Interesting to note that during the news it's only Hammond & Clarkson, though there are three seats present. Also there is far less audience, and the age range of the audience seems somewhat older.
Interesting to note that during the news it's only Hammond & Clarkson, though there are three seats present. Also there is far less audience, and the age range of the audience seems somewhat older.
A slightly different theme used too.
The end theme sounds like it was replaced for syndication, because you can hear the current theme cut in rather badly when Harry Enfield does his little Clarkson impression at the end. The beginning theme though is actually the same, its just its had the right channel removed, and the theme is very much a stereo theme, so without the right channel it sounds a lot different.
Probably because Dawes is actually a proper auto journalist...
So was James May but he seems better equipped to play the fall guy to the other two.
If you take Jason for what he is, he actually does know what he's talking about. Which is a fatal flaw on Top Gear
Don't get me wrong, I love TG but I do think Dawes is unnecessarily maligned. He was just put on the wrong show. Had he gone onto the more serious Fifth Gear (as was at the time as opposed to the TG-aping horror it is now) I think he'd have fitted in nicely.
Jason Dawe knew his stuff but he was just so boring, no personality or quick wit. James is a bit of a character and can come up with a witty bon mot and the three of them seem to get on much better.
This was the exact moment I became a James May fan. I think it's from the first series he did and I thought to myself, this guy is actually quite funny.
Jason would have suited the old style Top Gear, that James was on...mind you that was why it was axed. It then went to Five a s Fifth Gear in the same boring vein.
You're mistaking "boring" for serious. Although it must be said that is a symptom of television in general over the last decade so it is hardly surprising.
You're mistaking "boring" for serious. Although it must be said that is a symptom of television in general over the last decade so it is hardly surprising.
No he was boring to me and didn't suit this version. He is perfect for an old style Top Gear. The way the show was when it came back the host needed something a little extra and he doesn't have it. He is a good presenter but he is not an entertaining presenter to watch.
You didn't say "I find him boring" -- you said "he is boring" and went on to claim that a programme that lasted for 20+ years was also boring.
This puts you squarely in the same category as the "regional news is boring" lot.
I dare say a lot of genuine petrol-heads would find the new TG boring (indeed, being a regular at a few car-related forums I can confirm that a lot do). Would you accept them stating that JC *is* boring?
You didn't say "I find him boring" -- you said "he is boring" and went on to claim that a programme that lasted for 20+ years was also boring.
This puts you squarely in the same category as the "regional news is boring" lot.
I dare say a lot of genuine petrol-heads would find the new TG boring (indeed, being a regular at a few car-related forums I can confirm that a lot do). Would you accept them stating that JC *is* boring?
Well just to qualify I found him boring. The old style Top Gear which I watched to the bitter end was waning in popularity and people stopped watching. When Clarkson left the show lost something. The revamp did it a world of good.
The new Top Gear is like the new Doctor Who, some of the die hard fans might not like it , but it is successful. Top Gear certainly doesn't review cars like it used to and is more like an entertainment programme now than a serious motoring journalism show. But if people wanted serious car journalism they would have watched the previous version, which they didn't towards the end.
Top Gear changed to survive but Fifth Gear has no excuse. It was made in the style of the old Top Gear but soon morphed into a Top Gear clone when it wasn't doing very well and they saw how popular the new Top Gear was. Fifth Gear should have stayed as an alternative to Top Gear but didn't. The fact is the show is never going to return to how it used to be and maybe isn't for people that want serious car reviews. While the show is winning awards, big ratings, getting people to watch that don't like cars and making a fortune for the BBC in terms of programme sales and merchandising it isn't going to change back.
Now is the time for somebody else to make a serious car programme and that has been done. I strongly recommend Auto Mondial on Men and Motors.
Don't get me wrong -- I wouldn't want TG to change. It's very funny and a great piece of entertainment. It's one of those shows that I get annoyed with myself about if I miss it -- and end up downloading it so I don't have to wait a couple of days for it to be repeated. Thankfully TiVo takes care of things -- although occasionally that messes up if there is a scheduling change, as all technology does.
I definitely agree about 5G. The main issue though is that it does such a poor job of emulating TG -- if it was actually funny.....
Regarding Auto Mundial, I grew tired of the programme. Yes it is good, but I find it to be incredibly biased towards European manufacturers. I'm sorry but if the engineering magificence that is Lexus is "geared to those who value list price rather than quality", there is something sadly wrong. Come off it -- they may not be as sexy as some German cars but as far as quality is concerned they are one of the most thoroughly-engineered vehicles on the market.
Don't get me wrong -- I wouldn't want TG to change. It's very funny and a great piece of entertainment. It's one of those shows that I get annoyed with myself about if I miss it -- and end up downloading it so I don't have to wait a couple of days for it to be repeated. Thankfully TiVo takes care of things -- although occasionally that messes up if there is a scheduling change, as all technology does.
I definitely agree about 5G. The main issue though is that it does such a poor job of emulating TG -- if it was actually funny.....
Regarding Auto Mundial, I grew tired of the programme. Yes it is good, but I find it to be incredibly biased towards European manufacturers. I'm sorry but if the engineering magificence that is Lexus is "geared to those who value list price rather than quality", there is something sadly wrong. Come off it -- they may not be as sexy as some German cars but as far as quality is concerned they are one of the most thoroughly-engineered vehicles on the market.
Yes, that show irritates me
Thinking about it you're so right about Auto Mondial and its Euro bias. That's the closest we have at the moment to a straight car review show, there is Pulling Power but I'm not sure if those are new shows or repeats. The problem with so many shows opying Top Gear is that they think it's all about the stunts but the chemistry and interaction of the presenters is another integral part of the show's success.
What was the name of the show that Mike Brewer did on Channel 4? I quite liked that, okay it wasn't as snazzy as other shows but I liked the fact it just stuck to reviewing cars that most people would drive.
Just about everything Mike Brewer has ever done has been quality stuff. Even the low-budget material for Discovery, and the old Deals on Wheels programme. Maybe not as polished as other programmes (I think he produces them himself doesn't he?) but certainly not short on info.
Probably because Dawes is actually a proper auto journalist...
So was James May but he seems better equipped to play the fall guy to the other two.
If you take Jason for what he is, he actually does know what he's talking about. Which is a fatal flaw on Top Gear
Don't get me wrong, I love TG but I do think Dawes is unnecessarily maligned. He was just put on the wrong show. Had he gone onto the more serious Fifth Gear (as was at the time as opposed to the TG-aping horror it is now) I think he'd have fitted in nicely.
Jason Dawe knew his stuff but he was just so boring, no personality or quick wit. James is a bit of a character and can come up with a witty bon mot and the three of them seem to get on much better.
This was the exact moment I became a James May fan. I think it's from the first series he did and I thought to myself, this guy is actually quite funny.
Jason would have suited the old style Top Gear, that James was on...mind you that was why it was axed. It then went to Five a s Fifth Gear in the same boring vein.
