Un-official GTPlanet BBC Topgear UK ThreadTV 

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Famine
Top Gear existed before Clarkson. Angela Rippon, Noel Edmonds, Tony Mason, Chris Goffey, William Woollard, Sue Baker and the delectable Julia Bradbury - glory days. Clarkson only joined the show in 1988 - and left again in 2001, with Steve Berry, Quentin Wilson and VBH taking over.

And that was back in the days it was a weekly hour - Jason Barlow was only on the show for 18 months and did more episodes than Hammond (not really, but not far off).
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The "modern" Top Gear. Not the old ones.

Infact if we want that, we have shows like MotorTrend and such. The differentiation on the new Top Gear is the reason people attached to the show. The real problem here is, again, it didnt offer something fresh for the last couple seasons.
 
Liquid
But that was exactly Famine's point. People saying "They can never change Top Gear!" don't seem to remember that Top Gear already has changed. And can do again. Nothing on TV is irreplacable and nothing is permanent.
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But Top Gear was not the global franchise it now is. You aren't changing a TV show, you're ripping down the foundations of one of the most recognisable international brands of the modern era and starting from scratch. It's going to throw everyone.
 
Liquid
But that was exactly Famine's point. People saying "They can never change Top Gear!" don't seem to remember that Top Gear already has changed. A lot. And can do again. Nothing on TV is irreplacable and nothing is permanent.
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Top Gear was an obscure magazine show until that day where it changed to the discontinuity reboot trio we know now and (sans Jason Dawe but apart from that) its still didnt change a lot from that like you said.

Yes, they cant change the format. But I wish they maximize that format potential instead of reusing the old ones like Dumb and Dumber To.
 
yabiggoose
In your opinion.

I much prefer him to Clarkson to be quite honest.
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He is basically like a Hammond Who can drive, completely boring as hell and ads far to much fake opinion when trying to be entertaining.

Also You can't have Chris Harris replace him as he would be better replacement for Hammond as he is a completely different type of person compared to Clarkson.

The perfect Top Gear imo would be Clarkson, May and Harris, but that would be okay maybe 10 seasons ago now it's too late for any change tbh.
 
mustafur
He is basically like a Hammond Who can drive, completely boring as hell and ads far to much fake opinion when trying to be entertaining.

Also You can't have Chris Harris replace him as he would be better replacement for Hammond as he is a completely different type of person compared to Clarkson.

The perfect Top Gear imo would be Clarkson, May and Harris, but that would be okay maybe 10 seasons ago now it's too late for any change tbh.
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So 2 50 something year old blokes and a 30 something year old? the whole show is all about 3 middle aged man driving cars , Chris Harris isn't all that entertaing compared to any Top Gear presenter IMO. The show is great as it is , and as you said , it's too late to change.
 
FrzGT
Yes, they cant change the format.
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Except they can. It could be said they have already done that between 2002 and 2015, the show was about cars with lower level of scripting, now it's not and that's quite a change even on the format level.
 
FrzGT
Top Gear was an obscure magazine show until that day where it changed to the discontinuity reboot trio we know now
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And the most-watched non-fiction show on British television.

In fact at its peak it drew in as many viewers as TG does now - so a much larger audience share - and it still had the beating of new TG throughout the first three seasons even at its worst...
 
FrzGT
Top Gear was an obscure magazine show until that day where it changed to the discontinuity reboot trio we know now
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I think you're doing old Top Gear a disservice. It was on TV for 24 years; hardly an 'obscure' show to have lasted that long. Eleven years longer than the current Top Gear has been on television. It was popular in its time and brought cars on television to a whole new level and as Famine pointed out, launched or helped the careers of many British television personalities and not just Jeremy Clarkson's.

FrzGT
and (sans Jason Dawe but apart from that) its still didnt change a lot from that like you said.
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I said it did change a lot. It changes all the time. You can take a new/current Top Gear episode from 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2014 and see the big changes in style, format and content.
 
Liquid
I said it did change a lot. It changes all the time. You can take a new/current Top Gear episode from 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2014 and see the big changes in style, format and content.
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I agree. Even if you only take the "new" era episodes, there's a huge difference in episodes from say season 3 or 4 where James May first started, to episodes from the latest few seasons. A much larger difference I would say than between one of the modern episodes and any of the regional spinoffs like Top Gear US, which were all made after they standardised the style and started selling it off.
 
