Thread: Top Gear Australia

So they made it to week two... big deal. It's SBS and they probably have the budget stitched up for the entire series so even if no-one's watching it should run till the end.

Did anyone notice there was actually a LOT less of Steve in last night's episode. Charlie and Warren have got the lion's share of the air-time, so for that reason I did enjoy episode two better than ep.1 - but only by a smidgin. It will survive on my weekly watching list only by virtue of the fact that there is nothing else on and TG-UK is still a few weeks from series 12.

On a positive note, episode two had the first quotable quote... from Charlie whilst driving the Ford GT ... "kids mutate as it drives by...". A dozen or more of these and I could get enthusiastic! We are however, still a looooong way from the rapid fire banter of Jeremy, James & Richard.

Holden vs Ford... is that it! They both win??? What a poor, weak, industry suck-up attempt that was. The writers, producers and presenters must have all left their balls at home this week if that's the limit of insight they could offer. Come on, we all knew that TG-Aus couldn't survive without some degree of local car industry support, but that's what makes the original so damn good. They bag EVERYONE! Where were the withering remarks about these two pre-historic tin cans that should have made Holden & Ford execs penises just shrivel up and drop clean off?!? Weak!

I agree that the super-pit segment had potential, but once again it was nobbled by quick-fire, un-funny one liners from three guys just struggling to inject personality. Again, they all thought shouting was a substitute for wit and pith. At least they did some damage.

Guest Steve Bisley was, in my opinion, better than Vince Colosimo. He at least had some interesting stories to tell about Mad Max and his car history - although I get the feeling they may have sounded funnier in the heads of the writers when they were putting the show together. But Charlie's interview technique still leaves a lot to be desired. Unlike other interview programs, Top Gear guest segments are not really about the guest. They are about Jeremy Clarkson paying out on the guest and getting some back, and occasionally we learn something of the guests' car & driving history.

So in summary, by episode two the producers seem keen to reinforce Charlie & Steve's driving skill since it's clear they have no personality and, once again, more gratuitous cartooning from Warren for no apparent reason. Better paced than episode one, and still great to look at, but no reason to turn the sound up. 5/10

Its hard to see why there's so little Australian television from this discussion.

It's going to take more than a week for feedback from viewers to be received and make any changes. It just seems from the start many people are not even willing to give it a shot.

Admittedly there's a lot of work to be done. But chastising it isn't going to help make it any better. I think for an SBS production it isn't that bad (even if it is owned by BBC it wont have the same sort of budget).

The presenters seem to be getting used to their role and the segments were IMO much better this week. I found the show half entertaining. It was a bit weak not deciding a winner between the holden and ford or even running them around the track without excessive drift as a comparrison.

And Im not sure where people are coming from with the complaints about damaging vehicles. Havnt seen the TGUK show much I imagine??? Suzuki Swift ice hockey springs to mind.

The superpit segment was a laugh (along with their pretty accurate description of kal ). The Stig driving the trucks was great. The acting left a bit to be desired and sure if it was in the UK there would have been a defender. But I think it was pretty original idea and a very good aussie adaptation of the sort of things TGUK get up too. Im not sure why anyone would be in trouble over it though?? Doubt the production team would get anywhere near the site without the proper approvals and paper work.

Im gonna give the show a chance. Much prefer to watch a sub standard aussie adaptation of top gear than see the likes of big brother or idol on tv.