Well, this got interesting and might be worth a tune in...
German racing driver Sabine Schmitz and motoring journalist Chris Harris are said to have been chosen to join the revamped BBC motoring show.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/12066136/Who-will-be-Top-Gear-co-presenters-alongside-Chris-Evans.html
David Coulthard, the former Formula One star, has also been appointed to the new-look presenter panel, according to The Sun.
By Kidjr Go To PostThis is going to be fucking awfulSo it'll continue the Top Gear tradition.
I don't know if it will be good, but the last few seasons of TG were awful, they had just become caricatures of themselves.
Some fresh faces will be good.
Some fresh faces will be good.
A catalogue of setbacks has left executives worried that the world’s number one motoring show could end up becoming car-crash telly.
One insider said: “When Chris was hired it was like the problem of what to do with Top Gear after Clarkson left had been solved. But the problems keep on coming.”
There was trouble for Evans from the off. A show insider recalled: “The first time Chris went round the Top Gear track he crashed the car.
“Unfortunately for him it was a brand new Jag that had been lent to the show.”
The shock departures came amid claims BBC bosses were piling the pressure on Evans — who insisted on an executive producer role — to deliver, while “meddling” in editorial decisions.
Insiders have told how ambitious BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw has become the “nightmare” chief meddler.
“The show has had to become a lot more PC following the Clarkson row. There is less leeway to do out-there stuff and Kim has become a bit of a nightmare.”
Her relationship with Evans, who is known for being a control freak, has also come under the spotlight.
In the summer, Shillinglaw admitted the “unpredictable” star being host of Top Gear left her “terrified”. To some, it has turned into a battle of egos.
BBC bosses are said to be far from happy with what they have seen from early production of Top Gear’s initial run of eight episodes — something they have denied.http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/6831197/Top-Gear-crisis-for-Chris-Evans.html
One source close to the show reportedly suggested pre-production had been “more Tiswas than Top Gear” and added: “They’ve brought in a production team that doesn’t know anything about cars. Writers from Top Gear magazine have had to be called over to suggest ideas.”
Matt LeBlanc has joined the show lol
"Hey everyone, I'm really honored and looking forward to working on Top Gear with @achrisevans, damn he's tall," LeBlanc said on Twitter this morning.http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/02/04/465579570/matt-leblanc-is-joining-the-bbc-s-top-gear-car-show
Hopefully this is good in addition to the Amazon show with Clarkson.
I won't be complaining if I have twice as much high production value car stuff to watch.
I won't be complaining if I have twice as much high production value car stuff to watch.
Matt LeBlanc is great, and he was fantastic as himself on Top Gear. He's a huge car nut, and as Alpha pointed out to me, holds the record for fastest lap for Star in Reasonably Priced Car.
By reilo Go To PostMatt LeBlanc is great, and he was fantastic as himself on Top Gear. He's a huge car nut, and as Alpha pointed out to me, holds the record for fastest lap for Star in Reasonably Priced Car.I don't mind LeBlanc but his addition to the show still makes me entire disinterested.
Matt Leblanc is a fantastic choice for the BBC, this is the first thing they've gotten right since the original trio were kicked out/departed.
however, its still not enough to save it. It will still go down in flames, and this will be the last season ever of BBC Top Gear in this format.
I like Clarkson (not so much when he's NOT doing Top Gear, though) and May/Hammond but I understand how Clarkson could NOT continue after he hit that producer. I've no ill will towards the BBC over Top Gear, but I do want to see the new Top Gear fail. No matter what they do, they wont be able to replicate the chemistry of the clarkson/may/hammond trio and I'd just rather it not continue than watch some awkward cringe thing every week of a show I used to love.
however, its still not enough to save it. It will still go down in flames, and this will be the last season ever of BBC Top Gear in this format.
