MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
I was being ironical.
Are you Alanis Morrisette?
What exactly have they done? I didn't watch it as I'm one of the people who got a bit bored of the staged 'challenges'.
You are not a 'BIG Hitter' though so predictable staged challenges needent concern people like you.
Crikey give the guy a break, how to discourage new forumites in one easy lesson....
Just watched the 1st part on iplayer and it was pretty poor even by TG recent standards. TG is well past it's sell by date, the series is tired and the specials are lame. Clarkson uses the UK TG as a platform for his bigoted views and the justification for his UKIP -esque 'humour' is the revenue that TG generates for the BBC.
Does anyone actually know how much money from TG Ltd goes back into the BBC??
This thread doesn't do irony. It's all about nuance
Adds to al's list of funniest thread posts
Chapeau
Racism, xenophbia, etc., etc.
Does TG need these in order to entertain those that enjoy it?
Does laddish humour have to involve the above?
I don't think it does. If it was just three blokes dicking about in cars, scripted or otherwise then it'd be fine.
Watching the "slope" clip again (on Charlie Brooker's Wipe) it was an obvious racist comment.
They had the chance to remove it but obviously thought it was funny.
Remove the clip and what had the programme lost?
If the BBC feel the need to bring in viewing figures with these sort of acts then it's a sad state of affairs.
I don't believe BBC or TG team to be racist, but
, the BBC claimed that while Top Gear’s producers “knew that the word could be used to refer to people of Asian origin, they believed that such use was mere slang”
They are lying, self serving & arrogant establishment scum, in their use of public funds.
yeah, and I cant think anyone benefits from the apathetic keyboard worriers being hemmed into this thread more than the "establishment"
however one advertiser complains about your thread Al, its gone, you know it and i know it.
however one advertiser complains about your thread Al, its gone, you know it and i know it.
I bet it doesn't.
They are lying, self serving & arrogant establishment scum, in their use of public funds.
Their use of public funds? As the show makes more money than any other BBC production it seems like a good deal for the licence payer.
the apathetic keyboard worriers
A typo, I presume; but providing a much more apt description.
I didn't know until now that Clarkson, May and Hammond and some of the production crew weren't in the convoy that got pelted. They flew out and were tucked up in a hotel in Chile while 20 odd technicians ran the gauntlet with all the kit.
I bet it doesn't.
I bet it does.
...just to keep things ticking along.
I didn't know until now that Clarkson, May and Hammond and some of the production crew weren't in the convoy that got pelted. They flew out and were tucked up in a hotel in Chile while 20 odd technicians ran the gauntlet with all the kit.
They referred repeatedly to the crew being the ones in the convoy of doom. The lack of mention of how the 'stars' got away led to figure a plane or chopper probably allowed them to by pass the threat. What became of the cars, I wonder?
establishment
So that's it.
It's all about class.
Their use of public funds? As the show makes more money than any other BBC production it seems like a good deal for the licence payer
Does anyone actually know how much money from TG Ltd goes back into the BBC??
I suspect it makes a handful of people very wealthy (including Clarkson) and adds little value to the license payers.
Almost correct
Quote from the guy who helped them leave.
[b]Confirming controversial Clarkson and his co-presenters left the southern city of Ushuaia by plane and were not with Top Gear technicians who were attacked by locals as they headed for Chile overland with a police escort, he added: 'Neither Jeremy Clarkson or the other two were in the convoy when it left the province.
'That was because the local government's primary concern was to save peoples' lives.
'We reserved 13 seats on an Aerolineas Argentinas flight which left Ushuaia for Buenos Aires at 7.30pm that same day with the three presenters and the production team.
They were invited to leave and decided to do so by plane because of the fear they were experiencing
'We made those reservations at their request after they accepted our invitation to leave the province and as soon as they decided they wanted to go.
'The local government never forced them to leave. They were invited to leave and decided to do so by plane because of the fear they were experiencing.
'The technicians were the only ones who left the area by land. They were about 15 to 20. There was no other option for them because they had all the equipment used for filming.
'We ordered the opening of a border pass to ensure there was no risk to their lives or wellbeing.
