Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

Anyone watching/watch it? Buzz Aldrin was pretty neat, but the interview was pretty short & sweet. The whole production kinda seems to be truely americanized version of the British show: cuts to the chase, not as fully developed, but still pretty neat.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

I'm watching it with my box of kleenex next to me... i think i've JIMP'd at least 43 times between the Viper, the Cobra gunship, and now the Lambo's.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

The viper thing was kinda poorly done imho but the lambo scene was very well done. Lots of way awesome sounds!

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Out of the whole viper bit, I think it was just sweet to see that car in any sort of action other than straight line. Plus, I've always loved the Cobra gunships, and getting to see one in action again was cool stuff.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

Thought it was fairly poorly ripped off. Not that impressed, and not that funny/entertaining. The real Top Gear is cars, cool/nutty stuff, and three guys that play well off each other. This one looks too forced and the chemistry just isn't there.

Cool cars are easy to do, being entertaining isn't. Will I still watch? Yeah, but know that it will not stack up to the OG show.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

I will say at first I didn't like it at all compared to the BBC version. Then I remembered it's the first episode. They're not going to be able to do all of the cool witty inside-joke stuff that the other one has for a while. The comedy in the original show didn't really shine for a couple seasons IMO.

Maybe the American one will get there in time, but I don't think they'll ever have the British "charm". I'm definitely liking the celebrity part more. Finally more than one person I know per season. :)

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

We watched it was well last night, I thought it was decent, agreed that it didnt seem to have the charm/chemistry but that will hopefully come with time.

The interview was cool but seemed short.

I agree with this, the viper seen to me seemed ... "set up" to me, like the locations where they were trying to dodge the cobra seemed scripted.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

I liked it and will definitely watch it. I've never watched the British version so maybe that helps. lol.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

I enjoyed it. Of course its not up to par with the UK version, but it was only the first episode. And LOL @ it seemed scripted. Well duh, they aren't going to allow a military helicopter fly and chase a Viper through residential neighborhoods.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

It seemed a bit more restrained--probably due to American television, not to mention the History channel-- and the hosts don't interact well (yet) which really makes the UK version.

Still, I like that they came out of the gate with the big muscle. And it showcased just how good of a driver Tanner Foust is-- I'm jealous.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

but so much more scripted than when UK Top Gear does stunts like that. Seemed choppy, like it was cut and edited alot. Just didn't flow together very well. It also seemed like the annoucers were reading straight from a script... I'm sure the UK ones are too, but they do a better job hiding it. I'm sure that will get better as they get more comfortable too. That said I will be watching it for sure.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

I liked it, but I also haven't watch the British one very much. I think they came out with some very nice cars and a lot of action, I just hope that they didn't pull out all the shots on the first episode. I will be watching next week to see if there is a decline in quality, we will see.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

Has anyone watched the Australian version too? It started showing up in the newsgroups, if you have a way of downloading it or watching it I recommend that too, it's about on par with what the US version is.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

Torrents for Top Gear UK, Australia, and US can all be found on www.FinalGear.com.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

That's weird that only the 3rd season of the Australian show is on that site as well. I figured they just didn't show up on newsgroups, would be interesting to find the first two seasons. Or maybe Australians just count from three up :)

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

Love the UK verison. US version, not so much. But we'll see, maybe it will get better. They need to do something to make it their own or it won't last. Nearly 100% port of the UK version isn't going to work.

Interview with Buzz was painful at best.

Incredible amount of hardware on the show including the Cobra helicopter. How they managed to pull that off I'll never know.

Viper ACR kicked the snot out of the Italian made things. Loved seeing America's best sports car finally getting some well deserved recognition.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

Theres no comparing the british and the american versions.
The first couple seasons of the brit show were actually very good, Tiff Needle is the shit, that guy can drive like no other.
When they revamped the show without Tiff, it took a bit to get used to it. but they really blasted off. I love top gear (british version) Havent seen the american version, an honestly dont think i really want to.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

I hope it gets better. The 2 other guys besides Foust seem to have too little car/driving experience and maybe Foust is too good of a driver to put in with them. I thought the Viper vs Helicopter thing was lame, especially for the first segment ever. Did they have to say "Big star in a small car" over and over and over? I hope they don't explain the track and have that map up every episode. The dialogue seemed a bit stiff, but it should get better. I don't know if them comparing Lambo's against each other instead of against their competition is a sign that they won't be bashing cars like they do on the BBC version, if that is true, then the show is going to suck. When do we get a race from Mpls to Chicago versus a plane?

