Top Gear: USA vs UK

"472CID" (472CID) 01/23/2014 at 15:00 • Filed to: OPPOPOLL

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Ok, so lets see how everyone really feels about Top Gears second (or third, forth?) son. Top Gear USA had humongous shoes to borrow and fill, and it's a credit to them that they've lasted this long. So now that the show has had a little time to find itself and be the best Top Gear USA that it can be what's the consensus? Do you love it? hate it? have your mind made up without actually watching any of it?

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Part 2

Now every time there's a discussion about said Top Gear there's always numerous comments about how much better the show would be if they replaced [one of the three]. Funny thing is every one seems to think one of them needs to go, but nobody can agree on who. So who do you think is the weakest link?

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Nibbles > 472CID 01/23/2014 at 15:03

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How about an option for "I've never watched Top Gear USA"

Baber K. Khan > 472CID 01/23/2014 at 15:03

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No no no no......

AndersSim - V10'ING > 472CID 01/23/2014 at 15:08

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Can't answer the first question, as I've never thought that top gear us should even be compared to its uk counterpart, not because its bad, its just entirely different in a new a fresh form. I really like it, and have always done, but they don't compare, because they are nothing alike.

DatASSun > 472CID 01/23/2014 at 15:10

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It lost all respect once they put a racecar driver as a host .. obviously he's a better driver than a comedian no body knows about and a nascar announcer thats overweight ..

When tanner loses it feels like (to me) that he just let them win ..

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > 472CID 01/23/2014 at 15:12

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I actually like it. Considering the original doesn't air in Brazil and watching it online usually yields a message that the video is unavailable on my region, it's either TGUS or no TG at all.

lone_liberal > 472CID 01/23/2014 at 15:15

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The main issue I have with Top Gear USA is the sameness of all of the episodes. I guess the same could be said about the original, but they seem to do more within the framework and they are better at making the scripted parts seem spontaneous. With the US version it's three hosts choose ridiculous cars to do ridiculous challenge, three hosts destroy cars, watch Tanner drive car fast.

CPT Speedbump > 472CID 01/23/2014 at 15:16

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Like I always tell people, it's a good show, IF you don't compare it to the original. Everything will be $hit if you compare it to the best show ever made!

Jayhawk Jake > 472CID 01/23/2014 at 15:25

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I don't like comparing them. USA has a different format now, so it's hardly fair.

I like then both. Generally speaking I prefer the UK hosts but I enjoy the US hosts. Some episodes of US are great, some are bad, but the same is true for UK.

My DVR records both and I enjoy watching both. Beyond that who cares

bimmerismyname > 472CID 01/23/2014 at 15:26

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Where's the second option for the second poll about getting rid of all 3 and getting Leno, Letterman and Seinfeld (all 3 Car people in their own right)

deekster_caddy > DatASSun 01/23/2014 at 15:28

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A bit, yes. But that's why they sometimes make the challenges (or handicaps) so ridiculous that it doesn't matter if you are a race car driver. Take the EV show as an example (where Rut cheated!)

deekster_caddy > CPT Speedbump 01/23/2014 at 15:29

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This. It's a fun show. My daughter loves it (and Rut). She can't stand the 'fuddy duddy english accent guys' that I like to watch ;)

Jayhawk Jake > Nibbles 01/23/2014 at 15:29

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You're missing out. The amphibious cars episode this season was hilarious.

Jayhawk Jake > lone_liberal 01/23/2014 at 15:30

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They took the essence of TGUK and put it into a series.

TGUK doesn't do the 3 cheap car thing every episode, but they do it practically every episode.

I'd like to see TGUS do more supercar comparisons (like the cross USA trip) or some Car/Boat/Bus type comparisons.

deekster_caddy > lone_liberal 01/23/2014 at 15:31

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This is a big deal. I think the format of the first season was a bit loose, which made me think they had this thing nailed. But each season since, I feel like they are falling farther into a "formula" and it's starting to get repetitive.

edit - plus they started out with the 'star in car' and some fun interviews and a live audience, but seem to have dropped it.

overdrv > 472CID 01/23/2014 at 15:35

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www.finalgear.com best place to update your self on just about everthing Topgear

RazoE > 472CID 01/23/2014 at 15:35

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My issue with TKUS is the content. But it's not the hosts' fault. We only get a few interesting cars per year.

McLarry > 472CID 01/23/2014 at 15:37

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Wow...more people want to replace Rutledge than Tanner? I think Rutledge is easily the best thing the show has going for it. Top Gear is made more funny by the fact that all 3 hosts are 'average' (or terrible) drivers...putting an actual racecar driver in as host was a bad move. It automatically creates a rivalry between Tanner and the Stig, which Tanner simply can't win for the good of the show, otherwise the Stig is pointless. Against the other hosts, though, he always wins so naturally he assumes the leadership role, but he's can't carry the show like Clarkson can. The other two have much stronger personalities. I like the show as-is now, but I think it could grow more without Tanner.

feather-throttle-not-hair > 472CID 01/23/2014 at 15:44

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Here's the thing, its painfully obvious to anyone who REALLY REALLY likes cars that Adam Ferrara, despite almost sharing a name with a certain red sports car manufacturer, is not truly in love with the automobile. Oh sure, he likes them. He's perfectly willing to talk about them and do a show about them if he's being paid.

