Its time to rethink American Top Gear

"j250ex" (j250ex) 10/24/2014 at 11:19 • Filed to: top gear usa, top gear Appalachian trail, opposite lock, oppo

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I wrote this a while ago but never published it. With rumors of Top gear USA returning here is hoping they changed a few things.

I really wanted to like Top Gear USA. I was very excited to hear of its launch 4 years ago. Finally, the Americans would get our own version of Top Gear. It had a rough start. The hosts didn’t have the best on screen connection and it was clear that Tanner was hands down the superior driver. They experimented with having a live studio audience and interviews. Again this didn’t last and was quickly nixed. Even though I didn’t see how not interviewing the entire Pawn Stars cast would improve ratings. The show got better though. The challenges became more interesting and the car choices improved. However after watching this lasted episode with the Appalachian trail race I believe something needs to change.

For starters it needs to be an actual contest. The challenge was to see if they would race from Maine to Georgia following the route of the Appalachian Trail. Interesting concept and definitely got my attention. They stated in the beginning that it would take 23 hours to drive the whole trail. Great! That sounds like the beginning of an awesome challenge. Reminiscent of Jeremy racing the bullet train or any number of actual contest the UK boys put on. I love these challenges the UK guys do. They build up a suspense. Who will get to the destination first? You really are left guessing right till the finish line. Yes, its an entertainment show but you get the impression an actual race is taking place. However I quickly discovered this was not going to be the case with Top Gear USA. There wasn’t a race taking place at all. The boys stopped 3 or 4 times to do ridiculous side tasks. Tanner racing around the mountain was neat. The man really can drive but then you ruin it by slapping Adam’s Jaguar under a gondola cable car. How stupid do you think the audience is? This is a car show foremost. Focus on the cars and their drivers. You’re sacrificing the validity of the show for cheap thrill and excitement.

This could have been a minor sin if they maintained the validity of the challenge. After all this is what this contest is for. Is it possible to drive from Maine to Georgia in 24 hours? If you had this sort of time crunch why would you waste time with Rutledge driving on to a truck to use the bathroom? Is the audience just supposed to believe that truck just showed up? To make matters worse the continuity of the scene isn’t there. You have the trailer ramps down in one shot then up in another. Meaning you stopped 4 time to put the trailer ramps up and down. Did everyone just forget the time crunch you had. You have a deadline. Why are you wasting time with this?

The straw that broke the camels back was the train ride to Georgia. The whole point of the challenge was to drive to Georgia from Maine. Catching a train in Virginia means you didn’t even drive half of the damn time. Freight trains are limited to 49 mph so not only were you not driving but your average speed is so low you couldn’t have made it to Georgia in time.

I know this is supposed to be an entertainment show that just happens to have cars. I realize this and appreciate the lengths the cast and crew go to to create this show. But if you are going to put on a challenge then actually do a challenge. All this episode showed was the cast half-assing around New England for an afternoon then riding on a train. Create a sense of urgency in your audience. Make them believe you are actually doing this in 24 hours. Don’t just play to the lowest dominator.

Its time to rethink Top Gear USA because its gotten to the point where I just don’t care anymore. I’ve given it 4 years but honestly it’s just disappointing. This last episode really was a mess and has turned me off to the show.

boxrocket > j250ex 09/17/2015 at 01:07

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I was reservedly excited for the third season, but I don’t remember anything from it. I like tanner, I like Adam. Rut can go and be replaced with so many other people that would work so much better. Heck, the Wheeler Dealer guys have a shop in CA now, and the former TG UK hosts work for an American company, so we could even have a Brit for some “old-world” flavor; it doesn’t have to be an irritating hick who doesn’t know as much as he should to be called the "expert".

Justin T. Westbrook > j250ex 09/17/2015 at 01:35

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I vote Travis Okulski, Matt Hardigree, and Doug DeMuro. You can’t say no.

Frank Grimes > j250ex 09/17/2015 at 02:01

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It would be nice if they had personalities real ones not ones they use on tv. top gear uk seems like its less scripted and the things they say are actually real things.

Tapas > j250ex 09/17/2015 at 02:19

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I love your article, but I think you are mistaken about their source of inspiration.

McMike > j250ex 09/17/2015 at 05:45

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I’m looking forward to more TGUSA because I’m tired of photoshopping Lewis Hamilton all the time.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > boxrocket 09/17/2015 at 07:19

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I try and watch every now and then, but there’s something about Rutledge that I just can’t stand. Whats Ray Magliozzi up to?

450X_FTW > j250ex 09/17/2015 at 07:58

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Replace them with Jeremy, Richard, and James, keep calling it Top Gear USA. Done

DoYouEvenShift > j250ex 09/17/2015 at 08:29

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I dont watch UKTG because I cant stand Clarkson. So I watch USTG. First season was good, then went downhill fast.

I dont care for the challenges really. I like when Rutledge would review cars, then Foust or the Stig guy drove them on the track.

Also that scene with Tanner chasing down the bike in a Z06 was one of the coolest things Ive seen on TV,

deprecated account > Justin T. Westbrook 09/17/2015 at 10:41

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Shoutout to MS Paint and also to my school for putting Photoshop on the computers but not licensing it.