'While they were crossing, Jeremy Clarkson would have been nice and warm in Buenos Aires.'[/b]
BBC Worldwide makes a profit of over £150m a year - I think I remember reading that about 40% of that is from Top Gear. It's broadcast in 170 countries, and with 21 series worth there's a lot of repeat showings. There's several localised versions (and more planned) of the TV show. Their DVDs regularly top the UK sales charts, the naff books and CD music compilations likewise. The magazine sells well in the declining UK market and is localised for about 30 countries too. The Top Gear Live shows go around the world in the off-season between filming.
Clarkson and Wilman made quite a bit of extra cash via their company that held rights to various TG stuff, although that's been mostly co-owned with BBC Worldwide since shortly after it was created, and the BBC bought the remaining part from them a year or two ago so it's all BBC income now.
I believe their annual budget for making it is well under £10m for everything (stars' salaries, overseas specials and all) so still making a good £50m a year for the BBC to spend on other things.
I suspect it makes a handful of people very wealthy (including Clarkson) and adds little value to the license payers.
I suspect thats a load of rubbish you made up to suit your point of view.
Lets not spoil a good ruck by bringing silly facts into the equation!
and pays dividends of £80m per year. I think that the BBC gets at most 10% of its funding from BBC Worldwide and I suspect the TG contribution of 40% is over inflated. If TG costs £10m p/a to make, is that cost paid for by the Aunty Beeb to a private production company eg. Bedder 6 and then sold globally by BBC Worldwide Ltd?BBC Worldwide makes a profit of over £150m a year
Almost correct
almost informative, why not just give the facts if you have them?
Ah, money. Must remember that making money glosses over/forgives the all the other sins.
Surely using a car transporter to remove the cars would have been a safer, more logical solution? They do have them in Argentina, don't they?
Was there any good reason for those cowardly chaps delegating that task to their crew? Uplifting and covering the cars would have defused things, wouldn't it?
It wouldn't help with the storyline but it's hardly fair making someone further down the food-chain risk getting smashed in the face with a rock either...
Bedder 6 is entirely owned by BBC Worldwide these days.
Ah, money. Must remember that making money glosses over/forgives the all the other sins.
Indeed. Racism, Xenophobia, Homophobia and Sexism are all fine as long as the numbers stack up. It's almost like money is the be-all and end-all. Who knew?
Lets not spoil a good ruck by bringing silly facts into the equation!
We've had plenty of facts from the start of the this thread but it seems that the only ones worth anything are those that relate to profit.
I would have thought it would be very very sensible to remove the presenters of TG as quickly as possible from the situation as they would be the recognisable targets of the attackers. I am sure that if the threat had been even greater [b]when they had to make the decision who was to get on the plane (not in hindsight)[/b] then all the crew would have been flown out and kit left behind they couldn't take on the flight. As it was the situation looked like it ended up getting worse than they expected (the dangerous blockade was near the border crossing they were heading for) but thankfully they managed to escape another way without serious injury.
Rob, you have to assume that the professional security man (who was there at the time) knew better than those who weren't...
Ah, money. Must remember that making money glosses over/forgives the all the other sins.
Indeed. Racism, Xenophobia, Homophobia and Sexism are all fine as long as the numbers stack up. It's almost like money is the be-all and end-all. Who knew?
This.
Loving the usual "it makes lots of money for the BBC/us so there!" argument.
Chest_Rockwell - MemberSurely using a car transporter to remove the cars would have been a safer, more logical solution? They do have them in Argentina, don't they?
Was there any good reason for those cowardly chaps delegating that task to their crew? Uplifting and covering the cars would have defused things, wouldn't it?
It wouldn't help with the storyline but it's hardly fair making someone further down the food-chain risk getting smashed in the face with a rock either...
Do you mean people in vehicles, and then vehicles on the transporter? Personally in that situation I'd rather be master of my own destiny.
There's a good chance that many of the crew might have been freelancers and owned their own kit (not sure about TG but that's the case for many productions). So they may have wanted to risk the journey rather than abandoning many thousands of pounds worth of equipment which they need to make a living.
Racism, Xenophobia, Homophobia and Sexism are all fine as long as the numbers stack up. It's almost like money is the be-all and end-all. Who knew?
oooh can we have a STW non-pc swear box so we can all say N, P, S, G,
at a quid a throw i, er, im keeping schtum
I was referring to the presenters cars only as it was the issue with the number plates which kicked the whole thing off.
The crew could have left in their own vehicles. Driving the three offending vehicles right by the baying mob was not the best idea from a safety POV but added to the story, I suppose...