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

i still <3 this episode. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Azl-drqMk cant beat the classic.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

A buddy of mine from LA was at one of the later episodes, and one of the features had something to do with a X GSR, Tanner asked about Evo owners in the audience and he was the only one. Apparently they will get better as time goes on.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

I think the show sounds too scripted. The emotions of the hosts sound fake.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

Everyone is complaining about the hosts, but would you all rather have Adam Carolla or Jay Leno as the host? They were both on the radar when the show was being developed.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

I'd rather have Adam Corolla, but not Jay Leno's cheesy jokes and denim jumpsuit.

Last night's episode was better than the first. Still fairly scripted and the voiceovers sounded like a High School project, but the host interaction and features were a touch better. I'll probably keep watching on a weekly basis.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

Id rather have leno actually, hes probably a lot more knowledgeable than those other clowns.

Nothing can beat the bbc version, so I compare it to that. :P

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

Last night's episode was better. I thought the evo and the aston martin pieces were much better than the pilot episode. The camera work seemed much better than the pilot, they said some negative things about the cars and there was some humor.

The drifting deal with the blind man was OK, not great. The BSSC segment is not exciting or all that entertaining, I think it will take time to get it right. The dog at the end gave his thoughts about the show. ;)

It won't ever be the BBC show but so far I enjoy watching this more than most crap on TV. If it keeps improving I may actually look forward to the episodes but I'm not holding my breath.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

Last nights was better. A good little test of the Evo X in it as well. That scene seemed much less scripted than the viper test last week. Its improving, the blind man driving was pretty entertaining as well.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

The reviews are in and they aren't good.

http://www.facebook.com/topgear/posts/173462546005519

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I watched both and I'll say, compared to the crap that's out there for car shows right now, this is by far the best. I don't like British humor, so the BBC one doesn't do it for me, but the great cars and actually beating the piss out of them is pretty good here. And I actually like Foust in this show, the supercar show is just lame. Rehearsed banter, that steroid moron host and little car action at best. I have high hopes for TG.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

No comparison to the original yet, but im sure it will get better. However, as far as hosts go, Tanner is the only one that should be there. The other two dont bring much to the table. The dude with the beard is RETARDED. It seems like its his first time on tv and in a car!! The helicopter episode, he was the navigator, and he didnt direct a single right turn. On top of that he just didnt know anything about the viper other than it was "cool." I didnt get to finish the episode but im sure it will get better.

As far as Adam Corrola or Jay Leno, i wouldnt mind watching Jay Leno as he is likely the biggest car collector in the US. So to have had him instead of one of the other two guys would have been an improvement.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

I enjoy it thus far, but I've also never followed the original TG much till recently. Tanner seems alright, but I actually enjoy the Beard guy the most for the personality aspect.

It's a fun car show that mixes it up a bit so I hope they don't just start changing shit up, but give it a few years to build up.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

tanner faust is in this? I'll skip it, he annoys me in that supercar show.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

The most recent one was garbage.

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it could be a lot worse. they seemed to have finally started to warm up with each other. I mean...it can only get better? I hope...

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

considering the first 2 episodes were somehow better then the third, it seems unlikely. Where the Brit's make witty-quick-on-their-feet jokes we have scripted terrible jokes.

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

yeah, I must say Rutledge is the worst with those...

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

Top Gear America is back on July 24th for season 2. Looking forward to it.

In even better news, Top Gear started season 17 yesterday! :D

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

I'd rather have Jay, He's a funny guy actually, And has experience with a WIDE range of cars. That man knows his shizzz

Re: Top Gear America (History Channel)
 

"The Car Show" with Adam Carolla starts July 13 at 10/9C on Speed.

I hope and assume there will be some healthy competition to push both programs forward. I honestly don't think Top Gear would be what it is if not for Fifth Gear.