Top Gear to launch U.S. version in autumn

Fled74 · 22-04-2010, 08:20 AM

Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 6:16AM UTC

By James Hibberd

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Top Gear" is crossing the pond.

[The History Channel] is teaming with the BBC to launch a U.S. version of the automotive series in the fall. The network has made a 10-episode commitment to "Gear," which showcases car customization, stunts, reviews and auto-centric celebrity interviews.

History's "Gear" will be hosted by comedian and "Rescue Me" co-star Adam Ferrara, stunt driver Tanner Foust and racing analyst Rutledge Wood.

"The history of the automobile and the history of America are intimately intertwined -- to celebrate one is to celebrate the other," History president and GM Nancy Dubuc said. "We'll stay true to the original format and add a sense of the American car culture."

"Gear" fits the History brand even better than one might expect. The first program to air on what then was called the History Channel was "Automobiles: Corvette." Car-related content has performed well on the channel; History had several auto-related pilots in the works when it got "Gear."

The British version premiered in 1977, and was relaunched in 2002 as a studio-based format. It is BBC 2's most-watched program, and the brand has spun off a magazine and road tour. NBC came close to doing a U.S. version in 2008.

aussie muscle · 22-04-2010, 08:35 AM

will it be as lame as australian top gear?

pottery beige · 22-04-2010, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

will it be as lame as australian top gear?

worse.. cue canned laughter.........

RedHotGT · 22-04-2010, 09:56 AM

I may be getting ahead of myself...

But can we link this to the Epic Fails thread??

I'm sure it will end up being one... ;)

aye you · 22-04-2010, 10:01 AM

it'll be a car show that focus's only on american cars, american achievements, will put down anything non american, get boring, and be canned. just like the australian one.

you can't beat the origional

platinumXR · 22-04-2010, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loftie

I may be getting ahead of myself...

But can we link this to the Epic Fails thread??

I'm sure it will end up being one... ;)

auxr · 22-04-2010, 10:57 AM

It will be a hit if "Oprah" is the host.

**Luke Plaizier** · 22-04-2010, 11:07 AM

Given that Jeremy Clarkson almost rates as a Comedian, I think that's what it needs to anchor the show in it's own way, someone genuinely funny without a script.

The Australian version never had anyone naturally funny, just forced funny. Is Ch9 even contemplating doing it's own show, or would SBS still have dibs on teh franchise?

Ahh, Jay Leno. If only....

Lukeyson

Scott · 22-04-2010, 11:12 AM

25 Funniest Jeremy Clarkson quips..
http://jalopnik.com/5517986/25-of-th...-in-the-world/

platinumXR · 22-04-2010, 12:30 PM

"That’s what I like about those who aren’t politically correct; they’re actually fun and entertaining" (From above link)

Says it all I think. It's not meant to be a show for trainspotters...90% of people who watch it already know about the car(s) anyway...it's entertainment and unique.

platinumXR · 22-04-2010, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke Plaizier

Given that Jeremy Clarkson almost rates as a Comedian, I think that's what it needs to anchor the show in it's own way, someone genuinely funny without a script.

The Australian version never had anyone naturally funny, just forced funny. Is Ch9 even contemplating doing it's own show, or would SBS still have dibs on teh franchise?

Ahh, Jay Leno. If only....

Lukeyson

There you are, in a nut shell.

xbrules · 22-04-2010, 12:51 PM

Channel 9 doing TGA? oh great just when i thought i'd seen the end of Glen Ridge. its bad enough i have to listen to him when i ring up shannons!!! Bah!!!!

mrbaxr6t · 22-04-2010, 01:07 PM

want to do a good tga? I vote clarkson for host he will single handedly whump through co hosts entertaining me greatly as he tears all this PC pansy boys that SBS tried to use...

outback_ute · 22-04-2010, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTP006

25 Funniest Jeremy Clarkson quips..
http://jalopnik.com/5517986/25-of-th...-in-the-world/

What makes Clarkson 'work' is that heaps of those are not original, but he (or the TG writing team) choose them perfectly and he delivers them well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aye you

it'll be a car show that focus's only on american cars, american achievements, will put down anything non american, get boring, and be canned. just like the australian one.

you can't beat the origional

Apart from not being canned (yet), you have also described the UK show!

chevypower · 22-04-2010, 03:25 PM

You have to blame the UK Top Gear a little bit for insisting on selling franchises to other countries to produce it.
I didn't hate Top Gear Australia because it wasn't THE original, I hated it because it wasn't original! Everything felt like it was copycat of the UK version. It didn't blend together very well. It was worse than watching UK Series 1 with Jason Dawe. It makes you realize just how much James May adds to it, but it is really how well the 3 gel together.
I hope the US version is original and entertaining. If not, I will just switch it off. I don't want boring facts about cars. I can look those up on the internet. I want an entertaining TV show.

tick6vct · 23-04-2010, 11:47 AM

mmm considering what top gear u.k says about american cars i dont really know what top gear u.s would have to talk about if they only focus on there locals..

aussie muscle · 23-04-2010, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tick6vct

mmm considering what top gear u.k says about american cars i dont really know what top gear u.s would have to talk about if they only focus on there locals..

