Top Gear

[spejic]

I don't know what it is. I hate car shows (except Pimp My Ride, of course). I hate car magazines. I hate people that are into cars.

But Top Gear is just incredibly fun. It is, in fact, as fun as the entire French Air Force crashing into a fireworks factory (something Jeremy Clarkson said in tonight's show). It is the show I least want to miss each week. And I understand that it is quite cut in the American version, so it's probably even better on the other side of the hurricane generator. I really wish the thing was on DVD so I can see the seasons I missed, as well as reruns of the good bits, but it seems the don't even have that in Region 2 land.

[srd....]

now were talkin,top gear's probably my favourite show on t.v. especially when jerremy does those mental races across europe against planes and trains e.t.c.

to be honest im surprized you get it over there,even in a cut form.

[Achtung]

Great show, a bit tongue-in-cheek but informative as well. The "races" between Jeremy in a car and Richard and James through other means of transport are always great, and they pay good attention to fun, smaller cars as well, even if we don't get most of them over here. I've been downloading the episodes for a while now.

More info available here if you want to d/l the full episodes:
http://forums.djpsmusicmix.com/

[srd....]

dont know if you know this or not but clarkson is banned from driveing for the next six months.

you'd think,knowing him it was for speeding but no.........under doctors orders after he hurt his back doing a power side on the top gear test track.

top bloke :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/dragona/200inventions_clarkson.jpg

[Achtung]

I did hear about that. Between that and having to return his Ford GT, not the best few months for the guy.

[srd....]

yeah it's been tough for him alright,i get the the feeling a lot of caravans will die,in his quest to cheer himself up a bit.

which is nice :)

[Brainodo]

Top Gear's Wikipedia entry, which lists the differences between the US and Uk versions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear

Boring anecdote:
I was once walking along St. Aldates in Oxford behind Chris Goffey (presenter of Top Gear 1980-96), knowing that my US girlfriend would have no idea about the show, I mentioned out of his earshot (so I thought) that he was Danny out of Supergrass' dad. He whirled round and shouted 'Is that all I'm famous for, being Danny's Dad?!'.
I've never been entirely sure whether he was being serious or not.

[gaijin]

So we basically get an hour of this show on Sundays, but American audiences get an hour but with stuff cut out for ads?

Tsk...

I think the stuff and games they do with the cars are the best. Car soccer, race tests etc...

A lot of them are being repeated on UKTV over here I think. I saw an old one from this series being aired.

I think if they do an Americanised verison of this show, it could work quite well. I'm thinking they are testing this to American audiences, with a view to producing one themselves...

[gaijin]

But Top Gear is just incredibly fun. It is, in fact, as fun as the entire French Air Force crashing into a fireworks factory (something Jeremy Clarkson said in tonight's show). It is the show I least want to miss each week. And I understand that it is quite cut in the American version, so it's probably even better on the other side of the hurricane generator. I really wish the thing was on DVD so I can see the seasons I missed, as well as reruns of the good bits, but it seems the don't even have that in Region 2 land.

Given the nature of the show with its new format etc. Then getting specific DVD's with all the hours of every series on, is going to be quite tough.

You can buy a best of series one and two on DVD (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000BZNJ1/qid=1128622830/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/026-5723665-6716450) .

I suppose, they are probably people out there with all the episodes, who would be willing to burn them onto DVD for you.

[Nanbawan]

I watched some on BBC World. I was a little bit surprised at the beginning by blatant bad faith, bad mouth etc, but once you sit back and enjoy the way they're assuming it it becomes really funny. It sure changes from the ad like usual motor shows.

Strangely enough, let's say I'm reserved when it comes to tuning, I don't switch channels when I land on 'Pimp My Ride' ; in fact this show is the opposite to mass consumerism. It's just sometimes disturbing to see people rooting so much for their piece of rusty metal...I don't approve yet I kinda understand... :o

[Achtung]

I think if they do an Americanised verison of this show, it could work quite well. I'm thinking they are testing this to American audiences, with a view to producing one themselves...

Yeah except to appeal to most Americans it'd have to consist of "challenges" like V10 SUVs hauling boats and lowered Civics riding on 19" wheels trying to see who has the best subwoofers. :rolleyes:

[gaijin]

I watched some on BBC World. I was a little bit surprised at the beginning by blatant bad faith, bad mouth etc, but once you sit back and enjoy the way they're assuming it it becomes really funny. It sure changes from the ad like usual motor shows.

Strangely enough, let's say I'm reserved when it comes to tuning, I don't switch channels when I land on 'Pimp My Ride' ; in fact this show is the opposite to mass consumerism. It's just sometimes disturbing to see people rooting so much for their piece of rusty metal...I don't approve yet I kinda understand... :o
Nanba do you not pick up BBC proper?

I have a friend in Brittany and she can recieve BBC 1 and BBC 2 on her TV.

[Coach_McGuirk]

I don't know what it is. I hate car shows (except Pimp My Ride, of course). I hate car magazines. I hate people that are into cars.

But Top Gear is just incredibly fun. It is, in fact, as fun as the entire French Air Force crashing into a fireworks factory (something Jeremy Clarkson said in tonight's show). It is the show I least want to miss each week. And I understand that it is quite cut in the American version, so it's probably even better on the other side of the hurricane generator. I really wish the thing was on DVD so I can see the seasons I missed, as well as reruns of the good bits, but it seems the don't even have that in Region 2 land.
Man, I can't believe you hate me.. :p

It's a good enough show, but Achtung nailed it. Most people in the US that are "into cars" are into some bizarre aspect of "car culture". It's like the rice-burner I saw with the ENORMOUS rear wing. I asked the guy "why" and he said "rear downforce, man". I couldn't bring myself to tell him that rear downforce on a front wheel drive car is, well, counterproductive. :rolleyes:

[Nanbawan]

Nanba do you not pick up BBC proper?

I have a friend in Brittany and she can recieve BBC 1 and BBC 2 on her TV.

Actually, we can receive all the British TV channels emitting from Jersey with a dedicated external antenna. I had been having that but since I moved I try to pick'em with an indoor antenna and the quality is poor except on some cristaline winter weather days.

So I prefer to watch it on satellite TV even if sometimes, I bother watching ITV with my indoor antenna for F1 reruns.

[Doctor Stamen]

It is a great show, and it makes me want a Toyota pick up truck.