| Sign in: |
| Members log in here with your user name and password to access the your admin page and other special features. |
|
|
|
|
|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
O/T: Top Gear fans out there?
Jamey Price, Student/Intern, Photographer
 |
Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 10:36 PM on 12.22.09 |
->> I fell in love with this show on a trip to England a few years back. Just curious if there are any ss members who have a passion for Clarkson, Hammond and May's antics...
If you are unfamiliar with Top Gear, you should check it out. In sum, its a British "car show" where three amazingly different presenters go on wild adventures, test super cars and average cars, offend almost all walks of life and living and have the amazing ability to make me laugh week in and week out over 14 seasons of the show.
More on topic with this website, they have won TONS of awards for their cinematography (it is truly amazing stuff. Epic is a good word).
Have a laugh @ a great segment of an episode.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJfSS0ZXYdo |
|
Matt Cashore, Photographer
|
South Bend | IN | USA | Posted: 10:55 PM on 12.22.09 |
| ->> Yup, makes me want to buy some graduated filters. |
|
Kohl Threlkeld, Student/Intern
|
Bowling Green | KY | USA | Posted: 11:15 PM on 12.22.09 |
| ->> Hell Yes. My favorite show on television for sure. I have to catch it online since i don't have a tv here at college. You can buy some of the episodes off itunes too. I second the cinematography aspect of it too, Beautiful stuff. |
|
Thomas E. Witte, Photographer, Photo Editor
|
Cincinnati | OH | USA | Posted: 11:27 PM on 12.22.09 |
->> I've been watching it on BBC America for a few years now. Primarily because I have a passion for sports/performance cars but also because - as you said - the cinematography is far and above the best I've every seen for a weekly show (seasonal).
Sure they do a lot of mounted angles inside the cars, and personal hand held units from time to time, but when they go in to the feature segments, it's always eye candy for any photographer.
Some of the best filmed episodes involve The Veyron (yes "The" is capitalized because the car is worthy of it), such as when they take it up to 253 MPH:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk1t6S737Cs
and the drag race against the Eurofighter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NZ9X9A2efA
Both segments are about 9 minutes long, but they are well worth the watch.
The big thing to remember is how big of a factor production is as well. Both segments use dozens of cameras which helps really keep your attention since you aren't looking at the same point of view for very long at all. |
|
Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
|
McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 11:32 PM on 12.22.09 |
| ->> If only Clarkson wasn't such a right-wing arse in his other life as a newspaper columnist. But what can you expect from such a public school twit? |
|
Steven Bisig, Photographer
|
Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 11:33 PM on 12.22.09 |
| ->> I watch it too. Love the show. |
|
Brian Dowling, Photographer
|
Philadelphia | PA | USA | Posted: 11:51 PM on 12.22.09 |
->> Every time I watch Top Gear, it makes me want to move to England until I realize I can't afford the cars nor is there sunshine there. I've seen every episode since they started re-airing the show with Hammond in 2002. 14 seasons in all(one in the spring and one in the fall). It'll be a sad day when they stop airing this show. I can't think of another show that comes close to having the fun and camaraderie of this show.
My three fav episodes are the Toyota diesel Hilux truck that never dies, when Jeremy straps an outboard motor to a Toyota truck and they cross the English Channel in it!, and when they drive through Vietnam.
This is so epic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTVPPTV-bQM |
|
Dominic Hanna, Photographer, Student/Intern
|
Bear | DE | United States | Posted: 1:36 AM on 12.23.09 |
->> One of the better shows out there, there was talk of making a US version featuring Adam Corolla but thankfully if never got past the idea stages. TBH anything that has been copied/adapted from the BBC doesn't do justice to the original.
Great show, I usually catch the reruns via on demand. I'm not ever sure, is the next season is out yet?
The Moped trek through Vietnam was classic. Others that I remember are..
Both USA adventures; SF to Bonneville is hilarious especially when they get busted in Reno for spinning wheels. The other was when they went from Miami to New Orleans and tried to go through "redneck country" with NASCAR SUCKS painted on the side of one of the cars.
Anything involving THE Veyron...
I remember a few seasons back, they had a race through London to see what was faster mode of transportation; A bicycle, a SUV, a train or boat.
