Un-official GTPlanet BBC Topgear UK ThreadTV 

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Famine
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...
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I understand what you're saying but i disagree with what you're saying , i always liked his performance , and to me he acts like the other two in TG and wherever else. I've been watching TG for 10 years and i never noticed anything wrong with him.
 
Hammond will be alright without TG, he has already down other shows for the Beeb like the ones about the weather, the one with the CGI planet Earth and the one with the giraffes and elephants, so he'll be absolutely fine if he was no longer wanted by TG, he might even get a gig hosting one of those lottery quiz shows...
 
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)
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Does she have the sense of humor?
 
I remember your old username, and what many took it to mean. I'm aware it refers to the guitarist.

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Anyway, @Famine, @homeforsummer, @niky, @Terronium-12, @Cano, @prisonermonkeys, Quentin Wilson, James May, @eminembeastfan2, and @Jordon would be my presenters of choice if Top Gear were relaunched old-stylee. Obviously. :sly:
 
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!

Amy-Macdonald-e-la-sua-458-Italia.jpg


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)
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No. No no no no no. While all my friends were fawning over her the last time she was SIARPC, I couldn't stand her. She's not funny and she's not interesting. Also, I'm not sure "looks" and "accent" are particularly crucial criteria for the presenter of a motoring/stroke comedy show.
 
Pseudopod
Does she have the sense of humor?
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From the various interviews that I have watched, I think her sense of humour is great! It's different than the boys', but still great.
 
Roger the Horse
I remember your old username, and what many took it to mean. I'm aware it refers to the guitarist.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Anyway, @Famine, @homeforsummer, @niky, @Terronium-12, @Cano, @prisonermonkeys, Quentin Wilson, James May, @eminembeastfan2, and @Jordon would be my presenters of choice if Top Gear were relaunched old-stylee. Obviously. :sly:
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Why? So I can be the one telling everyone to kiss me between my two back pockets, while @Jordan is telling me to shut up and be more friendly? :lol:

No, I'd play nice. Until my Corvette is taken away. All bets are off at that point.
 
Why do people want Quentin back so much... I didn't dislike him in the past, but these days he seems to come across as a smarmy, sly used car salesman (or extended warranty salesman :lol: ), I'd rather have Mike Brewer!
 
Terronium-12
Why?
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Unless I'm misremembering which mod it was who posted let's play videos of Forza 5 when it came out, you have the coolest voice in the world and therefore would be far better suited to presenting Top Gear than Richard Hammond, just off of that alone. I remember not being the only one who thought that.

Quentin Wilson always seemed to present the most entertaining parts of old Top Gear, for whatever reason.
 
I think a good Top gear combo would be, James May, Mike Brewer (as mentioned above) and Idris Elba.
 
JoaoSilva
I've been watching TG for 10 years and i never noticed anything wrong with him.
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At this point, is it feasible there's something of a language barrier issue here? I'd not go quite as far as @Famine in his dislike of the man but Hammond is still very visibly a less natural presenter than Clarkson or May - Clarkson, love or hate him, is simply quite a good TV personality and May is a good TV personality by virtue of being quite a good person in general, with proper journalistic experience and a level of intelligence that sees him come across well on subjects he's knowledgeable about.

Hammond may well be a car enthusiast, to the same degree people on the internet who think the Nissan GT-R is the best car ever are car enthusiasts, but he does seem quite one-dimensional. If it's not a bit ludicrous and shouty - think the Lamborghinis/Zondas/American stuff he ends up in in challenges, it does seem a bit like he's feigning enthusiasm.

In comparison, I grew up when May was a proper journalist on Top Gear magazine, rather than a presenter - and did some genuinely fantastic features. Before that he was at Autocar, and before that Car. He still writes for some classic motorcycle magazines and whenever he does his own programmes - be that Toy Stories or touring France getting pissed with Oz Clarke - it all seems very 'real'.

Without wishing to demean, there's a chance that the subtleties that separate mock enthusiasm from genuine enthusiasm might be lost on someone whose first language isn't English.
Nessy
I think a good Top gear combo would be, James May, Mike Brewer (as mentioned above) and Idris Elba.
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I've only seen Elba present one program, and nothing about his presentation style struck me as something I'd be interested in watching again. Brewer is a good presenter, but I'm not sure he'd fall naturally into the 'cocking about' style that TG has become known for.
 
I can't stand Mike brewer but he would still be 1000 times better then Hammond.

Anyone from Australia will get this, Richard Hammond is like a UK version of Grant Denyer, yet even Grant Denyer likes cars more then him(Has racing experience).
 
Roger the Horse
Unless I'm misremembering which mod it was who posted let's play videos of Forza 5 when it came out, you have the coolest voice in the world and therefore would be far better suited to presenting Top Gear than Richard Hammond, just off of that alone. I remember not being the only one who thought that.

