AN
I feared the worst, but actually, it was alright.
The chap who presented Extra Gear was really good. Part of me wishes they'd been a bit braver and put him into the main show.
The chap who presented Extra Gear was really good. Part of me wishes they'd been a bit braver and put him into the main show.
RD
I thought it was pretty awful. Forced, scripted and unnatural. The fundamental problem is that Evans and LeBlanc are painfully trying to copy a presenting and voiceover style that was created by three motoring journalists. And that's never going to work, because they're not journalists. I fully respect the point made earlier in the thread by DrewF, that the chemistry needs time to develop, but the difference is that Clarkson and co were given a blank canvas in 2002 whereas Evans and co have been put in a straitjacket.
LeBlanc's "I'm an American who's slighly bemused by everything British" act was unconvincing and dated as a concept, and will get incredibly tiresome if they drag it out. I assume it's an early bit of groundwork intended to create another Captain Slow loveable underdog character.
Anyway, on the subject of presentation, I noticed some strange mismatches in the way Clarkson's legacy was dealt with.
The magnetic strips on the Power Lap board had all been rewritten in Chris Evans' handwriting, and a joke was made at the end about expunging Clarkson's "on that bombshell" sign-off.
Yet they unashamendly did the Stig intro with "Some say [joke]... all we know is he's called The Stig". I associate that catchphrase with Clarkson personally, rather than belonging to the show.
LeBlanc's "I'm an American who's slighly bemused by everything British" act was unconvincing and dated as a concept, and will get incredibly tiresome if they drag it out. I assume it's an early bit of groundwork intended to create another Captain Slow loveable underdog character.
Anyway, on the subject of presentation, I noticed some strange mismatches in the way Clarkson's legacy was dealt with.
The magnetic strips on the Power Lap board had all been rewritten in Chris Evans' handwriting, and a joke was made at the end about expunging Clarkson's "on that bombshell" sign-off.
Yet they unashamendly did the Stig intro with "Some say [joke]... all we know is he's called The Stig". I associate that catchphrase with Clarkson personally, rather than belonging to the show.
IS
Matt's voice-over grated on me a bit, reminded me of too many awful over dramatic voice-overs on American programmes. It just didn't seem natural, hopefully it'll improve with practice
CU
It reminds me of when the BBC tried to keep Live and Kicking going on Saturday mornings after Jamie Theakston and Zoe Ball departed, initially with two presenters who were inexperienced and lacked any kind of chemistry, followed by a group of four presenters who were utterly hopeless and unsuited to Saturday mornings.
Not that the press will ever give this new incarnation of Top Gear a fighting chance. It's pretty much doomed from the outset, alas.
Not that the press will ever give this new incarnation of Top Gear a fighting chance. It's pretty much doomed from the outset, alas.
NW
I think it would be very unfair to write off the new show yet. I didn't overly enjoy last night's episode. Evans trying to do a Clarkson on the voiceover annoyed me, Matt to be fair was quite decent. I didn't like the new Star in the Rally Car section. I'll give it another look in at some point, but certainly not a must watch.
My wife who was never a fan of Clarkson just thought it was the same old silly stuff really.
I guess a lot of it is how much you enjoyed it for Clarkson and Co or seeing people messing about in decent cars.
The chemistry isn't going to work straight away, and as I've said it would be unfair not to allow time.
My wife who was never a fan of Clarkson just thought it was the same old silly stuff really.
I guess a lot of it is how much you enjoyed it for Clarkson and Co or seeing people messing about in decent cars.
The chemistry isn't going to work straight away, and as I've said it would be unfair not to allow time.
MA
The chemistry isn't going to work straight away, and as I've said it would be unfair not to allow time.
Agreed. I was expecting TG v3.0 and this was TG v2.8, I was surprised how similar the format was. It needs time, but I probably won't go out of my way to catch episodes this series ( I didn't in 2002 with TG v2.0)
The chemistry isn't going to work straight away, and as I've said it would be unfair not to allow time.
Agreed. I was expecting TG v3.0 and this was TG v2.8, I was surprised how similar the format was. It needs time, but I probably won't go out of my way to catch episodes this series ( I didn't in 2002 with TG v2.0)
TL
TalentLover1987
Completely unsurprising but irrelevant. 300+ comments on that site last count? Millions more tuned in, and at least half of those will tune in again next week.