I have to admit, as much as Clarkson is as ass at times, he does give a honest review of the cars he drives. Even if he feels the latest Corvette was built by "Two fat blokes from Kentucky in a woodshed." |
|
Vasiliy Baziuk, Photographer
|
Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 2:21 AM on 12.23.09 |
| ->> amazing! 4.5hp? my shop vac has that much power, lol |
|
Vasiliy Baziuk, Photographer
|
Vasiliy Baziuk, Photographer
|
Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 2:36 AM on 12.23.09 |
| ->> i mean i love sailboats, lol |
|
Richard Heathcote, Photographer
|
London | . | UK | Posted: 5:04 AM on 12.23.09 |
->> IMO The best 'non-fiction' entertainment programme on TV, 3 blokes having a laugh doing all the things we all want to do if we had the money to buy the cars...
And when they do have to do a 'normal' car road test they still manage to muck about (check out the Ford Fiesta review and the recent Renault Twingo review in Belfast)
There is a new episode in the UK next week of thier epic journeys, this time from coast to coast across South America |
|
Jason R. Davis, Photographer
|
Knoxville | TN | USA | Posted: 8:31 AM on 12.23.09 |
| ->> Heck yes... Best show on TV. The cinematography is just awe inspiring and the chemistry between Clarkson, Hammond and May is perfect. Am constantly doubled over in laughter at the things those guys are doing and the gags they play on each other. Oh, and yea, the cars they show off are pretty nice eye candy too. |
|
Bill Vaughn, Photographer
|
Huntsville | Al | United States | Posted: 8:58 AM on 12.23.09 |
| ->> Love it! Glad to see there are others here who do as well. Lots of info about the show on their website:http://www.topgear.com/uk/ Can't believe no one mentioned the anonymous star of the show yet - The Stig |
|
Jack Megaw, Student/Intern, Photographer
|
Jason Orth, Photographer
|
Lincoln | NE | USA | Posted: 9:48 AM on 12.23.09 |
->> Bill, Some say....
My wife and I just started watching this year and we're both huge fans of the show. I think my wife has a crush on Jeremy. I love the cinematography as well.
I still can't believe they got the OK to run the Fiesta and a Vette through a mall.
My favorite running gag is when Hammond door dings or hits James' cars during some challenge involving junkers. |
|
Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
|
Sam Santilli, Photographer, Photo Editor
 |
Philippi | WV | USA | Posted: 10:08 AM on 12.23.09 |
| ->> I am suprised the US TV market has not copied this show, like so many other UK shows. Maybe Rush can host it, with Jay Leno and Conan. |
|
Joseph Toth, Photographer
|
Cambridge | UK | United Kingdom | Posted: 10:52 AM on 12.23.09 |
->> Bad news for some, there is talk of cutting the show. Ratings have plummeted over recent seasons. Someone that has something to do with the show thinks that the three presenters have gone up their own a$$es a bit too much and the show is a mockery. I can't find the article right now but I will keep looking.
Joe |
|
Jamey Price, Student/Intern, Photographer
|
Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 12:44 PM on 12.23.09 |
->> They arent done. Getting to the end? Yes. Done, no.
http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2009/12/20/series-14-where-were-at/
As for a US remake. Here's my take. It wouldnt work and it wouldnt be Top Gear. I love and hate the US and US media in particular.
First off, Top Gear is a show about people having a laugh. It isn't polite or politically correct. If Top Gear as we know it ran on sundays on a cable news network, it would get hate mail and threats from America's conservative side and hate mail and threats from the liberal environmentalists. America lives in a world where everything must be screened and screened again to make sure NO ONE, and I mean no one is offended before it can run. The above is one of the reasons I love the show. Because it's no bull $hit stuff, and they arent afraid to offend people which makes it all the more funny.
We as Americans have forgotten how to laugh at ourselves and this show reminds me how to do that every single week.
Secondly, Jay Leno has done a spinoff of the Top Gear star in a reasonably priced car on his new show and it has all but flopped and gone belly up. Its embarrassing.
Top Gear would NEVER work in the US. Which is sad but it's true. Until we become less serious about ourselves, our culture, other cultures and stereotypes that "offend" quite a number of people, then Top Gear will and should remain a British show.
