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I thought the first episode was diabolical, the second slightly better and the third was actually not too bad. That made me look forward to the fourth episode and the first proper "challenge", but it really wasn't a challenge at all and was a poor episode.
It will never be a patch on Clarkson, Hammond and May, let's face it, but I think it would have been better judged if they'd dropped the Top Gear name and made it a "new" BBC car show. Let's face it, they could have sold the Top Gear name to whoever could have afforded the budget for Clarkson, Hammond and May for megabucks, because surely the BBC must have realised that was the end of the road for Top Gear as a massive global Juggernaut so they may as well have cashed in while they could and made room for a "new" BBC car show, which could have still been a comparative success.
As for the presenters, this is my 2p:
Chris Evans - I do like him, but he's totally unsuitable for Top Gear. His presenting style works on some kind of shows, but not a car show.
Matt LeBlanc - Heard of him, but never watched anything he's been in before. He seems to get good reviews from most for the new Top Gear, but I think he's incredibly wooden and looks awkward every single moment he's on screen and everything looks forced. He does have a certain likeability and obviously into cars and can pedal one, but just seems out of place having an American as a main presenter on what should be the most British of car programmes.
Chris Harris - Very dull and boring. Yes he's knowledgeable and likeable and a proper car guy and good racer, but he's not entertaining and doesn't have the charisma to pull off being on a show like Top Gear. If it was more like old, old Top Gear he'd fit in, but car programmes like that don't exist any more for a reason...
Rory Reid - Never heard of him before, but he's by far and away the best part of this New Top Gear. Seems a natural on camera and unforced. Sometimes you get the feeling he's a little bit too excited to be on Top Gear and eager to please/be inoffensive, but on the whole he's been the best bit so far.
Eddie Jordan - Undecided on this one. Thought he would be very dour and irritating, but actually he's not too bad, although doesn't seem to have a clue what he's doing.
Sabine Schmitz - The less said the better.
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![](http://www.upl.co/uploads/Signature1530545054.jpg) Specialist Bodyshop & Fabrication Classic, Retro, Prestige & Custom Small Repairs to Concours Restorations Mechanical Work Vintage to Modern
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,410
Club RR Member Number: 52
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NEW Top Gearqwerty
@qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member 52
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Didn't think last nights was too bad. Like the fact that MLB bought a bike, a new layer to Top Gear. Didn't they used to do bike reviews on Top Gear in the late 90's?
CE's air time definitely seems to have been cut down, I'm undecided on him. He's obviously settling into the job, but it really does seem like he's trying to be Clarkson. Thats not what the show needs. Move it more away from the old show. Make it stand on its own.
Still hate the star in a rallycross car. Boring waste of time. If you want guests in, do more features like the SA suv trip.
Rory is good. I like Chris Harris' features, good fact based stuff with some impressive driving and a good dollop of geekiness.
Tom
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NEW Top GearDeleted
@Deleted
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Jun 20, 2016 19:08:37 GMT
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Sorry BBC but it just seems like a we need a black guy to balance this out in the same way a woman was added. What an utterly awful, shameful thing to say. Yes it is...However,in this day and age of political correctness, top gear will never be complete until they have a bisexual miget Albino porn star presenter... Chances of finding one of them is Zero. Something to do with genes..
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NEW Top GearDeleted
@Deleted
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Jun 20, 2016 19:34:00 GMT
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I have been watching this thread as well as watching the show and a few things come to my mind. 1, Lot of people complaining about Chris Evans being too full on. Might grate on us but I bet if you were an excited 9 year old you would get pulled along in his excitement and there will be a large portion of the viewers that are pre-teens and if you can sell them on the program you can sell them the sticker book, Stig toy, annual etc Dave. Valid point... Best someone writes a letter to ceebeebies complaining about the late time slot....
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NEW Top GearMercdan68
@forddan68
Club Retro Rides Member 68
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Jun 20, 2016 20:40:30 GMT
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Top gear... iN or OUT OUT........can't we lock this thread now?
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Fraud owners club member 2003 W211 Mercedes E class 1998 ex bt fiesta van
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Jun 20, 2016 20:50:45 GMT
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The views have gone down again from 2.4m on the 12th to 2.3m last night.
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1975 Triumph Spitfire 1500
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sb
Part of things
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Posts: 725
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Jun 20, 2016 20:53:24 GMT
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The live ratings will though. Most people were there to see what its like. I'm betting a lot who are enjoying it are now happier to catch up. Also all series start high and lose steam then peak again on the last episode, happens for everything.
Id be much more interested to see 7 day ratings.
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Jun 20, 2016 20:57:05 GMT
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"theres only one thing better than going through the alps... going through the alps eating lobster"
"VENICE MUCHO RAPIDO !!"
dancing queen, on the spoons, infront of a packed audience on the orient express ?
eddie jordon, you are endearingly bonkers and hilarious!
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Yes it is...However,in this day and age of political correctness, top gear will never be complete until they have a bisexual miget Albino porn star presenter... Chances of finding one of them is Zero. Something to do with genes.. Just give me a day, I'm sure I saw one serving beer in the Hobbit House!
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VIP
South East
Posts: 8,293
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"theres only one thing better than going through the alps... going through the alps eating lobster" "VENICE MUCHO RAPIDO !!" dancing queen, on the spoons, infront of a packed audience on the orient express ? eddie jordon, you are endearingly bonkers and hilarious! He also doesn't know his ![](http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/underwire/2009/11/fox_60.jpg) from his elbow. According to him the E-type Jag had a V8 in it.
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Maybe he was thinking! or even To be fair even the most knowledgeable people can say things wrong, especially if a mic or camera are around. Really hope the show is a success (if you don't like it don't watch it) and that the format remains as is with the odd tweek and a bit more polish.
