Top Gear - Time to put it out to graze?

[Bletchleyite]

The thing about cars now is that none of them are rubbish and all are just variations on a theme. So reviewing them isn't as big a thing. Have a test drive and if you like it and can afford it, buy it.\

Also if you do want to read or watch reviews, you can just Google them.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Times change. What was an acceptable format for the 1980's isn't one for the 2020's.

Even the BBC could hardly fail to notice which programmes of theirs were getting decent audience figures in the UK, and perhaps even more importantly, were selling well overseas.

 

[Domh245]

The thing about cars now is that none of them are rubbish and all are just variations on a theme. So reviewing them isn't as big a thing. Have a test drive and if you like it and can afford it, buy it.\

Also if you do want to read or watch reviews, you can just Google them.

Indeed - (most) cars are not far off household applicances these days, and you would certainly struggle to make a weekly, engaging, hour long program reviewing fridge freezers and washing machines!

 

[Bald Rick]

Indeed. Fifth Gear is a programme about cars which is basically what Top Gear used to be.

Not surprisingly, as the old Pre 2002 Top Gear production team went off to develop it when it was cancelled in 2001. It was only not called Top Gear as BBC refused to give them the rights to the name (apparently because of the magazine, which was doing ok).

 

[Ediswan]

Indeed - (most) cars are not far off household applicances these days, and you would certainly struggle to make a weekly, engaging, hour long program reviewing fridge freezers and washing machines!

C5 "The Gadget Show" have a good try. They have washing machines in their opening credits. This week includes the best value steam irons.

 

[Domh245]

C5 "The Gadget Show" have a good try. They have washing machines in their opening credits. This week includes the best value steam irons.

The gadget show is still going!?! I remember watching it back when I was small!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The gadget show is still going!?! I remember watching it back when I was small!

Another episode was on Channel 5 tonight at 7.00 p.m. Up to Series 36 now. First series was back in 2004, I believe.

 

[Cloud Strife]

and you would certainly struggle to make a weekly, engaging, hour long program reviewing fridge freezers and washing machines!

I bet James May could do it!

 

[birchesgreen]

"Its the coldest freezer... in the world!"

 

[Runningaround]

Original Top Gear and Fifth Gear are as dull as the magazines at the Dentist, nobody ever gives them interesting magazines. But Top Gear with Clarkson, Hammond and May was losing its edge towards the end and became quite predictable. They've got the first season of the new Top Gear before May joined and its pretty dire the presenter he replaced is just like a regional news reporter being far too serious, but James May himself was pretty boring when he started.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Nov 2022 ==

I actually thought the last series or two with Clarkson was pretty tedious really. Bleeped out F words and smutty humour may have the hand picked hipster audience in apparent stitches. Doesn't do anything for me though.

Have you got your Jeremey's mixed up, do you know what Hipsters are? If you did then you'd know Clarkson is about as far away from a Hipsters idol as you could get. Do you think someone who wears woolly jumpers and sandals rides a bike with a shopping basket on the front packed with Sourdough bagels, drinks in a Coffee shop that sources the beans from Peruvian caves served with extra smug milk is going to be seen dead watching Jeremey Clarkson?

 

[GS250]

Have you got your Jeremey's mixed up, do you know what Hipsters are? If you did then you'd know Clarkson is about as far away from a Hipsters idol as you could get. Do you think someone who wears woolly jumpers and sandals rides a bike with a shopping basket on the front packed with Sourdough bagels, drinks in a Coffee shop that sources the beans from Peruvian caves served with extra smug milk is going to be seen dead watching Jeremey Clarkson?

Yeh....you've got a fair point there. Not the greatest use of wordage by me. Then again...when your a sad late 40 something git like me anyone under the age of 30 appears to be a total hipster even though they probably aren't.

Will agree to disagree though with the early top gear. It was still BBC2s most viewed programme I believe?

 

[Freightmaster]

...served with extra smug milk...

 

[Purple Train]

Original Top Gear and Fifth Gear are as dull as the magazines at the Dentist, nobody ever gives them interesting magazines. But Top Gear with Clarkson, Hammond and May was losing its edge towards the end and became quite predictable. They've got the first season of the new Top Gear before May joined and its pretty dire the presenter he replaced is just like a regional news reporter being far too serious, but James May himself was pretty boring when he started.

Agreed, the path Top Gear took during the Clarkson/Wilman years describes a bell curve effectively - it started off too close to the old version and grew stale in its later years.
I hope that the current version describes a similar path, but it's taking long enough.

 

[yoyothehobo]

To be honest, i liked some of the earlier episodes with Paddy, Freddy and Chris. But there is a bit too much forced stuff going on at the moment which makes it a bit painful to watch.

The last 5 seasons of Clarkson, Hammond and May Top Gear was mostly dross.

The Grand Tour, a couple of episodes (Mongolia special) aside have been exceedingly dross. With the majority of the recent specials (Scotland, Colombia, Scandinavia) have just been terrible.