That's my 2 cents anyway. |
|
Mark Scheuern, Photographer
|
Grand Blanc | MI | USA | Posted: 1:24 PM on 12.23.09 |
| ->> I love the show. And yes, it's hard to imagine an American version working. Oh, and Hammond licensed a shot of mine for one of his books, which was pretty cool. |
|
Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
|
McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 3:02 PM on 12.23.09 |
->> "It isn't polite or politically correct."
Years ago being "politically correct" meant being "polite". The term "politically correct" is just a term invented during the Reagan years to enable people to be rude to one another. Damn shame it's taken over. |
|
Bryan Hulse, Photographer
|
Nashville | Tn | USA | Posted: 3:26 PM on 12.23.09 |
->> I love Top Gear!
I agree Jamey. I'm glad there isn't a US version. The celebrity car race on the Jay Leno show a good sample of why NOT to have an American Top Gear. It's more about a silly 'green' car with party favors and ping pong balls shooting at the driver.
I laughed my butt off when Jeremy test drove the Toyota Prius a few years ago. |
|
Joseph Zimmerman, Photographer
|
Howard | Pa | USA | Posted: 8:35 PM on 12.23.09 |
| ->> Love the show. The Vietnam episode was great but I think my 2 favorites are when the go camping (caravaning?) and the best episode is when they drive through the south with their cars all painted up. |
|
Matt Cashore, Photographer
|
South Bend | IN | USA | Posted: 11:29 PM on 12.23.09 |
->> I had a lot of free time today and thanks to this thread I watched A LOT of Top Gear clips on YouTube!
It occurred to me that there is a good parallel between driving and photography: It is very easy to be mediocre at both. Anybody with a car is a driver, anybody with a camera is a photographer.
But both are unbelievably difficult to do well. |
|
Jamey Price, Student/Intern, Photographer
|
Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 11:55 PM on 12.23.09 |
| ->> I like that Matt. Good analogy. |
|
Tom Knier, Photographer
|
Lancaster | PA | USA | Posted: 11:46 AM on 12.24.09 |
| ->> Best shot show on TV. Sadly, this season seems too scripted. A lot of the funny bits in the past seemed a lot more spontaneous... This time around, well, not so much. |
|
Jamey Price, Student/Intern, Photographer
|
Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 5:54 PM on 12.24.09 |
| ->> That was a GREAT episode. Im also going to nominate the reliant robin in "space" one too. I was howling with laughter when it blew up. HA! So cool though. Im extremely excited to see the boys go to South America this coming episode. Its being touted as one of the best in a long long time. |
|
Christian del Rosario, Photographer
|
San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 7:00 PM on 12.24.09 |
->> Totally a huge fan of Top Gear. Great show. No advertising so they can rip on whatever product they want. I don't think such a show would fly in America either. When understanding Jay Leno declined the offer, that was awesome. Spoke to him briefly at the Monterey Historics at Laguna Seca this year and gave him props for that. He said he didn't want to be part of something that would be a crap copy of the original.
Now Fifth Gear...eh, not loving that show so much. Seems to be a really bad copy of Top Gear. The new folks on the show are trying too hard to be cool, whereas Top Gear just IS cool. I miss Tiff Needel though, he was a cool guy. |
|
John Stone, Photographer
|
Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 8:47 PM on 12.24.09 |
->> Jamey,
You can go here(http://www.finalgear.com/) and you'll have the current season episode hours after it is broadcast in the UK Sunday nite...
Enjoy & Merry Christmas |
|
Joe Winn, Photographer
|
Tampa | Fl | USA | Posted: 10:15 PM on 12.24.09 |
->> One of my faves was the 24hr race they did with a BMW deisel. They coudn't use real sponsors on the car due to BBC rules so they made up one on each side of the car.
One side said "Peniston"...when the door was open all you saw was "Penis"
The other said "Larsens"...when the door was open you saw only "Arse".