I like Clarkson (not so much when he's NOT doing Top Gear, though) and May/Hammond but I understand how Clarkson could NOT continue after he hit that producer. I've no ill will towards the BBC over Top Gear, but I do want to see the new Top Gear fail. No matter what they do, they wont be able to replicate the chemistry of the clarkson/may/hammond trio and I'd just rather it not continue than watch some awkward cringe thing every week of a show I used to love.
F1 commentator Ed Jordan is the last host. Wtf.
Not saying he's a bad choice. But where does this leave Chris Harris? Is he an online features guy? Writer? Bit of both? And is Sabine truly relegated to just Stigging?
Not saying he's a bad choice. But where does this leave Chris Harris? Is he an online features guy? Writer? Bit of both? And is Sabine truly relegated to just Stigging?
looks like they just took all the stars that were scheduled for the upcoming season for "Star in a reasonably priced car" and asked them to host instead.
That Rory guy is so lame, though....of all the YouTube personalities they picked...bleh. Honestly, a 6 (7) person ensemble is fucking insane. It's crazier than anything Fifth Gear's ever had assembled and even today Fifth Gear is only 3 and 4 presenters because 6 was just too much. This show is going to be so neutered it'll be purely for tea drinkers. Its international appeal will be shit.
By AlphaSnacks Go To PostThat Rory guy is so lame, though....of all the YouTube personalities they picked...bleh. Honestly, a 6 (7) person ensemble is fucking insane. It's crazier than anything Fifth Gear's ever had assembled and even today Fifth Gear is only 3 and 4 presenters because 6 was just too much. This show is going to be so neutered it'll be purely for tea drinkers. Its international appeal will be shit.Yeah, the thing that got everyone to watch before, chemistry, will be no where now. Oh well.
Top Gear crisis: Chris Evans’ behaviour ‘is reason show’s exec producer quit’
The host, 49, is accused of being a “control freak who thinks he can trample over everyone”, with workers fed up with his ranting.
The revelations came as BBC bosses put the relaunch back a fortnight to May 22 and cut the new series to six episodes due to filming delays.
They wanted another two episodes but are desperate to get Top Gear going before Euro 2016 and the Rio Olympics — and to avoid a clash later in the year with former host Jeremy Clarkson’s new car show on Amazon Prime.
Another flashpoint came when she hired ex-Friends actor Matt LeBlanc as co-host against Evans’ wishes.http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/6960555/Claims-behaviour-of-Chris-Evans-drove-away-exec-producer-Lisa-Clark.html
The latest scandal comes following claims that Chris Evans, who is earning £3million for three years on the reboot of the popular car show, works on Top Gear for just four hours a day.
Not too shabby, eh?
The TV presenter is said to start shooting for the show at 10am but is sure to leave at 2pm on “on the dot” so that he can pick up his kids.
To be fair to the star, he does wake up at 4.45am on weekdays so that he can host his Radio 2 breakfast show from 6.20am to 9.30am, then he heads straight to the studios to begin his filming duties.https://uk.celebrity.yahoo.com/post/141830558284/chris-evans-spends-just-four-hours-a-day-working
A source told The Sun newspaper: “Matt was never Chris’s choice – it was a decision forced upon him to attract the US market.http://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/top-gear-presenters-chris-evans-and-matt/
“He accepted it and was desperate to strike up a bond when they were filming, but the spark just wasn’t there.
“Since the Cenotaph, their relationship’s deteriorated. Chris thinks Matt severely damaged the brand. Behind the scenes it’s very frosty between them.”
I'd be okay with them dropping Evans for LeBlanc. LeBlanc is awesome. Full throttle.
Hard to tell much about the group dynamics and entertainment value, which is what made Top Gear when Clarkson, Hammond, and May were there.
I'll gladly give it a chance though. Cinematography is still beautiful at least.
I'll gladly give it a chance though. Cinematography is still beautiful at least.
Evans is insufferable... His presence especially in the studio is very grating, like he's on coke by consistently yelling and prancing around. His delivery on these voiceover segments are godawful. He doesn't sound like a cool British guy you'd cast to do voice narration.
