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It's on the DVR to watch in the next couple of days. Heck, we still have 3 of the British Top Gear's on the DVR to catch up on.

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Judi Westerfield

'09 Infiniti M35
'07 Honda Fit Sport
'00 GMC Sierra
'95 Ford Mustang GT
'92 Acura Integra LS

I think it was worth the watching - I see hope in the chemistry developing around busting on Foust - I think he really is the weakest personality. Part of it may be as a professional driver, he's never *really* impressed or giddy about what he gets to drive. The grin on Ferrara hopping out of the Lambo was what the show needs to be about.
Rutledge Wood was way, way less annoying than I thought he'd be - I couldn't stand more than 5sec of anything he did on Speed.

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One of those LeMonHeads...
91/95 Miata, 02 Focus SVT, 01 Ford F250, 09 Suzuki SV650SF
rusty 84 C4 Vette, tiny piece of the General Lei
Irish Sport Horse - 1hp NA!

Better than I thought it would be. I was surprised how everything was nearly identical to the BBC version except the hosts. Even some of the comments were the same. It was strange having to fastforward through commercials while watching 'Top Gear'. I'll keep watching.

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2003 Subaru WRX Sportwagon = daily driver/boost and booster seats
2000 BMW 540iT = wife's kid hauler
2012 Toyota Highlander = the boring reliable vehicle

Just finished watching it. Not bad. I doubt it will be around very long due to what has to be exceptionally high production costs. Maybe that won't be the case though.

Too bad they didn't point out that the Viper spanked the Trio of Italian cars.

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In need of car.

I thought it went downhill after the Viper vs Cobra(Apache) helicopter contest, though even that was pretty painful with co-host in the passenger seat screaming like a girl and giving bad directions.

I guess I've gotten used to Tanner from that Supercar Challenge show, but who are the other guys? How about car-related celebrities that the general public would recognize? And you know who my top three candidates are:



If they aren't available, then maybe these two:

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Art McDonald
Premier Amateur #518
2008 Dishman Cup
Pivot Cone Snob

Rodney is a waxer (but in a good way)

Good idea on the Duke boys! If they wanted an old guy they could have gotten Jim Rockford (what ever his real name is) that show is why I bought a Firebird when I was 17.

On a semi-related note, I am enjoying seeing the old stars they have brought in to the story on Chuck.

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2002 MCS, 2003 MCS Track Rat, 2003 Generic White Yukon, 2003 BMWk1200rs, 1973 CB350F, 02 996. 08 Cayenne Turbo
http://www.clinehallagency.com

I watched it last night. I tried to watch it as if I had never seen (or was a fan) of the BBC original.

I found it impossible to set aside my knowledge of the original. It wasn't funny (maybe once or twice it almost was). The Snake vs. Snake was beyond bad. The car content wasn't too bad. For the most part the hosts seemed to be reading everything from hidden teleprompters. They were robotic and wooden. Most would say Foust is wooden, but I think he was the best of the three. Ferrara was a close second and had his moments. I can't even imagine why they picked Rutledge. Maybe it can be a running joke as to how bad he is?

Overall, it reminded me of your mother giving you the recipe for one of your favorite meals from when you were growing up. Then someone tries to make the same meal for you. You recognize all of the ingredients, but somehow they screwed up the meal. It was as if they were walking through the 1, 2, 3, etc. steps to create a Top Gear episode.

At it's heart if they try to clone the BBC show, they are going to have a hard time because the BBC show is a "buddy show" that involves cars. I probably would have the same comments if someone had replaced the BBC hosts with three new guys.

For the future, I think they need to loosen up. Enjoy the cars more. It was clear that they did somewhat on the Lambo segment. One of the few enjoyable moments was watching Ferrara launch the Lambo and shout out F*** each time he shifted. He expression and reaction to the car was clearly not scripted, or he was a better actor than I thought. I think the Tanner actually is loosened up as he has been doing this for awhile. It's just that his version of "loose" never looks that loose. Again, I have nothing good to say about Rutledge unless they decide to have him play the buffoon. They also may need to consider breaking somewhat out of the BBC mold and put their own stamp on the show. Try out some new ideas.

But, with all of that said, I will give it a chance. Many pilots are bad and don't show chemistry that can show up later. I will give it a chance.

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

WOW, that didn't suck as much as I thought it would. I wish they would

-loosen up (Ferrara is a funny stand up, let him improvise)
-quit trying to be the UK version, blaze your own trail

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

I agree. I take back my previous statement about it being cancelled due to funds. My guess is that the BBC Top Gear fans will have it cancelled long before funds become an issue.

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In need of car.

You mean James Garner? I think he was in a movie about some funny kind of racing

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Art McDonald
Premier Amateur #518
2008 Dishman Cup
Pivot Cone Snob

Rodney is a waxer (but in a good way)

Definitely agree here



Not so much here... if they blaze their own trail, then don't call it Top Gear.

I can't tell what the haters want:

1) A Top Gear clone (doomed to fail because it won't be the original)

or

2) A different show (doomed to fail because it won't be the original)

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Stacy King
Midlife Crisis Participant

I guess I didn't clarify exactly what I meant. Don't do the EXACT same stunts OG Top Gear has done (being chased by a helicopter is what I was thinking of here).

This is a horrible analogy but its kinda like Randy says on American Idol, you gotta sing the same song but MAKE IT YOURS, DAWG. Do some crazy stunts with cars but make the stunts original.

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

I think they problem is that they are trying too hard to be just like the BBC version. I think the only things they didn't do was wear a Clarkson face mask, talk with an accent and go on about how fat Americans are.

I don't hate the US show. It's too early for me to hate it. I really hope that they do pull it off. But as you say, if they try to replicate it 100% they will fail. But if they let their own personality show through and allow that to impact how the show is done, they have a better chance for success. As I mentioned above, it's not a car show, but a buddy show that happens to have cars.

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

Remembering back to the TGear show where they drove around the southern US in cars with interesting sayings painted on them, I wonder if they can recreate that.

Go around Belfast with "Up with British Rule" painted on the side of a Morgan? Have another playing "God save the Queen" on a loudspeaker from a Transit?

Just thinkin'

There's so much stuff they could do... how about a crossover series... have the two sets of hosts compete against each other... or have them pair up...

Clarkson & Ferara vs. Hammond & Foust vs. Whatshisface and May

That'd be fun

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Stacy King
Midlife Crisis Participant