[MEGA]

Pah. I loved the P45 thing. More stuff like that please.

And more races.

Weak parts were the stupid dragons den thing at the end of P45 and obviously the guest interview

[MEGA]

Originally Posted by Palmnuts

I keep forgetting to post this, but did anyone else notice the really fit blonde behind Clarkson in the 'news' section? Very strategically placed but it meant I couldn't focus on anything else for that part!

A mate of mine has been to a recording.

There, quite seriously: Are "tit wranglers". Production people go through the crowd, find those most well endowed ladies (not just hotties. Specifically hotties with their bangers out) and move a disproportionate amount of them (And their partners if they have someone with them hence how there are also a FEW blokes near the front) so that Clarkson can see them throughout the interview.

More or less.

Heh.

Dave

[_Ascension_]

Originally Posted by davyk31

Its just easy Sunday night viewing ............

Exactly.

I can't stand Hammond and the way it is completely scripted has got far more obvious but I just don't care.

The production values are great and Clarkson does amuse me, still works for me.

[BGM]

Originally Posted by MEGA

A mate of mine has been to a recording.

There, quite seriously: Are "tit wranglers". Production people go through the crowd, find those most well endowed ladies (not just hotties. Specifically hotties with their bangers out) and move a disproportionate amount of them (And their partners if they have someone with them hence how there are also a FEW blokes near the front) so that Clarkson can see them throughout the interview.

More or less.

Heh.

Dave

lol yeah, but everyone knows they do this though.

i'm not sure it's specifically for Clarksons benefit haha.. it's more so that the audience doesn't look like a massive sausage fest when broadcast on TV

[alzieboy]

Clarkson in my opinion is a total Arse Wipe

[mob17]

Top Gear used to be good, now its just full of poor attempts at being amusing. Needs to move away from "entertaining", if you can call it that, and get back to being more factual.

Cut the crap and give us more information/reviews on cars.

[davyk31]

It used to be that the "race" features were for the specials and one-offs, now they seem to be the only format they have. Last nights episode I actually walked away from about 2/3rds way through and I used to love Top Gear.

[shrink]

besides.... best car for 35k is clearly an M135i

he'd have easilly beat the train in that haha

[mob17]

I think they have dumbed it down a lot and last night was the worst:

This is called understeer. This is called oversteer.

[BGM]

Originally Posted by shrink

besides.... best car for 35k is clearly an M135i

he'd have easilly beat the train in that haha

pretty much the same thought that went through my head during that feature..

Originally Posted by mob17

I think they have dumbed it down a lot and last night was the worst:

This is called understeer. This is called oversteer.

well at least they pointed out to joe bloggs that it's generally more 'upmarket' marques that used rear wheel drive with a valid reason as to why they carry a price premium.. i'm still not sure why that pleased me though, but it did!

[Sparky68]

Love it, always have.

[sheps]

If the race were genuine why would Clarkson not have used the tunnel rather than a ferry crossing? Answer, because the whole race would have been won before they’d set off. Which means the convoluted "Got to run, he could be here any second' down-to-the-wire bullshit is just that; the races couldn't BE more timed to the second to deliver a 'cliffhanger'. If you purposefully hobble a competitor because you know that person will win, what's the point of the race?

Say what you like about the Chris Goffey/William Woollard era of TG, but it was factual, in-depth and geeky to the point it was a motoring show that appealed to those interested in cars, not an entertainment show with a veil of motoring that appealed to people who don't even like cars (like my brother, for example - despite the fact he drives a RS megane)

The BBC don't feel compelled to do this with anything else, so why should a motoring show get this treatment? They don't f*ck around with football or any other sport, they don't intersperse the news with morons dressed up as idiots, acting like 5 year olds.

Format re-boot urgently required; ditch the star in a car segment (but invite guests who are proper petrolheads, not just C-listers with a book or TV show to promote) loose the stupid 'look at the car we've made' segments and offer some proper engineering insight, look at production facilities/techniques, invite manufacturers in, etc. And, on the opening episode of the reboot, murder Richard Hammond, live on air. Preferably something slow and intensely painful.

[mob17]

Totally agree with all your points sheps, well said. TG could be so much better.

Now even Fifth Gear is appealing to me. I haven't seen it recently but i hope they aren't trying to copy the format of TG.

[BGM]

lol sheps, amazing post

i also quite like Fifth Gear now too, mostly for Tiff.

