THSCC Forums

If I had never seen the UK original I would have liked it better I guess. After one episode I'd say it's "OK", but nothing past that...at least at this point.

The car element is there, but the funny chemistry isn't even close. Tanner can drive no doubt, but funny he is not. As for the other two, I can't believe they couldn't dig up anyone with more personality. I know they couldn't afford him, but how about a funny guy who knows cars....like Leno for example.

As for the "Big Star, Small Car" segment...Buzz Aldrin, really? I think they should have started the series with either someone with a personality, who was not 100 years old and was easily recognized (face not by name) would have been better. He was b-o-r-i-n-g to put it nicely.

Another point is regarding the camera work. The outside shots/angles seemed better IMO than the UK version, but what was up with the cabin shots? All of them were shaky at times, and not just the ones in the Lambos at high speed.

Hopefully it will get better.

_________________
Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

They are definitely facing a big challenge with balance between how much they make it like the original. Though with the same name it really has to be similar to the original, just with an American twist. This is what they are trying to do, but I'll need to see more episodes to make a call on how successful their attempt is. I did not find the intro scene pitting the Viper against the Cobra to be painful other than some of the moments between the two hosts, in concept it was pretty cool and a fitting way to kick off the show pitting two distinctly American icons against each other. I also thought the choice of Buzz Aldrin for the first celeb was pretty damn cool too, I mean, the guy walked on the freakin moon how many people can say that, particularly how many non-Americans? Yeah, he's 80 and it showed, but I thought it was a pretty solid way of putting the American stamp on the show, much better than putting some movie/tv/pop star, there will be time for that crap later, the choice of Buzz was more about making the statement.

_________________
'07, '08, '11 Autocross VP
'06, '10 Mike Dishman Cup
'21 MX5, '13 Corvette GS, '92 Corvette 383 c.i. 413whp/390wtq, '03 Expedition

Unfortunately "making the statement (American)" won't be what keeps the TV show on the air. First impressions are lasting ones on lots of people who may or may not tune back in for the next episode.

I would think they would have wanted to start the series off with a big bang and then taper off to boring.

_________________
Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

Well, I guess I see someone walking out on stage who is an American icon for landing the first manned spacecraft on the surface of another celestial body as a pretty damn "big bang", I honestly can't imagine much of a bigger one. I didn't find his interview to be terribly boring, talked about flying a rocket powered tin can 25,000 mph to the moon (yawn). Talked about the eclectic cars he'd owned and such, fairly standard fair compared to the UK original. His driving was disappointing, but not surprising since he's 80, it would have been much cooler if he had gone out and driven the wheels off the car though.

I honestly was very impressed with the Aldrin choice and thought it very fitting. Who would you have suggested to make a "bigger bang"?

_________________
'07, '08, '11 Autocross VP
'06, '10 Mike Dishman Cup
'21 MX5, '13 Corvette GS, '92 Corvette 383 c.i. 413whp/390wtq, '03 Expedition

Geez there must be 100 choices that would have been better IMO. Hell, James May a.k.a. Captian Slow would have been better!

I'm sure Tanner knows Travis Pastrana and if he asked Travis would have likely accepted. Raise your hand if you would have preffered to see Travis vs. Buzz.

_________________
Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

Hello, Travis is a professional race car driver, for the most part these celebrities are not, that's kind of the point.

_________________
'07, '08, '11 Autocross VP
'06, '10 Mike Dishman Cup
'21 MX5, '13 Corvette GS, '92 Corvette 383 c.i. 413whp/390wtq, '03 Expedition

SNOOKIE!!

_________________
Stacy King
Midlife Crisis Participant

Oh gawd no!

Now one thing that TGUK has that could be copied here is the F1 driver's wall for the small car - get some NASCAR stars to step up and put it on the line in a FWD econobox.

_________________
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!

Jimmie Johnson would win and everyone would whine about it and how they need to change the rules and how boring it is watching Jimmie kick everyone's ass. Ohhh and everyone would watch Kyle Bush hoping his car would spontaneously explode.


Or something like that

_________________
02 Focus SVT
STF 9

Are you saying you've never seen a pro driver on TG? Yes you have, and I don't think most consider Travis a pro race car driver since he took it up as a hobby really. I don't considerd everyone a "pro" just because they get paid.

Maybe Travis wasn't a good example, so maybe Ty Pennington? He's well known, isn't 100 years old, and has some personality.

_________________
Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

LOL. So true! If you can't beat him (or join him), change the rules.

_________________
Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

Finished off that last sentence for you

_________________
02 Focus SVT
STF 9

We watch only watch truly wholesome shows in my house. This is one of the recent gems:
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/3 ... d-a-snooki

I fell asleep halfway through and just found it way too weird when Tanner presented the Stig. I agree with someone that mentioned the camera work being decent because it seemed the chopper and Viper got a little to close for comfort. Then again, it was probably 10 yards away.

I think the show will make it but it will take some loosening up as it seems a little dry now.

Personally I think there should be a prerequisite that all three hosts should be decent drivers like those guys over the pond. We know Tanner can drive, but I hope it doesn't turn into a driftfest all season long focusing only on him. Can the other two guys actually 'wheel it'?

Yes, seen several pro drivers on the BBC TG, but, they always go onto a different posting board that is made up from the pro guys vs the star in the resonably priced car....

_________________
Rodney

'08 Bullitt mustang, CAM 7
Autox VP '09-'10, President '11-'12, interim President 2nd half of ‘14
proud recipient of the Bowie Grey service award '12
Now just a guy driving a mustang....

No, that is actually why I phrased it the way I did. I know they have had a few F1 drivers on there, but that is the exception, not the rule and they keep them on a separate board for that very reason.

I had to look up who Ty Pennington was, I knew I'd heard the name, but couldn't place it, and now that I've looked it up, my only reaction :sigh: There really is no hope for this country left. Your 10 years OLDER than me and if you think that Ty Pennington is a "bigger bang" than Buzz Aldrin, all hope is truly lost. Do I need to remind you again, Buzz strapped himself to a rocket, rode it all the way to the moon, piloted a lander to the moon surface, walked around the moon for a couple hours, snapped some photos, hopped back into the lander and flew it back to rendezvous with the space ship, road the space ship back to earth, fell through the atmosphere, splashed down into the ocean and is still around 40 years later to tell you all about it. But Ty Pennington is a "bigger bang"? God help us.

_________________
'07, '08, '11 Autocross VP
'06, '10 Mike Dishman Cup
'21 MX5, '13 Corvette GS, '92 Corvette 383 c.i. 413whp/390wtq, '03 Expedition