Un-official GTPlanet BBC Topgear UK ThreadTV

[JoaoSilva]

In fairness, I do think Clarkson has plenty of interests outside of cars, and I'd say that guns and particularly war are very high up the list. I'd recommend his documentary about the Arctic convoys in WWII - a really interesting story which I knew little about beforehand, and he told it with genuine interest, passion, and - most crucially of all - without having to resort to playing up to camera

But do you really think he knew about all those different facts before the documentary was made? Of course not. It's normal really , they follow the scripts , just like in Top Gear but in Top Gear they also are "themselves".

Regarding the suspension , i really don't get it how BBC allowed Jimmy Savile to be on their network and not Jeremy , i really don't get that.

 

[Ingram]

But do you really think he knew about all those different facts before the documentary was made? Of course not. It's normal really , they follow the scripts , just like in Top Gear but in Top Gear they also are "themselves".

Regarding the suspension , i really don't get it how BBC allowed Jimmy Savile to be on their network and not Jeremy , i really don't get that.

Your point wasn't whether he knew the facts, but whether he cared about them. The documentary I'm referring to wasn't just presented by Clarkson, but written by him too: he interviewed historians and people who were actually there. I'm sure he had some researchers helping him too - that's just sensible - but it was a program that he was commissioned to do, not one which involved learning a script and thereby negating the need for any prior knowledge.

 

[JoaoSilva]

Your point wasn't whether he knew the facts, but whether he cared about them. The documentary I'm referring to wasn't just presented by Clarkson, but written by him too: he interviewed historians and people who were actually there. I'm sure he had some researchers helping him too - that's just sensible - but it was a program that he was commissioned to do, not one which involved learning a script and thereby negating the need for any prior knowledge.

you're right , he cared about it , but don't you think Hammond cares about cars? Some don't think so apparently.

 

[Famine]

In your opinion he doesn't , but in my opinion he does , he's always been entertaining to me , don't try proving me anything that can't be proven , only he knows if he likes cars or not , unless you know something that he doesn't.

Just look at his face!

The guy can't act - all of the attempts to get him to act on Top Gear are proof of that - and his 'being interested in cars' act is quite clearly an act. It is almost the most obvious thing on television, just behind from Conchita Wurst's adam's apple...

If you can't see the lie of it I'm genuinely amazed.

Also on the "he couldn't care less" part , have you ever watched "Inventions that changed the world" by Jezza? Do you really think he cares about computers , guns , etc?

Computers probably not so much, but guns - and war, and weapons of war - certainly.

On the topic of war, it was again interesting to note the complete disparity between Clarkson and May's delivery and reaction standing over Tennyson's Valley of Death on the Ukraine trip next to Hammond's blank, monotone of complete uninterest.

Makes him just as guilty.

Of presenting a car show when he doesn't care about cars? That's a bizarre argument either way up.

Brainiac , i haven't watched it in years , WipeOut , from time to time , Top Gear , every week , and i usually watch some documentaries they (the trio) make.

Then my statement and suggestion stand:

Have you not noticed that he delivers everything in exactly the same condescending metre with bizarre last syllable stresses, then ends with a half smile stare down the camera?
...
Both Hammond and May have done shows featuring the Milau Bridge. Watch them both and compare them - tell me which actually cares about the engineering feats.

There's literally nothing more obvious than just how little Hammond cares about it next to how much May does.

 

[Scaff]

Everything else is either what's popular (he's apparently a 911 fan - bet he wasn't until he got the Top Gear money and then went and bought the first fast car he could think of) or a deliberate 'character' offset of what the other two like.In the script, yes. But then he was also in the script not knowing about the technical side of cars when 'they' built the Caterham at Knockhill...

He does talk about the old an knackered 911 (that broke down frequently and leaked) he bought and ran before he got an interview for TG in his biography, it which he does come across as being a lover of cars and bikes.........



................................the biography was however of course written after his time with TG and his indifference could just be because he's a bit **** at the job.

 

[Akmuq]

Jon Bentley should not have been mentioned. That is all.

 

[JoaoSilva]

If you can't see the lie of it I'm genuinely amazed

Or maybe , just maybe , i think differently than you.

Of presenting a car show when he doesn't care about cars? That's a bizarre argument either way up.

What i was saying is that you claim that Hammond doesn't care about cars and does it only for the paycheck , but Jezza also made some documentaries about stuff he probably doesn't care like , as i said before , the computer , the jet , the telephone ... how much does Jeremy care about the telephone to the point of doing a documentary? Nothing , he did it for the paycheck too , just like Hammond , but you're only accusing Hammond of doing it wich isn't being fair.

There's literally nothing more obvious than just how little Hammond cares about it next to how much May does.

Again , you're stating that stuff as a fact. It's just an opinion.

 

[Ingram]

you're right , he cared about it , but don't you think Hammond cares about cars? Some don't think so apparently.

