Aussie Top Gear

[wheelinround]

7.30 tonight 1st episode :2tsup:

[corbs]

Got the alarm set on my phone:U

[Waldo]

Then at 10:00 is Shameless. :2tsup: A beaut night on SBS.

[AlexS]

Should be good if they don't try to be the same as the poms. Warren Brown is good on other shows - his trip across Russia springs to mind. Don't know the other two, but will definitely watch it.

[FRB Design]

10 minutes into and my fears were correct!!!!!!!!!

What a JOKE......................................................

[Ron Dunn]

Sadly, I agree.

I thought they told us it wasn't going to be a copy. Perhaps they just meant it wasn't going to be a GOOD copy.

[RufflyRustic]

the snow bit on now is better.


".....as the car slides closer to the edge....." "..... %aaaarrrrk...."

:rotfl:

[Shedhand]

The Subaru would look better with a chimney and rocking chair in it...this is rubbish!
Hosted by a trio of chardonnay drinking pseudo-intellectual tossers....

[Shedhand]

the snow bit on now is better.


".....as the car slides closer to the edge....." "..... %aaaarrrrk...."

:rotfl:brakes are wasted on these nits...:cool:

[RufflyRustic]

There should be only one Stig.:cool:

the aussie guy should be like "Col", stubbie shorts, thongs, blue singlet and a terry toweling hat, who just so happens to be able to drive like no other.:D

[Shedhand]

...hope the sharks get 'em....

[Shedhand]

..so the fools are going to tempt a shark with STEEL car. I can just see all the teeth and blood spewing out of the poor shark....this is just so inane and potentially cruel to the shark. I hope they get prosecuted.:((:((

[Lignum]

brakes are wasted on these nits...:cool:

Onyu Sheddie:wink: didnt think you would be sober enough after saturday to find a keyboard:rolleyes::)

[Shedhand]

Onyu Sheddie:wink: didnt think you would be sober enough after saturday to find a keyboard:rolleyes::)Hey Lig. Lucky I can't drink much anymore. How you been mate. Still in you beaut city shed?

[Lignum]

Hey Lig. Lucky I can't drink much anymore. How you been mate. Still in you beaut city shed?

Been great, life is good. Still in my shed and lovin it:U

[funkychicken]

I didn't think it was that bad..

[Big Shed]

Very pale imitation with almost nil Oz content.

About the only original item was Warren Brown's cartoon of his Moke concept.

Look at the bright side, it can't get much worse!

[fxst]

Bring back the BBC version.....these clowns are a lost cause:((
How to ruin a good show.....give SBS a go at making it.
Pete

[Blocklayer]

Monkey see
Monkey do

[corbs]

I was a bit upset at tonights episode but will give them a couple of weeks to find their feet and hopefully things settle down a bit. It would be a hard concept to improve though:no:.

[DuncanH]

Well at least we've been given another Australian show on free to air television that isn't anything to do with Dancing With The Stars or Australian Idol or the like. Hopefully it will become less 'wooden' as the series progresses.

[Harry72]

Here here Duncan.

Next week should get pretty good ratings with the Holden Vs Ford showdown

[Cliff Rogers]

That blond wanker has to be from Sydney for sure. :rolleyes:

[Big Shed]

His name is Charlie Cox (never heard of him) lives half the time in London whre he presents motor sport on the BBC.

There is an article (http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/tv--radio/reinventing-the-wheel/2008/09/23/1221935644983.html) in this weeks' Green Pages (The Age)

Note that they say "the show's producers have insisted that the local show would not be a clone of the original".

They should re-define clone:doh:

[fubar]

hard to see how it could be worse :doh:clarkson and his mob are going to have a field day bashing this very poor clone :((
warren brown was terrific in peking to paris as he didnt have to follow a script and this was so stilted and lame:~
oh well can only hope things will improve :aussie5:
beats the hell out of reality shows:no:

[wheelinround]

:no::~ Not impressed ..........shame the local muscle cars are straight in next week but then again it is Bathurst weekend the week after, besides what else is built local besides the Bolwell is worth mentioning.

The cars were ok shame about the presenters, give it time they'll learn to act as it goes.
The heap of crap Celebrity Challenge car,:doh: no mention of how long that track they drive is, crappy tight little airport for god sake Eastern Creek Go Cart track would have been better.

The road run in Tassie I've seen push bike go faster.

