US Top Gear may be on the way, sounds like it will suck

[goof2]

http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.co...-history-.html

Official: 'Top Gear' coming to History this fall
It's official: “Top Gear” is crossing the pond.

History is teaming with BBC Worldwide Prods. to launch a U.S. version of the series this fall. The network has made a 10-episode commitment to “Gear,” which showcases all-things automotive — customization, stunts, reviews and auto-centric celebrity interviews.

History’s “Gear” will be hosted by comedian and “Rescue Me” co-star Adam Ferrara, stunt driver Tanner Foust and racing analyst Rutledge Wood. Scott Messick will executive produce.

“The history of the automobile and the history of America are intimately intertwined — to celebrate one is to celebrate the other,” History president and GM Nancy Dubuc said. “We’ll stay true to the original format and add a sense of the American car culture.”

“Top Gear” fits the History brand even better than one might expect. The network’s very first program to air on what was then called the History Channel was called “Automobiles: Corvette.” Car-related content has performed well on the channel, and History had several auto-related pilots in the works when it landed “Gear.”

“We have a ready-made audience for this programming,” Dubuc said. “We can stay true to form on this show and explore the history of cars and driving.”

“Top Gear” premiered in the U.K. in 1977, then relaunched in 2002 as a studio-based format. “Gear” is BBC Two’s most-watched program, and the brand has spun-off a magazine and road tour. NBC came close to doing a Stateside version in 2008.

BBC Worldwide exec vp programming and production Jane Tranter said the U.S. version has the potential to be an even bigger hit than the original.

“It will have a completely different landscape,” she said. “There’s a different relationship with cars in the U.S. and a fascination with customization that’s much greater than in the U.K. There’s the potential for the U.S. ‘Top Gear’ to have even greater traction with an audience.”

The potential business upside for the show is significant as the auto industry is the largest advertiser in the world. Yet Tranter assures that fans need not to worry about heavy-handed product placement and that the show will remain editorially independent.

Producers put considerable effort into casting the U.S. version, trying to find the right mix of hosts who would each bring a unique perspective yet mesh well together.

“We tackled it like a drama series,” Tranter said. “We need to get that balance of chemistry right from the get-go.

[pauldun170]

MTV Rides + Nascar + sponsor supplied talking points = History Channel Top Gear.

The best part (for me) about Top Gear are the assesments of the cars. Not the stupid "stunts".

[Dave]

foxy proxy + tor let you gain access to the bbc iplayer which lets you watch top gear when it comes out (on bbc2 i think) and just about any of the new tvs have vga inputs for your proxied laptop. Shitty american versions need not apply

[Avatard]

Originally Posted by pauldun170

MTV Rides + Nascar + sponsor supplied talking points = History Channel Top Gear.

The best part (for me) about Top Gear are the assesments of the cars. Not the stupid "stunts".

The humor on the show only works because it's dry, minimalistic Brit humor.

The American version will probably have a laugh track

[Sean]

Leno should have let Conan have his show and done Top Gear instead.

[karl_1052]

This is going to blow. It is not the show that makes it so popular. 5th gear is basically the same show(and more of an automotive show), but it pales in comparison to Top Gear. Top Gear Austrialia sucks ass, and they tried to follow the exact same format.

[pauldun170]

I would enjoy any show that honestly reviewed cars from a car guys perspective. Everything from Kia's to Aston's.

[goof2]

Originally Posted by Sean

Leno should have let Conan have his show and done Top Gear instead.

Ultimately the problem isn't with the hosts. They could throw anyone in there from the very good to the very bad. It comes down to (as paul mentioned) advertising dollars. If they have to pimp sponsor's shit and aren't allowed to criticize anything the show will be very boring. UK Top Gear doesn't have to deal with this as the BBC is funded by TV licensing fees, not advertising. They can piss off whoever they want because there are no advertisers paying for the show. They can also test whatever they want since they don't have a large sponsor always pushing for a positive test of the new Ford Shitbox LX, Toyota Recall Hybrid, or Chevy No-Resale GT. US Top Gear will not have these luxuries.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by pauldun170

I would enjoy any show that honestly reviewed cars from a car guys perspective. Everything from Kia's to Aston's.

you know goddamned well that an american version wont have a single economy car on it. Further more the shits gonna look like that paid advertising special faggotry that occured on speed when the challenger came out. Huzzah advertising for cars no one under thirty could afford

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by pauldun170

I would enjoy any show that honestly reviewed cars from a car guys perspective. Everything from Kia's to Aston's.

And, the disappointment is, they will probably turn it into a build review rather than just a show about vehicles. The mention of customization sticks out. We have enough "make it better" stuff out there.