It was a bit odd. They did talk about the new track in extra gear though
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Matt LeBlanc and 4 others join Top Gear
- Thread starter northwichcat
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It was a bit odd. They did talk about the new track in extra gear though
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birchesgreen
Established Member
It was OK though Evans needs to cut back on the caffeine before filming. Extra Gear was a good show, i wonder if Chris Harris would work on the main show making it a trio again?
The Rialto segment was a bit confusing, get them to drive to Blackpool in 2 cars... then when they get there give them challenges in 2 completely different cars? Erm.
The Rialto segment was a bit confusing, get them to drive to Blackpool in 2 cars... then when they get there give them challenges in 2 completely different cars? Erm.
Harbornite
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Not really completely different are they? The Jeep and Land Rofer are both 1940's offroaders.
Different as in not the Reliant Rialtos that they had been using prior to that.
Harbornite
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It's a bit of variety, I didnt't see anything wrong wih using different vehicles.
birchesgreen
Established Member
It seemed pointless, the challenges and the trip to Blackpool should have been in the same vehicles.
I quite enjoyed last night's episode to be honest, I thought Matt LeBlanc was really good and I think Chris Evans was as well, although I think he was slightly overenthusiastic at times. I personally don't have any complaints about last night's show and I plan to keep watching it.
Will have to watch ExtraGear at some point, too.
Will have to watch ExtraGear at some point, too.
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currently watching the replay as i was out during the premiere. I Enjoyed it, Matt is a lot better than i was expecting and much more entertaining than Chris (based on 57mins lol). Hopefully the unnecessary shouting on Chris's part will be toned down in future episodes.
I don't know if anyone read the articles about Chris insisting on retakes because the crowd weren't making enough noise, but the over-the-top clapping and cheering reminded me more of an American sitcom than Top Gear, I realise many shows do it but maybe (hopefully) they'll refine it so it isn't so blatantly obvious/awkward.
Certainly enjoyable and i'll definitely watch the rest of the series.
I don't know if anyone read the articles about Chris insisting on retakes because the crowd weren't making enough noise, but the over-the-top clapping and cheering reminded me more of an American sitcom than Top Gear, I realise many shows do it but maybe (hopefully) they'll refine it so it isn't so blatantly obvious/awkward.
Certainly enjoyable and i'll definitely watch the rest of the series.
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Ploughman
Established Member
I found the film sections ok.
Is Sabrine only restricted to Film sections or will she and the other added presenters get Studio Time?
Or is it to be restricted to those 2.
However the studio segments were BORING and if you look at the faces of the crowd they appear to feel the same way.
Is Sabrine only restricted to Film sections or will she and the other added presenters get Studio Time?
Or is it to be restricted to those 2.
However the studio segments were BORING and if you look at the faces of the crowd they appear to feel the same way.
They probably started out okay but were getting tired/anxious about getting home after the 100th retake!
I heard a fair few people left during filming, and it was probably because of this (not thinking the programme was rubbish as they'd not have travelled all that way to then ditch it).
This was their first show, the first day in front of a live audience, they have a massive legacy to live up to, the eyes of the world were watching, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt on the studio sections, which were the weakest.
Clarkson made it look easy because he'd done it for 14 years.
I wonder if the original plan for the Blackpool trips was to use the reliants, but because of the issues with the older one blowing up they brought out plan B, and added the fell-drive
Clarkson made it look easy because he'd done it for 14 years.
I wonder if the original plan for the Blackpool trips was to use the reliants, but because of the issues with the older one blowing up they brought out plan B, and added the fell-drive
Yeah the studio was definitely the weakest element (mostly thanks to Evans and that weird voting business) but as they film them shortly before the episodes air I have hope that they might be able to tweak as they go along and therefore improve by the end of the season. So, seeing as the films were fine, I'm not giving up just yet!
I lasted about 5 minutes before I stopped watching it. I was cringe worthy at times. I knew that Evans planned on keeping some of the same format, but didn't realise he planned on keeping it exactly the same just substituting his voice for Clarkson's. The opening credits he tried to imitate Clarkson's old intros and failed miserably. The opening studio bit was a bit pants, and even some of the studio audience had awkward looks on their faces. I was pretty certain that it wouldn't be as good as with the old trio but I never imagined it would be as bad as it was. Twitter tore it to shreds! I can imagine the BBC bosses are in damage limitation mode now. Their big money spinner brand definitely just stopped laying those golden eggs!
And to think I watched every single episode of Top Gear before Evans took over.
And to think I watched every single episode of Top Gear before Evans took over.
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Oh I'd forgotten (or should I say blocked) that Evans tried to copy Clarkson with the intro over the credits. That needs to go sharpish as it just didn't even slightly work and was just cringe worthy.
But it was the highest viewed programme on all channels for 8pm, so someone was watching !
It was the first, so obviously when recorded, a tad nervous, but no doubt it will settle down in a few weeks. and they will spread the scripted words as well as the old TG !