Snow drive :rofl:I've done a better slide than that in a 40 foot tri-axle coach :harhar: :)(

Loved Charlie Cox's drive on the sand hills flying leap over the top :2tsup:

[AlexS]

besides what else is built local besides the Bolwell is worth mentioning.



The Lightburn Zeta?:roll:

[dzcook]

thought it was pretty bad just hope that it gets better in the next weeks and that it looses the stiffness and the wooden acting trying to hard to be copies of the pommey one i think

[damian]

The early episodes of the current format TG were a lot lamer than the later ones.

SBS does have a track record of taking a good concept and ruining it, but I think we should cut them some slack and give them a chance to find a rhythm. Afterall the alternative is channel 9's "the car show" which is about as sickening as "the boat show".

Some of you might remember SBS did an open casting call for this show. Disapointing then that no new talent got a look in. Some friends were at Camden when they did the hot laps. The producers tried to cover up the identity of "the stig" but it was pretty obvious who it was (an aussie BTW obviously not the UK one and you can tell by the way he drives it's a different person).

[Bob38S]

Oz version of Top Gear - great idea

Presenters - :doh: - were trying toooooooo hard. Obviously scripted but the line delivery was too wooden/lame.

What a shame that the producers have tried so hard to find 3 presenters who are expected to be / identified as the Oz version of Clarkson, Hammond and May. The really scarey thing is that out of the hordes who applied for the job [or so we are lead to believe] - these 3 are the best...... - Oh Dear.................:no:

Have to agree with the above that it does have one saving grace - it is heaps better than the "Dancing with the [fallen / pseudo] Stars types of show, or, any of the reality [crap] shows, mystical, super[sub]natural shows.

"Coupla things to look forward to for next week"

1 - it must improve - let's face it - the first program wasn't bad - it had to improve to be bad.

2 - the Ford will prove to be dominant :q :2tsup: :D

[djfoggin]

It was so cloned there wasa more life in dolly the sheep - can yer spot who theyre supposed to be.

clean shaven cox - jezza clarkeson
young bearded guy - Richard 'dicky' hammond
moustache guy - James 'they call me mr slow' may

Please SBS bring back the BBC original, even with repeats I p ss myself laughing,
wife had to call me a doctor last night as there was not even a chiuckle, maybe it would have being more entertaining to put all 3 in the moke with no cage and then feed em to the sharks or the critics depending on who's got more teeth.

I may be an ex pom but I still love the aussie sense of humour, but that show was dire.

David

[ptc]

Keep Warren and get rid of the other two.
Put a Woman in. that would take them away from the
original Top Gear.
I thought it was Rubish

[zelk]

Mmmmmh, I think it going to take some time to warm to these three presenters!
Looking forward to some serious comparisons between cars that are available here in Oz.
Zelk

[Ron Dunn]

My first reaction last night was RUBBISH. Now that I've thought about it overnight I still think it is crap, but perhaps fixable.

I think they made a big mistake in telling us it wasn't going to be a copy of the UK show. Apparently, though, when you buy the rights to the product you have to produce it in a certain style ... thus, it looks the same. I think we'll have to live with that.

Here's a short list of suggested things to fix:

1. The test track. I've got no idea what it looks like. Either fix it with some decent camera angles, or perhaps show an overlay map in a corner of the screen showing the car's location.

2. TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT THE CARS. You drove three soft-roaders last night, and I've got no idea about their comparative merits. None of you told us ANYTHING about the cars.

3. The shark stunt was stupid. Make sure the CARS play the central role in the story.

4. Putting a woman in the show is a good idea. Get that girl from the Nurburgring ... Sabine??? ... anyway, get someone who is easy on the eye, quick-witted, and who can drive.

Any other suggestions?

[damian]

Here's a short list of suggested things to fix:

1. The test track. I've got no idea what it looks like. Either fix it with some decent camera angles, or perhaps show an overlay map in a corner of the screen showing the car's location.

They used to do that on the UK version but dropped it.

2. TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT THE CARS. You drove three soft-roaders last night, and I've got no idea about their comparative merits. None of you told us ANYTHING about the cars.

That's part of the TG formula, low technical details to avoid the anorak angle. Remember TG is a comedy program with cars, it's not a car program. If it was they'd need presenters who had a clue.


4. Putting a woman in the show is a good idea. Get that girl from the Nurburgring ... Sabine??? ... anyway, get someone who is easy on the eye, quick-witted, and who can drive.