But i'm fairly sure that pre-top gear, Adam Ferrara probably had a tenth the number of unprovoked random car conversations than either of the other two guys.

Every now and then he says something funny, and his taste in cars provides a nice contrast, but I feel like from a car guys perspective he dumbs down the show.

Nibbles > Jayhawk Jake 01/23/2014 at 15:51

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I'm barely in season 5 of TGUK. I have a lot of catching up to do

JEM > deekster_caddy 01/23/2014 at 16:09

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This. Exactly.

I quite liked the first season and it's more mash-up style but now every episode is the same 1 dimensional formula every single time and it's incredibly boring.

JEM > feather-throttle-not-hair 01/23/2014 at 16:12

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I think he jsut comes from a different era/time/place growing up in 70s NYC.

Honestly, he's my favorite part of the show.

911e46z06 > 472CID 01/23/2014 at 16:30

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They ended crazy strong with the amphibious cars, so that's good. My issue with it is that every single little thing seems scripted and they never really choose a real winner. With the UK version, it seems like they really do the challenges, and they actually keep score, they just throw in some scripted stuff for the sake of comedy. With the US version, it's like they don't even try to pretend that every exchange of dialogue, every accident, and every outcome isn't scripted.

The Real Dacia Sandero > 472CID 01/23/2014 at 16:37

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I think Rutledge is pretty good as a host. He has the weird "James May" sort of side with weird cars and what not. Tanner has his good and bad days. Realistically, I don't care for Adam though. I get why he's on the show, but he is like the presenter of series 1 UK Top Gear that May replaced.

I think they need to try and not copy the UK series. What makes the UK series so good is that it's british. They aren't acting, it's just three friends that hate each other. Their chemistry is something that's classically british and formed through being friends but having drastically different interests and tastes.

A thing that I think makes the UK Top Gear good, is the apparent animosity between the presenters and the producers. It's always "the producers told us" , which creates that misery and rebellion that makes things so entertaining. Either the producers make them do something they really don't want to do, or impose some stipulation that makes things difficult or aggravating.

472CID > feather-throttle-not-hair 01/23/2014 at 16:38

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Agreed on all account

crowmolly > 472CID 01/23/2014 at 17:06

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Blows.

I really, really, really wanted to like it. The first season was kind of cool, now it's WAY too formulaic and obviously manufactured.

Episode guideline:

"We want to explore which is the best/worst of the x or y cars, here's $5000"

Rut buys something random, Adam makes a poor choice, Tanner chooses a poor man's sports car or (old) tech marvel.

Car descriptions:

Rut: "This blah blah blah was great for its time, when the company needed to xyz and fit a particular market with so-and-so. It was state of the art at the time and actually fits the challenges in the episode. Problem is... * long pause, looks at camera, smiles* it has not enough juice in its framis modulator."

Tanner: "My car is the best choice because of speed/tech/ZOMGness. Check out how fast it is. WHOOAAAAAAAAAAAAA. NOOOOOOO WAAAAAAYY. This thing is INNNNNSSAAAAAANE"

Adam: "Some say my choice is stupid, but it appeals to people because of some outlandish thing about it. I'm here for the kiddies, kind of like Jar Jar Binks"

Episode unfolds, they do different challenges, Tanner wins most because he's a better driver, Rut is right behind him due to maybe a good car choice, and Adam makes a really ridiculously stupid bonehead move to try and win. "My diesel pickup needs more power so I'm going to fill it with premium unleaded" or "I missed the boat to the island so I'm just going to try and ford the river". Something truly stupid that nobody would ever do. Rather than laugh, I usually just cringe at the terrible attempt at comedy. I feel bad for Adam because I think he's capable of being a lot more funny than he is on the show, they just force him to do dumb shit.

I guess my main gripe is that they "dumbed" the show down so much that it's basically un-watchable. The UK version is great because of the flowing interaction between the hosts and the non-forced humor.

Dsscats > 472CID 01/23/2014 at 20:06

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It would be fine if they stopped trying so hard to be and do the same ad UK

pb123456789 > 472CID 01/24/2014 at 10:26

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Nothing beats Top Gear UK

willconltd > 472CID 01/24/2014 at 10:29

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Topgear Special! Have Clarkson hit Rutledge with his choice of supercar, at speed.

Someone needs to murder Rutledge, its only fitting to let Clarkson do it on air.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion 01/30/2014 at 05:03

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You can't watch/find it on Streetfire?