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Top Gear (American TV series)

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Top Gear is a motoring television series, based on the BBC series of the same name.[1][2] The show's presenters are professional racing driver Tanner Foust, actor and comedian Adam Ferrara, and Rutledge Wood, an automotive and racing analyst. As with the original British version, the show has its own version of The Stig, an anonymous racing driver, and a celebrity guest is featured each week. The show premiered on November 21, 2010, on History.[3]

Top Gear
File:Top Gear USA title card.jpg
History Channel's title card for Top Gear
GenreMotoring
Directed byBen Silverman
Presented byAdam Ferrara
Tanner Foust
Rutledge Wood
Opening theme"Jessica"
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes7 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducersBBC Worldwide
Reveille Productions
Production locationsEl Toro, Irvine, California, California, USA
Original release
NetworkHistory
ReleaseNovember 21, 2010
Related
Top Gear (2002 TV Series)
Top Gear Australia
Top Gear Russia

History

Top Gear on Discovery Channel

In 2005 Discovery Channel made a pilot for an American version of the show featuring actor and IHRA driver Bruno Massel as one of the hosts, but it was not picked up by the network. A short time later Discovery Channel began airing a slightly "Americanized" version of the British Top Gear show with presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. This show featured clips of features and challenges from Series 1-5 from the BBC Two show with introduction segments recorded by Clarkson, Hammond and May at the Dunsfold Aerodrome studio especially for the US audience. Regular features like "The News" and "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" were not shown on the Discovery Channel version.

Top Gear on NBC

In April 2007, the BBC was still looking to export an American produced version of Top Gear to the United States.[4] NBC announced, in January 2008, that it had ordered a pilot for an American version of the show, retitled Sixth Gear.[5] BBC Worldwide had been contracted to produce the pilot for NBC.[6] According to NBC reality chief Craig Plestis, many automakers had shown interest in America's version of Top Gear.[7]

On June 16, 2008, NBC and the BBC officially announced an American version of Top Gear, to be hosted by Adam Carolla, Tanner Foust and Eric Stromer.[8][9] The studio segments for the pilot were taped on July 26, 2008 to generally favorable reviews citing close following of the UK version's format.[10] NBC was expected to have Top Gear premiere as a mid-season replacement in 2009.[11]

Jay Leno, who originally turned down offers to host the show, expressed concern in 2008 over whether or not a show like Top Gear could be successful in America.[12][13] In a column published by The Sunday Times in 2008, Leno expressed concern that an American version could lack the critical reviews the British version is known for.[14] The British show is produced for the BBC with public funds while the American show airs on commercial television. Leno believes that the show may have to worry about offending current and potential sponsors by giving their products poor reviews, leading to a compromise in the journalistic integrity and freedom of the original show.

On December 11, 2008, NBC reversed its decision to place the show as a mid-season replacement, citing concerns about the potential success of a car-themed show in light of the failure of Knight Rider. NBC allowed the BBC to shop it around to cable networks to possibly pick it up.[15] In February 2009 Jeremy Clarkson stated that the American version had been "canned", claiming that focus groups "... just don't understand a single word we're on about. They just don't get it really."[16]

Top Gear on History

On August 6, 2010, the first Top Gear trailer was published on the web, giving fans a preview on what to expect on the upcoming episodes to be broadcast on the History Channel. In this trailer, new hosts Adam Ferrara, Tanner Foust, and Rutledge Wood were seen participating in a Moonshine Challenge and Tanner Foust also takes a Dodge Viper for a test drive.[17] The first episode premiered on 21 November 2010.

Format

The show follows a similar format of the BBC version; three main hosts present, a secret race driver tests vehicles, and celebrities are invited for interviews and to drive vehicles around a test track.[5] In addition, challenges similar in nature to the ones presented in the original show are replicated in Top Gear. The "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" segment of the pilot for NBC featured a Kia Rio as the reasonably priced car, whereas the History version uses a Suzuki SX4 Sportback for its retitled "Big Star, Small Car" segment.[18] Filming of this segment takes place at the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro,[19] now known as the Orange County Great Park, in Irvine, California. Producers of the History version have noted a greater interest in car customization by American car enthusiasts than in Britain, an element that will be incorporated into the new show.[1]