Sounds like my lady friend :D

Any other suggestions?

The reason this is on in leu of pommy TG is the season is limited. They don't produce 50 shows a year. That's why they have been showing re runs. They will bring it back once the aussie season has ended.

[Fuzzie]

Any other suggestions?

Bring back Peter Wherrett?

What p's me off about shows these days is everything seems to get done in 10 second grabs, scripted or not there's obviously a whole lot of footage sitting in the video editing bit bucket. Is this some sort of appeasement to the y-gen's who can't concentrate on a single thing for more than 10 seconds at a time and communicate only in sms's?

At least they didn't copy Border Security and dopple gang the video bites ten times to recap what you've just seen, just in case you missed it while eating your pizza and coke. :rolleyes:

[zelk]

Bring back Peter Wherrett?

What p's me off about shows these days is everything seems to get done in 10 second grabs, scripted or not there's obviously a whole lot of footage sitting in the video editing bit bucket. Is this some sort of appeasement to the y-gen's who can't concentrate on a single thing for more than 10 seconds at a time and communicate only in sms's?

At least they didn't copy Border Security and dopple gang the video bites ten times to recap what you've just seen, just in case you missed it while eating your pizza and coke. :rolleyes:

I agree, they must appeal to the masses.
Zelk

[Rossluck]

Keep Warren and get rid of the other two.
Put a Woman in. that would take them away from the
original Top Gear.
I thought it was Rubish

:2tsup: I like Warren. Who are the other two?

[Baldone]

Bit like second cuppa tea or movie sequel, NEVER as good as the first! But good concept so lets nope they grow into the job and RELAX a little (cant say I have ever heard of any of them?? Surely there must have been some body known to the masses that can drive!!)

[Abug]

I thought it was crap. It totally bored me. The blonde haired guy thought he was all that and the scrawny runt with the scruffy beard seemed like he had been drinking red cordial all day.

[warrick]

I just watched it and was very disappointed
They crammed so much into the show, lots of ideas but didn't have any explanation
The maybach for example, if I didn't already know what it were then I still wouldn't
They talked at 300miles an hour and used just about all of the Aussie slang words
They were just trying too hard
They need to slow down, do two or three really good segments rather than introduce every concept of the UK version (or the Aussie equivalent) in the first show
I may watch another episode but if it is the same as this one then it will be the last.

Warrick

[Waldo]

SYDNEY: Last night's launch of Top Gear Australia has scored SBS its highest ever audience for a locally produced program.

A total of 1.34 million viewers tuned in to watch the first episode of the eight-part series, giving SBS a prime time network share of 8.7% last night and winning the timeslot among people aged 16 to 54.

SBS director of television & online content Matt Campbell said the strong debut indicated significant growth potential for the show.

The Australian version debut even eclipsed average audience number for the most recent Top Gear UK series, on air from June to August this year, which averaged 893,000 viewers in the five mainland capital cities.

“Top Gear Australia is one of the most anticipated new shows of the year, and these results tell us Australians were ready for a local version of this fantastic show and they'll be back next week for more," said Campbell.

The program’s audience has a strong skew towards people in the highest income-earning group, OG1, with an index of 143, according to OzTAM figures.

The first nights ratings will mean it'll be back on for a second season, but it'll be interesting to see the ratings next Tuesday given the disappointment with its content and try hard.

[Big Shed]

From The Age (http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/tv--radio/sbs-looks-to-top-gear-2-after-impressive-ratings/2008/09/30/1222651066775.html):

A second series of motoring TV show Top Gear Australia is already in the pipeline after its premiere won over audiences.
About 933,000 viewers around the country watched the debut last night, giving SBS its highest ratings for a locally produced television program ever.
SBS head of TV Matt Campbell admitted he was disappointed not to crack the one million mark, but was still happy with the figures, which were higher than any season premiere of the British original.
"It was always going to be a tough call but to come in better than the UK series is quite an achievement," Campbell told AAP.
A second series is now being planned, he said.
"We're in discussions now. We'd like to roll on, obviously, from a production perspective," Campbell said.
"It's been a big challenge. Series two will be a much better series. It always is because you learn so much in the first one."


Just goes to show you can't believe everything you read in the paper (not that I do!).

