Evans and the issue with mediums

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
07/06/2016 at 08:57 • Filed to: None

The problem with Evans I believe stemmed from his work in radio. Being an audio medium, radio stars have to convey emotion and emphasis entirely via their voice in order to get a point across, much in the same way stage actors must overemphasize their movements in order to make them obvious to the viewing audience sitting dozens of meters away, as opposed to television where the cameras and high-end microphones can pick up the most subtle of mannerisms and gestures. Evans, being the popular radio man that he is, is probably so used to over-acting and enunciating for the radio that he can’t help but do it on the set of Top Gear, leading to his overdone mannerisms and spastic nature. If you close your eyes during the studio settings who would you rather listen to? The monotone ‘Murican or the spastic Brit?

Combined with rumors that he never really cared much about the cars and more cared about just getting on TV for his 15 minutes (or, in this case, one season) of fame and I’m very confused by the BBCs decision to put him on the show, especially as frontman.

DISCUSSION (24)

Flavien Vidal > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/06/2016 at 09:02

“NEver really cared about the cars”??

You know that he is a massive Ferrari collector right? He is a car guy and quite a big one actually.... just not one that can share his passion (Afterall he is a ginger!! :) )

djmt1 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/06/2016 at 09:06

Two things.

1. His garage & car festivals suggest he does indeed like cars.

2. He does plenty of TV work.

The BBC chose him because he was the easy choice. They needed a person who is big into cars and is used to presenting to millions on a short time scale. Well they thought they had “the perfect man” for the job.

The reason he failed is due to his attitude. He’s arrogant and probably thought he could just waltz in, take over and lead Top Gear to success. Let’s be blunt, he’s done it before with other programs so yet another reason why the BBC chose him.

Berang > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/06/2016 at 09:11

I think the bigger issue is just that he isn’t Clarkson. He’s taking a fall for all the other presenters. Anybody who was the main guy was going to be attacked for not being Clarkson regardless of their performance. People already had their minds made up, Clarkson is the best, and nobody could replace him. Evans took one for the team, and is ducking out quick so everybody else can go on while the dumber members of the audience are distracted and still chasing Evans.

Not that I’ll miss him, but it would’ve probably turned out about the same for anybody in his shoes.

LongbowMkII > Flavien Vidal
07/06/2016 at 09:11

I don't think collecting ferarris makes you a car guy.

Flavien Vidal > LongbowMkII
07/06/2016 at 09:12

Considering the ones that he owns. trust me, it does :)

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Flavien Vidal
07/06/2016 at 09:15

Owning lots of (white!!!!) Ferraris doesn’t make you a car guy. It means you’re rich and like cars, but there’s a difference between liking fast/expensive/white cars and being a car guy.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Berang
07/06/2016 at 09:15

I agree but I like to think if Harris headed up the show he would have done fine.

LongbowMkII > Flavien Vidal
07/06/2016 at 09:18

It's not special. Just money. I wouldn't consider Mayweather or a hedge fund manager car guys either.

Flavien Vidal > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/06/2016 at 09:22

Yes, and his white ferrari collection is impressive... These are not the only cars he owns though... He is the closest thing to an english Jay Leno there is in term of massive car collection... Just because he sucks at presenting Top Gear does not mean he is not a massive car guy with a massive wallet..

Kinja'd!!!

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Berang
07/06/2016 at 09:25

You could be spot on with this, I can think of a number of instances of people I know professionally that actively didn’t want a specific promotion as they knew that whomever was replacing the person that was in that position (that was often retiring) would never succeed as they would be compared to their predecessor. The only person I know who pulled this off did so by negotiating his terms of accepting the position as they truly wanted him, he had to negotiate back to the duties that position entailed not all the other stuff his predecessor did in addition.

