It's finally official.
http://www.history.com/shows/top-gear

I was looking forward to this show because I'm a fan of Adam Carolla. He was in the pilot episode, but he's no longer on the show. He was/is working on an upcoming sitcom for NBC so he couldn't do both.

I don't expect it to be better than the BBC version, but I like cars, so I'll watch.

 

I was at the filming of one of their episodes and got to meet the Hosts / production team.
Same director and writers from the UK version and the show will have an almost identical 'format'.
Will people like it as much as the UK version? Probably not, but then again those guys have had 15 seasons to perfect their craft and it's not as though the UK Top Gear was very good in it's first season...

I'm super stoked that they're making a US version and can't wait to see the Premiere.

 

I can't wait. It'll suck.

 

Jedi - do they have the indoor segments with the crowd standing around the hosts is that the type of taping you went to?

 

yup.

 

Judging by the previews it should be just as good as the original from the standpoint of crazy comparisons that they do. Previews don't tell the whole story though. It is the hosts that really make the show what it is and you just aren't going to match the original in this regards. It should still be quite entertaining nevertheless.

My only fear is that due to so many Americans who get all butt hurt over little things, that it will be watered down in many ways. They probably won't insult that atrocity the Prius or many of the worthless "green" cars that are a fashion feel good fad today nor will they probably end up driving across protected wetlands or where a polar bear might take a dump. They probably won't drive through a rainforest and cut their way out with machetes as Greenpeace would go after them for it. If they can ignore the general public opinion issues that have destroyed this country then they will be OK. If not, we've always got BBC America and the internet! In fact as long as the original is still on, we'll be OK regardless of if this turns out to be a hit or not.

 

I'm glad there is gonna be a new car show on tv to watch, but I hope they don't try too hard to be just like the BBC top gear.... To me Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond make that show what it is. Top gear isn't top gear without them....... So if this is just intended to be another awesome car show that, then hell yes I can't wait.. But if it is intended to be an American spitting image of BBC top gear, I probably won't like it too much........ I wonder if there is an American Stig? haha

 

Yes there is an American Stig. It is supposed to be just like the British version. I only question how far the antics will go.

 

I swear if they go as far as to introduce him with the "some say...." lines I am not watching another episode ha..... I have a bad feeling about this.

 

I get the feeling they will do the "some say...." introductions.
Why wouldn't they, it's synonymous with The Stig and so far everything else appears to be identical to the UK show

- stage layout
- "The News"
- Leader Board
- Celebrity Car - which by the way I have a bone to pick with them because the US version of Top Gear still doesn't use an AMERICAN car for this. wtf guys...

given all the similarities, I think it would be weird if they left out the iconic introductions for The Stig.

 

Well.. they need some fresh meat.. like Jedi testing cars.

One of the first shows should be Jedi giving **** to all othe cars on how they are crap compared to the 8.

That'll raise some eyebrows and get a lot of watchers.

Those poor Evo, Civi, and Subi owners.

 

Though, this may not be the same, I feel it will still entertain...

 

Tanner Foust is my hero!

 

I'm about to go in... it's on the DVR, but, I'm not looking forward to watching.

Just like every other British show transferred to the US market, I'm fully expecting it to be dumbed down to an 8th grade level.

 

foust was the only reason i kept watching it. he knew his stuff. they need to can the big guy. he did nothing for the entire show. and wasnt funny at all. he was trying way to hard

 

It was okay, I liked it. Although I am just glad to have any car shows on TV It didn't suck, it can only get better.

 

^this

I thought the 2nd half of the show was good. The first half needed to be better.

Overall good show...i'll still watch it lol

 

I love Top Gear. Theres no doubt that this will not be able to compete with the BBC version just because Clarkson, Hammond, and May have built such a dynamic relationship on the show that i dont think could ever be matched.

I am a Tanner Faust fan though for sure, that cat can drive!!!! I enjoyed the premiere, as long as the content and cool cars and overall format is not too far off the original recipe I can see myself following the show. Hopefully the hosts develop their characters to a level high enough to keep it interesting. you can already tell that the guys main goal is to beat tanner at everything, much like on BBC they try to take down clarkson.

anyhoo... good stuff, I'm in!

 

sweet i cant wait. i wonder if they went to the sig farm too?

 

I liked it and will keep watching. It came off a little scripted but I think the guys will get more comfortable and gel as they build their relationship with each other and their personalities start to sort themselves out.

If they keep at it and put together honest reviews that aren't watered down I think this can be a great show.

I want to see the Rutledge Wood and Adam Ferrara put some smackdown in their reviews. Tanner is entertaining to watch as a great driver but I'm not sure if he has enough personality to be a "personality" the way the UK guys are.

Keep at it and I will keep watching!!

 

I was pretty skeptical at first but it actually was entertaining. I'll be tuning in next week for sure...

The one thing I can't decide is what they are planning on their relationship with the BBC version to be like... Last night being the first episode, I thought it was kinda weird that they didn't even mention the fact that there is a British top gear as well... Do you think they are hoping that a lot of people have never even heard of the British one, so they can pretend to be completely original, or do you think that they are expecting most people to have seen the BBC version before?... Just seemed strange to me that they didn't atleast have a single shout-out or reference to the other.

 

I was convinced that they lost me with the derivative, watered-down duplicates of the same Brit challenges, but the polycarbonate window comment is what sealed the deal for me.

I'll watch the rest of the series (via torrent), but only if a root canal is my only other option.

 

link for the first episode

http://www.history.com/shows/top-gea...r-cobra-attack

 

Torrent for download (all Top Gears, all seasons, all episodes, American, British and Australian):

http://www.finalgear.com/

This episode in particular:

http://www.finalgear.com/shows/topgearusa/1/1/

 

I think it is going to be a pretty good series. It definitely has potential but needs some ironing out. Even the original Top Gear wasn't very good at first. This show is better than that one was when it began. Granted that show has been around so long that the first test they did was on Noah's Ark but they have really made the original a very fun show and it is very nicely refined now. Hopefully this one will evolve over time as well. Americans are basically the crybabies of the world though and will complain about damn near anything so it will probably never be good enough. It won't match the original as the hosts of the original complete that show but if it comes close, I'm happy. I'm just glad we have a new car show that looks fun. We haven't had anything like this here before so any progress is good progress.

If I were to guess, I'd say that the American Stig is Paul Tracy. He and Tanner Foust already work together as co-hosts on a show on Speed Channel so it could make sense that it is him.