[AlexS]

That blond wanker has to be from Sydney for sure. :rolleyes:

Have you noticed he has the same hair as Leonard on ' Very Small Business'?:D

[Waldo]

Have you noticed he has the same hair as Leonard on ' Very Small Business'?:D

:2tsup: :hahaha:

[pugwash]

I was put off by the guy with the moustache. He looks just like Boysie, the car dealer out of "Only fools and horses"

[Sebastiaan56]

Waste of electrons....

[wheelinround]

I see what you mean FBR :no: not me see the man with the Big Axe :D

[Cliff Rogers]

Well that was a bit better, :rolleyes: the Smart Hearse was bloody funny.:D

[fubar]

i would actually rate that as a good episode of topgear still cant stand that blond bas***d though

[WillBrook]

I watched it tonight with hope but was disappointed from the start when that blonde w#@*er waffled on and on about how fast the Ford GT40 RHD was but didn't get around to giving info like engine size and gearbox details. I reckon they're trying just a little bit too hard....

[Wild Dingo]

Missed the first one but watched tonights... wont bother again... total waste of bloody effort!

TOTAL CLONE of the original... Wendy had the right idea give it TRUE AUSSIE flavor instead of copying everything!... stage same... stig dipstick same... same celebrity race shyte... same stage presentations and move throughs... even the way that dropkick with the blonde hair played his "role" was Clarkson all over... three wannna be wankers trying to be the original... waste of bloody time

Yeah a MOMENT of humor amid the rubbish.

Why not an aussie accent among them?... why not some bloody information on the bloody cars theyre showing? If theyre gonna be "hooligans" strewth at least use the RIGHT WORD for it here if your gonna behave badly when driving its called a HOON!! YER DROPKICK!!

And that crap at the superpit?? WHAT WAS THAT SHYTE??? :~ proved absolutely nothing except how stupid they all are. :roll:

Nope wont bother again.

[warrick]

Missed the first one but watched tonights... wont bother again... total waste of bloody effort!

TOTAL CLONE of the original... Wendy had the right idea give it TRUE AUSSIE flavor instead of copying everything!... stage same... stig dipstick same... same celebrity race shyte... same stage presentations and move throughs... even the way that dropkick with the blonde hair played his "role" was Clarkson all over... three wannna be wankers trying to be the original... waste of bloody time

Yeah a MOMENT of humor amid the rubbish.

Why not an aussie accent among them?... why not some bloody information on the bloody cars theyre showing? If theyre gonna be "hooligans" strewth at least use the RIGHT WORD for it here if your gonna behave badly when driving its called a HOON!! YER DROPKICK!!

And that crap at the superpit?? WHAT WAS THAT SHYTE??? :~ proved absolutely nothing except how stupid they all are. :roll:

Nope wont bother again.

You took the words right out of my mouth
One less timer to set up

Warrick

[wheelinround]

An improvement still has a way to go

Loved the bit on the dump trucks thought of you Dingo no wonder you loved driving them slow as a wet week how'd you ever see over the steering wheel.:rolleyes:

The hears :U at least they thought of the wake did you notice the front wheels lifting off the ground.

Accents at least we are not seeing the Yank one yep they have their won Top Gear show
http://www.topgear.com/content/news/stories/2956/

Main host surname Corolla :roflmao:

[Grumpy John]

This show is a total waste of time and at my age I can't afford 60 minutes. I gave it a second chance after the first lame effort, it's a shame they weren't in the pit when the charge went off. As for the red V blue challenge what a lame effort, obviously didn't want to upset potential advertisers. I'll be spending next Monday night in front of the lathe.

[mic-d]

Missed the first one, but after 5minutes of that guy in the gt40 I had enough. Did he drop in through a wormhole from the 1970's?

Cheers
Michael

[damian]

Unwatchable.

I'm really shocked they were allowed to do some of that stuff on a mine site. Mines are really safety concious in aus and they were clearly breaking speed limits and other safety regs. Someone must have pulled a lot of strings. Anyway all I could think was they wrecked 3 perfectly good cars for no real reason.

As you say no details, no laughs. Awful. Sigh.

[ptc]

Dingo Said it all.
What a load of S.

[Waldo]

I saw about 5 minutes and that was enough, as much as I love the original, this new one should try and break new ground, not be a copy. I saw a few minutes with the Smart car - it was too try hard and sounded like they were reading off teleprompters.

Later I saw the blonde idiot trying to interview the bloke in the chair - again to try-hard copycat.

I'd rather watch endless reruns of Wiggles or Pingu while my little girl drinks her milk before going to bed.

[Bob38S]

It's a dog - take it to the vet and have it put down.

