Not Chris H's finest hour, but he is definitely prefferable to the other Chris
If you haven't seen what Monkey* is capable of have a look at some of his other work on youtube.
For example:
*he has had this nickname from school
Multiple presenters = much better. The predictability of the past has mostly gone.
I still liked the old program but this is better.
Much better this week - finding it's feet.
More Harris, Schmidt, Leblanc, less Evans. Ditch him and it's a winner.
how long 'til I can watch it on Dave ?
LeBlanc was good on the section. Reyonlds is it? Was better than Harris.
Evans is OK. They need a 'big name' to front it, but I bet you'll see less of him .
One of the best produced TGs in as long time as I can remember.
The presenters were second to the cars and action in this one. How it should be.
Suddenly 'old' TG seems antiquated.
Definitely better this week with less Evans. It felt more like Mlb was the main presenter.
Get rid of Evans and the rest of the program might turn out ok.
Much better, less Evans, no pointless challenges, some exciting cars.
Not Harris at his best.
Yep,loads better this week. The star in a car bit is still too long though.
More of this type of episode please bbc
Oh yes, finding their feet! Mr LeBlanc was excellent in that Ken Block section.
For all the stuff written here about that Chris guy who drove the Ferrari....Erm, I was a bit disappointed. He's not exactly charismatic.
They guy who did the Focus was tons better; Ryan, was it?
2 good guests this week, but it still wasn't that good, even though I like the new 'rallycross' lap....looks like fun.
They should scrap that star in a car bit.
Excellent telly.
That was better! Actually enjoyed Ken Block... for the first time.
Thought it was pretty good. Less Evans (and I don't mind him TBH) and more cars. What was Ken Block driving?
Fast forwarded over the Star (really?) In A Car bit.
What was Ken Block driving?
a fire-breathing Mustang. want that car.
that tunnel from the Lloyds building... was that for real? or artistic license?
My mate was the Chinook pilot in that episode.
What was Ken Block driving?
A custom built 4x4 845bhp mustang called the Hoonicorn, it's quite a machine. https://www.hoonigan.com/hoonicorn
There's also a good article on the speed hunters website about the build by RTR
http://www.speedhunters.com/2014/12/the-hoonicorn-rtr-build-story/
Shame they didn't send it round the track as it'd be interesting how fast it could do it.
Amazingly positive reaction to that one and I agree. So much better - a proper car programme. Chris Harris and Rory Reid will take a bit of bedding in as they both looked a little uncomfortable in that situation but the potential is there.
Will be interesting to hear Chris Evans' reaction in the morning given he was so positive in the face of overwhelming errrr [i]disappointment [/i]with the first two episodes.
Fast forwarded over the Star (really?) In A Car bit.
Whatever you think about the segment, you have to admit that Kevin a Hart is pretty famous. Let alone Joshua.
Like others, I thought knight was brilliant. Way, way better than the stale rehashed shit of Clarkson. He's probably feeling a bit less smug this morning...
On cars owned Evans is no mug
He is. He lost his arse on the James Coburn Ferrari because he didn't do his research.
I liked the Chris Harris bit, it's good to have someone talking normally about the car they're driving (at speed) instead of in 'comedy' similes.
It's still early days yet, there's a lot of upheaval gone on at the BBC TG office, I'm sure so trying to find a winning formula from the off was always going to be difficult. It's on the up for me, I'm looking forward to when they get the chemistry balance better - maybe when CE has a hissy fit and naffs off.
I thought it was passable. And given that latterly I'd given up watching the formulaic Clarkson TG, it seems like they are heading in the right direction.
Enjoyed. It was entertaining, and agreed the new boys will need to find their feet a bit but seemed pretty good to me.
A character like Evans is essential to the show, he's a host, the anchor - I'm not a great fan but you need someone like him to bring it all together and manage the Celebs etc (apparently he can drive too).
I've noted people on various sites say being in Idris... the man couldn't do it. He's a great actor but he couldn't be a credible, entertaining host and he's 'not that competent' in a car (I have competed in Motorsport for 15yrs so think I can judge).
I hadn't watched any of the new series but having read this thread thought i would pick it up again.
I thought the episode was good but yeah agree the star in the car bit is overlong and a bit dull to be honest.
The focus bit was great and actually i liked the Ferrari section.
Watching Evans chuck his guts up was funny
Best episode of Topgear in many a long year. Chris Harris was excellent. Skipped through the Star car bullshit mind.
The interview bit was too long
But overall I thought it was pretty good, they needed to include the Golf R in that hot hatch punch up, which would have fared pretty well. RS3 maybe less so, but still deserving of a mention
Having not watched Top Gear for a few years now, due to not wishing to have to endure Jeremy Clarkson, I've watched the recent three shows, and have to say that I find it infinitely better now that the belligerent racist has gone. Good riddance. Very pleased that our licence fee no longer funds his boorish attention seeking. I really don't think the 'brand' has been damaged at all, and I'm pretty sure it will gain popularity once people realise Clarkson is totally unnecessary. Those needing to continue seeing him on their screens can subscribe to that exciting new digital service, Amazon Prime. 😆 So they've not lost anything at all, and the rest of us have gained a programme that's now watchable.
