven't minded it so far.
I can't bring myself to watch it.
I was going to swerve it but then my Sky box recorded it for me so I stuck it on. The second episode was a bit more "lol banter lads" than I'd have liked but the first was solid enough.
Haven't seen an episode this series and I never will.
It’s on my watch list after my Dad said it was good.
The two episodes so far are, if nothing else, much more watchable than the worst bits of the original trio (either as latter-day Top Gear or the low points of Grand Tour) or anything involving Chris Evans.
This.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
I also haven't watched any of the last season of Grand Tour.
A lot of the last series of GT was very good, especially the last special. I just say no to LADBANTZ.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry
I don't know what I want from a car show. We've seen it all.
I honestly gave up on them a good while ago.
Because I'm a car nerd I prefer a lot of the stuff on youtube from Chris Harris, Henry Catchpole etc.
Project Binky :cool:
I watched the first episode after hammond and co left and never returned
I fucking hate online singles.
Have I said that before?
EDIT: Ignore me.
Same.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
Online singles?
:D
The Top Gear Nepal thing was pretty good, and lol out loud at some of the overtaking in the first section. Absolute maniacs.
Still haven’t seen an episode of the LAD version of TG. Probably would have if it was any way handy to watch them on a catch up thing though.
Yeah, I lost all interest as soon as Flintoff and McGuiness were announced.
Annoying as I preferred it to The Grand Tour (I don't think I watched any of last season).
Flintoff and McGuinness are both fine in the bits where it's just one of them with and Harris but together they're annoying yobbo bantertwats.
I've never really watched much of the newer ones, I just stick with the Chris Harris youtube stuff that appears.
By the end I quite liked Joey Tribbiani on it.
As did I.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
I really like the trio of LeBlanc, Harris and Reid.
The Seamen thing wasn’t great.
I bet they thought that name was absolutely hilarious too.
I didn’t mind it. Definitely not the worst special they ever did (India).
Yeah it was better than that and some of their efforts on Amazon, but you’re left thinking that they’ve well and truly run out of ideas.
There were barely any challenges, for example.
It’s basically a travel show now.
Forgot that this and the grand tour still exist.
James May has just done a six-part travel show for Amazon on Japan. Agree re Seamen, it smacked of Clarkson's longing to do something on the Vietnam war.
He should do more WW2 documentaries.
I'd seen the two more well known ones (Victoria Cross/St. Nazaire Raid) but only came across PQ17: An Arctic Convoy Disaster the other month.
All outstanding.
Didn’t know May’s one had landed on Amazon yet. Happy days.
I liked May's reassemble series.
I'll be watching May in Japan. His.solo stuff is generally ace.
Just finished the first episode and I could probably watch the Samurai swordsmith for hours.
This James May in Japan thing is pretty good, but if he lives another ten years I'll be astonished. He looks seventy.
I finished it the other day and thought it was great.
I’d forgot about it again. Going to stick it on now.
Just happened to land on it flicking the channels tonight and, though I didn’t see it from the start, that McRae thing was class. What a legend he was. Can’t believe that was 25 years ago.
It's been a really good series. They really need to drop the celebrity bollocks now that the guests are all shit, and there is probably room for more 'serious' items since all of the casuals have dropped off, but otherwise I think it's closer to what it was when it was good than either programme has been since it was good.
Top Gear has come back strong with the shitty celebrity bit falling victim to the illness.
I love the Jaguar XJ220. It's the best looking car of my lifetime, if not since the sixties, and the infamous 'Metro engine' is actually a work of art that a serious company, rather than those actually involved, would still be using today and breezing the emissions tests. I'm surprised they allowed that speed run after the first crash, since they have been known to spin themselves equally as easily, but they might have taken it easy through the gears.
Sabine Schmitz has died of cancer. Only 51 :(
That's grim, I didn't know she had cancer.
That Sabine Schmitz tribute was nice. The famous van segment was 2004 fucking wot mate how long have I been alive.
I watched their new 'Lochdown' special with my Amazon Prime trial, and it is the worst thing they have ever done.
Fuck sake. I was really looking forward to that too.
So was I. 40 minutes in and it's awful.
Strange when Clarkson's Farm was so good.
What's so bad about it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
Tbh, I watched the first grand tour episode a a year after it aired and thought it was terrible, so never watched any others. I worry may be been too hasty in my rejection.
I enjoyed S4. Will be tuning in.
I haven't watched it (haven't watched any Grand Tour stuff in a while) but I used to think the biggest culprit for the crap scripting bits was Clarkson but having watched their other shows it's actually Hammond.