I must be a slow learner in my old age - I watched twice - won't bother with 3

[jape]

Well I watched the second one too ... in hope and it is just as bad, no, it was worse than the first! These guys are totally lacking in personality, understanding, ability and their utter lack of class is terminal, not watchable. I shan't bother watching any more.

[Waldo]

From Adnews:

SYDNEY: After debuting last week with the highest ever ratings for a locally produced show on SBS, Top Gear Australia returned last night to find a third of its audience missing.

A total of 940,000 viewers tuned in for the second installment of the eight-part series, down 400,000 on the debut episode's record-breaking 1.34 million viewers, according to OzTam figures.

Despite the drop in numbers, Top Gear Australia was still the top rated SBS program in week 40 - well ahead of second ranked South Park, which achieved a 2008 audience high of 434,000 viewers.

The most recent Top Gear UK series, on air from June to August this year, averaged 893,000 viewers in the five mainland capital cities.

Top Gear Australia is a crucial part of SBS's strategy for increasing its audience share in 2008. Last night's 5.6% prime time share of metro viewers extended the broadcaster's audience gains for the year to date.

SBS's people 25 to 54 audience is now 9.1% higher than at the corresponding point in 2007, while its overall audience is up 3.6% this year.

Be interesting to see next weeks figures.

[Shedhand]

Missed the first one but watched tonights... wont bother again... total waste of bloody effort!

TOTAL CLONE of the original... Wendy had the right idea give it TRUE AUSSIE flavor instead of copying everything!... stage same... stig dipstick same... same celebrity race shyte... same stage presentations and move throughs... even the way that dropkick with the blonde hair played his "role" was Clarkson all over... three wannna be wankers trying to be the original... waste of bloody time

Yeah a MOMENT of humor amid the rubbish.

Why not an aussie accent among them?... why not some bloody information on the bloody cars theyre showing? If theyre gonna be "hooligans" strewth at least use the RIGHT WORD for it here if your gonna behave badly when driving its called a HOON!! YER DROPKICK!!

And that crap at the superpit?? WHAT WAS THAT SHYTE??? :~ proved absolutely nothing except how stupid they all are. :roll:

Nope wont bother again.Hey Ding...took the whole155 words outta me mouth mate. A load of old rubbish.
Cheers

[FRB Design]

He must be having a quiet laugh or vomiting !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[corbs]

I though two was better than one so will watch again next week to see what happens. I didn't mind the pit challenge "he must be cheating because I am cheating and he is beating me":D The smart car bit wasn't bad either. I do have to agree that the blond git is pretty annoying.

[fubar]

Top Gear started in 1977 as a local programme made by BBC Birmingham (Pebble Mill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pebble_Mill_Studios)) who offered it to BBC2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC2).<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference">[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_%28original_format%29#cite_note-1)</sup><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference">[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_%28original_format%29#cite_note-2)</sup> Presenters included Noel Edmonds and William Woollard, with contributions by Peter Burgess, Frank Page, Sue Baker, Tiff Needell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiff_Needell), Tony Mason (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Mason_%28co-driver%29) and Chris Goffey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Goffey). The show's theme music was "Jessica (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_%28The_Allman_Brothers_Band_song%29)" by the Allman Brothers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allman_Brothers), although remixed versions were used after 1999 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999). For much of the original series' lifespan, Elton John (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elton_John)'s instrumental "Out Of The Blue" (from the Blue Moves (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Moves) album) played over the closing credits. According to its original producer, David Lancaster, the idea for the name came from the unrelated radio series Top Gear (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_%28radio_show%29).<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference">[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_%28original_format%29#cite_note-3)</sup>
Originally, Top Gear was a magazine show reviewing new car models and other car-related issues such as road safety. Other features included classic car (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_car) events and motorsport (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorsport), the latter often rallying (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rallying) with Tony Mason, Roger Clark (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Clark)'s co-driver. Between 1988 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988) and 1991 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991), the programme organised a competition each year to find a new rally driver with the prize being entry into that year's RAC Rally (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAC_Rally).<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference">[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_%28original_format%29#cite_note-4)</sup> In 1987 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987), Jon Bentley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Bentley_%28TV_presenter%29) (now a presenter on Channel 5's gadget show) became producer and editor. Bentley added former Formula One (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_One) driver Tiff Needell to the programme, and then-Performance Car Magazine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performance_Car_Magazine) journalist Jeremy Clarkson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Clarkson) in late 1988<sup id="cite_ref-jcimdb_5-0" class="reference">[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_%28original_format%29#cite_note-jcimdb-5)</sup> and the programme saw a massive boost in its audience as it became a more humorous, controversial, and unashamedly more critical show. In 1991, William Woollard left the show. Around the same time, Quentin Willson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quentin_Willson), a former used car salesman, joined. The 1990s also saw the addition of a new female presenter, Michele Newman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michele_Newman), who still appears on ITV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITV)'s Pulling Power (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulling_Power). Other presenters included Steve Berry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Berry_%28presenter%29), whose speciality was motorbikes, and racing driver Vicki Butler-Henderson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicki_Butler-Henderson), who joined in 1997 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997).
Among the show's producers were Phil Franklin, Brian Strachan, Jon Bentley and Ken Pollock. Executive producers were Derek Smith, Dennis Adams and Tom Ross.
Despite enduring criticism that the show was overly macho, encouraged irresponsible driving behaviour <sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference">[7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_%28original_format%29#cite_note-6)</sup> and ignored the environment, under Clarkson's presentation the show pulled in huge audiences. It became hugely influential with motor manufacturers, since a critical word from the Top Gear team could have a severe negative effect on sales. One such example is the original Vauxhall Vectra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vauxhall_Vectra) about which Clarkson said: "I know it's the replacement for the Cavalier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vauxhall_Cavalier). I know. But I'm telling you it's just a box on wheels." However, even more critical statements have not affected sales of the Toyota Corolla (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Corolla), and extreme praise did not help the Renault Alpine GTA/A610 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Alpine_GTA/A610).

