Top Gear

I'm not into reviving old threads, but Top Gear tonight, possibly one of the best episodes I've ever seen. Got it spot on tonight with the Nissan on the snow, the Veyron, Cruise and Diaz, and then a tribute to Senna, excellent stuff, it's been a great series so far.

It's got me thinking, Cruise and Diaz must have cost a fair bit to have as guests especially on BBC2? Or am I just having an early senior moment?

I agree, its been a great series so far, last week was particularly hilarious even if a tad over-contrived

Would Cruise and Diaz not do it for free or at a reduced cost because their plugging their film?

I though everyone who went on that did it for free. I cant see the BBC paying for it

I think it only cost them their integrity. They showed a film trailer during the Star in a Reasonably Price Car feature. The One Show also showed a trailer when Tom Cruise was on. I assume this is a condition of him appearing. The BBC would be better just saying 'no' in future. What would they say if the boss of Heinz wanted to do a lap of their track but only on condition that they showed a Baked Beans advert? Why is Tom Cruise any different?

Different because the boss of Heinz wouldn't bring an audience with him.

Half the people that are guests on these chat shows are only there for one reason - to plug something. If they don't show a trailer they wouldn't go on - simple. Unless you really wanted to be on a show, why would you wast your time going on shows, without any reward?

I honestly and should think most people don't mind a 30 second trailer if you get big guests like Cruise and Diaz, which contributed to a great show.

The way it normally works is that if a guest goes on a programme as part of a promotional round - i.e. they have a new film/TV programme/book/record out then they will be appearing on a TV show for free.

In the case of Top Gear, the fact that the programme is well known and popular amongst many in the US means that it can get really good guests... the programme's fans will be keen to appear on it

Picking up on what you say about it being popular in the US, is it me or are we seeing a lot of Hollywood people on the show now? Jay Leno, Andy Garcia, Cruise & Diaz, I know there has been more but cant remember all the names. It got me thinking is this just another way of making the show a bigger hit in the US? If it is how far behind the UK are the US series, otherwise film/tv prog plugs will seem somewhat outdated in the US when it goes to air?!?

Another point, how does Top Gear funding work. I know the license fee goes towards it but I'm guessing the show makes a hefty return from sales abroad and merchandise etc. Does any of that go back into production costs or is it purely license fee funded?

Good tribute to the late, great Ayrton Senna last week. A couple of years ago, I was a Senna fanatic and had read a lot of material about him. At the time I felt it was a shame that he seemingly had disappeared into the airwaves, never to be heard from again after his untimely death. Around this time, I had bought a copy of the race in which he crashed sadly passed away and before people start labelling me as some sick individual, I had bought it purely for research purposes; I wanted to see how the situation was handled by the FIA, and also the moments leading up to the crash. It's interesting to note that the copy I own, has no commentary or graphics such as driver's names ect.

The tribute produced by the Top Gear team was a very in-depth and fitting tribute to the man, not seen since the BBC's documentary at the time of his death; and I felt they made best use of the fifteen minutes given to them. It's also worth noting that a lot of the archive footage used in the documentary seems to have been clearer then originally broadcast! Maybe due to digital restoration techniques, but again I'm not sure.

Seems complaints about the burka joke has already got 7 complaints! Oh and as always Lily Allen has an opinion on it!

Ok, the boss of BP appears on Top Gear (arguably a more on-topic guest than a film star and he would definitely generate an audience) but only on condition that they show a 30 second BP commercial. It just wouldn't happen, and rightly so. Yet they get away with it when it comes to films.