Every individual show that May has done has been quality and Clarkson's Farm was brilliant but Hammond's The Escapists (with Tory Belleci from Mythbusters) was absolutely horrendous and I couldn't even manage to get through the first episode. It was all of the worst parts of Top Gear/Grand Tour with none of the redeeming qualities.
It's just not funny, and full of lol caravan fallen over stuff we've seen ten years ago. I know they were a bit limited with travel, but maybe the whole challenge angle has finally been exhausted (maybe it already was - I haven't seen the boat or treasure hunt specials) beyond just comparing three cars on a cinematic comparison test.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dquincy
Richard Hammond has always been the worst one, but their overall product getting worse over the years as the car material has slowly dried up suggests that the three of them were probably never as brilliant as people thought. Top Gear was clearly ahead of the curve going down to six episodes (or whatever it is) a series now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry
Even the specials during 'peak' Top Gear had started to go a bit shit. The India one was about as funny as a flesh wound.
That one was definitely bottom of the barrel.
They were, but everyone and everything regresses. They’re probably still better than those ladbible twats on it now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
Lewis wasn’t wrong anyway, absolute dogshit. What was the brief switch to the Charger and all about? Lasted until the floaty bridge and that was more than enough.
The most pointless bit was the destruction derby.
Vietnam special was peak Clarkson, Hammond and May. Grand Tour was long in the tooth before it even started.
I thought it was ok for something that clearly would have had to have been cobbled together last minute.
Take it to the controversial opinion thread.
The new episode of this is excellent - a road trip through Northern Scandinavia. Great japes, beautiful scenery, nice cars. Lovely stuff.
I hope Mika Hakkinen shows up.
Scenery and all was good but I found it all as tired as ever. I know they lean into some of it more these days but did they really need to do the “go to bed somewhere deserted, oh no wait it’s not” twice in the one episode?
With Giggles on this one. One of the times that happened Clarkson clearly hadn't slept in his shed either.
Have to say that didn’t really bother me. It’s been so long since anything they did seemed genuine that I can still lol at the ridiculous setups. And it helped that there were two actual genuine incidents in this one that clearly weren’t scripted.
Is the new Grand Tour (Eurocrash) any good? Came out yesterday.
Did it? Happy days, evening sorted. It'll be staged bollocks but that's just what the brain needs on a Saturday evening.
It's fairly shit with a couple of laughs but usual fare really.
It’s rubbish.
Last time Jeremy’s car didn’t fit the criteria and this time James’ car is just pure garbage and ruins the whole thing.
It's over, isn't it?
Yeah it was complete bollocks.
I turned it off when they got the bow and arrows out.
Has ‘titties and beer’ and ‘I am impotent’ been funny since Harry Enfield and Chums was around?
I know they still have their moments but didn't they stop being consistently any good.... Christ, I dunno. A decade ago? I feel like that Top Gear India special was the tipping point.
Grand Tour briefly found its feet after a ropey first season of just being Not Top Gear but not for long.
They're better just driving around beautiful landscapes in supercars.
They are 63, 60 and 53 now and (Hammond aside, no idea what he does) now do better stuff on their own. Guessing Amazon can wring another five years out of it though.
Some of the stuff on Prime has been good, the Mongolia special, for example. I haven’t seen this one yet but I don’t think the problem is that they’re old but that whoever was behind the ideas has run out of them. Clarkson’s Farm shows there’s still something there.
Was that one not meant to be the very end? Especially when Amazon are cutting ties with Clarkson and the farm thing after the next one.
To me, at some stage late TG into TGT, someone became too worried the lols wouldn't come, and started heavily scripting them (there was obvs always scripted skits, etc). But the thing is, when the three of them are just being the three of them, the lols pretty much invariably always did/do come. I also think the transition away from 'real' motoring in at least the sense of no longer driving every day, attainable cars/vehicles, and/or then modifying them in such a way as to go beyond the bounds of real motoring just made it a bit dull. I used to love the £1,000 X challenge, or £2,500 Y challenge, or the drive this car from between the years xx to yy from here to here. Those were always great.
Has any of TGT actually been any good? I'd argue not.
I got bored of TGT, I think I only watched the first season and maybe a special.
I enjoyed it. Slovenia looks a must.
Watched it. Much better than I was anticipating. Some really good / nice moments. Yes, the fact they barely journeyed together at all was a bit crap, but the Mansell stuff was good - the wax museum bit in general :D.
+1 for enjoying it. Certainly better than some of the stuff they’ve done recently.
I thought 'Sand Job' was the last special, but there appears to be another one lined up. It's crap as well.
So, so bad.
I thought this was the last one as well to be fair. I don't think I have watched any of the stuff they have done on Amazon and thought it was any good. The format was tired when they got binned off by the BBC and it's only got worse since then.