--I'm actually shocked that no one has posted anything about American Top Gear and or Tanner Foust.

So into the first 5 minutes of the show I'm thinking well the cars are still awesome, the editing is still pretty good, and the scenery is great. Then STOP wait, did he just say what I thought he said?

"..if you're a middle aged man with a controlling wife this is your car.. a 2005 MINI Cooper S"




Wow. And I thought Tanner Foust was a like every prep school silver spooned jerk I went to school with before... now I totally have no respect for him. Bad enough he's an American drift racer *Japanese mountain drift racers snicker around the world* but now he's just crossed the line.

It gets worse if you can imagine. They open the show with the exact same skit as the one of the seasons of the british version. They chase a Viper with a Cobra helicopter. Except because the viper is not a Lotus Elise, it loses the battle. But before that bit is done they tell us that the Viper is the embodiment of what all Americans are and what all Americans want.

Um I don't think so. Maybe the corvette, maybe the mustang, but not the Viper.

20 minutes into the show my girlfriend turned on her Macbook and stopped watching. She said she was really bored with the show.

I thought wow 3/4 of a million dollars worth of lamborghini's racing around on beautiful scenery and it can't keep her interest. Yet 2 old british guys and an old british soap star keeps her laughing and watching.

Well let's consider the hosts:

Tanner Foust - loser - wanna be drifter

Adam Ferrara - heavy new yorker accent - average joe

Rutledge Wood - redneck geeky type - most interesting one in the group.

So not much of a cast. Not much of a show.

Maybe if the hosts had more charisma, and more charm. I mean the british show they could talk about peanut covered candy and make it fun. I'm not sure these three american hosts can do that, because I get bored listening to Tanner even when he's going 100mph.

I wouldn't call it an epic fail, but this show needs work, and better hosts.

~p

 

I taped a couple episodes because I thought I would like it. Fast forward didn't even help. I just erarsed the last one and took it off the schedule.

I didn't think great cars could be so dull.

 

It's ok...Tanner is just bitter he's no Tiff Needles!

 

I watched the first one and decided that it is worse most college "art" films. And never thought twice about watching it again.

This coming from a top gearhead like me, thats saying something. I watch at least 4-5 episodes a week of the REAL top gear.

 

i haven't even bothered to watch it. patiently waiting for the specials coming up on the british top gear.
and watch wheeler dealers l love this show for some reason http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KGY2hgZe70

 

The casting directer must have been high or drunk when they put three guys together that have no what they call "Chemistry" They just don't go together.

Tanner is OK by his self and great on the battle of the supercars show with Paul Tracey. They are very good together.

They had a 2011 Mustang boss 302 on the America Top Gear last week and never even ran it around the track. Why did they even have it on the show if they were not going to let the Stig run it for time.

I think the British Topgear is one of the best car shows on TV for just plain fun and entertainment. The three Brits just plain Mesh together and can insult any car and still be funny.

They did once send a Mini off of a ski jump.

American Top Gear just don't work.

 

I am still really on the fence with this incarnation of the show, chubby Tony Danza looking due just rubs me the wrong way.

 

To be honest, I think its a bit Lame. I rather watch the original Top Gear is more fun and it glues you to everything that is happening. The last episode this week was kinda dumb.

 

British top gear is really good, and i think has some of the best writers and producers around. The one with the semi trucks near had my bro and I rolling out of our chairs laughing so hard...I mean, my gut hurt after that

American Top Gear really needs help, they literary picked the two biggest duffices around, ruttlege is a douche bag and well, the Italian likes Cadillacs. Tanner is a cocky **** but i dont mind him, he actually brings the most interest to the show and his driving is "sick" especially in the EVO.

If you dont compare it to BBC's version (you really cant) the show is entertaining at most. I think it will get better as time goes on, maybe by the 3rd season if its still signed. But I would love to see tanner drive a mini or a GP. The intro is a insult to all mini drivers and really dont see where the Italian is going with the 40 year old comment.....im 21 lol =)

 

British top gear voted the clubman ugliest car of the year when it was first introduced...

i love the original top gear, and agree that the american one sucks but might get better in a couple seasons. but it really bugs me that they don't reference the original AT ALL.

British top gear sucked for the first few seasons, just not as bad as the american one is sucking.

ha I'm 22

 

I think Adam Corolla and Tim Allen would be good cast. Maybe Paul Walker or wonder if Jason Preistly or Frankie Muniz would be up to it. Jesse James? Nah!

 

Ha! howsoonisnow1985 You should be a casting directer. Good choices.That would be entertaining. I couldnt believe the one clown couldnt even do a burn out on the show that had a blind man beat the other two. I like tanner tho.

 

Wait, where the heck have I been. I didn't know this show had begun airing. When and what network? Don't think I'd be that interested after viewing the British version for a while now but just curious.........

