Top Gear thread

[280Z Turbo]

Evans is the UK's highest paid entertainer (per Wikipedia) so he obviously has talent. I will give it another shot - I was tired & grumpy the other night. But Hector's point about the forced enthusiasm is well taken - it reminds me a bit of the hyperactive style used by hosts of kids' shows.

Why would anyone pay to look at his ugly mug?

[MX793]

Why would anyone pay to look at his ugly mug?

He rose to prominence as a radio show host.

[280Z Turbo]

He rose to prominence as a radio show host.

Ah, OK.

He's got the right look for radio.

[CaminoRacer]

Why would anyone pay to look at his ugly mug?

Have you seen Clarkson?

[Morris Minor]

Apparently UK viewership for last night's Episode 2 dropped more than a third compared to last week.  "Antiques Roadshow" had almost double the audience.

[Raza]

He's also perhaps the ugliest man alive.

Well, he fucked Billie Piper, so he can't be that ugly.

[Byteme]

Well, he fucked Billie Piper, so he can't be that ugly.

sometimes the attraction is to the wallet, not the man.

[CaminoRacer]

Apparently UK viewership for last night's Episode 2 dropped more than a third compared to last week.  "Antiques Roadshow" had almost double the audience.

Has anyone watched it yet? Any better than last week?

[Raza]

sometimes the attraction is to the wallet, not the man.

Perhaps more the estate plan.....Evans isn't at death's door.

[MX793]

sometimes the attraction is to the wallet, not the man.

Billie Piper was already famous/wealthy/successful prior to hooking up with Evans.  Murdoch's wife is a gold digger.

[Payman]

Well, he fucked Billie Piper, so he can't be that ugly.

She didn't stick around long. He's an insufferable prat.

[Payman]

Apparently UK viewership for last night's Episode 2 dropped more than a third compared to last week.  "Antiques Roadshow" had almost double the audience.

Evans has all the charm of an ingrown scrotum hair.

[MX793]

She didn't stick around long. He's an insufferable prat.

They were married for 5 or 6 years.

[Raza]

Watching the first ep now.

Wouldn't the giant gun on the Viper's roof fuck up the airflow and therefore the downforce from the wing?

[CaminoRacer]

Watching the first ep now.

Wouldn't the giant gun on the Viper's roof fuck up the airflow and therefore the downforce from the wing?

Absolutely

[Raza]

Evans does seem like he's trying to do a Top Gear Presenter impression rather than just being himself.

Can't wait for The Grand Tour to hit the air.

[Raza]

Wait, did they keep the old power board, but rewrite all the times in Evans's handwriting?

[280Z Turbo]

They were married for 5 or 6 years.

Where was The Doctor to rescue her on that one?

[Madman]

Wait, did they keep the old power board, but rewrite all the times in Evans's handwriting?

I noticed that, too!

[Byteme]

Watching the first ep now.

Watching ep2 now.  Thinking "Pick up the pace".

[68_427]

Watching the 675LT go around the track had me grinning like crazy.  What an awesome car.

[Byteme]

Watching ep2 now.  Thinking "Pick up the pace".

After that I tried watching the follow up show "Top Gear Lite" or whatever it's called.  Quite boring to watch two people I don't know and don't care about sitting on a stage talking.  How about some freaking action!

Then I watched Top Gear USA, the Postal van episode, new yesterday.  Frankly, it was more entertaining that the UK shows.

If Top Gear UK doesn't change or improve significantly as the season progresses the show is in real trouble.

[CaminoRacer]

I watched the last 20 min of the TG USA postal van episode. Pretty good, actually!

[MX793]

I thought episode 2 was slightly better than the first.  LaBlanc seemed a bit more natural and at ease.  Evans seemed slightly less grating and forced.  The Extra Gear segment is lame.  I watched the first few minutes and shut it off for lack of interest.

[68_427]

I assume "Extra Gear" is like the news but an entire show?

[Morris Minor]

Just in case you need a quick & easy reason for not bothering, Evans refers to a Porsche as a "Porsh."

You may be better entertained rearranging your sock drawer, or having  a desultory wank.

[CaminoRacer]

I just got around to watching it and enjoyed it quite a bit. I'll probably keep watching this season mostly due to LeBlanc.

TBH, Tinie Tempah could be the third host. LeBlanc, Tinie, and Harris.

[CaminoRacer]

And after checking out his twitter feed, looks like I'm not the only one who thinks so

https://twitter.com/TinieTempah/status/739554674576089088

[Raza]

Couldn't get through the second episode.  Deleted the Top Gear timer from my DVR.  Can't wait for The Grand Tour.

[MX793]

Episode 3 was much improved.  Largely because they cut back on Chris Evans' screen time (to just over half what it was in the first episode) and brought Chris Harris and Rory Reid into the main show.  Evans was cut back to a piece on the Audi R8 (shared with Sabine and including the now infamous vomit incident) and the SiaRPC guest interview segment, where he seems a pretty good fit given his background.  Harris is a known quantity, and his piece on the F12tdf was both a reminder of how good his former web series was and was also very much at home under the TG umbrella.  He should have been a primary contributor from the get-go, and it sounds like going forward he will be.  Rory Reid's piece on the Focus RS was pretty good.  He seems more genuine than Evans, his enthusiasm not seeming forced, and his skills behind the wheel surprised me.  Based on the Extra Gear segments I've watched, he seems as comfortable interviewing guests as Evans.  Star-power aside, I think they could get rid of Evans and have Rory fill in the segments Evans does with nothing really lost.  LaBlanc seems like he gets a little better each episode.  His mellow, easy-going, somewhat sarcastic demeanor fits the show well and I think he has potential as he grows into his role as a host.

Reports are out stating that Evans' reduced screen time will continue in the future, and Harris and Reid will become regular contributors to the main show.  There is yet some hope.