Legro
Except they can. It could be said they have already done that between 2002 and 2015, the show was about cars with lower level of scripting, now it's not and that's quite a change even on the format level.
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Well they cant change the format fully. But least they can change the segment time. Ex. More car reviews, more versus races, less Challenge.

Liquid
I think you're doing old Top Gear a disservice. It was on TV for 24 years; hardly an 'obscure' show to have lasted that long. Eleven years longer than the current Top Gear has been on television. It was popular in its time and brought cars on television to a whole new level and as Famine pointed out, launched or helped the careers of many British television personalities and not just Jeremy Clarkson's.
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Well popular back then, but the reboot is where people especially worldwide put their heart to it.


I said it did change a lot. It changes all the time. You can take a new/current Top Gear episode from 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2014 and see the big changes in style, format and content.
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Well the only major chenge were when they just take the old show base (i think until season 3 or 4) with those normal car reviews and used car advices. After that its just the case of technology, time, and experience marches on.
 
For the TV tropes fans out there, the one which strikes me with Top Gear is Flanderization. Top Gear is even mentioned as having had the phenomenon under the Live-Action TV subpage.

The presenters on Top Gear have self-Flanderized into Clarkson (aggressive loud boor who likes power and shiny things), Hammond (small hyperactive hamster who wants to go really really fast) and May (slow, cerebral pedant who can't be bothered with any of that).
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Justuxful
Call me whatever you want, but this hit me hard. Very hard.
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That's what the producer said..

Famine
In fact at its peak it drew in as many viewers as TG does now - so a much larger audience share - and it still had the beating of new TG throughout the first three seasons even at its worst...
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Although we only had 4 channels then.
 
grrlpurple
I'd rather eat my own gall bladder than watch anything presented by Chris Evans... no thanks to THAT suggestion.
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Incomprehensible quantities of agreement. I don't get why everyone seems to love him, but I'm just glad I'm not the only one who hates him now. I don't think I could watch a reborn Top Gear with Chris Evans at the helm, and I've watched anything and everything Top Gear, including enjoying much-maligned segments such as the India Special.
 
chzsln485
Incomprehensible quantities of agreement. I don't get why everyone seems to love him, but I'm just glad I'm not the only one who hates him now. I don't think I could watch a reborn Top Gear with Chris Evans at the helm, and I've watched anything and everything Top Gear, including enjoying much-maligned segments such as the India Special.
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Agree , what does Chris Evans have over the Top Gear trio ? Nothing. He would never fit the show to be quite honest .
 
JoaoSilva
Agree , what does Chris Evans have over the Top Gear trio ? Nothing. He would never fit the show to be quite honest .
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How about Tiff Needell, Quentin Willson and James May? I've always liked Quentin since Old Top Gear and I find it a little odd he seems to be do nothing on TV, and hasn't done so for a while (apart from the Classic Car Show thing or whatever it's called on Channel 5, which isn't so good because Quentin is flanked by a bunch of irritating personalities for co-presenters).
 
chzsln485
How about Tiff Needell, Quentin Willson and James May? I've always liked Quentin since Old Top Gear and I find it a little odd he seems to be do nothing on TV, and hasn't done so for a while (apart from the Classic Car Show thing or whatever it's called on Channel 5, which isn't so good because Quentin is flanked by a bunch of irritating personalities for co-presenters).
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This man knows what he's talking about. 👍

daan
Nows the chance to bring back Quentin and Tiff and, along with May, lets get back to a proper car show.
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chzsln485
How about Tiff Needell, Quentin Willson and James May? I've always liked Quentin since Old Top Gear and I find it a little odd he seems to be do nothing on TV, and hasn't done so for a while (apart from the Classic Car Show thing or whatever it's called on Channel 5, which isn't so good because Quentin is flanked by a bunch of irritating personalities for co-presenters).
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If Jezza doesn't comeback to the show , it should be Tiff Needell , Hammond and May IMO . I would never replace Hammond for anybody and Mr Slowly , as the italians call him , creates a good balance in the show , since Jezza and Hammond are a bit more "crazy" and he's more quiet.

I always liked Tiff , he's an absolutly awesome driver , isn't he doing Fifth Gear IIRC?
 
Famine
Nobody could do it better than Hammond.

By which I mean if Hammond was replaced with literally an empty space, the show would improve.
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Opinions.
 
