Top Gear--BBCA vs History Channel shows

TGUK is the best of them all. However, TGUK has had years for the hosts to build their chemistry. Their first year was rough and even in later years tried segments that didn't work (TG stuntdriver for one). However, it is the personalities of Hammond/May/Clarkson that really make the show. My wife was hooked after their southern States adventure(several seasons ago) and she is not a dedicated "car" person. That is the beauty of TG, to make non-car people enjoy the antics of these three.



The first season of TGUS seemed very forced and the challenges were formulaic. It did start to gel by the end of the season. However, the real star/average car segment was a yawn fest and they had no idea what to do with the concept of The Stig (it was like they had no idea what the "in joke" was). I liked the approach they took in the Season 2 opener. TGUS seems to be diversifying from the UK version in presentation.



I have only seen the first episode of The Car Show. Hopefully, they will find their way soon.
 
TOGWT said:
[So, because Clarkson, May, and Hammond didnt do professional racing they are are not real drivers? And therefore do not have a superior show? You really gonna support that position?]



Whoa! I said nothing about professional drivers, 5th gear drivers are ordinary people (two guys and a girl) who test drive 'ordinary cars. I also did not mention superior show. Perhaps is my English accent that's confusing things :tape:



I'll let you get back on topic, I wonder how you'd react to something that is really important...
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[off topic]



Its just a debate, and even though it can get spirited, its not all that serious. If I came off too hard, my apologies.



That said...



Jason Plato- race car driver

Tiff Nedel- former race car driver

Vicki Henderson Butler- races cars and boats



Jony Smith and the other guy (cant remember the name) are the only ones as far as I can tell that havent cut their teeth in professional racing, save for whatever they do on the show.



So, when you say "real drivers", I assumed that you meant "professional drivers", of which, three are. Again apologies for the misunderstanding.



And, dont get me wrong, I think Fifth Gear is a fine show, and also is superior to whatever the US is trying to cultivate right now. But superior to TGUK? Well, we can agree to disagree on that one.



[on topic]
 
I’m spending most of my time in the UK looking after my Father so I only watch 5th Gear and very occasionally Top Gear, which has been running for quite some time here, so for us it getting old/stale.Unfortunately many UK shows lose a lot in translation, as has been said Brit humour is very different.



[If I came off too hard, my apologies.]



I think it had more to do with English as opposed to American English, so no need for apologies,
 
I have BBCA via Directv and they don't show 5th Gear, unless I completely missed it. Anyway, I'd give it a shot if they did. But, it'd be hard to beat the Top Gear crew, even with that language barrier LOL!



Random thought - anybody see "Car Science" - what a stupid waste of time.
 
Speed Channel must be getting desperate for programing.

Car Science, Car Warriors, now Corola's show, are viewers of Speed really that stupid or do the owners of Speed really think they are?

It has occured to me that either I am older than I thought or these channels are just "playing' down to viewers.

Guess many viewers really buy into these "reality" (yeah, right, REAL) type shows.

Which says to me that most viewers of TV these days don't have a real life or any desire to get one.

Humor I get, humor I appreciate, true drama the same, honest documentaries, but these shows that twist a script to just sell ad time, with low production values, I don't get.

Sorry for the rant, but give me a show like TGUK, which is upfront, tonque in cheek entertainment or a good documentary any time.

Grumpy
 
I've seen every episode of TGUK since season 8 and it never gets stale. There are the occasional "off" episodes, but some are gut-bustingly hilarious and others are just awe-inspiring (the episode about Senna comes to mind). Even my neighbors--who are definitely NOT car people--love TGUK. I've tried Fifth Gear and TGUS, but none compare.
 
Ron Ketcham said:
Speed Channel must be getting desperate for programing.

Car Science, Car Warriors, now Corola's show, are viewers of Speed really that stupid or do the owners of Speed really think they are?

It has occured to me that either I am older than I thought or these channels are just "playing' down to viewers.

Guess many viewers really buy into these "reality" (yeah, right, REAL) type shows.

Which says to me that most viewers of TV these days don't have a real life or any desire to get one.

Humor I get, humor I appreciate, true drama the same, honest documentaries, but these shows that twist a script to just sell ad time, with low production values, I don't get.