[rich1068]

Originally Posted by sheps

Say what you like about the Chris Goffey/William Woollard era of TG, but it was factual, in-depth and geeky to the point it was a motoring show that appealed to those interested in cars, not an entertainment show with a veil of motoring that appealed to people who don't even like cars (like my brother, for example - despite the fact he drives a RS megane)

I'm so glad you said that.

Thursday nights at 8.30 everyone knew not to either phone me or try and speak to me. I don't think I've been like that with the current format for a very long time. If ever.

I'll be honest and say I want car reviews and news. If that's the new Fords with that amazing 1.0l A4 paper sized engine or BMWs with 3 litre straight six turbocharged petrol hybrids then so be it. Paginis and arsing about gets so dull after 19 seasons.

[Sir_Pigley]

I think all the arsing about would be fine if they came up with something new. However for 3 or 4 series now they have regurgitating the same format without anything new or innovative.

They are in need of some ideas - badly in need!

[Sir_Pigley]

Originally Posted by sheps

If the race were genuine why would Clarkson not have used the tunnel rather than a ferry crossing?

Perhaps because he was competing with the train as a means of transport?

[m@rk]

Originally Posted by sheps

If the race were genuine why would Clarkson not have used the tunnel rather than a ferry crossing? Answer, because the whole race would have been won before they’d set off. Which means the convoluted "Got to run, he could be here any second' down-to-the-wire bullshit is just that; the races couldn't BE more timed to the second to deliver a 'cliffhanger'. If you purposefully hobble a competitor because you know that person will win, what's the point of the race?

Say what you like about the Chris Goffey/William Woollard era of TG, but it was factual, in-depth and geeky to the point it was a motoring show that appealed to those interested in cars, not an entertainment show with a veil of motoring that appealed to people who don't even like cars (like my brother, for example - despite the fact he drives a RS megane)

The BBC don't feel compelled to do this with anything else, so why should a motoring show get this treatment? They don't f*ck around with football or any other sport, they don't intersperse the news with morons dressed up as idiots, acting like 5 year olds.

Format re-boot urgently required; ditch the star in a car segment (but invite guests who are proper petrolheads, not just C-listers with a book or TV show to promote) loose the stupid 'look at the car we've made' segments and offer some proper engineering insight, look at production facilities/techniques, invite manufacturers in, etc. And, on the opening episode of the reboot, murder Richard Hammond, live on air. Preferably something slow and intensely painful.

You miss the point.

The reason they continue to make it like it is and then copy the format (almost to the letter) in other countries is because it gets huge ratings.

Many of the people who now watch it are not car enthusiasts. Indeed I think they actually nailed it when they said that the car park was full of Scoobys each week.

The program has passed from being a specialist car fans show to mainstream "light entertainment".

As a car enthusiast you may not like it but ratings = money and as long as BBC are able to keep making shed loads off the spin offs and merchandising, the format will be sacred.

[sheps]

Originally Posted by m@rk

You miss the point.

The reason they continue to make it like it is and then copy the format (almost to the letter) in other countries is because it gets huge ratings.

Many of the people who now watch it are not car enthusiasts. Indeed I think they actually nailed it when they said that the car park was full of Scoobys each week.

The program has passed from being a specialist car fans show to mainstream "light entertainment".

As a car enthusiast you may not like it but ratings = money and as long as BBC are able to keep making shed loads off the spin offs and merchandising, the format will be sacred.

No, I don't miss the point.

I know exactly what they've done and why they've done it - the Top Gear 'machine' is a huge entity and it earns auntie (and Clarkson) millions in franchise/re-broadcast and merchandising rights and has done for over a decade now.

But that doesn't mean I can't find fault with the format, which is my point.

I have no issue with the BBC making a light entertainment show, loosely based around cars, but I don't want that delivered at the cost of a decent motoring programme that informs and educates.

Assuming for a second you like football, would you want match of the day absorbed into a programme that twins marginal factual reporting of football with a chatshow and cookery format? Probably not, so why should people interested in cars accept the current Top Gear as the primary motoring show.

By all means, keep the show (allowing the beeb to maintain its revenues and merchandising) but the latest series just further demonstrates there is a (huge) gap to be filled by a proper motoring programme.

The last series of mega-factories (which largely concentrated on motor companies) was more factual and interesting that all of series 18 of TG.....

[A_P]

Enter......................Chris harris

[sheps]

Originally Posted by A_P

Enter......................Chris harris

Absolutely. Couldn't think of a better presenter.

[A_P]

Actually a a factual car show with light entertainment for me would be.. Chris Harris driving and giving an in depth review of a new 911. Whilst might a add, with a crying Steve Suttcliffe attached on the rear with a top rope and no protection other than his clothes.

No thats entertainment