"b33g33" (b33g33)
03/29/2015 at 00:09 • Filed to: Top Gear Goodbye In Memoriam
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"b33g33" (b33g33)
03/29/2015 at 00:09 • Filed to: Top Gear Goodbye In Memoriam | 5
| 4 |
I have a tendency to hoard Top Gear episodes. I call it my Netflix syndrome. That insane need to curl up in bed or a couch and letting all your muscles go loose and flaccid before cueing up an 8 hour marathon of good entertainment. Think of it as the adult version of Calvin's tapioca offering.
More than any other show, Top Gear has delivered this to me time and time again. I get bored with serials, yes even Doctor Who's charms wane after 3 or 4 episodes because I'm furiously thinking about how he could have handled the Daleks differently or why Time Lords are such pussies.
I grew up with the show. I first got to know Jeremy when he was part of the original crew and the show was essentially a British version of Motorweek (but better because it had people like Clarkson and Needell on it.) I followed them in the early awkward seasons when the only sure thing was that Clarkson would still be a host while various others (including that chubby dude who did sorta what Tavarish is doing here) were in rotation.
It started getting interesting after May and Hammond joined and the show started to do some very cool and interesting things like the challenges and road trips. I felt like I was finally getting to ride along with someone from Evo or Top Gear magazine once a week. It was great.
There have, of course, been ups and downs and not all the episodes have been great. But the good one, oh the good ones were downright amazing. The trip down memory lane where they visited the old British car companies is something I've probably watched 5 times. Every single special episode gets put on a yearly rotation at my house.
I turn to Top Gear when I'm stressed, when I'm sad, when I'm frustrated with something because that show always gave me hope that there is a heaven for gear heads. A place where we can sit with our mates and drink a beer and just talk about how much we love our cars. It was nostalgia and hope and humor and some surprising history and geography lessons served up with a side of snark. It's an achievement along the lines of the daily show and Colbert report but with less stuff to make you really, really angry. Ultimately, it was a show that left you feeling good, especially if you loved cars and people who liked cars.
Then Clarkson went and fucked it all up for us. Maybe he was bored. Maybe he was going through a rough time as his ex-arch nemesis Piers Morgan said in some editorial in some British paper with bikini models on page 3. Whatever it is, I hope he gets over it.
It's late. I'm a tad maudlin. I've been traveling all week and I've been saving up all my last season of Top Gear for one final binge. I can't do it tomorrow because I have stuff to do. Maybe next weekend.
So, good night Oppo and goodbye Top Gear. Thanks for the memories.
wiffleballtony
> b33g33
03/29/2015 at 00:45 |
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Not trying to be melodramatic but losing TopGear as it is/was feels like losing friend.
chibicat
> b33g33
03/29/2015 at 23:11 |
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I understand what you mean, Top Gear is always fun to watch no matter how many times I see it. I also hoard Top Gears, helps especially when I need a laugh or just want some quality programing. (rare to find these days). I will miss Clarkson, Hammond and May on Monday nights in the United States. I truly hope all 3 will want to come up with a new show, they would have millions of followers as they do now. Hopefully it would be one that fans around the world could see. Thanks for the laughs, car advice and all the memories Jezza, Hamster and Captain Slow!! It does feel like losing an old friend wiffleballtony.
TheNewShmoo
> b33g33
11/23/2015 at 17:03 |
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I take it that a subscription to Amazon Prime is in your future then.
..ah, old post..
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b33g33
> TheNewShmoo
11/23/2015 at 18:07 |
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Been a subscriber since year 1. This would be the cherry on top.