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Last Edit: Jun 21, 2016 7:42:31 GMT by LDM-Mk2
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NEW Top GearDeleted
@Deleted
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needs time to bed in, as any rejigged program does.
it is getting better, but there will always be the haters.
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sb
Part of things
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Posts: 725
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Jun 21, 2016 12:17:00 GMT
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I'll give you 1/1 odds ratings fall, because it happens to every series. The premiere peaks, it rolls off and the final comes up a bit. Every series does it. It won't get scrapped though or they would've done it already.
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VIP
South East
Posts: 8,293
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Jun 21, 2016 12:37:12 GMT
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I'll give you 1/1 odds ratings fall, because it happens to every series. The premiere peaks, it rolls off and the final comes up a bit. Every series does it. It won't get scrapped though or they would've done it already. They can't afford to scrap it mid-way through a series, all the investment has already been outlaid shooting the location-based scenes, and the presenters are already contracted, so they need to claw back money through whatever viewership they get. Regarding viewing figures, they've never been this low, even the first 3 series of the 2002 revamp managed to average 3million an episode, and from 2007 onwards it rarely dropped under 6million per episode. Not in the history of TG have the figure dropped by HALF from the pilot episode. Given that Chris Evans has been contracted for £5million, if the numbers aren't coming in to support the outlay they it's very likely the BBC will take action. At the very least I can see them dropping Evans at the end of this Series and buying him out of the contract; they simply wouldn't be able to afford to progress with him still on board.
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sb
Part of things
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Posts: 725
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Jun 21, 2016 12:45:49 GMT
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I'll give you 1/1 odds ratings fall, because it happens to every series. The premiere peaks, it rolls off and the final comes up a bit. Every series does it. It won't get scrapped though or they would've done it already. They can't afford to scrap it mid-way through a series, all the investment has already been outlaid shooting the location-based scenes, and the presenters are already contracted, so they need to claw back money through whatever viewership they get. Regarding viewing figures, they've never been this low, even the first 3 series of the 2002 revamp managed to average 3million an episode, and from 2007 onwards it rarely dropped under 6million per episode. Not in the history of TG have the figure dropped by HALF from the pilot episode. Given that Chris Evans has been contracted for £5million, if the numbers aren't coming in to support the outlay they it's very likely the BBC will take action. At the very least I can see them dropping Evans at the end of this Series and buying him out of the contract; they simply wouldn't be able to afford to progress with him still on board. Of course they won't drop it mid season but I don't see them stopping the show yet, top gear is not a show to the BBC it's a brand. They won't let it lie. As you said I think they will trim overhead. But with Evans as an EP not just a host it could get very ugly.
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Jun 21, 2016 13:08:37 GMT
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I still believe they made a bit of a mess up introducing it so close to the euros. Hope they don't do anything rash as I am enjoying it. If they give it the time / support they gave shows in the past we could end up with something superior to the previous line-up.
Really don't get why some people are so keen to see it or Evans fail, there should be enough on it even if is not a favourite of yours.
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VIP
South East
Posts: 8,293
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Jun 21, 2016 13:14:30 GMT
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They can't afford to scrap it mid-way through a series, all the investment has already been outlaid shooting the location-based scenes, and the presenters are already contracted, so they need to claw back money through whatever viewership they get. Regarding viewing figures, they've never been this low, even the first 3 series of the 2002 revamp managed to average 3million an episode, and from 2007 onwards it rarely dropped under 6million per episode. Not in the history of TG have the figure dropped by HALF from the pilot episode. Given that Chris Evans has been contracted for £5million, if the numbers aren't coming in to support the outlay they it's very likely the BBC will take action. At the very least I can see them dropping Evans at the end of this Series and buying him out of the contract; they simply wouldn't be able to afford to progress with him still on board. Of course they won't drop it mid season but I don't see them stopping the show yet, top gear is not a show to the BBC it's a brand. A brand that has to make the BBC money, and presently it doesn't. They won't prop-up a money herniating brand just for posterity reasons. Top of the Pops anyone?
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andyborris
Posted a lot
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Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,175
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Jun 21, 2016 18:21:14 GMT
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![](http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/ModernMechanix/6-1930/exhaust_cooker.jpg) I liked this weeks show. Esp. the car cooking!
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Last Edit: Jun 21, 2016 18:22:37 GMT by andyborris
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Jun 21, 2016 21:04:57 GMT
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As a long term fan of the show (about 25 years, in it's various forms) I was worried about the what would happen to one of my favourite shows. I watched the first show, and it was pretty swful, it just felt like a bad copy of the previous shows. BUT, it is getting better. The second show was an improvement, and each one has been better than the last. The team really seem to be setting in and I am enjoying it a lot more. I know many people don't like Chris Evans, but I don't really have a problem with him. He seems to have calmed the volume down a bit and livens the show up. Matt on the other hand seems a little too calm and laid back. Eddie is a bit odd, quite entertaining, a lot more so than I expected, but some of the "nutty old man" act seems a little too convincing! Sabine I like, a skilled driver and entertaining presenter, probably used about the right amount though. Rory's enthusiasm is infectious and I have enjoyed his reports. Chris Harris has not convinced me yet, I know some car forums seem to worship him, but I have found him a bit dull. This may be unfair, as it is still early days, but his reports have not really held my attention so far. The Stig is now rather pointless, and either needs to regain his former position as main test driver, or be dropped, as he is barely appearing now. Overall, I am enjoying it and will keep watching. It is not as good as it was, but it is getting better. I have seen many " I watched 5 minutes and turned off" style reports, but it is unfsir. If you don't like it that is fine, but to criticise without even giving it a chance, is pointless. If we don't support it, we will probably just loose one of the few car shows on tv.
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