As a long time aficionado of the BBC’s Top Gear program when I heard last April that the History Channel would be staging an American version, I became downright giddy.
After all, no offense to the Mother Country, but usually when the good old US of A does something they tend to improve on the original and turn out a product that is at least equal to, if not better than, the original.
From the sneak peeks everything seemed to be coming together; the trio that would host seemed ok; although I had to confess that the only one I really knew anything about was Rutledge Wood given his NASCAR credentials. Wood is an easygoing generally funny guy who would never seem to rub anyone the wrong way.
So last week when the premiere finally arrived I, clad in my GO USA t-shirt and waving an American flag, sat ready to cheer for the debut of Top Gear USA.
It turned out to be a somewhat disappointing experience.
For those who aren’t familiar with the original program; Top Gear is a wildly popular show about cars and the human love of all things with four wheels and an engine. The most recent incarnation of the show is hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond. Since being re-launched in 2001 the show has developed into a humorous, often controversial and eccentric hour long journey rich in a visual style that attracts an estimated worldwide audience of 350 million.
Big shoes for those working on the American version to fill.
The American premiere that debuted last Sunday seemed a hollow incarnation of the original. The hosts alongside Wood; Tanner Foust, a racer and professional stunt driver and Adam Ferrera a comedian and actor, seemed glued to the floor while the audience, much smaller than the BBC version, robotically applauded in a manner that seemed almost polite.
In fact had Wood shaved his beard it would have been difficult to tell them apart.
The first bit of banter among the trio seemed read from a teleprompter, the laughter from the audience sounded canned and the tension could be felt through the screen. It was as if the three had only been introduced to each other that every morning than thrown to the wolves.
The first segement of the first episode involved a Dodge Viper and a Army surplus Cobra attack helicopter. The set up being that both were ‘snakes’ (a cobra and a viper) and they would compete against each other in a race… Foust and Wood would be starting in a Viper on the runway at an obscure airport in Georgia (The only place in America that would let us do this challenge, according to the hosts, a claim which seemed doubtful). They would try to outrun the Cobra from the airport to a bridge and back to the airport. The Cobra would score ‘hits’ electronically and would be registered via a lighted box on the cars dash; three ‘kills’ and the Cobra would win.
While the premise did raise an eyebrow of anticipation, the actual bit turned out to be more like an old B movie police chase where a couple of college boys were being pursued by the local sheriff after they had stolen daddy’s car. Perhaps if they had they narrated the facts about the car during the chase and if maybe some shots of astonished townsfolk watching the red car streak by had been mixed in, the bit may have been more solid. As it was what we got were two guys playing a larger than life video game.
Of course had it been used in the BBC’s version real missiles would have no doubt been used giving the boys a real reason to stage a proper getaway. Whether those missiles would have actually been fired is doubtful but the fact they would have been there at all would have given the viewer a real reason to cheer the boys on, either in the car or the helicopter.
The rest of the show was a blur of what seemed to be cheap imitations of the original elements of the BBC program. For instance, the ‘star in the reasonably priced car’ from the British version is now the ‘Big Star, Small Car’.
In the debut the ‘star’ was none other than former astronaut and genuine American hero, Buzz Aldrin. While he truly is an American icon, his ‘star’ power is questionable at best. It felt almost felt like seeing an old rock band past their prime who had been asked to stage a free performance and who had eagerly accepted, grateful for the attention. The actual lap that ‘stars’ are obliged to take and is highly anticipated on the British version, seemed almost painful to watch. More commentary was given about Aldrin’s ‘big hand’ than anything else. When it was over there was no anticipation as Ferrera got ready to read the Aldrin’s time. The look on the astronauts face was more like ‘where’s the bathroom.’
Viewers were also introduced to the ‘Stig’ the anonymous character dressed in a white drivers suit and full face helmet complete with identity hiding smoked visor. His job is to take that week’s featured car on a ‘Power Lap’ around the Top Gear test track. The problem was that while the Stig was explained to the uninitiated viewers somewhat, albeit quickly, the producers needed to take advantage of one of the British elements of the show which pits the hosts against the Stig. In the British version the Stig is often the butt of jokes and that seems to help create empathy for him from the audience. We want the Stig to perform well, despite what the host seems to be hinting about.
Because of the lack of this perhaps, the show’s first ever Power Lap seemed to fall flat. The audience seemed to stare in almost disbelief, politely applauding when it was over and the first ever time was almost embarrassingly slapped up on the board.
