Top Gear and the Cult of Personality

"Ike" (untitledcarshow)
06/10/2016 at 16:56 • Filed to: Internet fame

At this point you have formed an opinion on the newest form Top Gear has taken. While it has been panned by the public and critics alike, I think it can teach us a thing or two, especially us trying to make our way into, or grow, our audience. So Top Gear Prime was the first time a lot of us car enthusiast found a program of any sort, whether on TV or the Internet, that truly got the kinda goofy nature of the enthusiasts.

For easy of Understanding Top Gears last iteration with Clarkson, Hammond, & May will be called Top Gear Prime, or TGP. The new irritation with those other guys and Chris Harris will be call New Top Gear or NTG.
Lastly the history channel version will be called American Top Gear or ATG.

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We like cars, but more then that we like having fun with our cars and our friends. I think most of us got a lot of inspiration to do fun stuff with out cars from TGP. As we watched, enjoyed and learned from the three funny looking guys with weird accents. We began to identify with them.

“If we were Top Gear who would you be?” My friends used to joke and prod when we would go on a car adventure. For the record I’m tall, loud, opinionated and have a hammer collection so obviously James May. /s

It does have a deeper meaning than I think a lot of us realize. We all have relationships with our fellow car enthusiast, and most of the car people you and I know end up identifying with a member of TGP. The loud, the boring, the picky, the show off, the dolt, the offensive one, they are parts of the identities of the TGP host. Because of this they have become more then a part of our routine they became people we enjoyed identify and spending our time with.

I think this trend of identifying with people instead of shows, is fairly new in the media space, best shown in the “internet celebrities”. You find a personality that you like and stick with them. For me that was Philip DeFranco and the guys over at Rooster Teeth. I enjoyed their stuff and as both groups expanded and grew, I too followed them into the new productions, shows, podcast and more. I knew them and that I could trust that the new products would probably be something I would enjoy. It took time for them to get this level of trust from fans. Just like the TGP guys took time to grow our trust.

This is why I know those outside of the medium are going to complain when “The Grand Tour” comes out. Even if it isn’t a “blow your socks off moment”, the consensus from the automotive community will be positive, unlike the first reviews of ATG & NTG – which will seem like bias to many outsiders I’m sure. It will be bias too, but maybe not for the reason people think. These three funny talking chaps have done so much; road trips, challenges, super car reviews. They’ve even done a beach invasion and beat the Germans! So we accept a certain amount of failure when they experiment. They are allowed to try new things and just be okay because we know their charisma and personalities will carry the show though.

I think this is why people who work on the Internet and are trying to make a place for themselves (myself included) need to work out a their voice or point of view. It doesn’t need to be all that unique either. It just needs to be genuine. If there is one thing nobody likes its being lied to, about what’s going on. Just like the forced comradely between the NTG host. There’s a reason it feels forced and stilted – because it is. They need to take the time and effort to make “getting to know you” challenges.

In the end, whether it’s Top Gear Prime ending or your favorite Internet blog’s future being called into question, don’t dread the future. If you really like the content they produce, you’ll find a way to follow them on to the next bigger and better thing, and continue to enjoy their point of view. In this chaotic mix, you just might find a new voice you enjoy just as much.

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About Ike

Ike is co-host of the Untitled Car Show ( untitledcarshow.podomatic.com ) he has owned 2 Dodge Challengers; a Volvo C30, a V70XC, a V70R, 740; a derelict Porsche 924, a Ford Fiesta ST and a Saturn Ion . He is a new father and loves driving and autocrossing. He can jerry rig with the best of them, and he wrote his bio in third person. He also has 2 dogs, 2 cats and is a crazy person some say!

Email the author: untitledcarshow@rightfootdown.com

DISCUSSION (6)

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Ike
06/10/2016 at 17:25

I’m still waiting to see how the new Top Gear will come together - I really think that leaving Rory and Chris Harris to do Extra Gear only is a waste. The thing is, the hosts need to develop a certain amount of disdain for each other - the old crew were friends and it was nice to see them annoying each other on camera, whether it’s Clarkson’s refusal to do manual labour, Hammond’s unwillingness to try new food, or May’s unexciting yet funny pedantry. Right now it all seems like they’re trying too hard to get along.

I’d like to see Evans relegated to a smaller role or just let go completely. I’m indifferent to Leblanc, although I did enjoy his drive in the Ariel Nomad. I find Rory to be a solid host when he does Extra Gear, and I thought his banter with Chris Harris was decent, and should only get better as they work together more - I think these guys should host the regular show.

This is what I think but that's only after two episodes. Heck, when Top Gear came back around in their previous iteration in the early 2000s the first season didn't even have James May - it took a whole season before we got our now beloved trio, and then it took a few seasons to get to making consistently interesting and funny segments.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Ike
06/10/2016 at 17:42

I normally don’t make comments pertaining to grammar and spelling but this article was a mental pain to read due to some glaring ones. If you cleaned it up, it could be worthwhile putting up but as it stands, this was a struggle to get through. Without being nitpicky, here are the major ones.

1) “This is why I know people are going to complain when “The Grand Tour” comes out. Even if it isn’t a “blow your socks off moment”, the consensus will be positive , unlike the first reviews of ATG & NTG”

So....people will complain.....that the consensus is positive? The sentence(s) on bias in that paragraph didn’t make much sense either.

2) “If we were Top Gear who would you be?” My friends used to joke and prod when we would go on a car adventure. For the record I’m tall, loud, opinionated and have a hammer collection so obviously James May . It had a deeper meaning then I think a lot realize.”

I think this was sarcasm? But it wasn’t too obvious and you immediately segmented on to how meaningful it is.

3) You repeatedly used “Then” when you needed to be using “Than”.

Like I said, I can go on but then it just devolves into nitpicky things that don’t affect how the article itself reads.

I agree with the article, for the record. I didn’t like the hate bus for TG:USA that everyone hopped on when it first came out and I see the exact same thing happening now. And TGT is already having a positive hype train while NTG was being doused in lighter fluid and the fans were standing by with matches before the first episode aired while the charred husk of TG:USA is still smoldering.

Ike > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/10/2016 at 17:49

I will harass my editor, because he should have found said mistakes, (there’s a reason I normally talk instead of type), and I take no offense or insult to my horrible grammar and spelling capability

just-a-scratch > Ike
06/10/2016 at 18:04

I’ll just leave this link here for reference.

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/misspel…

Ike > just-a-scratch
06/10/2016 at 18:06

I may have this saved in my computer bookmarks for reference; unfortunately I'm on my phone.

Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud > Ike
06/10/2016 at 20:19

I would actually like the NTG if that ginger would just stop yelling at me, and learn to express himself using a more varied cadence. Matt LeBlanc reminds me of a younger, just as monotone Jay Leno, but its ok, I like Jay Leno’s Garage, so im used to it.

I actually think Rut and Adam on ATG are much better with their speaking than their first season, but man, Tanner is just as monotone as Leno and LeBlanc. Still, I like the chemistry thats developing in ATG.