I very much doubt it, judging by the terrible reviews and Twitter comments it has been getting. I'll be surprised if it even lasts a series. I expect this series to be Top Gear's last.
VM
Correct me if I've got this wrong but the main reason for this was because there was something infinitely better on the other side, so it didn't really matter what they put out, even though yes the presenting choices at the time were… interesting (and the "edgy kool!" revamp was embarrassing). When SMTV ended and the BBC finally put something decent out in the shape of The Saturday Show 2.0/Dick and Dom, circa 2003, viewers came back.
Top Gear doesn't really have any competition like this… in another universe it'd be going up against ClarkHamMay on ITV or Channel 4, but they're on a subscription service where we won't get any real viewing figures, and there's not really another show like this (Fifth Gear is now officially over). For that reason I can't see the BBC cancelling it, especially not after just one series, but I can see them retooling it to fix what hasn't worked. I wouldn't be surprised to see Chris going even though he is the most high profile, if he hasn't calmed down by the end of this run.
I watched Extra Gear last night and thought it was a decent show. Bizarrely enough it seemed a bit rushed at 23 minutes despite the fact it could theoretically go on as long as they want to. Rory Reid is very good and I can easily see him presenting the main show.
It reminds me of when the BBC tried to keep Live and Kicking going on Saturday mornings after Jamie Theakston and Zoe Ball departed, initially with two presenters who were inexperienced and lacked any kind of chemistry, followed by a group of four presenters who were utterly hopeless and unsuited to Saturday mornings.
Correct me if I've got this wrong but the main reason for this was because there was something infinitely better on the other side, so it didn't really matter what they put out, even though yes the presenting choices at the time were… interesting (and the "edgy kool!" revamp was embarrassing). When SMTV ended and the BBC finally put something decent out in the shape of The Saturday Show 2.0/Dick and Dom, circa 2003, viewers came back.
Top Gear doesn't really have any competition like this… in another universe it'd be going up against ClarkHamMay on ITV or Channel 4, but they're on a subscription service where we won't get any real viewing figures, and there's not really another show like this (Fifth Gear is now officially over). For that reason I can't see the BBC cancelling it, especially not after just one series, but I can see them retooling it to fix what hasn't worked. I wouldn't be surprised to see Chris going even though he is the most high profile, if he hasn't calmed down by the end of this run.
I watched Extra Gear last night and thought it was a decent show. Bizarrely enough it seemed a bit rushed at 23 minutes despite the fact it could theoretically go on as long as they want to. Rory Reid is very good and I can easily see him presenting the main show.
NG
I very much doubt it, judging by the terrible reviews and Twitter comments it has been getting. I'll be surprised if it even lasts a series. I expect this series to be Top Gear's last.
Be quite difficult to do that if it has any overseas sales already... And Twitter is not the same as real life. Top Gear got 4.2m last night according to Richard Osman (on Twitter...) and built across the hour (so more people were joining than leaving)
It will take time for the team to work out what works with Chris, Matt, Sabine et al, and what doesn't. There is a huge amount of pressure on them, and hopefully the BBC will give them the time they need.
Others have said it - in fact I've probably said it - the first series of the previous reboot (before James May joined) was terrible. It takes time for chemistry to happen, and it takes time for production teams to gel.
I think it was far from the car crash many had predicted. I know people who have said they prefer this to the previous series. I think I did.
Looking forward to seeing how it develops. There's no doubt it's a major challenge for a production team.
I just hope people stop harking back to the 'good old days' with Clarkson (where it was OK to use lazy racial stereotypes for gags and to punch a producer...)
Correct me if I've got this wrong but the main reason for this was because there was something infinitely better on the other side, so it didn't really matter what they put out, even though yes the presenting choices at the time were… interesting (and the "edgy kool!" revamp was embarrassing). When SMTV ended and the BBC finally put something decent out in the shape of The Saturday Show 2.0/Dick and Dom, circa 2003, viewers came back.
Top Gear doesn't really have any competition like this… in another universe it'd be going up against ClarkHamMay on ITV or Channel 4, but they're on a subscription service where we won't get any real viewing figures, and there's not really another show like this (Fifth Gear is now officially over).