The best part of the show was the main segment featuring the hosts each testing a Lamborghini. The LP550-2 Valentino Balboni, the Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera and the Murciélago LP670-SV were used and each host took their individual ride for a speed run. Ferrera delivered perhaps the best line of the first show when he compared the Superleggera at 180 miles per hour like ‘being aroused at gunpoint’. The seemingly unscripted moment at the end of the segment seemed to portend of good things to come.
And therein lays the entire point. If the few moments of brilliance that were displayed in the first episode increase in the coming weeks the show has a better than even chance of succeeding.
Nor should anyone, me included, try to take the producers to task for not giving us an exact copy of the British version. Part of the success of the UK version is in the distinctly British humor for example; but Americans have their own brand of humor that can be developed to work just as well.
No need to hang the ‘Abandon all hope ye who enter here’ sign. If the hosts can loosen their ties and develop their own characters, if the producers can push things a little more to the edge then the American version of Top Gear may just survive.
Estimates from the debut put the audience at around 1.9 million viewers. While a far cry from 350 million, not a bad number for a cable TV show. The challenge now will be to keep those viewers interested, drawing more viewers in, while keeping those who love the original British version wanting to continue to go along for the ride.
The American version of Top Gear can be seen on the History Channel, Sunday nights at 10:00 p.m. Eastern
For more NASCAR News and NASCAR Commentary, follow me on Twitter and Facebook or visit CupScene.com.
Comments
Gearheads - that watch the real Top Gear, watch it for a reason. If we wanted to watch stupid kids crash cars, there is always Jackass, and Nitro Circus!
100% correct, go james may
Top Gear U.S.A. in one word: SUCKED!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why did they ever think they could compete with the Brits subtle humor and non PC comments.
I sent a resume to the BBC asking for a job on Top Gear in Britain and I followed up with a letter asking them how the "States" version ever got approved?
come on this was bad, i have been watching top gear bbc for years, if you wanted to do something, you need interesting presenters, not dudes for the chicks, they will only last one or two shows. GET some personalitys on there, or your doomed. to bad its a good show in the UK could be in the US if you did it right,
"After all, no offense to the Mother Country, but usually when the good old US of A does something they tend to improve on the original and turn out a product that is at least equal to, if not better than, the original."
As the BBC version of Top Gear might say: "BOLLOCKS". The US tv industry is NOTORIOUS for screwing up imported tv shows, to the point where they are unrecognizable.
Sorry, the US version was bloody awful! What it lacked was personalities and characters in the hosts - they were thoroughly boring - they looked like wannabes of the famed trio.
Sorry, the US version was bloody awful! What it lacked was personalities and characters in the hosts - they were thoroughly boring - they looked like wannabes of the famed trio.
I, too, am sorry for having wasted my time watching the Top Gear USA program. I find absolutely nothing engaging from any of the actors or their blatantly feeble attempt to emulate the BBC version.
What exactly am I expected to find entertaining or even mildly funny while watching three, mildly intelligent young "boys" drive automobiles, about which they seem to know very little, if anything, of their history.
I might also add that the ability to express your emotions with more than one word, which begins with the letter "F" and must be constantly bleeped, is, or at least should be, required.
Exactly who is your target audiance with the collection or morons, anyway?
This version sucked, anyone who watches normal Top Gear knows that three kids who don't even seem to feel true passion about cars will fail, JC RH and JM get excited when this guys don't really seem to know anything about cars at least except for Faust. Is incredible how they managed to make something boring out of three lambos a viper and a helicopter, THAT tells it all. And the interview sucked he just passed a list of the cars Buzz had.
As an avid fan of the original UK Top Gear I will say that USA version fell very short by comparison. However, I think thats the biggest problem here. People just shouldn't compare the USA Top Gear to the British Top Gear. No matter who is hosting the show, no one will ever be the three hosts we've become acustomed to, Clarkson, Hammond, and May. Unfortunately, slapping the "Top Gear" label on the show immediately starts drawing comparisons of the two shows. I think for the USA Top Gear to be successful they need to steer away from trying to be like the British show. They need to find their own personality for the show to be successful. Clarkson, Hammond, and May have become successful because they have created a show that suits their strong points. Foust, Ferrera, and Rutledge need to exploit their own strong points, not Clarkson, Hammond, and May's.
I think that a lot of people that are complaining about Top Gear USA need to go back and watch the first season of Top Gear from 2001, which is, in my opinion, just as awkward, if not more, than the first episode of TG USA was. Give the show and presenters some time to gel. Anyone expecting this to be the same as an episode of TG UK, which has a cast and crew that has worked together now for more than 8 years, and seems to have almost unlimited bugget, has got to be kidding themselves
The US version needs to get rid of Foust! Part of the great thing about UK Top Gear is that none of them are professional drivers.
