Thread: Top Gear Australia

still watching... havn't turned it off yet... but i am still on the intarweb at the same time...

i think i am approaching it from the wrong angle. i'm already biased because i don't see the point... in my opinion there was no need to make top gear aus and US, just like there was no need to make terminator 3 or a spiderman 2 and 3.. and so on...

but forgetting all that, it's not so bad

its a thumbs down from me at this stage and if next week is ford v holden i probably wont bother watching

HAHAHA

So many posts already! Geez!

I just dont understand why they tried to cop the UK one. Silly!

Dorko

I didn't totally hate it!

The show has obviously got a HUGE leg-up by virtue of the graphics and formatting courtesy of the BBC. I am pleased to see that it is visually very pretty to watch, just like the original. It felt like a carbon copy. Maybe just a few too many fast edits as if the directors are just trying a wee bit too much to maintain momentum.

Did anyone else think they tried to cram too many short segments into that first show? Again, I thought they were trying to maintain pace via this method rather than substantial content. And don't the throws to ad breaks ruin the flow! Remember, the UK version is not designed to be interrupted by commercials. The version we get here has one, presumably less relevant segment removed to bring the show length down to about 45min and the remainder is then cut up for ads.

Now onto the guys...

Two words... TRY HARD! Warren and Charlie have potential to grow on you, but poor Steve Pizzati just came across as an underloved chihuahua in a pet store screaming "look at me... look at me!" Yes, they are too closely modelled on Jeremy James & Richard, but Steve irritatingly so.

Charlie is the second worst, he has obviously been groomed to take the arrogant lead role but failed to incorporate Clarkson's "ambitious but crap" self deprecation. Sure, he may be a great driver, but the show really didn't need that as a presenter quality. It would have been better to cast someone like John Dawes (aka Roy Slaven) as the lead. I would have preferred a motor enthusiast, but not necessarily a professional driver.

Warren has real potential. Yes, he is a character clone of James May, but he has got "it". A bit stiff, but hopefully will loosen up as he gets comfortable in his role. They can lay off the gratuitous cartooning opportunities though.

Now what was with Vince Collosimo? I actually had to turn over for most of his segment since he was just irritating me. Again, if they had a lead presenter who was a dedicated broadcaster then the interview wouldn't have seemed so forced. I get the feeling Vince was prepped to keep Charlie "up" but he ended up swamping him.

Yes, they had a pretty odd race track, and they didn't really have to have it at an air field. But why didn't they guide us round the track as TG UK did in its first episode? And the studio being pre-filled with show memorabilia was not right either. They have tried to introduce everyone and everything as if there is already a history. Come on guys, let the show grow its own! You didn't have to put FIVE cars around the track straight away. This was the first show, so why try so hard to make it feel like the 40th?

All in all I will probably keep watching. After all, the filming is easy on the eyes, there are going to be some nice cars, and three guys cocking about is always good for a laugh even if half of them act like knobs.

5/10

I'll give it a few weeks - maybe it will improve.

I wish the blonde bloke wouldn't shout! And he needs a haircut. Long hair on someone as old as him looks pathetic (was it also dyed?)

Oh, that designer stubble on the Hammond Jnr! I noticed that seemed de rigueur on the advertising blokes on the ABC programme THE GRUEN TRANSFER. I reckon it just looks scruffy.

I feel sorry for whoever buys those three demonstrator soft-roaders. All that salt water. What a cliched segment, driving through the water on the beach.

What a waste of a Moke.

Yeah there was too many short stories....

Infact i was surpised the Xtrail was rubbish. I really thought the Xtrail was just as good as the FL2.

Anyway Ford will beat Holden as long as its not a Ford V8! F6 is the Aussie Weapon for Ford!

Dorko

It was OK, Warren is good but the old blonde fart has got to go.
What do you all reckon we mass email the show and ask for Landrovers every week HaHa!

Crikey, is that the best us Aussies can do. The show gets a big from me.