The corvette will be 'god-like', the viper 'awesome' and the 300c will magically have 'good suspension and handling'.

oh, and chevypower, i think you hit the nail there.

:

**TUF_302** · 23-04-2010, 04:48 PM

Hhhmmm, does this mean the Mustang will also suddenly become a well handling supercar lol!

**Revolver** · 23-04-2010, 09:35 PM

What is it with executives of tv shows? I mean honestly. The original is the best. & although Im not a follower of most of these shows that have spin-offs, I know the best is really the original.

NCIS - Spun off: NCIS LA,
CSI - Spun off: CSI Miami, & CSI New York.
Law & order - Spun off: Law & order SVU, L&O Criminal Intent, latest: L&O UK (!!!!!???What & Why TF??)
Stargate SG1 - Spun off SG Atlantis, SG Universe
Plus the 999 different series of Startrek, or is it 1000 now??
Top Gear: Spun off: TGA, Now TGUS.

Any others?

Underbelly can/cant be included, the first paved the way for 'tale of 2 cities' & 'golden mile' plus the (confirmed) two more (maybe 3?). They are prologues of the original.

Honestly do studio execs obviously think, just because people love the orginal/base series, that we will love the next one they decide to pimp out? HELLO!!!! There is a REASON as to why we love the first. It has a chemistry that is appealing, & DOESNT mean we will always like the second, third or fourth.

They just dont get it. They are virutally the same show as the original, same basic storyline/substance, different character styles. Sure these shows have a following of their own, usually by the people who liked the idea of the original, but just couldnt 'connect' with them. The original show usually has the strongest following.

Like my uncle has always said about telling jokes: "The first time is entertaining, second time is tolerable, third is bloody annoying". Every time I hear of a spin off series coming off an existing show I just get bloody annoyed - I stare open mouthed and hands in the 'i dont understand pose', laugh, flollowed by "why you idiots, what too many people congested the first show? its not a motorway you know'.

BBII

5.4 GT · 03-09-2010, 02:16 AM

This new trailer looks ok:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpGxf...layer_embedded

SteveJH · 03-09-2010, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5.4 GT

This new trailer looks ok:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpGxf...layer_embedded

Yeah, they probably have a bigger budget then Top Gear UK.

Doesnt mean the show will be any good. The rum-running trailer posted here a couple of weeks ago was woeful.

CFOUR · 03-09-2010, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveJH

Yeah, they probably have a bigger budget then Top Gear UK.

not possible.

Fairlane · 03-09-2010, 07:31 AM

I dont know i more postive about this one.

I want treat it the same as Topgear UK, but its looks good as a car program and some good entertainment. No doubt with US cash it will have great production values. We may whinge about US TV, but the americans can really do a top show when then they put their mind to it.

**Bundy** · 03-09-2010, 07:54 AM

well looks like we're off to a good start, camera work and editing are straight from the TG UK, and "there's no tuperware in space"

R-Design · 03-09-2010, 07:57 AM

There's a few purists on here. I'll give it a run, if the cars are hot this show can't fail.

Besides what else are you going to do while waiting for the next series of TGUK?

HSE2 · 03-09-2010, 09:28 AM

Its another car show and thats a good thing.

**Polyal** · 03-09-2010, 09:57 AM

its definitely not all bad, means we can download the good ones and skip the rubbish.

Seems the owners of top gear perhaps realize that the UK gang are not going to be around forever and they are securing there wallets now while its still popular.

But god, I wish Lambo etc would change the names of there cars for the US market, its cringe worthy hearing that accent pronounce them..

snappy · 03-09-2010, 03:36 PM

I think Top Gear risks milking it popularity to much. Yes it really popular now but for how long untill people just get sick of it .

blownvn · 03-09-2010, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snappy

I think Top Gear risks milking it popularity to much. Yes it really popular now but for how long untill people just get sick of it .

While I agree, I also think Top Gear, like any TV show has a finite lifespan.

Think back to your favourite tv shows, after seven years or so, they all start to suck. Top Gear does alright because car companies keep making new and exciting cars, but sooner or later people will get bored so they're doing all they can to milk the cash cow right now. So that means we've got merchandise, and stage shows, and franchise magazines and tv shows in other countries. Unfortunately that is the way of it.

If Clarkson and Hammond ever leave Top Gear it'll have trouble surviving. Of course the script writers will remain the same but Clarkson and Hammond do ad lib very well when they have to, and that's the secret of the shows success in my opinion.