I think he has more of an interest in bikes, personally. He's gained a basic interest in cars after being around them for so long. Similar, really, to the way Jake Humphrey didn't really know anything about F1, but after three years talking about it on the BBC he could at least hold a conversation about it to camera. Which is more than can be said of Simon Lazenby, but I digress..

I remember watching a show on Men and Motors (anyone remember that?!) where Hammond was the 'bike guy' of their ultra-low budget motoring program. Funnily enough, he was also by far the best presenter on that show, but mainly because the rest of them seemed to be scared and confused by the big electrical recording monster that they had to talk towards.

 

[TheCracker]

A lot of people have a passing interest in cars without actually being a 'car guy/petrol head'. They like cars. They like the idea of having a nice car, but they're not really into cars. I class Hammond in this group.

I knew that he did, but I didn't know you did! My old school is literally across a field from Harrogate College

I didn't know he did until today. My old house (my parents old house) is almost literally within spitting distance of your parents house. (I've had this convo with Antony already )

 

[JoaoSilva]

I think he has more of an interest in bikes

People can like both , hell , even i like bikes a bit. My godparent has a Yamaha R1 that he drives from Switzerland to Portugal frequently and i love that thing , really cool looking bike.

He's gained a basic interest in cars after being around them for so long.

Agree , I said that before , he gained the taste for cars along the way of the show.

 

[Scaff]

JC says he may quit even if cleared.....

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...gear-fracas-10100822.html?cmpid=facebook-post

 

[Famine]

He does talk about the old an knackered 911 (that broke down frequently and leaked) he bought and ran before he got an interview for TG in his biography, it which he does come across as being a lover of cars and bikes...

...the biography was however of course written after his time with TG

Nothing like inventing a bit of history.

Or maybe , just maybe , i think differently than you.

Well that much is obvious.

I simply can't believe that you'd watch Hammond in Top Gear, Braniac, Blast Lab, Engineering Connections and Wipeout and not see the exact same delivery in each.

What i was saying is that you claim that Hammond doesn't care about cars and does it only for the paycheck , but Jezza also made some documentaries about stuff he probably doesn't care like , as i said before , the computer , the jet , the telephone ... how much does Jeremy care about the telephone to the point of doing a documentary? Nothing , he did it for the paycheck too , just like Hammond , but you're only accusing Hammond of doing it wich isn't being fair.

No... I'm pointing out that he is exactly that same in all of these programs because he doesn't actually care about any of them.

I'm not saying the others have never fronted a show about something they don't care about, I'm saying that from Hammond's identical performances (metre, delivery, mannerisms, expression) in all of these shows you can clearly tell that he doesn't care about any of it.

As for the others... with Clarkson you can tell when he doesn't care - check out some of his travel shows. With May... well, you can't, but I'm not sure he's ever done a show about something he's not interested in.

 

[homeforsummer]

I'm still skeptical this whole thing. If he was punched, where's the proof? Pictures? Anything? If I was punched by a celebrity, I'd certainly be taking pictures.

Literally the first thing I think of when I'm on the end of a punch is whipping out my camera to take a photographic memento.

 

[Touring Mars]

If the useless producer had just brought dinner when he was supposed to, then none of this would have happened.

 

[chzsln485]

As an aside, this supposedly happened in Newcastle, which therefore must have been at Top Gear Live. I was at that show, and if I'd known this was happening backstage I would have gone and stopped Jezza.

 

[Luminis]

JC says he may quit even if cleared.....

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...gear-fracas-10100822.html?cmpid=facebook-post

Bit late to the discussion, but I wouldn't be too surprised if he went ahead and actually quit Top Gear. I mean, Clarkson could easily just start a similar comedy/car show crossover elsewhere. He's the face of the show and he's incredibly popular, so I'd guess Top Gear needs him more than he needs Top Gear. I wouldn't even mind if he brought James May along (if only to tick off the BBC some more).

Regarding the whole thing about who to replace, I'll have to go with Hammond as well. I don't know, Clarkson and May seem to add more to the show and Hammond seems to be there to fill in the gaps, so to speak. Don't know how to word that any better Also, I liked the idea of having Chris Harris alongside May and Clarkson when it was brought up earlier in this threat. A competent driver and a bit on the quirky side to contrast May, but he knows his stuff and can be serious enough to contrast Clarkson as well. But I've got to admit, I just like him and his enthusiasm, so I'm biased.

 

[Tyger]

Oddly I really dislike Hammond in anything other than Top Gear, but In TG I like him a lot and find him entertaining, even if he's not my "favourite" of the presenters if I had to choose. His other work does seem totally dialled in and he can bring a big of the fromage to TG too sometimes, but for the most part he's good value and has good chemistry with the other two.