JoaoSilva
If Jezza doesn't comeback to the show , it should be Tiff Needell , Hammond and May IMO . I would never replace Hammond for anybody and Mr Slowly , as the italians call him , creates a good balance in the show , since Jezza and Hammond are a bit more "crazy" and he's more quiet.

I always liked Tiff , he's an absolutly awesome driver , isn't he doing Fifth Gear IIRC?
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Hammond has always been my least favourite of the trio, so I'm perhaps biased and choosing to get rid of him at the first opportunity, which is maybe a little unfair. Alternatively, he might be truly rubbish and in need of going. Hmm...

May must stay to provide a cool-headed balance, I'm in total agreement. Tiff is doing Fifth Gear, which is good enough but I would love to see him as part of a new trio.
 
The vast profitability of Top Gear is unfortunately due to the scripted feel and the over-done 'comedy'. Whether as car-fans we like this or not it is true, I highly doubt TG would survive in the current entertainment industry climate without all the daftness. Hence why the suggestions for new presenters that are primarily into cars wouldn't come off.

Just my 2 cents.
 
Honestly if i had the power to change anything i wanted in the show , i would simply let it be as it is , i wouldn't want to hire new people and end up with something like Top Gear USA :yuck:

@chzsln485 I always liked Hammond the most , maybe because i also used to watch Brainiac back in the day and i really liked it , don't know if you remember it?
 
JoaoSilva
Opinions.
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As was your post. Oddly no-one felt the need to flag that...
JoaoSilva
@chzsln485 I always liked Hammond the most , maybe because i also used to watch Brainiac back in the day and i really liked it , don't know if you remember it?
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Yeah, he couldn't present that for toffee either. The same pretense of caring about science while not knowing a thing about it, the same deliberately slow metre as if he's explaining something to a moron, the same long pauses and the same smug grins to camera - just as he does in his shows where he pretends to like engineering or that Petrolheads gameshow.

He's a 'personality' for hire, with no innate charm, intelligence or knowledge.
 
But changing the presenters would ruin all of my @Slash fanfics!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Famine
Yeah, he couldn't present that for toffee either. The same pretense of caring about science while not knowing a thing about it, the same deliberately slow metre as if he's explaining something to a moron, the same long pauses and the same smug grins to camera - just as he does in his shows where he pretends to like engineering or that Petrolheads gameshow.

He's a 'personality' for hire, with no innate charm, intelligence or knowledge.
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Pretty sure Jeremy doesn't know a damn thing about cars aswell , atleast the mechanical part of it , and Hammond does actually . He's actually a good fit for the show if you ask me.
 
JoaoSilva
Pretty sure Jeremy doesn't know a damn thing about cars aswell , atleast the mechanical part of it
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Clarkson doesn't know much about the greasy side - but he does at least like cars.

Hammond doesn't know anything about the greasy side either - and doesn't like cars. He's a mercenary radio presenter and only knows what to read out loud.
 
chzsln485
H I've always liked Quentin since Old Top Gear and I find it a little odd he seems to be do nothing on TV, and hasn't done so for a while
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;)

But yeah I do / did like many of the old Top Gear and 5th Gear alumni. Quentin Wilson is a bit like a James May figure but less boring and I also liked him. If they want a Clarkson replacement get Tim Shaw on :lol:

 
Famine
Yeah, he couldn't present that for toffee either. The same pretense of caring about science while not knowing a thing about it, the same deliberately slow metre as if he's explaining something to a moron, the same long pauses and the same smug grins to camera - just as he does in his shows where he pretends to like engineering or that Petrolheads gameshow.
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By far the best thing he's done on telly is the documentary where he interviewed Sir Stirling Moss. But then discussing recovery from a brain injury is something that he at least has some authority on, so that makes perfect sense, really.

Anyway, if we can't have Top Gear this weekend, and can all agree that we like James May, in the meantime I suggest reruns of this for 8pm Sunday:

oz_and_james_big_wine_adventure_uk-show.jpg
 
Famine
Clarkson doesn't know much about the greasy side - but he does at least like cars.

Hammond doesn't know anything about the greasy side either - and doesn't like cars. He's a mercenary radio presenter and only knows what to read out loud.
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Why do you say that Hammond doesn't like cars? And he knows a bit about the technical side of cars , he showed it in the show already.
 
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