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Is Top Gear UK now toast?
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didn't everyone stop caring about 4 seasons ago anyway?
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Originally Posted by Doc HM
didn't everyone stop caring about 4 seasons ago anyway?
Since it's still the most watched show produced by the BBC, I'd say not.
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They need to get younger blood.
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I know of only one guy who could pull it off (Chris Harris), and he hates the BBC.
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Either they'll forgive him or he'll clone the show and sell it to the highest bidder. The BBC owns the name but I think the format might be Clarkson's. I expect the other two would go with him for a nice big payday. Maybe a foreign licensee of the format will hire them. Who knows?
Its the BBC's most valuable export, this is clearly an internal issue, I can't see them dropping the hammer for that. A producer is far easier to replace.
I don't know who Chris Harris is.
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Clarkson's boorishness is a key part of an entertaining episode IMO, but it's hard to imagine he'll come out of this clean. At any rate I doubt his career is over, just his current job.
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Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep
A producer is far easier to replace.
Singly yes, and I'm sure that the BBC would rather throw a lowly producer under the train, but the BBC could't be seen firing a producer because the host hit them (apparently).
They really have no option but to can the show and Clarkson however much money they make form it.
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They're better off without the BBC.
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Originally Posted by Doc HM
Singly yes, and I'm sure that the BBC would rather throw a lowly producer under the train, but the BBC could't be seen firing a producer because the host hit them (apparently).
They really have no option but to can the show and Clarkson however much money they make form it.
They could "promote" him to another show with a pay off salary.
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Originally Posted by Cap'n Tightpants
I know of only one guy who could pull it off (Chris Harris), and he hates the BBC.
I was also thinking of him right away. But of course it's not clear whether he'd integrate well with the other hosts.
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Originally Posted by Cap'n Tightpants
They're better off without the BBC.
That would be Fifth Gear. And, it's not better off.
Anyway...I hope Clarkson is toast. His act has long-ago become stale and repetitive, as has the entire show, really. Even the new shows felt like re-runs because it seemed like they were just repeating themselves over and over. I used to watch Top Gear religiously years ago, but these days I'm barely aware of it still being on.
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If I were constructing a new Top Gear I'd pick; Chris Harris (main host), Carlos Lago (Hammond-type replacement), and Megan Agrusa (because shes young, feisty, and actually knows about cars).
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Originally Posted by Cap'n Tightpants
If I were constructing a new Top Gear I'd pick; Chris Harris (main host), Carlos Lago (Hammond-type replacement), and Megan Agrusa (because shes young, feisty, and actually knows about cars).
I've never heard of Megan Agrusa, who is she?
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She's a Fiat spokesperson, model, and general car nut. Pretty damned good driver, too.
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I still watch, but agree that it has gotten stale. I tend to only really enjoy the episodes (or parts of episodes) where they go drive their cars somewhere fun and we get to see a new country and how they interact with it.
That's why the piece in Canada an episode or so ago was pretty disappointing. There was basically nothing about Vancouver or interior BC, even though that area may be one of the most beautiful stretches of country...[ClarksonVoice]..in the world.
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They'll pardon him. I'm hearing he punched a producer because he was hungry...
anyhoo, I won't watch without Jeremy.
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Originally Posted by Doc HM
didn't everyone stop caring about 4 seasons ago anyway?
no, it's become much more exciting the past 4 seasons.
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BBC suspends him for "allegedly hitting" someone, Clarkson denies "punching" someone . This is going to turn out to be a minor altercation involving him shoving someone as part of an argument or something like that, and someone higher up overreacting because Clarkson's name came up.
All of this is going to hang on what happened. If it was truly a minor thing as above, I think the other presenters and the general audience will support him - and leave together to some other network if needed. If it was more of a real fight, then I can maybe see him leaving and the others continuing with some new guy as the third wheel, but I don't think that will work - the setup is that Clarkson is some sort of top dog, and you can't put the new guy in that spot.
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Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep
The BBC owns the name but I think the format might be Clarkson's.
It seems Clarkson and the exec producer owned the format, but sold it to the BBC for an undisclosed sum in 2012.