Classic. It would never fly in the US. |
|
Nuno Gonçalves, Photographer
|
Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
|
McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 6:47 AM on 12.26.09 |
->> "TOP Gear has been named the best TV show of the decade"
http://tinyurl.com/y94ko5b |
|
David Meyer, Photographer
|
Jamey Price, Student/Intern, Photographer
|
Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 11:14 AM on 12.26.09 |
| ->> I'm actually going to be in Florida on a training trip for my college swim team and will not have access to Internet. I'm going to download the new show the second I get back to campus on Jan 3. |
|
Patrick Fallon, Student/Intern, Photographer
|
Columbia | MO | USA | Posted: 11:23 AM on 12.26.09 |
| ->> Sensible Fiesta might just be the best thing ever! |
|
Jamie Roper, Photographer
|
Boulder | CO | United States | Posted: 1:55 PM on 12.26.09 |
| ->> fantastic, favorite show of all time -- any informed ideas on how many millions of pounds they spend to produce a single segment? |
|
Jamey Price, Student/Intern, Photographer
|
Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 11:23 AM on 01.13.10 |
->> ^ They said their per season budget is 14 million pounds. So divided by 7 per season is plus or minus 2 million pounds per episode. Thats what Ive heard anyway.
To be quite honest, I was a LITTLE disappointed with the travel special this season. It was funny but not their best. I don't know. Hopefully they kick off what is being talked about as the final season this coming summer with gusto and end the show as it deserves to be ended. |
|
Matt Kartozian, Photographer
|
Scottsdale | AZ | USA | Posted: 1:27 PM on 01.13.10 |
->> Love the show, have been watching it for years.
Because of the show I went out and drove the Nurgburgring and the Davos to Stelvio run in 2008 and set my rental car brakes on fire before I even got in the mountains. View from the top http://tinyurl.com/yjm6bp2
Im working on a trip to drive the Transfagarasan highway (from season 14) in Romania this summer.
Im also very thankful for finalgear and the people that send out the new UK episodes for us to see here in the US. |
|
Bryan Hulse, Photographer
|
Nashville | Tn | USA | Posted: 6:59 PM on 01.13.10 |
->> Matt: Love the t-shirt in that photo!
About made my choke on my dinner. |
|
Jamey Price, Student/Intern, Photographer
|
Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 8:48 PM on 01.13.10 |
->> I am wearing my top gear shirt, Matt. And you'd like it!
Front side: Outline of the Nurburgring
Backside: "Some say the outline of his left nipple is almost exactly the same shape as the Nurburgring" |
|
Jamey Price, Photographer, Assistant
|
Peter Tarry, Photographer
|
croydon | Surrey | England | Posted: 12:01 PM on 06.20.10 |
| ->> new series starts here next sunday ! |
|
Greg Kendall-Ball, Photographer, Assistant
|
Abilene | TX | USA | Posted: 1:03 PM on 06.20.10 |
->> Grew up watching this show on BBC in South Africa (rebroadcast on SABC), and have enjoyed catching episodes on the net since moving to the States.
My wife had never heard of it, but she loved, loved, loved when they took the red Hilux monster machine on a race against a dog sled to the North Pole.
Too right, this show would never fly in the U.S. The drinking and driving in that episode alone would likely cause apoplexy among some viewers! |
|
Jamey Price, Photographer, Assistant
|
Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 1:10 PM on 06.20.10 |
->> As I've stated...Americans have their panties on too tight. Everything is so politically correct. I appreciate what Clarkson says about all people from all walks of life because most of the time, hes right...but people are too chicken to say it.
Theyre making Top Gear to run on the History Channel this fall, and it is going to S.U.C.K. Im not even going to watch a single episode because I know exactly what its going to be like. And it wont be Top Gear. |
|
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
 |
| | | Posted: 6:20 PM on 06.20.10 |
| ->> I love the show ... I don't even like cars, but its hysterical, entertaining, informative and the cinematography is fantastic! |
|
Walt Middleton, Photographer, Photo Editor
 |
Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 7:21 PM on 06.20.10 |
| ->> I couldn't have said it better myself.... Hysterical, Entertaining, Informatice, and fantastic Cinematography!!! |
|
Bryan Hulse, Photographer
|
Nashville | Tn | USA | Posted: 9:44 AM on 06.21.10 |
->> They have to copy the UK version of this great show? Is American TV so desperate they have to steal from other successful shows rather than come up with creative ideas on their own?
What Jamey said: The US version is destined to be lame! |
|
This thread has reached the maximum number of posts
If you would like to continue it, please create a new thread.
[ Create new thread? ]
Return to --> Message Board Main Index
|