I finally watched it. I really think it was better then the first episode of Top Gear. I will watch it again next week because it is better then 99.9% of the crap on TV. I hope it gets a second season I really think it could be great. There was a lot of forced humor but it did make me laugh a few times.
I thought it was better than the stuff on speed.
The "what is top gear" montage at the beginning lets us know that they have filmed variations on the following TG UK bits
I thought it wasn't too bad. Some of the talking was quite dull, but I still liked it. Probobly the only show that isn't animated that i would want to watch on TV here (other than euro top gear on BBCA)
Remember that boring guy in the first season of euro top gear? He got replaced, and the show was now great. I'm not saying they need to ditch any of these guys, just that they need to work out the kinks and it'll be just fine.
And when are we gonna see these challenges?! those are some of my favorite parts of the other top gear.
I just watched it and I think it's a shamefully cheap rip off. The entire thing was annoyingly dull and it was painfully obvious that all three hosts were force fed scripted lines. The only laugh I got was when that one guy made fun of the other guy's big head. It would be okay with me if every episode contained at least big head joke. I do hope it gets better with time.
I think many of you are being overly harsh.
First of all, of course they will be a little stiff- this is the very first show- tell me a single show where the first one wasn't a little stiff.
Second- blatant copy- again, of course they did. They were far better off working with a set up that has been proven for many years. If they are doing a blatant copy next season, I would be worried. But for now, it's the same show for a reason.
Third- they over act, under write etc- again, they are trying to find their groove based on a very sucessful equation, one that wasn't perfect the first UK season, wasn't even good for the first assie season- they are just trying to get going.
I had no real expectation, except that I figured that they would copy just because they don't know how to be American, yet. Most of the imported shows took some time to become American in their own way.
For all intensive purposes, it was a good show.
And who know- if they keep using a lot of manual trans' - maybe they will become popular again.
For sure, it won't take a lot to keep them on Cable/History channel. Or have you missed some of the horrible shows that are on cable?
Anyway, I think they will do well, eventually. And I will be paitent.
Eric
In reply to alfadriver:
Good point on the History Channel allowing them to have time to succeed. On a major network they would have been given a pilot-and likely nothing else.
In reply to alfadriver:
Harshness is required before there can be improvement.
I watched it last night with the wife....
All she could say is..."What the Hell, this show sucks"...."what happened to the English guys?"
Just watched it earlier this evening with the girlfriend. It is absolutely not as good as the original. However, it's still pretty good. Not a replacement for the real Top Gear, but a reasonable substitute to put on the TV when sitting around bored.
It obviously has some teething issues, but those will be worked out as everyone gets more comfortable and gets natural running the show. I liked the viper test. I liked their first guest. I liked a number of the jokes (the "$200k drift car" "...I know. Isn't that awesome?" was a good line).
Oddly enough, the biggest weakness I see in this show is Faust's competence. The original show is about 3 guys mucking about with cars. A lot of that charm are the gags about how they don't know what they're doing. You simply can't play those jokes with a competent racing driver.
^While that's true, the UK guys are much better drivers than you would think. James May being the big standout. "Captain Slow" is more a joke than anything.
RoosterSauce wrote: In reply to alfadriver: Harshness is required before there can be improvement.
I find ideas and constructive critizism much more effective than harshness.
And in this case, paitence. As Salinas pointed out, Foust is no car dummy, and can't get away with not knowing- so there's already one major difference.
it was the FIRST SHOW for the entire US version of it.
Harshness is required if you want the TV show to fail. Or if you are just one of "those" shiny happy people guys.
if this was the last episode from the second season. then harshness may be called for to save History some money.
BTW, if you REALLY, HONESTLY, and TRULY hate the show- don't watch. Pretty simple answer if you ask me. Great thing about TV and cable.
alfadriver wrote: I think many of you are being overly harsh.
I agree to an extent. This was watchable, and if you weren't already used to, say, season 6-10 of TGUK, it would have been pretty good. Frankly, now that we're in season 14 or so, TGUK is sounding pretty forced and wooden too, for the opposite reasons.
I too will watch more than one future episode and hope for them to liven up a bit, which is high praise considering how bad I expected it to be.
alfadriver wrote: For all intensive purposes, it was a good show.
Not to pick nits, or anything, but the phrase is actually "for all intents and purposes."
Don't get me wrong, the show is neither great nor horrible. I will keep watching, but I feel like the people they brought in lack what in needs to be a good show. I wish Adam Carolla was still one of the cast; I could see his criticism very close to Jeremy Clarkson's. I really think they have what it takes to make a good show, but I will have to see how the rest of the season plays out.
TGUK has been on the air so long now that I feel they let the guys do some improv of some sort, they don't exactly follow the script. TGUS and TGAU both seem like the guys are reading directly from scripts or teleprompters and they are lacking the charm of TGUK. I think this season of TGAU is starting to finally be where it needs to be.
Also the filming is very different looking. I don't know if it's because of the cameras they use or what but, it doesn't have that "movie" feel to it that TGUK does.
One also has to remember that even thought TGUK has been on the air for a long time, they still have bad episodes. I believe the last two seasons were heavily criticized.
Is it safe we all agree it is not as good as it should or could be but better than everything else here?
I'll keep watching. It was more or less what I expected for the first episode. Like others have said, once the hosts loosen up (cough Tanner cough cough*) It will be better. The writers could use some tweaking... But with time they might get it. I think the next couple episodes look really promising.
cxhb wrote: once the hosts loosen up (*cough* Tanner *cough* cough*) It will be better.
While Tanner wasn't as loose as he could be, he was the loosest of the 3 hosts. On all the many threads about this on the internet they have Tanner the best host by a wide margin and Adam being a waste of $$ and airtime as someone put it.
I'm betting we almost overloaded the internet with all the different threads and posts on this one TV show.
In reply to carguy123:
I dont think he was a bad host. I think hes an integral part of the show, hes smart, knows the in-and-outs of cars, and obviously drives better then I ever will. But I still have this feeling that he could probably be a little less serious I guess.
Not sure how I feel about Adam. I've never watched his comedy but I have a feeling it wouldnt be that great...
Tanner wasn't bad- but it kinda felt like I was watching an infomercial. He was just too wooden. Maybe he's got a case of the willies for having to live up to TG- and that's understandable. Once he gets some of that youth smartassicism going, and hoons a few more cars, we're good.
I cant think of anyone who could replace Adam. No Titus... never was a fan of him. Tim Allen of course would be cool, but I know the whole time I would be thinking of Buzz Lightyear. Jay Leno would be best but we know that wont happen...
Duke wrote:alfadriver wrote: For all intensive purposes, it was a good show.Not to pick nits, or anything, but the phrase is actually "for all intents and purposes."
In reply to alfadriver:
What he said.
In everyone's defense, even Adam's, can you imagine the pressure on you to do this show?
You are sure that no matter how you play it you will be villified by hordes of people.
A show that's truly an icon and suddenly you are cast on an imitation, not a spin off. That's why I turned down the part of Capt. Slow.
^^ That. Again. ^^
Anybody else think Tanner Foust looks like Rick Astley?
whoa that's creepy!
I still liked top gear USA. I guess i'm just not picky (which is a problem trying to write article critiques in grad school!!). I think TgUSA is entertaining enough for me to watch for sure. It's no english TG, but that doesn't make it less fun to watch in and of itself, only in comparison to the better one.
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