 

Terrible show. My wife and I love the BBC TOP GEAR, this 'American' version is just terrible. Poor hosts, dull, a really lame excuse of a show. A couple of my younger co workers like it, they say Tanner is great (I had never heard of him before) but they have never seen the BBC show either so they have no comparison. Maybe it is a generational thing but give me Clarkson, Hammond and May any day .

 

It's all about "casting chemistry" and the British Top Gear has magic chemistry between Jeremy, James and Richard. And you have The BBC production money and class to make it something special.

The US Top gear is a franchise of the BBC show. They use a "what worked" formula for the segments. If it worked on the BBC show it will work on the franchised shows. Well, in my opinion its pretty lame because Tanner, Rutledge & Adam don't have that magic chemistry that makes the BBC Top Gear so good. The US Top Gear will always be a cheap imitation of the original. Unless the US show gets a cult following with huge audience numbers like the BBC show, not very likely considering it's on cables History Channel, I give it two seasons tops.

 

In all honesty, I've never been a huge fan of the British version of the show, but I do watch it every now and then and it is put together very well....great camera work, flow, and good blend of personalities.

I've tried to watch the first few episodes of the American version and it just sucks IMO. This last episode in which the three hosts drove a $1000 jalopy with a trunk full of hooch on various challenges to pay homage to the history of NASCAR was just really lame. While the British version does things similar to this segment, this particular American version episode just came across as three lame guys racing around on country roads to make a youtube video for their buddies. This kind of segment could have been very entertaining if done well, but it was just.....lame. It seemingly went on for hours. I changed the channel 15 minutes before the end of the show.

The American version lacks the artistic photography, flow, and (most importantly) cast compatibility that has made the British version so popular IMHO. I don't think I'll waste my time watching it again.

 

I have to agree where you are going for better hosts. Adam Corolla (who already has done a pilot of Top Gear for NBC), Tim Allen (who loves cars), Jason Preistly would be good too. I also still think the matriarch (Jeremy Clarson's role) should be Jay Leno. I know he was a bit of a douchbag in how he handled the late night bit but when it comes to cars, he is the most versed.

Maybe have someone like Ken Block as the Stig.

They also need a better set and test track. The one they have sticks. The track is too slow and they don't even show that much of the run. I don't mind the desert as that actually makes sense too me. Coolest part is is they could keep all of that near L.A. to work with the hosts schedules.

Also quit explaining what each part of the show is. Drive me nuts where they outline everything. Top Gear has been on a while and most people know what the premise is. If you don't it doesn't take much to figure out.

Maybe have a little like to the original show. The one in Germany has the girl that works the Ring and has been featured on Top Gear several times as as host. They also reference the U.K. version quite often.

Lastly, if you are going to talk about a car drive it. If you are going to just mention it (the U.K. Top Gears does this too soemtimes) then make sure we know that when you can you are going to test it. Don't put a Boss 302 Laguna Seca version on there and barely mention it other than to start it.

 

There have been a lot of British shows brought over here over the years that have been quite succesful - old institutions like All in the Family and Sanford and Son were done in England first - I think the difference here is that we never saw the British version of those shows - and I wonder how we'd react to this one if we weren't comparing it to the original?

Nah, it would still suck!

I agree with those who say it's the hosts tho, these guys just come off as internet wannabes to me.......

They need some real talent, someone with both street cred and the ability to hold an audience. I wish them luck, but I missed the last 2 shows - and yet didn't miss them at all.....

 

I am a huge fan of the UK version of Top Gear and have watched every episode... I was skeptical when they announced the US version of the show as the chemistry between Jeremy, Richard and Captain Slow is what makes the show... The cast of the US counterpart is simply horrible and come off like idiots... Only Tanner is a car person and as someone else noted, he comes off like a spoiled rich-kid whose only claim to fame is burning the tires off cars...

For Tanner to make this throw-away comment about middle-aged men and MINIs wasn't his best move... Who does he think his demographic is on the show?

I give the US version of Top Gear 1 season and done, unless they do something drastic with the cast ASAP...

 

The U.S. Version of Top Gear is absolutely the PITS!!! The hosts have no personality whatsoever and seem to be trying too hard to be funny and 'cool'. The 'track' sucks, the 'stunts' are derivative and the 'reasonably priced car' is a waste. They really need to revamp this show if the want it to gain an audience and last.

 

This show sucks compared to the original. All there is to it. Tanner is a moron and everything out of their mouths seems forced which makes them look like they don't know what they're talking about.

 

Yeah its just a disgrace to all American top gear fans, I would rather watch those car shows on speed channel then watch top gear (Even the trucking ones and I hate lifted trucks)

 

That comment of Tanner's didn't bother me. I drive a 2006 MINI.

It's just a stupid TV show. Go out for a drive in your MINIs & forget about it.

 

I agree. The American TG show is lame and I'm not fan of Tanner, but my word, it's an entertainment show and they say lots of things that are not politically correct (just like the British show) and to be upset because they made an off-color comment about the Mini is being thin-skinned to the extreme.

I'd write more, but my wife is calling me.

- Mark

 

x 10

Thanks for the laugh Mark.