I do like James May, and he'll still be around doing the kind of stuff he does, which makes for enjoyable telly.
Can't remember the other one. Who was he again?
I quite enjoyed it. A Teutonic dalliance in my youth means that I'm a sucker for a lady saying "Ja!" in a German accent.
As for Chris Evans, he seems to be warming up. There were fewer annoying Clarksonisms this week, which came as a relief.
I've just jumped in at episode three and am quite enjoying it. I like Chris Harris's presenting style - his passion and geekiness for cars comes through really well. (PS that thrust ssc video above was great!)
I think they need to get rid of more of the Clarkson era segments and find some new ones - SIARPC was flagging long before the dynamic trio left
Best episode of this series by far (and miles better than any from the last series).
Was a relief not to have to sit through a tedious "challenge" and the London segment was really excellent IMO.
I wonder if they're re-editing them before broadcast based on the feedback from the previous week? (i.e. cutting out loads of the CE studio bits which haven't been going down well!)
Chris Harris nailed it! I love his presenting style. Shame that TG have chaved it up with ridiculous CGI. So happy that he's getting the recognition he deserves. Hopefully he'll still make the odd YT video.
What about all the OUTRAGE for the Ken Block bit? Storm in a tea cup?
The StarCar bit was 20 minutes long! That's just too much.
The Ken Block bit was excellent; despite all the CARMAGGEDON headlines it generated. The folks watching seemed to be enjoying it immensely, too.
FunkyDunc - MemberWhat about all the OUTRAGE for the Ken Block bit? Storm in a tea cup?
Chris Evans apologised & they edited out any scenes involving the cenotaph, as far as I can remember.
There were definitely no shots of it in the video.
Just watched the 3rd episode and thought it was better than anything in the last series. I don't know what all the fuss is about. Sure, it's rough around the edges in places, but I think they've done a really good job. Ken Block bit was much more entertaining than his usual videos, and Matt Leblanc is definitely improving.
I'm enjoying it. Top Gear needed a new lease of life and I think it's finding it.
Caught this on i-player earlier.
A8 film, good. Focus RS film, good. Hoonigan, good. Studio guests/rallycross waste of time. Chris Harris, my god, he's boring!
FunkyDunc - Member
What about all the OUTRAGE for the Ken Block bit? Storm in a tea cup?
I think that was a concoction of Murdoch's Sun as part of the continued attack of the empire on the free to air BBC. All long lenses and faux outrage. . . . .
Chris Evans apologised & they edited out any scenes involving the cenotaph,
The cenotaph was never involved the press try to make it look that way.
stumpy01 - Memberthey edited out any scenes involving the cenotaph, as far as I can remember.
It was actually made up bullshit- they drove past the cenotaph but the doughnut was a fair way down the road. Evans issued this wonderfully phrased apology:
"It doesn’t matter what actually happened, it doesn’t matter what the circumstances were that could explain this away, what is important about this is what these images look like and they look entirely disrespectful which is not and would never be the intention of the Top Gear team or Matt (LeBlanc).
“On behalf of the Top Gear team and Matt, I would like to apologise unreservedly for what these images seem to portray."
y Clarkson, I've watched the recent three shows, and have to say that I find it infinitely better now that the belligerent racist has gone. Good riddance. Very pleased that our licence fee no longer funds his boorish attention seeking. I really don't think the 'brand' has been damaged at all, and I'm pretty sure it will gain popularity once people realise Clarkson is totally unnecessary. Those needing to continue seeing him on their screens can subscribe to that exciting new digital service, Amazon Prime. So they've not lost anything at all, and the rest of us have gained a programme that's now watchable.
+1
Studio guests/rallycross waste of time.
I actually quite enjoyed even that bit. The reactions at the end when the times were announced were well worth the wait.
Nah, watching average drivers driving slowly around a placid 'safe' course is now officially dull irrespective if its on tarmac or gravel with a little puddle to splash through. I quite fancy having a go myself but watching me do it would be about as interesting as watching paint dry. It matters not one jot if they are a media luvvy or have a film to promote. I think it's time to find another 'vehicle' to get them on the show if having recognisable guests is an important element.
Drac it was reported that the car was doing doughnuts around the cenetaph.
Telegragph reporting that Evans will take more of a back seat, as/when he's not on the show at all I'll take a look.
As for licence fee funding of Clarkson without him and the other two the BBC is going to be £10's millions pa worse off. What was a very popular and profitable programme sold internationally is a now a dud.