Episodes

See List of Top Gear (U.S.) Episodes

Season One

# Total Title Featured Vehicles Challenge Guest Original Air Date
11"Cobra Attack"Dodge Viper SRT-10 • Dodge Viper ACR • Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera • Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 • Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 SuperVeloceRace against a Cobra attack helicopterBuzz Aldrin21 November 2010 (2010-11-21)
22"Blind Drift"Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution • Aston Martin V8 Vantage • Aston Martin V12 Vantage • Nissan 370ZRace against downhill skiers • Blind drifting competition (feat. Brian Fischler and Nash)Dominic Monaghan28 November 2010 (2010-11-28)
33"Flying Coupe DeVille"Ford Mustang Boss • Nissan 300ZX • Ford Thunderbird • Cadillac Coupe DeVilleMoonshine running (cars under $1000 USD)Ty Burrell5 December 2010 (2010-12-05)
44"Halo vs. Velociraptor"Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG • Ford F-150 SVT Raptor • Chevy El Camino • Honda Del SolAll-terrain race against a HALO parachutist • Build a replacement for the HumveeKid Rock12 December 2010 (2010-12-12)
55"Beater Boot Camp"Buick Roadmaster • Pontiac Fiero • Oldsmobile Cutlass SupremeOld GM cars put through series of challenges to decide which one should be brought back into productionTony Hawk19 December 2010 (2010-12-19)
66"Fast in Florida"Morgan Aero SuperSport • Lotus EvoraRace from Miami to Key West, Florida. Tanner in a Cessna 206 seaplane, Rutledge a Donzi Marine speedboat and Adam in the Lotus Evora.Michelle Rodriguez26 December 2010 (2010-12-26)
77"Used Car Salesmen"Honda CR-Z • Porsche 914 • Lexus LS • Acura LegendBuying and re-selling used carsTim Allen2 January 2011 (2011-01-02)

Lap times

Stig:

  1. 1:22.0 - Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR
  2. 1:22.8 - Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera
  3. 1:23.4 - Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce
  4. 1:26.9 - Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Balboni
  5. 1:27.6 - Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
  6. 1:28.2 - Aston Martin V12 Vantage
  7. 1:28.4 (wet) - Lotus Evora
  8. 1:29.2 - Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR
  9. 1:39.0 - Hennessey F-150 VelociRaptor 600


Big Star, Small Car:

  1. 1:43.2 - Tony Hawk
  2. 1:43.9 (wet) - Kid Rock
  3. 1:44.0 - Tim Allen
  4. 1:45.3 - Dominic Monaghan
  5. 1:46.6 (wet) - Ty Burrell
  6. 1:55.2 (wet) - Michelle Rodriguez
  7. 1:55.6 - Buzz Aldrin

References

  1. ^ a b "Top Gear to have spin-off in US". BBC News. 2010-04-21.
  2. ^ "An American version of TopGear: it's official!". BBC. 2010-04-21. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  3. ^ "Top Gear USA Premieres November 21st, Debuts New Trailers".
  4. ^ Akbar, Arifa (2007-04-10). "BBC hopes for an export hit as 'Top Gear' takes on America". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  5. ^ a b "US version of 'Top Gear' planned". Reuters. The New Zealand Herald. 2008-01-16. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  6. ^ Esposito, Maria (2008-01-15). "NBC gives Top Gear US test drive". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  7. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2008-01-15). "NBC has pedal to the metal with "Top Gear" remake". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  8. ^ Neff, John (2008-06-16). "Top Gear USA hosts announced!". Autoblog. Weblogs, Inc. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  9. ^ Wert, Ray (2008-06-16). "Top Gear Officially Coming To NBC!". Jalopnik. Gawker Media. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  10. ^ "Top Gear pilot: That's a wrap!". AutoBlog. 2008-07-27. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
  11. ^ "NBC details new beers series, midseason options". Futon Critic. 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
  12. ^ Neff, John (2008-03-31). "Leno fears Top Gear USA may suck". Autoblog. Weblogs, Inc. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  13. ^ Hardigree, Matt (2008-04-01). "Jay Leno On Top Gear America: I Hope We Don't Ruin It". Jalopnik. Gawker Media. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  14. ^ Leno, Jay (2008-03-30). "I hope we don't ruin Top Gear". London: The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  15. ^ Didorosi, Andrew (2008-12-11). "NBC Cuts Top Gear USA Due to Knight Rider Failure". Jalopnik. Gawker Media. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
  16. ^ "Clarkson: Top Gear USA 'canned,' viewers 'just don't get it.'". Autoblog. 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  17. ^ "First Top Gear USA Trailer". Motorthusiast. 2010-08-09. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  18. ^ "Top Gear Confirms Suzuki SX4". Jalopnik. 2010-10-19.
  19. ^ "San Juan racer dishes on new 'Top Gear' show". ocregister.com. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
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