The show was bad. It seems like they tried to diversify by geography (West Coast, South East, and North East) with the 3 young hosts. They need a real auto journalist in the mix who has been in the industry for years that can can add some real commentary. Hearing the description of the Viper in the carwash compared to Pamela Anderson made me cringe. My kids can watch BBC Top Gear without having to worry about language, but between the Lambo Race and the Viper chase, just plain ridiculous for the HIstory Channel - this show is perfect for Spike TV.
Before criticising the original and best, firstly learn how to spell in English, a language we bestowed to you and secondly appreciate once and for all that the world does not actually revolve around ''Me-ri-ca'.
OZ
"Nor should anyone, me included, try to take the producers to task for not giving us an exact copy of the British version. "
Rubbish, that's what they obviously tried to do and that's what they failed to do.
awful I wanted to like this show but it was horrible
Tonight's episode I felt was much better, than the last. The dialogue felt much more fluid and less scripted. Hopefully, they will get better as time goes on. If it stays the way it is, I don't see the series going very far.
So I am now on episode 2 of TGUSA. I watch this after seeing an episode of Top gear Australia, as well as numerous TG UK. Comparisons: USA - presenters are VERY wooden (even the Aussie guys have somewhat of a connection), canned applause everywhere......it needs to be more natural, more humor, take the mickey out of each other. I have a feeling this may have trouble making it to season 2. I'm sticking with it right now just to see if it gets better, right now I'm not holding out much hope
I think the show has potential if they changed some of the hosts. They could have had a Graham Rahal, or any other number of knowledgeable, talented, interesting, and ultimately more entertaining hosts. There are many automotive journalists who could bring so much to the show that is sorely lacking. Who the hell is the Rutledge Wood??? Is he a former host of a paint drying show on public television? The audience does not seem to know what is happening or how to respond to the commentary from the hosts because they have no chemistry between them. The show could be so much more than it is in it's current state. The track looks like the rest of the show, something thrown together just in time for production. The first guest was Buzz Aldrin, no offense to Buzz, but he was someone who was very cool 40 years ago. Couldn't they find someone who the audience could relate to? I doubt that very many of their target audience was even born when Buzz was on the moon. Please, save the money that is budgeted for the rest of the production and bring out the next "team" of hosts and guests.
I think the seeing eye dog say's it all. Good Boy!!!!!!!!!
Just totally lame, like most US versions of BBC shows (The Office being the exception). The hosts are boring and have no chemistry whatsoever. One of the great things about the BBC show is the interaction between the hosts and their very different personalities.
The introduction of the US Stig really sucked, how could they make him so uninteresting? He's supposed to be a "tame race driver" that they have captured and trained from the wild. They couldn't even come up with jokes based on the standard "some say he (some random bizarre thing), and he (some other random bizarre thing).
Their first star was Buzz Aldrin????? Really??? I appreciate Buzz and what he did, but I don't think he has a lot of star power and this is star they choose for the premier? Yeah the BBC version has many UK stars that I don't know, but they also get stars like Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, for instance.
I don't think this should even survive the first season. BTW, wtf is this doing on the history channel? Are they predicting their own demise before they even get started?
The moment I heard of the US version of Top Gear I let my head hang low. While many US adaptions can make for good programming I think after seeing the US premier that there's a lack in budget to keep things interesting. One of the substantial features of the Brit Top Gear is the insane budget I'm guessing they must have to do things like build a shuttle in a small scale space shuttle and blast a hole in the ground. I can't think of a show in US history that has the ability to keep up. And yes, the appeal to me is to see things get destroyed and watch them analyze a wide variety of cars. I kinda get the impression that the US version's hosts don't really have anything bad to say about any of the cars they drive at this point.
I agree fully with the article if the hosts would at least loosen up the feel of the show would improve dramatically.
Top Gear USA project should be dropped. It fails miserably to meet even slight expectations of a proper car show. The technical details are missing, the hosts seem like actors vice real car guys (check for manicured finger nails) and the chemistry is just wrong. After one show, the BBC production has become the only TG for me.
While I don't necessarily share the opinions of some of my English brethren; Top Gear USA falls far short of “entertaining” and shows no sign of recovery. None of these guys strike me as “car guys” and there is zero chemistry between the hosts. Why try and take away from perfection. Final word: Top Gear USA, horribly and unnecessarily duplicated!
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