Indeed, but it only averaged 4.4 million and Evans himself said he would be disappointed with anything less than 5 million. Then you have to take into account the considerable amount of promoting of the Beeb did (I counted it as nearly 3 months of promos for the new season) and the fact that lots of people were watching to see just how good or bad it would be with Evans now at the helm. Next weeks viewing figures will give an indication as to what the majority thought. The pure fact that Evans himself has been jumping to the defence of the show on social media says how nervous he is about it being a flop.
The overnights don't include things like iplayer and timeshifting, which can double the figures for some shows. There was nothing the presenters could do about the first viewing figures, no matter how good or bad they were.
The first few minutes were definitely the weakest part. The 7 guys from the curry house for example, the forced catering joke, the clarksonesque credits.
The first few minutes were definitely the weakest part. The 7 guys from the curry house for example, the forced catering joke, the clarksonesque credits.
northwichcat
Veteran Member
The BBC took the decision to postpone the first episode so it didn't clash with Britain's Got Talent but they moved it to a Bank Holiday weekend at the start of the school holidays in Spring meaning a higher than average number of people would have been out of the country.
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It looks like it's only going to be Evans, Le Blanc and The Stig in the studio based on the BBC descriptions. Not sure if Sabrine is going to be in episode 2 at all:
BBC said:
birchesgreen
Established Member
I wonder how much of that promo is in vain. I've spoken to a number of colleagues this morning who didn't know it was on. :roll:
They filmed a week earlier than before, for reasons unknown. Perhaps they were worried Chris would require even more than 20 retakes and the audience were told to bring sleeping bags...!
Presumably because it was originally due to air that week?
Tracked
Established Member
Anyone watch Extra Gear? away from the expectations of the main show the two guys presenting that seemed more at ease and were a lot more entertaining with the small studio audience they had in with them - rather than the TFI stylings of TG
90019
Established Member
I'm currently watching Top Gear.
It's awful - it feels completely scripted with totally wooden and very forced acting, and Chris Evans needs to STOP SHOUTING ABOUT EVERYTHING.
It's like a bad cross between the early series of (2002) Top Gear and the first series of Top Gear USA, with the worst bits of both, with no real chemistry between presenters that just makes it feel really awkward.
Star in a rallycross car has taken the crap part of Top Gear and somehow managed to make it even less enjoyable, which I don't know how they've achieved, since SIARPC was dreadful in the more recent series.
I'm going to persevere and see if it improves, but I'm not hopeful.
It's awful - it feels completely scripted with totally wooden and very forced acting, and Chris Evans needs to STOP SHOUTING ABOUT EVERYTHING.
It's like a bad cross between the early series of (2002) Top Gear and the first series of Top Gear USA, with the worst bits of both, with no real chemistry between presenters that just makes it feel really awkward.
Star in a rallycross car has taken the crap part of Top Gear and somehow managed to make it even less enjoyable, which I don't know how they've achieved, since SIARPC was dreadful in the more recent series.
I'm going to persevere and see if it improves, but I'm not hopeful.
Henbury Loop
Member
Some people are just born irritating, Chris Evans is a primitive example.
I cannot understand for the life of me why so many people tune into his breakfast show on BBC Radio 2, he's a knob.
I cannot understand for the life of me why so many people tune into his breakfast show on BBC Radio 2, he's a knob.
I agree. However he seems to have not only maintained Terry's figures, but increased them from 8.1 million to 9.7 million - a 20% increase!
Clarkson wasn't exactly everyone's cup of tea
They took someone who took a massive hit, filling boots that were not meant to be filled, who could cope with the naysayers before and during, and managed to increase its listenership by 20%
Sounds like a sensible choice to me.
They key will be to see some more chemistry between him and MLB, especially in the studio bits. How long is this series?
northwichcat
Veteran Member
Rowan Atkinson was rumoured to be an outsider to join as a presenter. I imagine he would have been more popular to the UK audience than Evans or Le Blanc but he would probably have costed more than Evans and wouldn't have had the same international appeal as Le Blanc.
birchesgreen
Established Member
Steve Coogan would have been a good pick, especially if he randomly dipped in and out of Partridge mode through the show.
carriageline
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I think the chemistry between them will improve. If you look back 10 years at Top Gear when you has the old trio, it was quite wooden and forced.
The scripting of the show needs to change and fast, whilst to me it seems obvious we have the same writer, it makes Evans look like he's trying to be JC.
"In the show, matt gets chased. Then I get chased. Then he gets chased. Then I get chased" so on and so forth. And the "some say he is" about the stig which I found cringe worthy.
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The scripting of the show needs to change and fast, whilst to me it seems obvious we have the same writer, it makes Evans look like he's trying to be JC.
"In the show, matt gets chased. Then I get chased. Then he gets chased. Then I get chased" so on and so forth. And the "some say he is" about the stig which I found cringe worthy.
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