Top Gear Starts Sunday BBC2, 20.00hrs

[Wet Kipper]

My opinion of Mark Goodier doing the breakfast show seems to match others' opinion of what has happened with Top Gear:

Different host tries to do exactly the same thing, but with a more annoying voice (I find him a bit "Smashy & Nicey") and an air of not really knowing what he's doing

 

In terms of Top Gear, I'm happy with the new programmes - I was getting bored with Clarkson to the point of disliking him. 

Ep 2 was an improvement on Ep 1

Extra gear is a nice touch, but it feels a bit like a poor relation being relegated to iPlayer only and with a smaller studio audience.

I find the celeb chat on there more interesting that the Star in a ** car section - which I always skipped or ignored before unless it was someone I was interested in.

It would be good to have the news back in the main show.

 

Yes, Evans has filled the shows so far full of mates, but I figured he would do that to at least get things going.

It will be interesting to see what it's like when it's someone he's not so pally with and needs to properly interview.

I agree he should ditch the "one star introduces the other" thing which he does on the radio on a friday morning, as should the "contest" between first/favourite cars. Just chat to the star, let them do their plug and show us the lap (and any poor attempts with comedy value "offs")

 

regarding Button, I remember from the rumours going around last year that if McLaren hadn't signed him up for this year (and it was shaky for a while) then he would have been a shoe-in for a new TG presenter.

[Didescharlie]

Which would presume that we actually watched the 2012 Olympics closing ceremony. (or the opening for that matter)

 

My statement doesn't presume that at all.

[Didescharlie]

Stuff that was good when alternative but then gets a bit popular, ends up in radio play lists and gets played to death to the point you get sick if hearing it. The artists then find themselves being faithful to a newer, different audience ultimately making their music tamer, more polite and a lot less interesting. Examples include:

Kings of Leon

Nirvana

Primal Scream

Elbow

Foo Fighters

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Etc...Like them or not, it's what happens, some bands have done well to avoid it happening. Best tactic = don't release singles

 

To me at least, this is probably a more interesting conversation than Top Gear.

 

Not sure about Primal Scream on this list. I'm guessing you're referring to the success of Loaded, but they seemed to go out of their way to get away from this song on subsequent records. XTRMNTR was hardly mainstream. The most polite record they ever made was their first album.

 

As for Nirvana, I've heard their frontman had some struggles with the fame and success that Nevermind brought, and Incesticide was a far more challenging record.

 

I could chew the fat on this subject all day. 

[YellowCar]

To me at least, this is probably a more interesting conversation than Top Gear.

Not sure about Primal Scream on this list. I'm guessing you're referring to the success of Loaded, but they seemed to go out of their way to get away from this song on subsequent records. XTRMNTR was hardly mainstream. The most polite record they ever made was their first album.

As for Nirvana, I've heard their frontman had some struggles with the fame and success that Nevermind brought, and Incesticide was a far more challenging record.

I could chew the fat on this subject all day.

Incesticide was a collection of B sides, previously unreleased tracks and early singles. I think Nevermind, great album that it was was a touch over produced by Butch Vig compared to Bleach, think Kurt tried to get some punk back with In Utero to try and get out of being commercialised. With Primal Scream I still like them but the sound of their last 2 albums is very different to Screamadelica, XTRMNTR and Vanishing Point, undoubtedly their best stuff. They maintained iconic indie status for a while as it goes, but I think Country Girl helped finish it off. Still a great band and Bobby G will always be a legend and an awesome frontman.

Don't think anyone can deny what happened to Kings of Leon though. They even shaved their beards off and got haircuts for gods sake.

Edited 9 June, 2016 by YellowCar

[SPINESHANK]

Talking of sell outs:

 

Metallica - infamous Load & Re-load anyone?

[Aspman]

Talking of sell outs:

 

Metallica - infamous Load & Re-load anyone?

 

I didn't buy anything after the black album but I'm not sure the millionaire Metallica lads really give a ****.

 

We're getting a bit OT really. I'm not suprised Evans used his contacts to get things going. I just wish they'd drop that segment altogether. It was **** on old new TG and it's **** on new new TG.

 

And start telling us about the bloody cars.

 

I suspect that they're falling into the trap of old old old TG, which was never to say anything bad about a car in case the manufacturer boycotts the program.

[old newbie2]

To me at least, this is probably a more interesting conversation than Top Gear.

 

Not sure about Primal Scream on this list. I'm guessing you're referring to the success of Loaded, but they seemed to go out of their way to get away from this song on subsequent records. XTRMNTR was hardly mainstream. The most polite record they ever made was their first album.

 

As for Nirvana, I've heard their frontman had some struggles with the fame and success that Nevermind brought, and Incesticide was a far more challenging record.

 

I could chew the fat on this subject all day. 

I'm sure you could natter about these groups / bands, etc., but not with me, I've never heard of them.

 

It's an age thing.............

 

DC

[logiclee]

Talking of sell outs:

 

Metallica - infamous Load & Re-load anyone?

 

Never really liked them anyway, Maiden for me.