[edit (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Top_Gear_%28original_format%29&action=edit&section=2)] Demise

Following Jon Bentley and Jeremy Clarkson's departure in 1999 the Top Gear audience fell from a peak of six million to under three million.<sup class="noprint Template-Fact">[citation needed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)]</sup> Initially, James May (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_May) took over Clarkson's spot, presenting reviews of the Rover 75 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_75) and Lexus IS200 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_IS200), for example. Following Clarkson's departure, the programme was jointly presented by Quentin Willson and Kate Humble (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Humble), who ran an ongoing test throughout the programme between reports. Brendan Coogan (who had joined in 1998), left the show a year later after being convicted of drunk driving.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference">[8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_%28original_format%29#cite_note-7)</sup><sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference">[9] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_%28original_format%29#cite_note-8)</sup> In 2000, Jason Barlow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Barlow) joined from Channel 4 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_4)'s driven (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driven_%28TV%29), and took over presenting for the final 53 episodes.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference">[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_%28original_format%29#cite_note-9)</sup> During Barlow's time at Top Gear viewing figures dropped dramatically. With low viewing figures, the BBC decided on cancelling the programme in 2001.
In 2001, Five (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_%28TV%29) launched Fifth Gear (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Gear), a car show featuring many of the former Top Gear presenters including Tiff Needell, Quentin Willson and Vicki Butler-Henderson. The show was produced by former Top Gear producer, Jon Bentley. While the entire production team moved from the BBC to Five to create Fifth Gear, Jason Barlow's involvement ceased. The name change was required as the BBC would not relinquish the rights to the Top Gear name (the corporation was (and is) still publishing Top Gear magazine). <sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference">[11] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_%28original_format%29#cite_note-10)</sup> After the first series of Fifth Gear was completed, the BBC decided to relaunch Top Gear (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_%28current_format%29), but in a new studio-based format as opposed to the magazine format used until the cancellation. The show was again presented by Jeremy Clarkson, joined by Richard Hammond (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Hammond), and Jason Dawe. James May replaced Jason Dawe from the second series onwards of the current format. The pre-cancellation show is referred to as "Old Top Gear" when mentioned on the new show due to the differences in style.






thats why the english show is so polished i have seen some of the early shows and it is a wonder that the show was ever reborn in 2002 so i think that the aussie show will need some time to find its legs heres hoping that sbs and the critics will give it time .

[damian]

The problem is that SBS has a long and proud history of producing truely awful shows. They have always bought great stuff, and I had been a huge fan of the station since it's inception until thee last few years, but nearly everything they make in house is awful, especially when they are doing a local rehash of an overseas idea.

I had hoped they would find their feet after a few weeks, but I don't think they will, and if they don't get it together before the end of the first series there will be no second series.