Quentin Wilson always seemed to present the most entertaining parts of old Top Gear, for whatever reason.
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That was me. :p
 
:lol:

I was joking about Mike Brewer, he seemed like a nice guy when I asked if he had any jump leads to rescue my stricken car from the paddock car park at Silverstone... but I can imagine the features... He'd get a Zonda for a test, then flip it on Autotrader for a tidy profit.
 
MatskiMonk
:lol:

I was joking about Mike Brewer, he seemed like a nice guys when I asked if he had any jump leads to rescue my stricken car from the paddock car park at Silverstone... but I can imagine the features... He'd get a Zonda for a test, then flip it on Autotrader for a tidy profit.
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LOL.
 
Quentin Willson comes across pretty well in that Classic Car Show thing on Channel 5, less smarmy than he used to be, though he still nods his head alllll the time like some kind of car-crazed marionette.

In defence of Hammond and his supporters here, there is a difference between not getting something and disagreeing. I don't agree with your agrument either Famine, which is what leads to healthy discussion, that's why we're here surely? No need for the apparent frustration if someone isn't on the same page as you, as a mod you know that better than most I am sure :)

Per my post above, I (personally!) happen to think his work on other shows is dialled in, almost disengenuous at times, but I've never got that feeling with him on Top Gear. As for being a genuine car guy, he runs or ran a classic Mustang, so make of that what you will. Clearly there are many other people who like him on the show too.
 
We've had more talk about who and how we would replace the presenters in 24 hours than we have in the last six weeks talking about the actual episodes.

I think that says something about how good the show is these days.
 
Tyger
As for being a genuine car guy, he runs or ran a classic Mustang, so make of that what you will. Clearly there are many other people who like him on the show too.
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Yeah, I saw him tooling about in that around Cheltenham when I'd visit my Uni mates, that must have been really early in his TG career though.

Liquid
We've had more talk about who and how we would replace the presenters with in 24 hours than we have in the last six weeks talking about the actual episodes.

I think that says something about how good the show is these days.
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Generally speaking we seem to hold a common opinion, be it good or bad, of each episode - and a thread where everyone just agrees doesn't last that long! On the other hand, #Clarksongate and the fate of Top Gear seem to divide opinions more. Social media is proving that. Arguments breed more posts then agreement.
 
homeforsummer
I've only seen Elba present one program, and nothing about his presentation style struck me as something I'd be interested in watching again. Brewer is a good presenter, but I'm not sure he'd fall naturally into the 'cocking about' style that TG has become known for.
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I think he's quite good (imo).
I'd like to see a change in the 'cocking about' style that TG has become.. i'm not saying lose the humor aspect, just change it.

I'd also like to add Guy Martin to the list.
 
I don't think I've seen a more skin crawlingly annoying person on the television in a looong time than Idris Elba, and I've only ever seen him in the Sky+ advert. I figured he was a footballer since he was athletic looking and had the line delivery talent of a chees grater, turns out he's an actor.

I've been watching a lot of motoring clips on YouTube tonight, and I think I've come to the conclusion that if they change one, they have to change them all. They are caricatures, simply as that, personally I don't mind that so much, but if you drop somebody into the mix who is "real" it's going to stand out like a saw thumb and even make May look like a bit of a chump.
 
MatskiMonk
I figured he was a footballer since he was athletic looking and had the line delivery talent of a chees grater, turns out he's an actor.
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And a quite good one at that, (imo).
 
homeforsummer
I'd not go quite as far as @Famine in his dislike of the man but Hammond is still very visibly a less natural presenter than Clarkson or May
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It's not even a dislike of the man, more that he ruins every program he's on because he simply doesn't care. To him, fronting an engineering program is like turning the Christmas lights on in Berwick - show up with no knowledge of the place and no real interest, say a few words, get paid and go home.

I've only ever seen two occasions where anyone's looked less interested than him. Sheffield Wednesday's forwards in every game and that time when John Redwood Canadianed along to the Welsh National Anthem. And the latter of those is exactly what I thought of when he did the "Imagine waking up in the morning and remembering you're Mexican" bit of awkward, cringeworthy xenophobia.
Nessy
Mike Brewer
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You. Outside. Now.
MatskiMonk
I don't think I've seen a more skin crawlingly annoying person on the television in a looong time than Idris Elba, and I've only ever seen him in the Sky+ advert. I figured he was a footballer since he was athletic looking and had the line delivery talent of a chees grater, turns out he's an actor.
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Next Bond, apparently (if the Daily Mail can stop twisting their knickers about it). You may recognise him from his giant gold armour as Heimdall in Thor/Thor 2.
 
Terronium-12
@Beeblebrox237 :grumpy:
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Tee hee :p


On topic, @Famine, I think you might be being a little hard on Hammond. While you may not like him, there's nothing wrong with people liking him and his presenting style. I'm almost certain there's a cultural divide at work here. I can tell you that in America, James May is disliked by most, while almost everyone likes Hammond. In the UK, it's almost perfectly reversed. This cross-cultural appeal of the three hosts combined is what, in my opinion, makes Top Gear so universally liked. The three hosts are different enough that everyone can easily choose a favourite, but they still have a great rapport on screen.
 
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