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Originally Posted by P
BBC suspends him for "allegedly hitting" someone, Clarkson denies "punching" someone . This is going to turn out to be a minor altercation involving him shoving someone as part of an argument or something like that, and someone higher up overreacting because Clarkson's name came up.
I have the impression that it's not necessarily about this latest incident, but rather that Clarkson got more and more difficult to deal with because he could afford it – or so he thought.
Originally Posted by P
All of this is going to hang on what happened. If it was truly a minor thing as above, I think the other presenters and the general audience will support him - and leave together to some other network if needed.
Does the audience care (or even know) whether Clarkson has hit somebody, shoved somebody or something in between?
Originally Posted by P
If it was more of a real fight, then I can maybe see him leaving and the others continuing with some new guy as the third wheel, but I don't think that will work - the setup is that Clarkson is some sort of top dog, and you can't put the new guy in that spot.
I'd reckon it's more likely that Clarkson will resurrect Top Gear at another TV station with Hammond and Captain Slow. I agree with you that this unique chemistry and relationship between the hosts goes awry if you just replace Clarkson with somebody else.
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I think part of Clarkson's appeal is the "common man" bit, how he "says what everyone thinks" etc. If he is being politically incorrect with jokes about Mexicans and Asians, that is just part of the bit. This incident portrays him as a bully and a spoiled rich guy if true - that gives a very different image.
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We all know he's rich. He's been driving very expensive cars of his own for a long time.
The format will struggle without Clarkson because he's hilarious. I got bored of the US clone after a handful of episodes even though they had some cool bits the presenters characters were just meh in comparison. No decent banter going on.
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Originally Posted by P
I think part of Clarkson's appeal is the "common man" bit, how he "says what everyone thinks" etc. If he is being politically incorrect with jokes about Mexicans and Asians, that is just part of the bit. This incident portrays him as a bully and a spoiled rich guy if true - that gives a very different image.
I agree, that's definitely part of his appeal, and some of the criticism seems to be blown out of proportion (e. g. him drinking gin in the middle of nowhere on the way to the North Pole). But on the other hand, it's clear that the persona he is on camera isn't necessarily the guy you work with.
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James May was asked about the situation: "No, I think he has been involved in a bit if a dust up, but I don't think it's that serious."
He was originally asked whether Clarkson was innocent: "Of being a knob? No."
As for the "Who would do Top Gear instead" thing, Chris Evans (not Captain America, the other one) has ruled himself out if it ever happens Chris Evans rules himself out of presenting Top Gear: 'It's never going to happen' - Top Gear News - TV - Digital Spy
In one of the Drive videos, Chris Harris talks about what he does and what Top Gear does, said they are different things, they are great at what they do and he's happy doing his thing.
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The best thing about all this is that I learned that he's only 54 years old.
WTF! The man looks and moves like he's in his late 60s.
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Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton
The best thing about all this is that I learned that he's only 54 years old.
WTF! The man looks and moves like he's in his late 60s.
Yeah, I was shocked by that revelation, too. I'm a few years his elder and damned if I don't look absolutely young and robust compared to Clarkson.
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Shows you what a lifetime of heavy drinking and heavy smoking will do. I believe the word "moderation" is not in Jeremy's vocabulary.
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Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton
The best thing about all this is that I learned that he's only 54 years old.
WTF! The man looks and moves like he's in his late 60s.
I had the same reaction - especially since I know that he was on Top Gear the first time back in the eighties.
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Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton
The best thing about all this is that I learned that he's only 54 years old.
WTF! The man looks and moves like he's in his late 60s.
Clarkson's first Top Gear appearance in 1989, so he was 29 at the time
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Hah.
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Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep
Hah.
Yes. Way to go making light of violence in the workplace Snickers.
Turns out you CAN punch someone for not getting you a steak dinner. Who knew.
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Originally Posted by Doc HM
Yes. Way to go making light of violence in the workplace Snickers.
Turns out you CAN punch someone for not getting you a steak dinner. Who knew.
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Originally Posted by Doc HM
Yes. Way to go making light of violence in the workplace Snickers.
Turns out you CAN punch someone for not getting you a steak dinner. Who knew.
You sound like someone who would get punched if in a room with a hungry Jeremy Clarkson. Lighten up
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Doc HM has a black eye and won't say where it came from.
