UK Top Gear vs American Top Gear

[EricTheCarGuy]

Do we really need much more to get this discussion started?

Topic

[Drink]

Top gear was delayed due to The Voice and Britain’s Got Talent.
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I would agree with you Eric, Top Gear US during the 1st season was pretty much a copy of the UK version. Much like how the 1st season of the The Office US was.

While the US show is getting a little better, I still like the UK much more.
I don’t like how they portray Adam Ferrara as a car guy when he (at least during the 1st season) know nothing about them. This was stated on the O&A show when he was interviewed.

[Josh]

I like the UK version the best. I am sketchy on the american one. I have seen a few episodes though. The US one was the one that actually sparked my love interest in the EVO X…I have never seen a car go through snow like that…But I will be tuning my evo when I buy it to 600 HP. But for me, the UK version will always raign supreme; I finally get to watch season 18 now that netflix has updated the thing…

[Leon]

I watched a couple clips of the US version and I’m glad they were able to improve upon the first season because the writing and acting was awful at first. It is a good show now, but it doesn’t come close to the original. I think it’s really cool that the original show was so good that other countries make their own version.

[Pete Baird]

I’ve watched several episodes from each season of US T.G. and I still don’t believe its [i]as[i] good as the UK version. Perhaps its that the UK guys have been at the show for quite a bit longer and have developed a rapport with each other. Maybe its the crazy things they can do (and get away with). Then there are the Specials. To my knowledge, US Top Gear does not do the huge once a season trip to a far away destination to make fools of themselves. Maybe its all of these things that make UK version what we all know and love. Who can forget the attempt to destroy the “indestructible” Toyota Hilux, or the one that was turned into the “Toyboata”.
I think when US version has a few more seasons under their belts, people will start to tune into the show and the show into their audience. We also have to remember too, its a different show catering to a different audience and hosts who have different back grounds and experience. And something else, I think Eric could agree with, is that UK Top Gear has some really great cinematography. Sometimes you end up paying more attention to the shot than whats actually going on IN the shot. Just something I’ve noticed the the UK show is better at; and US isnt bad, but not the same. What money cant solve….

Either way though, which ever show is on, you cant really go wrong!

[Michael]

this is one that you can not get right or wrong. people say uk one is better (im from uk)some say US
but if id never seen the uk one and seen all the US ones that when i saw a uk show id say it was crap as its nothing like the US one as that’s what im used to. just like in the uk when 5th gear come out in the uk it was just a ripe off of top gear but like this topic there is no right answers as they are completely different shows. as what works in the uk dose not always work in the US. music is proof of this

[Patrick O’Connor]

I started out watching the UK version in maybe 2008 or so, and it’s still my favorite. I saw a few of the first season American TG episodes, and like ETCG, I was turned off by them. However, you say it’s improved, so I’d be willing to give them another shot.

My friend and I watched the first season of TG Australia, and we thought it was actually rather good. We really liked one of the presenters, Charlie Cox, so when they replaced him in season 2 we sort of lost interest.

[Steve Webb]

Hi there,

What Eric is talking about is the latest version of TG that started in the early 2000’s. TG actually dates back to the late 70’s…

I’m not old enough to remember this but my dad reckons it started as a part of the tv news lol

Then Jeremy came in to it in late 80s I believe. At this point it had migrated from an extra on the tv news in to a separate programme and was just a car review programme like ”Motor Week” that Eric mentioned. As the episodes went by though you see more and more humour being brought in.

Then as mentioned it moved to the set up we see now in early 2000’s.

It’s quite interesting because here in England there’s always talk of TG being axed; normally because Jeremy has said something offensive lol….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN72DAlhovY

However, the BBC simply can’t do that. TG is an institution in this country and they simply can’t pull the most viewed programme in the world.

Great thing is he says exactly what we all think which is why it’s good. And in this world of political correctness it’s very refreshing and amusing.

Ps, to Eric…you mentioned his biography; also check out his books. Simply put he’s an excellent author and manages to transfer the humour of the TV to his books. The World According To are books about all the things in the world he’s miffed about and what he’d do lol and then you have his car books where he writes funny reviews. I think I’m only missing two books but there are looooads! And great reading.

🙂

Steve.

[EricTheCarGuy]

Thanks for your input Steve. I’ll have to check out those other books when I get the time. I have read some of his articles and you’re correct, they are very entertaining.

[Author]

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