Still bitter about the fake open casting call.

[Rossluck]

I'm starting to like it :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

[DuncanH]

I'm starting to like it :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-
Wash your mouth out :p

[Cliff Rogers]

I only saw the last little bit this week... I liked the comment from the old black fella. :D

[Gingermick]

What was that dill doing driving at 250kph with no safety gear?

[dzcook]

well think its been announced that second series will be made has got a little bit better this week than last week but still not sure i will watch regular thought lawn bowls with cars was not as much fun as the pomey shows scoccer with cars but maybe sbs budget dosent run to that sort of expense

[Rossluck]

well think its been announced that second series will be made has got a little bit better this week than last week but still not sure i will watch regular thought lawn bowls with cars was not as much fun as the pomey shows scoccer with cars but maybe sbs budget dosent run to that sort of expense

One of the things I like about the pommie version is the quality of the filming. The landscape images in last night's show were pretty good. OK, they're into the filters and post-shoot computer enhancement like the poms, but still, you have to have the eye, and whoever was filming those outback images is top drawer as far as I'm concerned. The bowling segment was crap, but the presenters didn't grind on me too much. One of the main problems initially was that we just didn't know who the hell they were. But as we get to know them they seem all right. They are very Australian.

[FRB Design]

You can dribble on about this an that all day, it's still a very poor atempt at recreating the UK TOPGEAR and has, and will fail!

[corbs]

Keep the little fella with the beard, get a new host and would love to see a smokin hot woman in the other role who knows cars and drives them hard. Still a bit clunky and scripted but moving forward.

[Christopha]

Stuff this crap! HOW can I get to watch the bloody Pommy version instead of this rubbidge?

[Big Shed]

Stuff this crap! HOW can I get to watch the bloody Pommy version instead of this rubbidge?

Available for download on most torrent sites, eg Mininova, but I didn't say that:no:

[Woodwould]

We (Mrs. Wood and myself) both thought the first two episodes were abismal, but We decided before the series began that it would most likely be a rocky road and that we'd watch it for at least four episodes to give it a reasonable chance.

Last week's episode (the third) was really quite enjoyable, but last night's was again, really quite poor and embarrassing to watch at times.

The Bearded Geek is settling in a bit as can be heard in the toning down of his irritatingly high-pitched voice. Wazza is Wazza and is a very likeable bloke, but needs equally diverse and intelligent supporting presenters to bring the best out of him. He's definitely the James May of the trio.

Charlie is the main problem with the show as far as We're concerned. He glances furtively around the studio like a robber's mate on lookout instead of looking directly down the camera. Apparently 'We' wouldn't let him into our home!

Next week will most likely be the last episode of Top Gear Australia We'll watch. :no:

[WillBrook]

Well they still don't give enough info regarding the cars.....and considering it's a bloody car show, that's a bit odd:doh:. The gonad with the beard and the blonde tosser just seem to have a secret challenge as to who can be the biggest tosser. And the other bloke's only there cos he can draw cartoons. Never thought I'd ever say this but, BRING BACK THE POMS!

[Woodwould]

The Programming Director just read my post above and commented that there is nothing else on at 7.30 on a Monday evening that We would be watching anyway.

That's not much of an incentive to watch an ailing program though really. I would rather sit and have a yarn with The Fearful One than watch rubbish - at least I would score brownie points in the process. :U

[bitingmidge]

Charlie is the main problem with the show as far as We're concerned. He glances furtively around the studio like a robber's mate on lookout instead of looking directly down the camera.

Will someone tell him our tele's got a volume control? If we want to turn it up we will, there's no need to shout.

P
:rolleyes:

[Waldo]

This just in from todays Adnews.

Top Gear Australia gets 2nd Series
SYDNEY: SBS has given Top Gear Australia the green light for a second series, despite viewer criticism and a drop off in ratings.

Despite harsh comments from Australian audiences on various blogs citing a lack of chemistry between the hosts, UK host-with-the-most Jeremy Clarkson has praised the Aussie version, even giving the new hosts the thumbs up.

“Massive congratulations from the Top Gear boys in England on your Australian version," Clarkson said in a statement released by SBS. "We’re loving it, even though your funny accents make you hard to understand. And Warren the cartoonist - his face underwater was an absolute peach.”

After the premiere episode attracted an audience of just under a million, weeks two and three have seen viewer numbers drop to the high 600,000s.

