Top Gear AMERICA!

[Excel1]

Actually you're all wrong.  It's only recently that British exports have been butchered by the Yanks.

Most of the really great American comedy heroes are British exports.  For example, even the great Archie Bunker was based on a British character called Alf Garnet.  Truly original (and good) US comedy is actually quite rare.  Scrubs maybe.

heh "love thy neighbour" was one brit comedy that didn't get retreaded on the other side of the atlantic

i agree, there's few to pick from and scrubs is the pick of a lean bunch i think. i actually prefer most of the older american comedies anyway... beverly hillbillies, gilligan's island, get smart, green acres, f troop, the ghost and mrs muir, even petticote junction had it's moments

[lazs2]

brit humor gets boring pretty quickly..  lots of people just standing around in really drab places.

lazs

[CyranoAH]

brit humor gets boring pretty quickly..  lots of people just standing around in really drab places.

lazs

[slipknot]

Americans did a fine job with the office. Different from the original, it has credibility all its own, it works, and it's already classic. If you don't like either version, it's understandable, but both have earned their status independantly.

As for Top Gear, I love the show, but doubt it would work.

It's not so much that Americans can't get British Humor. They can. The biggest hurdle is understanding that there's often nothing to get, and that they, as the audience should respond naturally to the tone and language rather than trying to find the hidden meaning.

Top Gear won't translate because about 75% of Clarkson's humor is derisive to Americans. American cars, diets, waistlines... It's all fair game for him, and it would all be lost when they try to Americanize it.

That and the fact that praising high-priced superexotics over American rides like the Vette and Viper sounds better with a British Accent.
 

[Swoop]

Just because they're taking the same format of the original show doesn't mean the presenters have to express the same opinions as the originals as well.  A US version of the show for a US market will follow US trends in motoring, not Clarksons. 

Who is going to be the lead presenter of the US show? 

[slipknot]

Just because they're taking the same format of the original show doesn't mean the presenters have to express the same opinions as the originals as well.  A US version of the show for a US market will follow US trends in motoring, not Clarksons. 

Who is going to be the lead presenter of the US show? 

True, of course... However, for me at least, Clarkson is one of the main if not THE main selling point. His dry wit and predisposition to speak in superlatives about every 4th car he drives makes me want to watch the show... His taste in cars, namely his love for European sports cars, seals the deal... Clarkson, with his two partners bouncing off him, tends to make the show.

If they put on some golden-haired frat boy and have him rave on about how the latest vette can get under 11 in the quarter mile, I'll end up watching British Top Gear reruns on BBC.

[RTHolmes]

Americans did a fine job with the office. Different from the original, it has credibility all its own, it works, and it's already classic. If you don't like either version, it's understandable, but both have earned their status independantly.

didnt think it would work but the US Office is very funny, maybe because Steve Carell and Rainn Wilson have made their own characters rather than trying to copy. never miss it

[ZetaNine]

Every US version of brit sitcoms 'franchised' to the US has sucked.

Norman Lear begs to differ.

[Swoop]

However, for me at least, Clarkson is one of the main if not THE main selling point.

Agreed on that point.

The success of the new show depends HUGELY on the charisma of the main host.  Not only has he got to be the same as Clarkson, he's gotta be different as well.

I mean, look at Top Gear's competition here in Britain: 5th Gear.  For a start they dont seem to realise that most supersport machines have 6 gears these days.....but the whole show is presented by presenters that'd be more at home on childrens TV.


And Vulc, read the thread mate, I said that earlier.

[slipknot]

5th gear's host is perhaps the only human in existence that makes me not want to watch and listen to a Ferrari f430 squeal around a track.

While Clarkson drives, manhandles, and often is manhandled by cars, the guy from 5th gear acts like he's a second away from felating them.

[RTHolmes]

I watch Top Gear for entertainment (biiig budget too so they get great locations and production values too) but if I want to know how good a car really is I'd rather take the advice of Tiff and Plato (both of whom have made a decent living from racing) than the TG clowns. plus VBH isnt too hard on the eye

edit: if its Tiff u mean slipknot I know what you mean, a bit creepy. he is however one of the best drivers out there.

[Nilsen]

I must say that even if its very different i liked the american version of The office. I do not thing an american version of Top Gear will be as good tho. Those annoying yet very funny guys at Top Gear are a bread of their own and can't be copied. American Top Gear would have to go down a very different route i think.

[ZetaNine]

not sure how the show will do, but I think it would do much better on ABC, where Carolla's best pal Jimmy Kimmel gets what he wants and could have pitched for great time slots and schedule....as well as cross promotion to the male 12-24 year old demo I'm sure they are gearing to.

I bet it ends up on NBC owned Bravo in a year.

[Swoop]

but if I want to know how good a car really is I'd rather take the advice of Tiff and Plato (both of whom have made a decent living from racing) than the TG clowns.

I bloody wouldn't! 

For a start, racing drivers think in single sylable words and generally communicate in "Ugg"'s.  And the TG "clowns" view a car on how it'll perform in the real world.....like, does the boot (trunk to yoo yanks) have enough space for a full set of golf clubs, etc.

And as for Vicky wossname, jeez man, you gotta make a point of viewing more wednesday babe's if you think she's a stunner.

[Dowding]

For a female racing driver she isn't half bad.

Top Gear isn't really a car review program anymore. 5th gear is. Both serve different audiences.