Yes - Netflix and Amazon don't release viewing figures, and aren't currently included in BARB ratings (would be VERY Interesting if BARB did include them, but I suspect that would only happen if someone funded them to do so)
For that reason I can't see the BBC cancelling it, especially not after just one series, but I can see them retooling it to fix what hasn't worked. I wouldn't be surprised to see Chris going even though he is the most high profile, if he hasn't calmed down by the end of this run.
Chris is more than a presenter though - he's effectively show-running alongside a BBC Exec and the Series Editor... (Just as Clarkson + Wilman did before. AIUI Clarkson effectively wrote the show)
I watched Extra Gear last night and thought it was a decent show. Bizarrely enough it seemed a bit rushed at 23 minutes despite the fact it could theoretically go on as long as they want to. Rory Reid is very good and I can easily see him presenting the main show.
I didn't see it. Did they do it from the same location? If so they will have had time constraints on crew etc. - so they will have had to work to a duration. (Also it will probably be budgeted for a certain duration)
noggin
Founding member
Completely unsurprising but irrelevant. 300+ comments on that site last count? Millions more tuned in, and at least half of those will tune in again next week.
I very much doubt it, judging by the terrible reviews and Twitter comments it has been getting. I'll be surprised if it even lasts a series. I expect this series to be Top Gear's last.
Be quite difficult to do that if it has any overseas sales already... And Twitter is not the same as real life. Top Gear got 4.2m last night according to Richard Osman (on Twitter...) and built across the hour (so more people were joining than leaving)
It will take time for the team to work out what works with Chris, Matt, Sabine et al, and what doesn't. There is a huge amount of pressure on them, and hopefully the BBC will give them the time they need.
Others have said it - in fact I've probably said it - the first series of the previous reboot (before James May joined) was terrible. It takes time for chemistry to happen, and it takes time for production teams to gel.
I think it was far from the car crash many had predicted. I know people who have said they prefer this to the previous series. I think I did.
Looking forward to seeing how it develops. There's no doubt it's a major challenge for a production team.
I just hope people stop harking back to the 'good old days' with Clarkson (where it was OK to use lazy racial stereotypes for gags and to punch a producer...)
It reminds me of when the BBC tried to keep Live and Kicking going on Saturday mornings after Jamie Theakston and Zoe Ball departed, initially with two presenters who were inexperienced and lacked any kind of chemistry, followed by a group of four presenters who were utterly hopeless and unsuited to Saturday mornings.
Correct me if I've got this wrong but the main reason for this was because there was something infinitely better on the other side, so it didn't really matter what they put out, even though yes the presenting choices at the time were… interesting (and the "edgy kool!" revamp was embarrassing). When SMTV ended and the BBC finally put something decent out in the shape of The Saturday Show 2.0/Dick and Dom, circa 2003, viewers came back.
Top Gear doesn't really have any competition like this… in another universe it'd be going up against ClarkHamMay on ITV or Channel 4, but they're on a subscription service where we won't get any real viewing figures, and there's not really another show like this (Fifth Gear is now officially over).
Yes - Netflix and Amazon don't release viewing figures, and aren't currently included in BARB ratings (would be VERY Interesting if BARB did include them, but I suspect that would only happen if someone funded them to do so)
Quote:
For that reason I can't see the BBC cancelling it, especially not after just one series, but I can see them retooling it to fix what hasn't worked. I wouldn't be surprised to see Chris going even though he is the most high profile, if he hasn't calmed down by the end of this run.
Chris is more than a presenter though - he's effectively show-running alongside a BBC Exec and the Series Editor... (Just as Clarkson + Wilman did before. AIUI Clarkson effectively wrote the show)
Quote:
I watched Extra Gear last night and thought it was a decent show. Bizarrely enough it seemed a bit rushed at 23 minutes despite the fact it could theoretically go on as long as they want to. Rory Reid is very good and I can easily see him presenting the main show.
I didn't see it. Did they do it from the same location? If so they will have had time constraints on crew etc. - so they will have had to work to a duration. (Also it will probably be budgeted for a certain duration)
BR
4.3m last night
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/top-gear-uk-season-debut-897843
I think this run is only 6 episodes long so I expect the bigger changes will follow in the next series as Chris and Matt find their feet and they work out who is worth keeping from the rest.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/top-gear-uk-season-debut-897843
I think this run is only 6 episodes long so I expect the bigger changes will follow in the next series as Chris and Matt find their feet and they work out who is worth keeping from the rest.