Top Gear

IanH
IanH Club Member Posts: 4,708
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edited May 2016 in Entertainment #1

Well, I thought I would give it a chance........and 20 minutes in I am afraid that it's every bit as bad as I thought it would be.

First we have Chris Evans' irritating, whiny voice......enough to put off anyone anyway.

Then we find that it is just a pale imitation of the previous version. A review of an American muscle car is turned into a stupid, pretend 'Top Gun' game.

Then we have 'The Stig' ........and they even use exactly the same lines, copied from Clarkson and co.

Now they are doing a mickey-take of three-wheeler cars.......now where have I seen that before? Except that this time it's even more tedious and pointless.

Yup, it's basically "TGI Friday" does a pale imitation of Top Gear. Sad

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Comments

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 9,412
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    edited May 2016 #2

    Well at least you gave it 20 minutes more than I did, Ian! Wink

  • Rubytuesday
    Rubytuesday Forum Participant Posts: 952
    edited May 2016 #3

    We have recorded it ,  myself or hubby can't stand Chris evens but will have a look but not expecting much.  We much prefer the original three even though we know clarkson has many who don't like him, but we are looking forward to Autumn for the original
    3 in there new show 

    will pop back with our verdict thumbs up / down when we have watched it but IanH from what you have said its what we were expecting 

  • TonyBurton
    TonyBurton Forum Participant Posts: 269
    edited May 2016 #4

    I wacthed the whole thing. I think I'd prefer a re-run of the caravanner of the year show!!

  • briantimber
    briantimber Forum Participant Posts: 1,653
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    edited May 2016 #5

    Seems to me that you may like watching paint dry TBWink

    I haven't watched either COTY or Top Gear, judging by the comments on both, I feel that I made a good choiceInnocentCool

  • roylovelock
    roylovelock Forum Participant Posts: 20
    edited May 2016 #6

    20mins i managed 8!!. you did really well. Evans is purely awful and the program was cringeworthy at the best.

    I loved the old topgear, the bbc should have just let it die with the boys.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Club Member Posts: 10,224
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    edited May 2016 #7

    It could have been worse. I'll give it another chance as any new set-up takes time to bed in. The repartee does seem to lack the apparent spontaneity of the previous trio. Sabine Schmit is always easy on the eye though.

  • IanH
    IanH Club Member Posts: 4,708
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    edited May 2016 #8

    I must admit that Mat LeBlanc was pretty good and Sabine Schmit trying to remember the 'Top Gun' lines was quite funny.

    With the budget available, why didn't they just make something completely new and different? Trying to copy an old, succesful format was never going to work. Especially with Chris Evans fronting it.

  • JimboOscar
    JimboOscar Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited May 2016 #9

    I thought that I would give it a try. Although I cannot stand Chris Evans.  It was so boring I fell asleep after about 15 minutes, and woke up near the end of the program. What I did see of it I was not impressed, will I be watching another episode absolutely
    not.

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited May 2016 #10

    Had a look for a few minutes - it was uninspiring. They were trying to follow the format of Clarkson and his two mates but failed miserably. With the huge budget available. I would have thought that they could have tried something new --- NO

    The viewing figures even after all the pre programme hype were -----Dismal.

     

    Clarkson,May and Hammond had -------Top Gear.

    Evans etc have.  ------- Flop Gear.

     

    K Cool

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,368
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    edited May 2016 #11

    I would agree with the sentiments above, bring back Clarkson. If the future of the new programme is based on viewing figures, I fear it is not long for this world.

  • Francis
    Francis Club Member Posts: 2,045
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    edited May 2016 #12

    Loved the old Top Gear so gave the new one a try but I won't be watching again as I found it very flat and it felt like a poor imitation of the okd show

  • 63ellsbells
    63ellsbells Forum Participant Posts: 138
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    edited June 2016 #13

    It could have been worse. I'll give it another chance as any new set-up takes time to bed in. The repartee does seem to lack the apparent spontaneity of the previous trio. Sabine Schmit is always easy on the eye though.

    Well said cyberyacht, quite agree.

    I enjoyed the old Top Gear and found the banter and chemistry between the 3 amigos very entertaining. I do remember though scanning through sections of the show that I found either a little dull or of no interest to me - anything rally related, being targeted
    by gunfire and much of the off road pieces.

    Other pieces were funny to watch because of their antics, even if the motoring element was a waste of time - e.g the hover-van and the off-road mobility scooters. But were they as funny or watchable back in 2003, certainly not. It took a while for
    them to gel (and to get so ridliculous at times).


     

    It's a shame the format hasn't been shaken up more though to create a very new and different Top Gear. 

    I am a Chris Evans fan and I'll give it time and hopefully things will improve. 

    Not sure why Matt Le Blanc was picked. Yes, he may be a petrol head but he has no presenting skills or ability and no tv charisma IMO - just too unnatural and scripted on screen. Glad to see that not all 6 of them are on the main show though. Some are
    online on BBC3 I think.

     

    No doubt some of the more straight forward tests, trips and challenges will be more watchable and I'm sure they'll improve as the series progresses. 

    Send Matt back to Blackpool and get Sabine Schmit in front of the camera - that will improve things.


