New Top Gear UK

[krayzie]

I think Chris Evans' thick rimmed glasses and colored hair along with his clown outfits just to mask his close to pensioner's age are more annoying.

Why can't we go back to having a serious motoring show like Motorvision?

[00NissanNinja]

I knew I probably wasn't going to like Chris Evans, and lo and behold, yeah not a fan. Too yappy almost like a sports announcer, feels like he is yelling all the time too. Well hopefully he improves. Matt seemed chill to me though, has potential.

[bcj]

Can't help but notice the ethnic loading between Top and Extra.
Wtf BBC? Even Chris Harris can't get a pass.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by ZetaVI

...Unlike others, I'll give the first season a chance to see if I'll continue as a viewer.

I'll give the show a fair shot, heck I still watch TG:USA. Chris Evans, well, I agree if he calmed down, he might be tolerable, but I just don't see it happening.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by bcj

Can't help but notice the ethnic loading between Top and Extra.
Wtf BBC? Even Chris Harris can't get a pass.

[FX86]

they should just have the stig and all his cousins and rejects host the show and be the drivers.

call it TopStig

[DAEMANO]

Episode 2 was a BIG step in the right direction.

What worked for me

-Both the McClaren and the performance SUV segments were actually fun, interesting, and engaging.

-Much better overall chemistry with the whole cast. The interplay seemed genuine, and the cast seemed to have enthusiasm for the trip to South Africa that the old cast had started to shrug off as "old hat".

-Less Chris Evans this go around and more Joey. LeBlanc leading off nearly all segments worked better. Evans is better as a "color" man.

-A more enthusiastic studio audience.

-Cinematography and driving action are still top notch.

-Stig with the McClaren at the test track was VERY good. That car looks as fast as it is. Evan's play-by-play was still kind of annoying. I'd like to see Harris doing this part and actually giving insight into Stig's driving.

- Solid content on Extra gear like...

-Harris' segment at the racetrack (even though short) was something this cast can really expand on. They have the legit track chops with Jordan, Sabine and Harris.

- Rory is still quite a bit more natural on the couch than either Evans or LeBlanc. Although I thought he was a tad too contrarian this go around.

- Still, the comedian Rory interviewed was pretty darn funny and likeable. I've never seen the guy before.

A couple things to still work on.

-Continue to solidify each presenter's role on the show. This should take some time as each presenter's style becomes more evident.

-New standard questions for the guests. The "competition" about who's first car, and best car the audience liked best is still an uncomfortable and unnecessary way to get the rallycross results. Also, the watersplash and jump have little "skill" elements to them and therefore come off as gimmicky and boring. Fix this.

-There's still a noticeable echo from their new big concrete studio on Extra gear. Boom mics are not working. Lapel mics are needed.

-The timbre of Evans' voice doesn't work on television as it is. Needs some EQ on that high pitched tone.

Overall a marked improvement. I'm kind of surprised this wasn't episode 1 as it was so much better than the first show, but then again, they probably took lessons learned from that show to improve this one. It's good to see the showrunners are paying attention and willing to tweak where necessary. A fair amount of C/H/M fans want to see this edition fail. I personally want to see more gearhead content, and not less. C/H/M are still making a show even more to their liking. Vive la difference.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by DAEMANO

-New standard questions for the guests. The "competition" about who's first car, and best car the audience liked best is still an uncomfortable and unnecessary way to get the rallycross results. Also, the watersplash and jump have little "skill" elements to them and therefore come off as gimmicky and boring. Fix this.

This whole changing the reasonably priced car to the rallycross just seemed forced and an unnecessary attempt to show "we aren't the same as those other guys were". I know rallycross is the "next (or current) big thing" but it added nothing to the segment, and frankly just annoyed me.

Good write-up though. Haven't watched the episode yet, but your description gives me some hope.

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

This whole changing the reasonably priced car to the rallycross just seemed forced and an unnecessary attempt to show "we aren't the same as those other guys were". I know rallycross is the "next (or current) big thing" but it added nothing to the segment, and frankly just annoyed me.

Good write-up though. Haven't watched the episode yet, but your description gives me some hope.

That's a fair criticism. I'm not certain that switching from the reasonably priced car to rallycross will pay off. I noticed quite a few Mini advertisements during the episode which leads me to believe that BMW may have offered some coin to get Mini's into the show (which could explain the change). Or perhaps that means nothing at all. I'm sure the story will come eventually. In any case, the celebs who ran the rallycross seemed to be genuinely excited at the results this time around which was infectious and overall good for the show.

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by AznKirby

Canned laughter

Not sure if serious...

More people visibly laughing and cheering in the studio audience this week over last was pretty noticeable to me. The reactions seemed to come at natural moments, instead of all humorous moments, like a laugh track would be. Not saying you're wrong, the audience could have been paid to cheer or a laugh track laid over them in post. Still, that's kind of a goofy claim. So was this your observation, haterade or just a joke (honestly, I can't tell)? Got a link or some video to back it up?

[ZetaVI]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

This whole changing the reasonably priced car to the rallycross just seemed forced and an unnecessary attempt to show "we aren't the same as those other guys were". I know rallycross is the "next (or current) big thing" but it added nothing to the segment, and frankly just annoyed me.

Good write-up though. Haven't watched the episode yet, but your description gives me some hope.

IMO, I think it was a way to save money on car review and challenge segments. They don't have nearly as many as before. The reasonably priced car challenge takes majority of the shows time now. It drags on so long it's pretty terrible.

[reni]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

This whole changing the reasonably priced car to the rallycross just seemed forced and an unnecessary attempt to show "we aren't the same as those other guys were". I know rallycross is the "next (or current) big thing" but it added nothing to the segment, and frankly just annoyed me.

This.

It really just served to highlight how much of the "new" show is just a crappy imitation of everything Clarkson did.

[tyrantcf]

I don't care for this new iteration. It's far too similar to the Clarkson, Hammond and May show, the dialogue is extremely forced, and I just don't think Chris Evans and friends will ever be able to live up to what was left behind.

[chaoskaze]

mainwhile richard been doing this recently. :p

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCRSafiD4BY"]Four Point Landings | Science of Stupid - YouTube[/ame]