Sorry for the rant, but give me a show like TGUK, which is upfront, tonque in cheek entertainment or a good documentary any time.

Grumpy
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Before Faux took over Speed, it was the bees knees. BTCC, DTM, World Rally, The Aussie racing series (cant remeber the name), and a few other programs were very accesible, and fun to watch. Now, thanks to nascar, catching any of these programs are a challenge at best (btw, does anyone know when the world challenge races come on? I can never seem to catch them.) Anyway, now the only tings that interst me on Speed are the Barrett Jackson auctions, Pinks, and I used t get a kick out of Chop, Cut, Rebuild. Shame really, because America has the talent pool to pull off a bunch of great car shows if they really were serious- and not just poor carbon copies of a truly great show like Top Gear. Hell, I think I had at least part of a cool show that could be american made, but I digress.



Now, for some reason, I just cant wait for season 2 of Game of Thrones.
 
V8 Supercars



And with all your rant and while I HATE whats happened to Speed Channel, you can't argue with the fact that all their programs combined doesn't even put a dent in NASCAR.



NASCAR pretty much saved Speed Channel...and at the same time killed it for others.
 
Love the Aussie V8 Supercars!

Used to enjoy watching the "saloon" racing from England, etc, just don't seem to be around.

The "reality" shows that Speed has, puts in the same catagory as other cable channels, instead of what it started out as, a real gear head channel.

Grumpy
 
Rei86 said:
NASCAR pretty much saved Speed Channel...and at the same time killed it for others.
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"Saved" if you mean you only care for NASCAR. The only racing they show anymore is NASCAR...



Ron Ketcham said:
Love the Aussie V8 Supercars!

Used to enjoy watching the "saloon" racing from England, etc, just don't seem to be around.

The "reality" shows that Speed has, puts in the same catagory as other cable channels, instead of what it started out as, a real gear head channel.

Grumpy
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I'm not a huge racing fan in general, but I used to love watching these races as well as WRC. I cancelled cable a while back tho and don't miss it.
 
Even though I think some of the newer episodes are a bit over the top, I'd watch TG UK over the rest any day.



I also keep up with them before they come out on BBCA. Its probably my favorite television show.



(Top Gear > 5th Gear :P )
 
animes2k said:
"Saved" if you mean you only care for NASCAR. The only racing they show anymore is NASCAR...



I'm not a huge racing fan in general, but I used to love watching these races as well as WRC. I cancelled cable a while back tho and don't miss it.
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Yeah but it still saved the channel



‪Dave Despain loses it‬‏ - YouTube



Fox bought out Speed Channel and changed the name to SpeedTV and launched NASCAR on the channel. You know why they did that? Because in the USA most of motor racing fans watch NASCAR, and not even all the fans of F1 fans can every out weight the NASCAR FANS.



NASCAR ad money + Viewer ratings = $$$$



F1 + Viewer Ratings = poopoo



I stopped watching SpeedTV altogether for the pass five years and I haven't looked back, I get all my F1 coverage by the BBC and watch other stuff here and there over the web.
 
Moved this thread to off-topic....



This week's episode of the ZR-1 vs the Ferarri 458 was rediculous. The guy that can't drive(ZR-1) challenges a pro driver to a drag race. Subsequently, the guy driving the ZR-1 smokes the tires and gets owned by the 458. Proved nothing?
 
David Fermani said:
Moved this thread to off-topic....



This week's episode of the ZR-1 vs the Ferarri 458 was rediculous. The guy that can't drive(ZR-1) challenges a pro driver to a drag race. Subsequently, the guy driving the ZR-1 smokes the tires and gets owned by the 458. Proved nothing?
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Yeah, he didn't even use the stock launch control. They talk so much about the vette being old school and brute force, yet fail to mention the fabulous electronic aide that could have given him a good launch.
 
Which explains the audience that the History Channel is going for.

Unlike the UK show which has presenters that are actual car guys playing to an audience of gearheads.

It appears to me that the US version, while having presenters that do know a stick shift from an automatic and actually like cars, are following scrips written to enflame the "kids who can't even change a tire" audience.

Grumpy
 
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