Anyway my two cents on recent events is that the most moronic and heavy-handed way the BBC could possibly deal with the situation is by axeing the last two episodes. There are two other presenters and a team of dozens if not hundreds who bring it to the screen, plus millions of fans who may lose out. However big a personality he is, it is not the Jeremy Clarkson Show, but this will just convince him even more that it is.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Anyway my two cents on recent events is that the most moronic and heavy-handed way the BBC could possibly deal with the situation is by axeing the last two episodes. There are two other presenters and a team of dozens if not hundreds who bring it to the screen, plus millions of fans who may lose out. However big a personality he is, it is not the Jeremy Clarkson Show, but this will just convince him even more that it is.

It could be contractual from Clarkson's side, no him, no show.

 

[Tyger]

It could be contractual from Clarkson's side, no him, no show.

Surely the remaining two episodes have already been recorded? Even the "news" section usually isn't, um, "new". And I don't think he would insist the Beeb not show them because of the current situation, though happy to be corrected!

 

[Clark]

 

[Roo]

Surely the remaining two episodes have already been recorded?

Ahem.

All the non-studio stuff will have been recorded. The studio bits - the news, the SIARPC, the links, intros and outros - are recorded on the Wednesday before the show airs. This hasn't happened this week.

 

[Wiegert]

Studio segments would have been filmed today, next Wednesday and on the 25th just before they fly out to host TGL in Norway (no word on that being cancelled yet). That includes "the news", however outdated most of the headlines tend to be.

That said, they could probably compile everything that was filmed last year that hasn't aired yet and make a couple of episodes out of it. Not that I'd bet on it happening.

 

[JoaoSilva]

@Famine Jezza has the same delivery in his documentaries aswel , what point are you trying to prove?

 

[lancia delta hf]

@Famine Jezza has the same delivery in his documentaries aswel , what point are you trying to prove?

That they are all the same guy in each programme, Shocking ey.

 

[Famine]

 

[Roger the Horse]

 

[Luminis]

@Famine Jezza has the same delivery in his documentaries aswel , what point are you trying to prove?

Not that I want to speak for Famine or anything, but I'd say that the difference is that Clarkson is being himself while Hammond is somewhat of a blank canvas.

Can't really explain it without giving an example, I guess...

First, if Clarkson, the character, says that he's of the opinion that speed and power solve everything, I can absolutely imagine that that's something that Clarkson, the person, believes in, too. Yes, it's skripted, but the character and the actor actually match. Hammond's character lacks that sort of authenticity, as far as I can tell. Second, enthusiasm. Remember the bit about the ND MX-5? Hammond gives it a lot of praise and when he's done, I was sitting there like "yeah, I guess the MX-5 is a decent car for the money." On the other hand, I've just watched Chris Harris test driving the Cayman GT4 and the impression I'm left with is "GOTTA SELL A KIDNEY, I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE!" All personal impression, of course.

Not that I hate Hammond, I just think he's the weakest link in the line-up and that others might do a better job.

 

[JoaoSilva]

That they are all the same guy in each programme, Shocking ey.

Exactly , it's not just Hammond.

 

[Famine]

Exactly , it's not just Hammond.

I am astounded by the level at which you're just not getting this.

Clarkson and May front other shows and Top Gear either with genuine enthusiasm for a subject in which they are interested or, occasionally in Clarkson's case back in the early 1990s when he was trying to become famous and make lots of money, well feigned enthusiasm for a subject that's paying the bills. Again the difference between Clarkson's bored and interested attitudes is practically tangible. There's a reason he's not done any non-TG presenting except for panel shows & two one-hour shows on war in the last decade... he can't pull it off when he isn't interested.

Hammond does not. Hammond cannot act and, like Clarkson in the early 1990s, is just shoved in front of whatever it is he's supposed to be doing this week and pretends to care - but because he can't act he can't carry it off. The exact same pretense of interest he shows on those shows he also exhibits on Top Gear - every now and then a Top Gear piece will flit past that's something he actually is interested in (the Defender, for example) and he visibly changes into someone who cares about the subject. Turns out that when he's interested in something he's not actually that bad, but it happens so rarely on Top Gear - because he's just not interested. Same as he was on Braniac, same as he was on Engineering Connections, same as he was on everything else.


There is an exception - when he did Planet Earth Live. He seemed to actually light up and get with it - I guess he's interested in wildlife - but unfortunately the viewers thought that he and Julia Bradbury were on the screen far too much and the animals far too little.

Incidentally, the TG team as part of the contract is committed to 3 hours of factual programming besides TG a year. Want to check who's presented all but one of those since 2007? It's James May - the other hour was Jeremy Clarkson's Greatest Raid...

 

[Justuxful]

Since everyone is giving their thoughts on who should replace the current presenters (if they need replacing), I thought of a brilliant idea for that while watching "Katy Perry: Part of Me" for the 569th time instead of doing my homework (again).

So here it goes... AMY MACDONALD!

If she was on it, I would watch the show no matter what. I mean, she has the looks, the accent, the love for cars... Everything! She is the perfect package! (At least in my mind)