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Can't help but think if it was that big a deal the police would be involved. They should just all just kiss and make up, give Clarkson a fine and get on with the end of the series.
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Clarkson is a one trick pony. I used to love Top Gear but in recent years the boorish, racist and thuggish act was just getting old. Calling Mexicans lazy, sabotaging electric cars, these were all the acts of a spoilt schoolyard bully who knows he's difficult to fire. Brand new shows felt like reruns, jokes were repetive and I stopped both watching and caring.
May is the only member of the crew who has a significant career outside Top Gear. If I'd be him, I would have said good bye years ago. He doesn't need the money and his association with Clarkson doesn't do anything to show the world what an interesting guy he really is.
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Originally Posted by Phileas
May is the only member of the crew who has a significant career outside Top Gear.
Doesn't Hammond also have a few other TV shows (e. g. he used to do Braniacs)?
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Originally Posted by OreoCookie
Doesn't Hammond also have a few other TV shows (e. g. he used to do Braniacs)?
I think so, but his main career is to be Clarkson's harmless sidekick. There's more to him, but he's never managed to translate that into anything meaningful.
It's got to be hard to emerge from the umbrella of Clarkson, who basically uses Top Gear as a platform to amplify everything Clarkson. Clarkson caters to the lowest common denominator, both May and Hammond would be well advised to move on in my opinion.
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The more I hear, the stupider this becomes.
The entire thing was about the fact that when the Top Gear team arrived at the hotel where they were staying, the kitchen was closed. This drove Clarkson into a rage and he started yelling at a producer for not organizing this better when they realized that the team would arrive so late to the hotel. Hotel management, eager to avoid a scene, then reopened the kitchen and Clarkson could have hot food - a steak, apparently. None of the report from "members of the public" claims to have seen any punching, and the producer who got yelled at has not report the issue - the report comes from Clarkson himself.
Which makes one wonder. If it truly was just yelling, why report yourself - and why did this cause the BBC to suspend the program? Note that all contracts for the presenters are up for renewal after this season, and the exec producer - the man with whom Clarkson started this, back in -02 - has described 2014 as a terrible year for the show.
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Hmm...
Washed up host has a show with a "terrible year".
Said host, who fakes the broken electric vehicle, tells story no one else corroborates.
People start talking about him.
Hmm...
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Originally Posted by P
Which makes one wonder. If it truly was just yelling, why report yourself - and why did this cause the BBC to suspend the program? Note that all contracts for the presenters are up for renewal after this season, and the exec producer - the man with whom Clarkson started this, back in -02 - has described 2014 as a terrible year for the show.
I'm sure something else is going on behind the scenes, and that this event was just the trigger and not the cause. It seems to me that someone really high up was fed up with him for reasons that are not necessarily public.
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Originally Posted by subego
Said host, who fakes the broken electric vehicle, tells story no one else corroborates.
Was that the story that a Tesla (the old one, based on the Lotus Elise) won't even last one lap around the track?
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IIRC, the episode showed them pushing a Tesla back into the garage, without detailing how long they had been driving it, but Tesla could show that it had never been out of power during the test. Top Gear says that it was meant to illustrate the fact that if you run out of power, you can't just fill it up and keep going, you have to take a lengthy break, but they certainly didn't show it like that in the episode. This was Top Gear as a show rather than Clarkson personally, however.
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Wait... he punched Oisin?
You can't go hitting MacNN people.
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One of the more amusing things that happened to show was they were refused visas last time they wanted to shoot in the US.
The visa application stated that Top Gear was a Documentary or fact based program. US Immigration made them change that to Entertainment before granting them entry.
From what I've heard, this pissed Clarkson off something rotten.
The Tesla episode was all Jeremy. He hates electric cars and insisted on faking the breakdown not knowing that Tesla would be able to tell the real story. The BBC had no option but to back him up at the time, but it created bad blood. Whatever one might think about them, and history has certainly seen them with their pants down, but the BBC hates being caught lying.
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Top Gear fakes a lot of stuff. Most of their foreign adventures are creatively edited and probably involve 5 star hotels when they show tents. Who cares, its hilarious.
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