Top Gear finally gets its comeuppance

[JohnH]

Anyone watching Top Gear and assuming any of it constitutes a "genuine consumer report" is either spectacularly naive, or daft, or both.

There's a big difference between a show that is well known to include the personal opinions of its presenters and a show that secretly fabricates its conclusions before the car has been delivered.

The whole point of taking cars onto the track and driving them is to give viewers the impression that any conclusions are going to be empirically derived from experience and measurement.

For example, several posters on this very thread assumed that the "55 miles" claim made by Top Gear was accurate and gave negative opinions of the Tesla Roadster as a result. I don't think they'd consider themselves "naive" or "daft" for believing TG's claims...

(N.B. Roadster owners have reported that they never get less than a 160 mile range on a single charge.)

 

[taffy]

both sides:

TG:

http://jalopnik.com/#!5788297/tesla-vs- ... man-speaks


Telsa:

http://uk.jalopnik.com/5789157/elon-mus ... -fucked-up

 

[MikeD]

The whole point of taking cars onto the track and driving them is to give viewers the impression that any conclusions are going to be empirically derived from experience and measurement.

Or to get great footage of cars going sideways and lots of tyre smoke...

Not sure how I've ended up in the role of DEFENDER OF ALL TOP GEAR STANDS FOR here, but what the hell, let's roll with it

From the comments on that Jalopnik link:

"...you handed the keys over to a bunch of clowns known for douchbag antics. You may as well have handed the keys to the crew of the next Jackass movie. You walked right into that one, and got what you paid for. "

Not sure much needs to be added to that

Although Wilman's bit is worth a read too, especially as regards TV production workflow.

 

[highlandsflyer]

Well how about adding that, no matter who they THINK they are, none of the presenters of Top Gear would last five minutes if their programme was not based on motor journalism.

They are just not witty or clever enough to sustain any other kind of shows without that background. They are motoring hacks, and nothing more. The forays into other areas of presenting, etc. have relied on their supposed technical bent as well as the same type of scripted humour as featured on Top Gear of late.

Throw practically anyone on the front end of a long standing TV car show, that has an otherwise unfulfilled niche, and they would be hard pressed to make it flop.

It is ironic if they consider themselves as some kind of gonzo 'out there' risque performers.

They are as grey as my corduroys.

There are clearly many people who consider Top Gear, historically, as a consumer report programme.

Whatever format changes they may have made, that imposes some limitations on how much they can claim it is ridiculous for their 'reports' to be taken as more than fiction.

 

[highlandsflyer]

Not sure how I've ended up in the role of DEFENDER OF ALL TOP GEAR STANDS FOR here, but what the hell, let's roll with it

Don't! Your too intelligent to be on their side. Keep your objectivity, and remember they are big enough to take the heat alone.

 

[taffy]

Well how about adding that, no matter who they THINK they are, none of the presenters of Top Gear would last five minutes if their programme was not based on motor journalism.

Not to be biased but Clarkson has actually done some other programs of good quality (greatest raid ever and a series on VC winners) plus a print journalism

May ahs done umpteen quality programs (toy stories, oz and james drinik to britian/ big wine adventure, 20th century big ideas and a few more)


not sure about Hammond as i don't watch daytime Tv. (total wipeout, oh and when he met evel kinevel)

 

[pigman]

not sure about Hammond as i don't watch daytime Tv. (total wipeout, oh and when he met evel kinevel)

my kids reckon he's the best Brainiac presenter. and I reckon thats probably his niche - upbeat, semi-clown entertaining pre-teenage boys.

 

[MikeD]

I've enjoyed May's other stuff. Clarkson surprised me with a WW2 doc a while back. Hammond? Pffft.

 

[David B]

I've enjoyed May's other stuff. Clarkson surprised me with a WW2 doc a while back. Hammond? Pffft.

I don't think there's a James May non-TG series that I haven't enjoyed. Still baffled as to why he carries on doing the show when there are probably umpteen better projects the BBC could find for him.

David

 

[Drencrom]

I've enjoyed May's other stuff. Clarkson surprised me with a WW2 doc a while back. Hammond? Pffft.

I don't think there's a James May non-TG series that I haven't enjoyed. Still baffled as to why he carries on doing the show when there are probably umpteen better projects the BBC could find for him.

David

I don't really enjoy my job, put it pays alright. I'd imagine his TG salary is fair.