     

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited June 2016 #14

    The programme was rubbish no new ideas. Evans was rubbish as he normally is. The viewing figures were rubbish. The programme should be consigned to the rubbish bin. The sooner the better

    K .

     

  • 63ellsbells
    63ellsbells Forum Participant Posts: 138
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    edited June 2016 #15

    Be positive & look on the bright side...it can only get better

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Club Member Posts: 10,224
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    edited June 2016 #16

    Things can only get better? Now where have I heard that before? Undecided

  • IanH
    IanH Club Member Posts: 4,708
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    edited June 2016 #17

    But being as low as you can get is surely not any sort of recommendation?

  • 63ellsbells
    63ellsbells Forum Participant Posts: 138
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    edited June 2016 #18

    Iif it was, it wouldn't be, but as it isn't, it is....

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited June 2016 #19

    Top Gear viewing figures dropped by one third between Evans first and second episodes. See : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36458510

    Looks like our tv licence money is being frittered away on No Hopers. 

    Surprised

    H

  • IanH
    IanH Club Member Posts: 4,708
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    edited June 2016 #20

    Well they certainly lost us.

    Didn't bother with the second programme.

  • Briang
    Briang Club Member Posts: 675
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    edited June 2016 #21

    Watched the second programme thought is was very good first episode I though was not good.

  • Firedragon
    Firedragon Forum Participant Posts: 509
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    edited June 2016 #22

    second one was better, mainly due to Eddie Irvine, Charlene Spiteri and Seasick Steve, but I still wish they wouldn't only concentrate on the type of vehicles only superstars can afford. They have absolutely no interest in 'ordinary cars, they have even
    replaced them round the track for a rally car. I also get the distinct impression not one of them knows anything about what goes on under the hood, I know modern cars are complicated but at least when Clarkson & co broke down they attempted to bodge something.
    I feel like this lot are obviously accompanied by a complete pit crew loaded with spares. Eddie decimated the back of his 4x4 yet two minutes later Charlene takes over and drives it up the track to the finish line !?!

    Come down to earth Evans and bring back the 'news' segment, add something of interest to ordinary motorists too please.

  • IanH
    IanH Club Member Posts: 4,708
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    edited June 2016 #23

    Was it just another series of 'challenges' with Evans shouting in his annoying, squeaky voice?

  • 63ellsbells
    63ellsbells Forum Participant Posts: 138
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    edited June 2016 #24

    Well, that was better, as expected. Nice bit on McLaren and the SUV trip was pretty entertaining, helped by stunning scenery, and by Eddie Jordan being so good at being useless & clueless, very good.

    They came across far more relaxed and the whole thing flowed much better, ably assisted by a host of celebrity guests, including Jenson Button, still our favourite British F1 driver, such a nice guy.

     

    As one newspaper put it, 'this was a promising day at the track for the new team, with plenty of space for improvement but enough that already works to keep you watching'




  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Club Member Posts: 10,224
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    edited June 2016 #25

    It was an improvement on week one but it still lacks charisma, quite apart from anything remotely useful to an ordinary motorist.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,154
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    edited June 2016 #26

    Top gear is an entertainment programme and cars are only a vehicle to achieve that!  Haven't watched any of the shows yet, I'll wait for JC and gang on Amazon and not taint my viewing pleasure with Evans et el.

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited June 2016 #27

    If the first Evans programme earned the nickname of " Flop Gear " what nickname should they give the even worse second programme????

    K Happy

  • IanH
    IanH Club Member Posts: 4,708
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    edited June 2016 #28

    Apparantly viewing figures were 30% down on the first programme.

    I didn't watch it, simply because I cannot stand Chris Evans. Same reason I don't listen to his radio show, even though I don't doubt that some decent records are played.

  • 63ellsbells
    63ellsbells Forum Participant Posts: 138
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    edited June 2016 #29

    If the first Evans programme earned the nickname of " Flop Gear " what nickname should they give the even worse second programme????

    K Happy

    It wasn't that clear from your previous posts, but I had a feeling you weren't that taken with episode 1, but I guess you enjoyed it enough to watch episode 2

    The general consensus in the press is that episode 2 was an improvement, with a prominent motoring journalist giving Evans a B-. Matt LeBlanc was a little better on screen and JB gave the show a good boost.

    Evans is like marmite I guess, which I happen to like, as do the other 9.5 million listeners to his radio show. Interestingly, Wogan peaked at 8 million so whilst he's not everyone's cup of ginger tea, he's clearly doing something right, to get the biggest
    share of breakfast show listeners in the UK.

     

    i hear that Grenville Chamberlain enjoyed it, as it stopped all those ridiculous calls for his resignation after to COTY

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited June 2016 #30

    The BBC have finally understood why Flop gear is so unpopular  

    Write up on the news this morning. 

    Quote :-

    "Best episode yet': Top Gear finally receives good reviews... as Chris Evans gets 'less airtime'."

    Get rid of the man completely -- he's useless. 

    Laughing

  • Bob2112
    Bob2112 Forum Participant Posts: 276
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    edited June 2016 #31

    Perhaps not entirely useless, he makes JC look very, very good.