 

Although Maiden sell everything from Tents through every item of clothing to Beer at least you can still enjoy new albums and see new tours and stage sets.

 

Lee

[Laurie61]

I recorded this weeks episode, it was less bad than the first. I don't see what TG extra is there for apart from generating an extra 30 min of show to sell. I was hoping to see more of Harris but his potential has been largely wasted so far.

 

The first show.was rated by viewers as the worst programme on terrestrial television last weekend, according to internal BBC audience data. BBC says they have received “catastrophic” viewer feedback.  

[YellowCar]

I recorded this weeks episode, it was less bad than the first. I don't see what TG extra is there for apart from generating an extra 30 min of show to sell. I was hoping to see more of Harris but his potential has been largely wasted so far.

 

The first show.was rated by viewers as the worst programme on terrestrial television last weekend, according to internal BBC audience data. BBC says they have received “catastrophic” viewer feedback.

The first extra gear did show promise but the 2nd one was a big waste of time, why people need to see Eddie Jordan on 2 programmes in one night is beyond me. That Volvo SUV was dull as dishwater n all.

[Paul007]

Why EJ was made to look a fool over the 4x4 escapade is beyond me. I'm sure I've seen him in a Merc ML as his own motor when at a Formula 1 track.

[Aspman]

Why EJ was made to look a fool over the 4x4 escapade is beyond me. I'm sure I've seen him in a Merc ML as his own motor when at a Formula 1 track.

 

Standard TV practice. They each need to have their 'character'.

 

Just like old TG. Except old TG the characters were just an exaggeration of their own personalities.

They weren't playing a part as such.

Probably why Matt is the only one working out, they've got them all acting out parts but he's the only actor.

 

They'll portray EJ as the dippy 'weird Uncle' for the whole series until they figure out

 

1 - people who know about cars and know EJ will know he's not dippy at all since he successfully ran an F1 team for years and he's pretty handy in a car being an ex F2 racer and will find his 'comedy' weird uncle routine annoying.

2 - people that don't know EJ probably don't give a **** about EJ and will find his 'comedy' weird uncle routine annoying.

 

Then they'll drop him for series 2.

[moley]

Before the series started Evans said he would be disappointed if the viewing figures were below 5 million.

Episode 1 the figures were 4.4 million. Evans says the show was a HIT...FACT

Episode 2 the figure drops to 2.8 million. Evans says viewing figures on the night are nor relevant, catch up TV is the new now.

Now he claims we actually love the show 

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/top-gear-chris-evans-insists-fans-actually-love-his-new-series-a7071976.html

 

We need time to get used to the changes within the structure.

Same opening theme tune

Same track and studio location

Same challenges

siarpc has changed to a 'rally cross' track

Same Stig?

Same time slot

Different presenters.

 

The best remark is that the critics have never made a TV show so they don't know what they're talking about. No, you make a show and the audience tell you whether they like it or not. 

[KenONeill]

The first extra gear did show promise but the 2nd one was a big waste of time, why people need to see Eddie Jordan  is beyond me. 

Corrected!

[cheezemonkhai]

When will they pull the plug so we can stop hearing it.

 

The BBC killed their cash cow and should now give up and just licence the rights to the other countries.

[Didescharlie]

Just read this in the comments of a TG thread on the Guadian - I thought it was perfect:

 

"One thing I have noticed is Evans' emotional detachment. For example, driving the McClaren in episode 2, a car he liked so much that he bought one, he hardly seemed enthusiastic. Clarkson on the other hand would probably have cried a little bit and become a bit lost for words at the fabulous perfection of the thing. Both claim to love cars, but Evans looks at a beautiful car like a rich man shopping on-line, Clarkson looks at a car like a child in love.
Otherwise, Top Gear was at it's best when it had gelled into a kind of comedy about three ordinary idiots who all worked in the media and loved cars with a passion, whose real friendship developed before the viewers eyes over time. The kind of people who could make you actually care whether they reached the south pole by Mini or whatever.
New Top Gear has not had time to develop into anything yet, but given the set of presenters I don't think it will, unfortunately. It seems forced, because it is. Evans and LeBlanc through no fault of their own simply do not have the shared history of the terrible trio, who by the final few series had been through so much **** together that you just had to root for them on their stupid pointless adventures! The show was no longer only about cars, but also about friendship, middle-age, traditional Englishness in the modern world, frustration, fears ....
an anomaly unlikely to be reproduced by design.
We should wait and see what it becomes this time, instead of rewinding evolution and expecting it to happen again the same way. Not gonna happen."

[Wet Kipper]

if they had watched extra gear for Evans in the original McLaren, they would not be talking about emotional detachment

[Didescharlie]

if they had watched extra gear for Evans in the original McLaren, they would not be talking about emotional detachment

 

Agreed. To be fair I think the one thing Evans isn't lacking is enthusiasm, which many just find irritating. The general thrust of what appears to have been lost strikes a chord with me.

