CW
cwathen
Founding member
I thought it was very watcheable, certainly the production quality of the films was as good as ever and bits of them were quite fun, but I was a little (well very) disappointed by the 'business as usual' way in which it was all presented.
Apart from Le Blanc's introduction and a few references here and there, there didn't seem to be a big enough deal made of this new era nor was there any real attempt at moving on. You could edit out less than a minute of footage and it would seem like Top Gear was always like this, which I don't think was the right way to go.
IMO, even without last year's debacle that era of Top Gear I didn't think had much longer to go anyway. The format had been basically unchanged in over a decade (you could jump from a 2005 to a 2015 episode and see no real difference apart from the presenters looking a bit younger in the former) and was starting to get a bit tired.
Since this situation did at least give them the opportunity to revitalise and relaunch the show, I did expect something on the lines of what was done in 2002 - essentially starting again from scratch. but they have taken very little advantage of the opportunity.
Much of the format was identical and as for the branding - it was the same set design, the same series logo, the same recording of the theme tune.
I also felt like a distinct lack of chemistry between Evans and LeBlanc - it all just seemed like a forced attempt at creating a Clarkson & Hammond style duo - even using many of the same jokes and mannerisms.
They did of course suffer from being screwed whatever they do - by not changing much they are accused of trying to do Clarkson without Clarkson, but if they had thrown away the rulebook and started again then they'd face criticism for doing that too.
I'm willing to give it a chance and will tune in again next week, but I do expect to see it find it's own feet and develop it's own style, if it ploughs on the way it is it won't take long for me to lose interest in it.
Apart from Le Blanc's introduction and a few references here and there, there didn't seem to be a big enough deal made of this new era nor was there any real attempt at moving on. You could edit out less than a minute of footage and it would seem like Top Gear was always like this, which I don't think was the right way to go.
IMO, even without last year's debacle that era of Top Gear I didn't think had much longer to go anyway. The format had been basically unchanged in over a decade (you could jump from a 2005 to a 2015 episode and see no real difference apart from the presenters looking a bit younger in the former) and was starting to get a bit tired.
Since this situation did at least give them the opportunity to revitalise and relaunch the show, I did expect something on the lines of what was done in 2002 - essentially starting again from scratch. but they have taken very little advantage of the opportunity.
Much of the format was identical and as for the branding - it was the same set design, the same series logo, the same recording of the theme tune.
I also felt like a distinct lack of chemistry between Evans and LeBlanc - it all just seemed like a forced attempt at creating a Clarkson & Hammond style duo - even using many of the same jokes and mannerisms.
They did of course suffer from being screwed whatever they do - by not changing much they are accused of trying to do Clarkson without Clarkson, but if they had thrown away the rulebook and started again then they'd face criticism for doing that too.
I'm willing to give it a chance and will tune in again next week, but I do expect to see it find it's own feet and develop it's own style, if it ploughs on the way it is it won't take long for me to lose interest in it.
MA
Caught up with this last night (having been abroad for the long weekend) - I was by no means an avid watcher of the previous incarnation, but I'd seen a few episodes and rather liked it when I had caught it. I thought that it was pretty good for a first episode of a relaunch. OK, I quite like Chris Evans, so I know I'm one up on many, but it gelled OK and the films were still rather good. I think they've got to row back a bit from the CHM style (which they have done to an extent) and gradually put their spin on it.
Only thing that I didn't like was that Rory Reid and Chris Harris, who are both excellent and relatively unknown, didn't get an appearance in the main show. Hopefully they will both get some films each as the series progresses, as I think they would be good things. Some of Evans' voice overs (especially at the very beginning) didn't quite work, but I think it will bed in.
We should really treat this series as a 'pilot series', as they throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks, before coming back with 'their' version next time around. There will inevitably be a transition period. The thing for people saying 'get rid of Evans', is that he is basically exec-ing it (they just can't say that, as weren't production credits for talent banned back in the Brand/Ross debacle?) so it's not just his face on the screen, it's a lot more behind the scenes. Evans knows a hell of a lot about TV production, so he is clearly a lynchpin within the production (much like Clarkson was in the old one). One does wonder, though, whether Le Blanc is in it for the long-haul.
Basically, what I'm saying is, it was pretty good, really - it's still got the sense of escapism and school-boy silliness when it comes to the set-up of the films, and the presenter line-up and chemistry can only get better. And, the point is, it will be a slightly different slant on it from CHM when it does find its own voice.
Only thing that I didn't like was that Rory Reid and Chris Harris, who are both excellent and relatively unknown, didn't get an appearance in the main show. Hopefully they will both get some films each as the series progresses, as I think they would be good things. Some of Evans' voice overs (especially at the very beginning) didn't quite work, but I think it will bed in.
We should really treat this series as a 'pilot series', as they throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks, before coming back with 'their' version next time around. There will inevitably be a transition period. The thing for people saying 'get rid of Evans', is that he is basically exec-ing it (they just can't say that, as weren't production credits for talent banned back in the Brand/Ross debacle?) so it's not just his face on the screen, it's a lot more behind the scenes. Evans knows a hell of a lot about TV production, so he is clearly a lynchpin within the production (much like Clarkson was in the old one). One does wonder, though, whether Le Blanc is in it for the long-haul.
Basically, what I'm saying is, it was pretty good, really - it's still got the sense of escapism and school-boy silliness when it comes to the set-up of the films, and the presenter line-up and chemistry can only get better. And, the point is, it will be a slightly different slant on it from CHM when it does find its own voice.
IS
He's still here just under a different name... well so I assumed
On an unrelated note DalekFan hasn't been missed.