Flavien Vidal > LongbowMkII
07/06/2016 at 09:25

Oh come on.... 275 GTB, 250GTO, TR61, 250 GT Lusso... etc etc etc

These are not Bugatti Veyron with custom carpet we’re talking about...

fintail > Flavien Vidal
07/06/2016 at 09:28

Well you’re right about the wallet part. I wonder if mommy and daddy helped get his ball rolling, too. Iwonder if can even change a tire.

When he presents something like Leno’s collection, something more than than a hoard of mostly non-original Ferraris (repaint them all white? would a “car guy” do this?), then get back to us.

Flavien Vidal > fintail
07/06/2016 at 09:33

I don’t think he repainted them all white?? Did he??

Also how is being born with rich parents in a rich family a problem?? My family is not exactly poor to say the least, does that mean I’m an ass??

Being born in a rich family is great and somethin one should exploit to make their life greater. Investing in awesome cars that get more and more expensive is a rich kid privilege. Nothing they should be ashamed of. Much better than spending their money in parties and brand new slammed Lambos...

fintail > Flavien Vidal
07/06/2016 at 09:36

I am quite certain they are not original white cars, and he has repainted many of them (or should I say, paid someone to do the work, as I doubt he could even change a spark plug). I doubt a “car guy” would do this.

You’re an arse for other reasons including the family :) Inherited gold makes so many into entitled twerps who become entitled kidults and pretend they built it while having done nothing but been lucky. Massively higher taxes are needed, among other things.

LongbowMkII > Flavien Vidal
07/06/2016 at 09:36

I’d like one “Most Expensive Ferrari” please.

I’m honestly more impressed by your turbo SA ownership than someone buying and selling Ferrari’s at auctions. The cars are amazing, but again he seems more like a Pokemon collector.

Berang > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/06/2016 at 09:58

I have a feeling most of the audience would probably hate him even more than Evans. People who already know him and his reporting on cars would like him, but I think most people wouldn’t.

Hammerdown > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/06/2016 at 10:02

As someone who has worked on air in both mediums, adjusting your style to the medium is not difficult. Someone as high profile as Chris Evans should have no problem transitioning from one to the other. Every ad that is cut, different segments of the same show, different mediums, etc. all call for slight changes to one’s style and delivery. If I could do it as a B student in college, one of those most popular radio personalities in Britain can surely do it. He was either not well coached by his producers, or not coached by them at all.

Justin Hughes > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/06/2016 at 10:06

Interesting point. The others have all done TV and/or internet video before. Chris Evans had been on TV, but radio was his thing. Having dabbled in various media myself, I can confirm your theory that different media require different approaches.

But while I agree with you, I think the biggest issue was that Evans simply didn’t work out or play well with others. Each episode this season saw his role get smaller and smaller as “the producers” tried things and figured out what worked, which, in the end, was less Chris Evans.

Now that he’s out of the equation, I think the remaining cast can come together and make a darn good car show. It’ll never be Clarkson/Hammond/May Top Gear , of course, but I think it’ll be good. I don’t think it’s too many presenters, either. Fifth Gear did just fine.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Hammerdown
07/06/2016 at 10:14

So perhaps the producers just dropped the ball on adapting a (mostly) radio personality to a scripted tv show?

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/06/2016 at 10:20

I think it stemmed from him being an annoying dick. But he must like cars because he collects them.

Under_Score > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/06/2016 at 10:30

Maybe get a Brit like Milo Yiannopoulos to come back to Britain and host Top Gear. If that happened, I might actually watch the show.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Under_Score
07/06/2016 at 10:58

Spelling his last name as a child must have been a nightmare for him.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
07/06/2016 at 10:59

There’s a difference between liking cars and being a car guy/enthusiast. My girlfriend likes Miatas, but she doesn’t know the difference between a Jag and an Aston Martin, or the difference between a distributor and a strut brace.

Hammerdown > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/06/2016 at 16:16

Quite possibly. Or nobody sat him down and told him not to shout into the camera. The blame can’t go only to Evans. The directors and producers are responsible for the look and feel of the show, including the talent.