By SBS standards this is still a solid audience, although numbers are about a third behind what the original UK series was pulling in.

The first Australian series still has a further five episodes to screen, but viewers won’t have to wait long for the second series, which could be on air as early as 2009.

Matt Campbell, director of television & online at SBS, said Clarkson’s comments reinforced the general consensus at SBS that the series is a winner.

“We’ve received the blessing from the godfather of the brand. The praise from the Top Gear UK mother ship gives SBS and the Freehand Production team added enthusiasm as we continue to work on Series One and begin pre-production for Series Two.”

Like Woodwould, there's better things to do than watch it even if there's nothing else on a Monday night at 7:30.

[damian]

Good news week starts at 8.30 unfortunately. Luckily I have a pvr and don't watch anything live anymore.

"Keep the little fella with the beard, get a new host and would love to see a smokin hot woman in the other role who knows cars and drives them hard. Still a bit clunky and scripted but moving forward."

Well my ladyfriend knows about cars and is one of the fastest drivers I've ever seen, but I don't know how many other people would think she's "smokin hot". I do, and I notice other blokes taking an interest, but we ain't exactly 20 year olds...:D

Maybe Sabine from the pommy show ? although getting her to emmigrate when she lives next door to the nurburg ring...

[wheelinround]

Missing this sort of thing

http://www.flixxy.com/bugatti-veyron-test-drive.htm

[ptc]

I'm not wasting time watching it.
till they add a woman presenter. and drop the dead legs
its a very poor copy of the real Top Gear.

[Shedhand]

Missing this sort of thing

http://www.flixxy.com/bugatti-veyron-test-drive.htmTells me I need a new flash plug-in which I already have. hmmm.:?

[wheelinround]

LIVE TOPGEAR UK live in Sydney http://www.topgearlive.com.au/ :2tsup:

[Shedhand]

This is best viewed with your PC surround sound or Home theatre. Fast broadband is better.
I saw it on the telly but its worth another look. Awesome is the word.

Friends...I give you the http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/veyron-vmax

Enjoy

[Rossluck]

I'm gonna try that in my truck tomorrow....

[Shedhand]

I'm gonna try that in my truck tomorrow....Indytruck 300...yep I can see it now...:D

[wheelinround]

Was that Wongo I spotted in the crowd on tonights Top Gear :rolleyes: only lives down the road so easy walk to the studio.

[fubar]

well tonights performance wasnt too bad but currently downloading the original topgear new series that screened in uk sunday night yeah

[wheelinround]

Thats because they were behaving more like blokes who now know each other and Aussie's.

You can also catch more old UK Top Gear on the new Foxtel BBC Knowledge Channel 619

Jerremy has been injured Top-Gear-presenter-Jeremy-Clarkson-crashes-truck-wall-high-speed-stunt (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1082530/Pictured-Top-Gear-presenter-Jeremy-Clarkson-crashes-truck-wall-high-speed-stunt.html)

[Christopha]

OK, for those of us who have real lives and therefore no Poxtel stuff, HOW do we get to see the real Top Gear?

BTW, I thought last nights' Oz version a little better but still overscripted, lousy jokes and the 4wd thing was bullschit

[bitingmidge]

OK, for those of us who have real lives and therefore no Poxtel stuff, HOW do we get to see the real Top Gear?

From an email I recently received:

a new 6-part BBC series of Top Gear UK (series 11) will begin Monday 24 November at 7.30pm.

Cheers,

P
:D

[wheelinround]

OK, for those of us who have real lives and therefore no Poxtel stuff, HOW do we get to see the real Top Gear?

BTW, I thought last nights' Oz version a little better but still overscripted, lousy jokes and the 4wd thing was bullschit


All the Top Gear you want is here (http://www.topgear.com/uk/)

[Shedhand]

Was that Wongo I spotted in the crowd on tonights Top Gear :rolleyes: only lives down the road so easy walk to the studio.Dunno, all look the same to me :D

[Waldo]

G'day,

Okay it will be a pointless exercise but it might, maybe, you never know make SBS wake up to the fact that Aussie Top Gear sux, they won't be pulling it but maybe they'll give the 3 wannabes a kick up the date and tell them to improve their game.

http://www.gopetition.com.au/online/23260.html

[ptc]

Waldo
I second That.
How does one contact sbs and tell them ?

[Waldo]

ptc, click on the link and it'll take you to an online petition a bloke I know started up, once he's got a stack he'll be sending it to SBS somehow.