Most liked posts in thread: New Top Gear Presenters...

After reading that article I'm absolutely convinced it will fail. If Chris Evans was seriously thinking of doing the show alone, and is that much of a control freak, it's not going to work. Top Gear was the BBC's most popular show not because it attracted a huge following of people who loved cars, but because it attracted a fair number of car nuts but an even larger number of people who watched an entertaining show that happened to be centered around cars, people who were as interested or more interested in the star in the reasonably priced car or a famous guest appearance. Gimicky, but fun; Top Gear was a car show/sitcom comedy/variety show all wrapped in one. The BBC has lost site of that, and I don't see any chance of chemistry building with this group.

A sterile, unimaginative show aiming for political correctness, avoiding pushing the boundaries is a recipe for failure. If it does survive, you'll find it at 3 AM on the Speed channel, for the five people who'll care. Oh right, that's gone too. There's always YouTube...

 

Think of how much better Top Gear would be with just Sabine, Chris, and David as hosts (and NOT Chris Evans).

 

This seems as little surprise. Some interesting insight to the truths behind the scenes. I say let the show R.I.P.

 

You're absolutely right that the appeal was greater than car folks, because of the personalities, the show and the writing. That show is dead, and the audience is gone. They'll never be able to reproduce that, especially with Chris Evans, from what I've seen of his work/personality. However, they could produce a compelling car show with a smaller audience with Harris, Schmitz and Couldtard. They'll have to start with an earnest show, and those three are infinitely capable of doing that. Minidave, I think you have it wrong with Harris. Look at his work. Look at his passion for cars and how he communicates it. He is hands down the best automotive journalist working today.

The new TG will not be competitive with the old TG, that's a fact that the BBC has no doubt realized. Moving forward, all they have to do is to be competitive with bilge like Tiff and Company at Fifth Gear, which is easily done.

 

Clarkson is a pussy cat compared to the self-centered Evans... As for the new Amazon gig, I'll bet it'll be short time before it's once again a mainstream broadcast.

 

Funny thing Chris Evans has been on Top Gear before as a guest; James May went over to his house to take his Ferrari California for a drive.


My favorite Twitter post:

methinks chris evans should just engage jeremy clarkson in a fist fight and the undisputed winner gets to keep the top gear job

 

In all fairness, she's a professional driver and was probably pulling some serious G's in that particular car. It's not easy sitting in the passenger seat if you're not used to it.

Ah, screw it....He's a synonym for a kitty cat.

 

I personally don't want it to be the same format as it was with James, Richard, and Jezza. I was beginning to get bored with the same antics week after week. I'm most excited by Harris being on the show. I had gotten to the point of enjoying his videos on Drive more than TG. TG will not survive if it attempts to out buffoon the three masters of buffoonery, so it needs to re-invent itself.

 

Not interested in the new top gear.

 

It's not the chick aspect at all...She's a damned good driver, and drove many of our cars at Road America when she came at the invite of the BMWCCA. She's attractive, but by no means eye candy. Of three, she's the most knowledgable behind the wheel. She's also one of the nicest people you'll ever meet.Those are the reasons I'd watch her.

Again, I think the show will flop. But I'd like to see how she does, simply having met her.

 

Rumor has it Chris Evan's punched Chris Harris in the mouth over an undercooked piece of lasagna, and Sabine Schmitz punched Kim Shillinglaw in the face over a improperly frosted pastry after a hard days work.

 

Just like Car Talk was one of NPR's most popular programs. Who's going to turn on the radio to listen about car repair? Everybody tuned in to be entertained by Tom and Ray. It takes special chemistry to attract a wider audience, and I'm skeptical that the new hosts can pull it off.

 

Apparently some powerful programming twit at the BBC decided that a chatty, bespectacled, popular radio show host had the bona fides to host Top Gear.

Picking Chris Evans to host makes a much sense as picking Howard Stern.

 

To the BBC

 

Amazing. All hole and no crack... :frown2:

 

she can beat that time in a van!

 

If it ever even launches......

 

You've hit on exactly what IMHO will be the downfall of the show--I agree Sabine, Harris and Coultard could make a compelling show, but will Chris Evans let them? Seems like he needs to be the center of the universe; is he willing to let the others shine? I think he's going to ruin it. As overbearing as Clarkson is, he was smart enough to realize he had to share the stage, and that there had to be some give and take. It took Top Gear awhile to get the formula right, I'm not sure Evans is capable of that or really wants to do that. And I don't think people will have the patience to follow the show to let it develop given all that's happened, and also given that original three will be on Amazon, with a huge budget for the show, later this year.

They have a very small window of opportunity--and they need a good start to make a go of it. By the looks of it, it's off to anything but a smooth start, and that will kill them.

It will be interesting to look back on all of this a year from now and see how it all plays out.