By reilo Go To PostEvans is insufferable… His presence especially in the studio is very grating, like he's on coke by consistently yelling and prancing around. His delivery on these voiceover segments are godawful. He doesn't sound like a cool British guy you'd cast to do voice narration.It's a weird one
His popularity over here completely tanked a decade or so ago and he went bankrupt iirc
Then had a radio resurgence a few years ago, and here he is spearheading the BBCs most profitable programme
Just looking at him is annoying
They didn't do anything new. They're literally regurgitating the same themes and ideas and story progressions and voice narration cues that Jeremy and Co spent nearly fifteen years coming up with and perfecting. The problem? The replacements have no charm and chemistry together, so it just falls flat and annoying. The past crew tailored their show around themselves and their sensibilities, so these guys come across as second hand copycats.
The Blackpool segment was especially godawful and useless.
The Blackpool segment was especially godawful and useless.
That was a MUCH better episode than the premier but damn, Chris Evans' narration is so bad. He just doesn't have a good vocal presence.
Look the show isnt what it used to be but the reality is I think this is the best they could have hoped for. Its really not that bad, and BBC production values are in my opinion almost second to none in the world and that will always carry the show somewhat. I think Matt isnt that bad, but hey I love cars so it fills a voice until the grand tour comes along.
It's gotten a lot better now that they decided Chris Evans shouldn't be the front-man of the group. The last two episodes where they had segments from Harris and Reid were fantastic. Chris Evans still drags the roadtrip challenges down, which have been pretty boring and stale with nothing truly at stake.
I wouldn't be shocked (nor would I shed a tear) if they let Evans go after the series is done and just let LeBlanc be the face of the program, which I think they should.
Also, they need to kill the SIARPC segment something fierce. It currently takes up 20-25% of the hour and it's really bad.
I wouldn't be shocked (nor would I shed a tear) if they let Evans go after the series is done and just let LeBlanc be the face of the program, which I think they should.
Also, they need to kill the SIARPC segment something fierce. It currently takes up 20-25% of the hour and it's really bad.
About the last episode... the challenge really sucked and felt fake throughout (moreso than any other TG segment in the past), and the Tesla X review was total horseshit. They mentioned in Extra Gear that they used a supercharger to get the car up to 80% capacity, but in the review Reid was adamant that the car lasted 200+ miles without recharging to make the segment.
I don't know if that's them attempting to make amends with Tesla, but that's a completely dishonest review and I expect better.
I don't know if that's them attempting to make amends with Tesla, but that's a completely dishonest review and I expect better.
Not gonna lie, kinda excited for this new trio after Chris Evans has left. LeBlanc, Harris and Reid are a good combo imo.
March 5th in the UK, folks. Can't wait!
This will be good, I can feel it. GT was a bit of a letdown in many cases...but Top Gear? Hmmm, it's looking promising.
This will be good, I can feel it. GT was a bit of a letdown in many cases...but Top Gear? Hmmm, it's looking promising.
By reilo Go To PostThis DB11 vs S63 AMG segment is fucking great.
Missed this but surely on based on holding value the DB11 wins?
Everything involving the Chiron was classic Top Gear. However, I still had to skip the middle 20-25mins that were absolute snoozers.
Matt LeBlanc is to leave Top Gear after the next series.https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-44320696
The Friends and Episodes star began presenting the BBC Two show alongside Chris Evans in 2016.
LeBlanc went on to front the show with Rory Reid and Chris Harris when Evans left after his first series.
LeBlanc said that despite Top Gear being "great fun", the "time commitment and extensive travel... takes me away from my family and friends more than I'm comfortable with."
WELP
By reilo Go To Posthttps://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-44320696Yeah. BBC are just hanging on to a brand there now.
WELP
I mean, i wouldnt want to follow in their footsteps either.