He's still here just under a different name... well so I assumed
LL
He's still here just under a different name... well so I assumed
He got himself a new account minutes after he got banned and immediately started defending himself in third person. He was quickly removed. I don't know if the mods can implement an IP ban but I don't know what's in place to stop people re-registering over and over again.
On an unrelated note DalekFan hasn't been missed.
He's still here just under a different name... well so I assumed
He got himself a new account minutes after he got banned and immediately started defending himself in third person. He was quickly removed. I don't know if the mods can implement an IP ban but I don't know what's in place to stop people re-registering over and over again.
DE
I much enjoyed Top Gear and, I suspect, like a lot of people caught up with it via iPlayer rather than watched it live. Yes the format is very similar to the last series, but doubtless that was their intention all along. Evolution not revolution. Chris himself has been quoted as saying they didn't need to change Top Gear, so they haven't. And bravo. They had a very tough act to follow in that for a decade the chemistry between Clarkson, Hammond and May has developed and become an extremely good television presentation line up. I thought Matt LeBlanc made a spectacularly good presenter debut, it's not an easy thing to do and he came across as relaxed, funny and at home.
I look forward to the rest of the series.
I look forward to the rest of the series.
TL
TalentLover1987
It's low for a new era of a TV show.
Do you have anything to back that up with or is this just your opinion?
Doctor Who: The Eleventh Hour - 10.09m
Britain's Got Talent 2011 - 10.85m
The X Files 2016 reboot - 5.1m (Channel 5)
The X Factor 2011 - 12.8m
Still Open All Hours - 12.23m
LL
You're quoting three shows that are shown at peak time Saturday night, two of which aren't even reboots. A figure of 5.1m isn't much more than the "low" figure Top Gear got, and the figure you quote for Still Open All Hours was from Boxing Day, where even the viewing figures for the weather forecasts multiply. Also bear in mind that, in the last five years, Clarkson's TG's highest series average was 6.5m. A loss of 2m viewers for what is still a relatively niche show with such a divided opinion on BBC Two on a warm bank holiday weekend really isn't as bad as you're trying to imply.
TL
TalentLover1987
You're quoting three shows that are shown at peak time Saturday night, two of which aren't even reboots. A figure of 5.1m isn't much more than the "low" figure Top Gear got, and the figure you quote for Still Open All Hours was from Boxing Day, where even the viewing figures for the weather forecasts multiply. Also bear in mind that, in the last five years, Clarkson's TG's highest series average was 6.5m. A loss of 2m viewers for what is still a relatively niche show with such a divided opinion on BBC Two on a warm bank holiday weekend really isn't as bad as you're trying to imply.
A million more is a lot. Also: they are all reboots. The Eleventh Hour was the start of the Steven Moffat era of Doctor Who, Britain's Got Talent 2011 saw all judges apart from Amanda Holden leave and a new set take over, X Factor 2011 saw all new judges apart from Louis Walsh, X Files 2016 was a reboot of the original X Files and Still Open All Hours a reboot of Open All Hours.
Still Open All Hours may have been Boxing Day but BD is no Christmas Day. In terms of Clarkson, Hammond and May if they had been a show rebooting in 2016 I would expect them to do more than 4.3 million too. Chris Evans even said himself anything below 5 million is a failure.
Top Gear wasn't niche under Clarkson, Hammond and May but it is under Chris Evans and was during pre-Clarkson Top Gear.
LL
London Lite
Founding member
Top Gear is a global motoring show. The show is packaged as it is across the world. Even in France, Top Gear is king with repeats ad naseum on RMC Découverte, so it's not just about keeping 4m British fans of the show happy, but the more lucrative overseas market.
So they're not going to tweak with the format too much and that's what they've appeared to have done.
I'd only be concerned if the overseas market is no longer interested in the show with people watching The Grand Tour instead. I suspect most will watch both shows.
So they're not going to tweak with the format too much and that's what they've appeared to have done.
I'd only be concerned if the overseas market is no longer interested in the show with people watching The Grand Tour instead. I suspect most will watch both shows.
:-(
A former member
You're quoting three shows that are shown at peak time Saturday night, two of which aren't even reboots. A figure of 5.1m isn't much more than the "low" figure Top Gear got, and the figure you quote for Still Open All Hours was from Boxing Day, where even the viewing figures for the weather forecasts multiply. Also bear in mind that, in the last five years, Clarkson's TG's highest series average was 6.5m. A loss of 2m viewers for what is still a relatively niche show with such a divided opinion on BBC Two on a warm bank holiday weekend really isn't as bad as you're trying to imply.
A million more is a lot. Also: they are all reboots. The Eleventh Hour was the start of the Steven Moffat era of Doctor Who, Britain's Got Talent 2011 saw all judges apart from Amanda Holden leave and a new set take over, X Factor 2011 saw all new judges apart from Louis Walsh, X Files 2016 was a reboot of the original X Files and Still Open All Hours a reboot of Open All Hours.
Still Open All Hours may have been Boxing Day but BD is no Christmas Day. In terms of Clarkson, Hammond and May if they had been a show rebooting in 2016 I would expect them to do more than 4.3 million too. Chris Evans even said himself anything below 5 million is a failure.
Top Gear wasn't niche under Clarkson, Hammond and May but it is under Chris Evans and was during pre-Clarkson Top Gear.
This isnt a reboot in any sense... Nor is anything else your listed.
You have no understanding of Television, and that coming form someone like me! You just unhappy Clarkson who was on his third WARNING got the sack.
IF top gear get just 1million viewers put the BBC still get the big bucks from around the world the show will continue.