Top Gear--BBCA vs History Channel shows

R

Ron Ketcham

Active member
OK, which do you perfer to watch?

The History Channel's version or the original Top Gear from the BBC America?

Do you have any input on the hosts, the production of the two shows.

The subject matter of the two shows?

This could get interesting for gear heads.

Grumpy
 
I watch both, but FAR prefer the original BBC version. I actually keep up with the current episodes before BBCA gets them through the site finalgear.com



There's just no chemistry like Clarkson, Hammond, and May, no matter which way you slice it. If anything at times I get annoyed by the guys on the History Channel show trying to imitate the Brits.



And don't even get me started on how utterly terrible that new show with Adam Corolla is... I watched one episode and didn't even make it all the way through before shutting it off.





That said, my favorite shows are still the ones with guys actually wrenching on stuff -- especially the "Powerblock" shows on Spike.
 
Saw a piece of TGUSA last week. It has a long way to go before it can be a real contender for the crown.



jeremy-clarkson.jpg




Jeremy Clarkson's face being destroyed by the Ariel Atom.



HammondDragBBC_468x311.jpg




Richard Hammond in the rocket car just before it almost killed him



TG_James_May_Veyron.jpg




James May taking the Bugatti Veyron for a spin, and hitting 253mph



Seriously, how do you compete with that?
 
Top Gear BBC > Top Gear Aus + Top Gear German + Top Gear USA + Top Gear Korea



Seriously they all suck compared to Top Gear UK. Watch just ONE epi of Top Gear UK ANY SERIES, ANY EPI and you will not be disappointed. Top Gear USA however? It had its ups and downs but it never was that enjoyable as an hour of Top Gear UK.



Only other car show that's kind of worth watching besides Top Gear UK is Fifth Gear.



Also BBC Presentation of Formula 1 Races > Speed Channels garbage.
 
Having detailed for Rutledge, hes a great guy. Very knowledgeable and an awesome family man.



As far as the show, Rome wasnt built in a day. The producers the first season made them stiff, if you watched the new episode last night they were pretty easy going and had some fun.
 
My issue with the USA version is not so much the chemistry between the host, which does seem a bit forced. Its the formulaic challenges the bring the show down. The pickup truck challenge was just too much, those cars converted to monster trucks in 12 hours... yeah right.
 
There is a UK program "Fifth Gear" 'real' cars and drivers as well as super cars, IMO far superior to JK and his gang
 
TOGWT said:
There is a UK program "Fifth Gear" 'real' cars and drivers as well as super cars, IMO far superior to JK and his gang
Click to expand...



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? But I digress. This debate is about TGUK vs TGUSA. Lets try to stay on topic
 
[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...
 
Yup!

The show's are scripted to appeal to a 14 year old skate boarder.

There is no real chemistry that I can observe between the three, all are nice guys, Tanner is a known driver, Rutledge comes off as trying a bit too hard, the other guy (who the heck is he and where did he come from) appears to be the only one that just acts naturally.

I have yet to get through a whole show without switching channels.



BBC show, even been known to watch reruns of old show several times.

Grumpy
 
Top Gear UK all the way, I actually read every single editorial from JC, Hammond and James May on their web site - all the oldies. Yeah, they've been together a while and the chemistry is dialed in, but, how many other shows have had issues with one or more of it's stars after success. I think that them sticking together after all this time says it all.



TG USA will never be this good, why? cause it ain't Brittish, we tune in to watch what they're doing, see cars we can't get over here and look at other countries they raise hell in. Even if I don't "get" some of their jokes!



BTW - I loved the Benny Hill show!
 
Ron Ketcham said:
Yup!

The show's are scripted to appeal to a 14 year old skate boarder.

There is no real chemistry that I can observe between the three, all are nice guys, Tanner is a known driver, Rutledge comes off as trying a bit too hard, the other guy (who the heck is he and where did he come from) appears to be the only one that just acts naturally.

I have yet to get through a whole show without switching channels.



BBC show, even been known to watch reruns of old show several times.

Grumpy
Click to expand...



Top Gear UK is scripted as well.



TOGWT said:
There is a UK program "Fifth Gear" 'real' cars and drivers as well as super cars, IMO far superior to JK and his gang
Click to expand...



Tiff was a former Top Gear host. Also every damn series change up on Fifth Gear made it pretty ******. Remember when it was Viki and some dude in a cafe? Than it was Tiff at the proving grounds? Than it was John Bentley at some lounge? It got to confused and very unfocused. For the last two series they let/people left and now its down to Viki, Tiff, Jason and Johnny; and in term a much more focused show. However in production value and entertainment TG > 5th Gear.
 
I realize that, all such "reality" shows have scripts.

The difference between the two Top Gear's is that the scripts seem to be much better, funnier, etc than the USA wimp version.



I have never seen Fifth Gear, just got access to BBCA last year, however I have seen several comments over the years regarding the show.



It would appear that the Brit's show has a real budget vs the History show.



Grumpy







Tiff was a former Top Gear host. Also every damn series change up on Fifth Gear made it pretty ******. Remember when it was Viki and some dude in a cafe? Than it was Tiff at the proving grounds? Than it was John Bentley at some lounge? It got to confused and very unfocused. For the last two series they let/people left and now its down to Viki, Tiff, Jason and Johnny; and in term a much more focused show. However in production value and entertainment TG > 5th Gear.[/QUOTE]
 
Ron Ketcham said:
...the USA wimp version...
Click to expand...



That is exactly how I would describe it. The UK version, in addition to having the aforementioned chemistry, is actually funny (perhaps because I like dry British humor). One doesn't even need to be a car person to enjoy it.
 
Fifth gear has old top gear host on it. The bbc top gear we see is the polished stuff from like 04+ anyone even remember that they tried to make a us version of topgear with the british hosts and cuts of the british shows on the discovery channel before bbca existed and it didnt last more then a few shows. I realize its scripted but id rather watch rolls royce crashed into swimming pools, the first cars ever driven to the north pole. caravans, morris marinas, and reliant robins smashed and destroyed at any opportunity, cars that will never see my shores because of all the "fat lazy stupid Americans with their health and safety" then a nice hour of some real nonscripted programming like teen mom 2.



The real reason i love the show is what they can say in the name of comedy would get any host of any American show fired then after losing his job would get sued for damages by the "public" thats suing for money, but thats not whats its about, they're really actually hurt you said something about their sh!t country they thought was so crappy theyd come live here.
 
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