[YellowCar]

Agreed. To be fair I think the one thing Evans isn't lacking is enthusiasm, which many just find irritating. The general thrust of what appears to have been lost strikes a chord with me.

I kind of see what that article is saying in some ways. I think nostalgia is dangerous and may make me forget how annoying I found Clarkson, May and Hammond in the end. I still think Clarkson punching that guy was a blessing in disguise and SHOULD have prompted the BBC to use the opportunity for new presenters and an improvement in the format, which was becoming very tired it has to be said. The specials and challenges became the only thing really worth watching (something the new series has not got right so far), perhaps that was down to the chemistry of the 3 'idiots' as the article says, maybe they were just more interesting and amusing challenges.

Anyway, as I said BBC should have gathered their nuts and shaken things up a bit, disappointed to see they played it too safe so far. We need more Sabine, less celebrities, more personalities from the presenters we can believe in, and oh yeah, more cars.

Edited 10 June, 2016 by YellowCar

[Didescharlie]

Incesticide was a collection of B sides, previously unreleased tracks and early singles. I think Nevermind, great album that it was was a touch over produced by Butch Vig compared to Bleach, think Kurt tried to get some punk back with In Utero to try and get out of being commercialised. With Primal Scream I still like them but the sound of their last 2 albums is very different to Screamadelica, XTRMNTR and Vanishing Point, undoubtedly their best stuff. They maintained iconic indie status for a while as it goes, but I think Country Girl helped finish it off. Still a great band and Bobby G will always be a legend and an awesome frontman.

Don't think anyone can deny what happened to Kings of Leon though. They even shaved their beards off and got haircuts for gods sake.

 

Sorry yellowcar, I meant to say In Utero not Incesticide. Got confused as, I have to admit, I haven't played either for many years. Bleach will always be my go to album for Nirvana. I did see them once many years ago at Edwards No. 8 supporting Tad on the Sub Pop 89 tour, and was so surprised at how they leapt out of the Sub-Pop pack into the mainstream as I always thought the band to do that would be Mudhoney Touch Me I'm SIck still sounds amazing...

 

As for Primal Scream, I was sad when they dumped the Byrds-drenched 12 string sound when Jim Beattie left. "May The Sun Shine Bright For You" is one of my favourite songs of all time. 

[Aspman]

The BBC is like an alcoholic with TG.

 

They need to hit the bottom of the barrel before they'll make the changes to get better.

At the moment they're swigging from the bottle of old TG and telling themselves if they only take a few gulps it'll be ok and they're not really drinking.

 

So to some extent I almost hope this 6 episode series continues to be a car crash, then they'll maybe get some balls to change things. If it picks up a bit they'll just keep milking the tired format and it'll die a long drawn out death over 2 or 3 more runs.

 

Ditch the stig and just use Sabine.

Ditch the celebrities unless they are petrol heads anyway, and don't interview them send them out.

 

What not get Eddie reviewing real cars on extra gear, make Extra gear a bit more 5th Gear

 

One of the complaints about old (new) TG was that the cars had no relevance to real life. The Beeb has online channels so there is no reason they can't have a silly program and more magazine based program.

[Wet Kipper]

Just read this in the comments of a TG thread on the Guadian 

 

....".the terrible trio, who by the final few series had been through so much **** together that you just had to root for them on their stupid pointless adventures! The show was no longer only about cars, but also about friendship, middle-age, traditional Englishness in the modern world, frustration, fears .....

 

whereas I was getting fed up of the "see it coming a mile away" stupid pointless adventure "problems" and just want a show about cars, not "friendship, middle-age, traditional Englishness in the modern world, frustration, fears ....."     so I am content with the new show, though agree it's not perfect

[Blanes]

I hated episode 1, but episode 2 and watching extra gear was better. 

 

Yes Evans is coming across as a tit, but, having watched every episode of the older series, I have to say episode 2 wasn't too awful

 

Its easy to watch Old Top Gear episodes and to forget a few of those weren't that great and a bit predictable at times , consisting of 3 blokes being paid a hell of a lot of our money to travel to the places we can only dream of, May would always break down, Hammond would rear end him regularly or there would be the latest race against the British Armed forces.  

 

So I'm going to wait til episode 3 before making too much of a judgement...Episode 2 was made before feedback from episode 1 was received so hopefully they will take on board everyone's concerns for number 3. It all seems its going to be very PC...which in a country obsessed with PC, the old episodes were a nice break from sterilized TV. 

Edited 11 June, 2016 by Blanes

[YellowCar]

Hope you're all sitting down, tonight's format looks more promising with...wait for it, more actual cars, road tests and less celebrities and stupid challenges! It looks as though Sabine, Rory and Chris from extra gear all feature in actually talking about some cars in an interesting and informative way. Watch this space.

Edited 12 June, 2016 by YellowCar

[moley]

Hope you're all sitting down, tonight's format looks more promising with...wait for it, more actual cars, road tests and less celebrities and stupid challenges! It looks as though Sabine, Rory and Chris from extra gear all feature in actually talking about some cars in an interesting and informative way. Watch this space.

Have they dropped Evans yet?