IS
Yes the first series was very different, remember also that Jason Dawe was one of the presenters and did more consumery items.
RW
The 2002 Top Gear is a completely different show to its predecessor which was a straight forward review show. So it’s somewhat correct.
Same name, same theme tune, same brand (the non Top Gear brand extensions continued), same production company... it's a continuation of the same programme just with a different format.
Oddly if you watch the first series of the rebooted Top Gear, other than the fact it had studio segments and the star in a reasonably priced car, it was closer to the original format compared to what it became. The first report they did was a long segment about how reasonably priced A converted Citroen van was. That's why i've always considered it the same show from 1978.
They did restart the series numbering in 2002, though. I tend to regard old/new Top Gear in the same way as old/new Doctor Who, which also restarted its series numbering on its return. Both were a radical change in format, and yet were clearly a continuation of what went before. The main difference is that there was over 15 years between the two incarnations of Doctor Who (the TV Movie notwithstanding), but it took less than a year for Top Gear to be revived.
It did take a while for the new Top Gear format to find its feet - I remember the early series containing segments such as 'find the fastest political party' or 'find the fastest religion' which just seemed like pointless filler.
Robert Williams
Founding member
The 2002 Top Gear is a completely different show to its predecessor which was a straight forward review show. So it’s somewhat correct.
Same name, same theme tune, same brand (the non Top Gear brand extensions continued), same production company... it's a continuation of the same programme just with a different format.
Oddly if you watch the first series of the rebooted Top Gear, other than the fact it had studio segments and the star in a reasonably priced car, it was closer to the original format compared to what it became. The first report they did was a long segment about how reasonably priced A converted Citroen van was. That's why i've always considered it the same show from 1978.
They did restart the series numbering in 2002, though. I tend to regard old/new Top Gear in the same way as old/new Doctor Who, which also restarted its series numbering on its return. Both were a radical change in format, and yet were clearly a continuation of what went before. The main difference is that there was over 15 years between the two incarnations of Doctor Who (the TV Movie notwithstanding), but it took less than a year for Top Gear to be revived.
It did take a while for the new Top Gear format to find its feet - I remember the early series containing segments such as 'find the fastest political party' or 'find the fastest religion' which just seemed like pointless filler.
MA
It felt to me at the time as a fusion between the old Top Gear, and Clarkson's not very successful stand alone chat show?
Yes the first series was very different, remember also that Jason Dawe was one of the presenters and did more consumery items.
It felt to me at the time as a fusion between the old Top Gear, and Clarkson's not very successful stand alone chat show?
VM
It fitted in fine and doubled its ratings, it only went back because the then controller of BBC ONE Danny Cohen didn't like it and wanted to free up development cash. Which ironically was mostly spent on a reboot of the old BBC 2 format Room 101.
But I seem to recall genuine criticism at the time that the pre-watershed slot and mainstream audience of BBC One meant they had to be more tame and cut out more of the rude (and funniest) bits. Course, Top Gear's pre-watershed anyway so that won't be a major issue.
Remember they tried QI for a while on BBC One and shifted it back to Two? Sometimes things don’t fit on another channel.
It fitted in fine and doubled its ratings, it only went back because the then controller of BBC ONE Danny Cohen didn't like it and wanted to free up development cash. Which ironically was mostly spent on a reboot of the old BBC 2 format Room 101.
But I seem to recall genuine criticism at the time that the pre-watershed slot and mainstream audience of BBC One meant they had to be more tame and cut out more of the rude (and funniest) bits. Course, Top Gear's pre-watershed anyway so that won't be a major issue.
LL
Only it did under Clarkson....
Well I didn't watch the alpha male fest under Clarkson.
I'm not a Top Gear fan, but the three current presenters are more accessible to a cross section of demographics than those who liked three middle-aged men playing with cars and saying controversial comments.
London Lite
Founding member
Top Gear doesn't have the universal appeal most BBC One shows have/need.
Only it did under Clarkson....
Well I didn't watch the alpha male fest under Clarkson.
I'm not a Top Gear fan, but the three current presenters are more accessible to a cross section of demographics than those who liked three middle-aged men playing with cars and saying controversial comments.
NT
Really good Deadline scoop.
I wonder how many are watching it on iPlayer and couldn't care less whether it's on BBC1 or BBC2.
Quote:
Deadline can reveal that high-level talks about the switch took place in January and BBC director of content Charlotte Moore decided to elevate Top Gear after being impressed with its performance among young and underserved audiences.
I wonder how many are watching it on iPlayer and couldn't care less whether it's on BBC1 or BBC2.
MA
Yes, and that's going to increase over the years as online viewing takes over from 'linear'.
Really good Deadline scoop.
I wonder how many are watching it on iPlayer and couldn't care less whether it's on BBC1 or BBC2.
Quote:
Deadline can reveal that high-level talks about the switch took place in January and BBC director of content Charlotte Moore decided to elevate Top Gear after being impressed with its performance among young and underserved audiences.
I wonder how many are watching it on iPlayer and couldn't care less whether it's on BBC1 or BBC2.
Yes, and that's going to increase over the years as online viewing takes over from 'linear'.
PA
I have given the series a miss for the last couple of years after the Cohen debacle but started recording it to watch this year. Having finally got round to seeing the first two episodes its certainly got its mojo back. Much credit to the production team and presenters for turning this around, Its now a marketable product and should do well with viewing world wide.
IS
The what?
I have given the series a miss for the last couple of years after the Cohen debacle
The what?
LL
I sound the Star segment a tad boring on the last episode. I'd quite enjoyed last series' shtick where the celebrity competed against two of the hosts in a challenge.