US Top Gear TV Update
Update, Dec 15: Following our scoop last week on the much-anticipated U.S. version of "Top Gear", BBC Worldwide today issued an official line..."BBC Worldwide and NBC have decided to part ways on the Top Gear format and we are in the process of finding a home more suited to the show. With Top Gear UK version now playing on BBCA it has become clear the series attracts a strong, highly valuable, young male audience in the U.S. and we are already in discussions with several interested networks."
So, our colleagues in TV still plan to make a US version of the Top Gear show. Aussie Top Gear has just completed season 1 and they are currently filming another version in Russia. Let's hope the US show isn't far behind. As soon as there is some news you'll get it here first.
This gives us an opportunity to clear up some of the confusion regarding why TopGear.comis here. Lots of people, judging from comments and discussions in the forums,think we're the support website for an American "Top Gear" television show. We're not. Heck, we couldn't even discuss a pilot that was allegedly filmed at some point last summer somewhere much warmer than the frigid climes that surround our office in New York.
We, dear readers, are indeed so much more. We are here because Top Gear — all of it, the show, the magazine and, yes, even the stunt spectaculars — kicks ass. We know lots of you Internet-savvy fans agree, despite Clarkson's assertions that we're fat and sleep with our sisters.
We are here to nourish you, letting you feast on the very best of the U.K.television show, bring you the best stories from the U.K."TopGear" magazine, and feed you blog entries, features, carreviews, photography and video made right here in the U.S. (and Canada!). Sothere it is. Tell us what you wish there was more of, what we'd shut up about,or just sit back in your grease-stained "I am the Stig" T-shirt and sop up all the fun stuff we have planned foryou.
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Old thread, but I dont care. I’m full on American from Iowa. But I LOVE Top Gear and everything about it. I serieously hope they o not do an American version. TV shows like that here are to corporate to be any good. The first time a host says somthing is garbage, the advertising will be pulled, the netword sued, and extreme censorship will start thus taking out all the fun of the show to begin with. The show would have to be so sterile that we might as well watch Muder She Wrote…at least there would be a plot twist. but in a perfect world, I’d like to see an American version, two of the hosts would have to be Jay Leno and Tim Allen. Both are funny and are definatly car guys.
i think they should just keep it in UK, the Australian version was rubbish to say the least, dialogue & themes were just merely a copy of UK unfortunately & there was nothing fresh.. USA would be the same..
like repeats of the UK
hey we have produced a you tube version of top gear for our blog !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9BKV9VBbts
im sure most peole on youtube could probably do better than the US proposed version, we even have a contest to see if others actually can!
If you think NBC would’ve cocked it up, Disney (i.e., ESPN) would cock it up EVEN WORSE. And yes, I’ve noticed that the Stig’s music never seems to be quite right. Thankfully, I don’t think there’s any rights issues with morse code… I think…
I shudder to think how badly the music is going to wind up being on the Vietnam special if it has to get changed. Dig up a few bucks to license “Born in the USA,“ or else we’ll have to go to NYC to make things right.
I’m all for Top Gear on the Discovery Channel. Despite its recent bout of subpar shows, it still been my channel of choice fo a while. Additionally, it was where original Top Gear was aired and where I first saw the show. I think Speed Channel is a bit too inaccessible (I don’t have that specific channel set :( ). Although, NBC and other main channels are far too mainstream. Please avoid network television at all cost.
This website has nourished my mind in ways that I cannot even comprehend.
As to content, we will continue to ratchet up exclusive American stuff like: http://www.topgear.com/us/videos/more/frying-tires-in-the-2010-mustang
Please continue to buy “I am the Stig” tshirts so we can better afford to caffeinate our interns and post more great content faster, sort of like visiting the merch tent at your favorite concert festival.
We work here because we love Top Gear at least as much as you do—believe me, we wish we could bring you the newest UK show clips possible; the reasons why it takes as long as it does are complex, many and corporate. Ever notice that when you watched a full UK episode (when in Europe on vacation) that the music is different than on the same episode here? Hmmm.
I enjoy the site, although I al;so flip over to the UK version more than I dio the US version. I applaud the idea of TGUSA being “on cable”, with Discovery Channel, I think, being the bsst home for it (and where, if anyone remembers, mosy of us Colonial first SAW Top gear). NBC would just screw it up. Period
So why can’t we see clips of the UK version?
I guess I don’t really see the point of this site. I still just go to topgear.com/uk. The American site posts stuff that they have already done weeks ago, though there is a small bit of US specific stuff. As for the show, I hope the US version will be good, but I’m perfectly happy torrenting the original.
Speed Network? It’s going to Speed Network, isn’t it? Or ESPN. Or Discovery. I have no idea. Probably better that it’s not on a big three network… As for all the nay sayers, wait until you see it to pass judgment. Knowing Top Gear fans that judgment will be swift.
Topgear America can work,the production,and directing must be right on!The Topgear feel must be there also I think, and those dreamy camera angles!! The bar is indeed high!
I agree with giomme. Top Gear America’s going to be RUBBISH. It’ll go belly up in one season tops. Just run Top Gear on NBC or something. That’ll be a smart move
I DON’T WANT A TOP GEAR AMERICA! I wish they would just bring the UK original here, I mean they show it on BBC America but its only old reruns. Give us first runs too!
Thanks for the update. I look forward to the BBC show every week, though I also look forward to a version native to the US. Keep us posted!
This could be very good—here’s hoping a cable channel with balls picks it up and lets the presenters use four-letter words while describing bad cars as bad. And that they give them a lot of money to blow stuff up.
Great news on it not being on “the network”.
It’ll be interesting to see how (and if) they get the character balance in the US version….......we need the sarcasm and know that cable shows can pull that off.
Until then I’ll be viewing the current series on Slingbox muuuahahahaha
I have enjoyed the site so far, and I am looking forward to seeing the US version; although the original version is more than enough for me. I am glad they are putting it on cable, that way no censors.