Don't they abandon most of the presenter's cars anyway after a Top Gear special? They could have just left them where they were and let the mob vent their anger on them.
It wasn't deemed safe for Jezza and co. to drive them but it was OK for a minion to drive right into an ambush?
Loving the usual "it makes lots of money for the BBC/us so there!" argument.
Which is a perfectly valid point to make in reply to people moaning about it being a waste of Licence Fee payers money wouldn't you say ?
Chest_RockwellDon't they abandon most of the presenter's cars anyway after a Top Gear special? They could have just left them where they were and let the mob vent their anger on them.
You've got a point there. Since they clearly had enough footage to make up 2hrs they no longer needed the cars. And since the "stars" were flying out the chances of shooting their car football match (another re-hash) was non existent, if it was ever supposed to be.
A cynic might conclude that they took the star cars along since a few plain white Hiluxs might not draw any attention at all, much less a violent rioting mob, meaning no scandal, no hype, no programme.
I suspect a lot of people commenting haven't watched the program. If you have, you'll remember after the first confrontation they ditched the show cars as they were to recognisable.
A cynic might conclude that they took the star cars along since a few plain white Hiluxs might not draw any attention at all, much less a violent rioting mob, meaning no scandal, no hype, no programme.
You are aware that they have made quite a few programs in the past, that were quite successful, but didn't feature Rick throwing mobs at the end of any of them.
I'm pretty sure it's not an essential part, that if missing, means instant failure of the whole show.
"I'm pretty sure it's not an essential part, that if missing, means instant failure of the whole show."
It is not a sine qua non but it is a tried and tested trope of their shtick. The rock throwing mob may not have known it but the production team manipulated them into existance . I hate Clarksons TV persona but actually quite enjoy the program however it is silly to pretend that it is anything other than heavily scripted massively repetitive deliberately offensive dross, all be it often featuring wierdly interesting adverts for unaffordable and superfluous cars and breathtaking scenery.
^^ What a load of bollox..... Anyway the FKL plate was far too subtle, I'd have gone with with Gotcha! myself.
LOL @ bloodynora
The rock throwing mob may not have known it but the production team manipulated them into existance .
It's funny how you manage to say that as though its a fact, despite it being some old bollox you just made up.
FFS people, chill - it's a new year 😉 x
Surely people are not duped by the number plate thing? It doesn't add up. The offensive number plate that spent all its time trekking through deserted Patagonina viewed by nobody but still caused offense to a nation. Even though the Argentinians call the Falklands the Malvinas so MLV would have meant more to the passing Argentinian than FKL. The number plate thing is a red herring and a storm whipped up by politicaly motivated Argentinean mob which the average Argentinean on the street would have been embarrassed by on behalf of their nation. That mob would have been there irrespective of the number plate. They were there to cause trouble whatever. Clarckson has made more than enough comments on the Falklands and the Argentineans over the years to give plenty of ammunition for the Argentinean mob despite the number plate.
Love it or hate it, TG is a massive export success. So the offense the show causes in the UK is not necessarily shared in other countries the show is exported to. The show makes no money for the BBC in the UK, but shit loads of revenue from other countries, that's the only reason Clarkson has been tolerated. How else would they fund the production of the plethora of the depressing Eastenders episodes, crappy dramas and Doctor Who
How else would they fund the production of the plethora of the depressing Eastenders episodes, crappy dramas and Doctor Who
[url= http://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jul/12/doctor-who-bbc-worldwide ]oh the ironing[/url]
I've still not seen it.
But I bet you're outraged.
I'm already outraged. I'm basing my rage on third hand stories.
How else would they fund the production of the plethora of the depressing Eastenders episodes, crappy dramas and Doctor Who
He he. That's brilliant 😆
I'm putting in a very early nomination for stupidest post of 2015.
+1
It's the best way to be outraged.
Just seen it and thought that the location was stunning. I've wanted to head to Patagonia for a long while now and this just reinforced that desire.
As for the program, I guess we will never know what went on behind the scenes, but editing will always mean that we only get the JC/JM/Hammond side of the story. Maybe the locals were tipped off, maybe not, but I think that the mob went too far especially seeing as the people they were attacking were just the workers. I can't imagine that they didn't know the the presenters had FO'd by plane.
Anyway, Top Gear is what it is: entertainment for the masses. If nothing else, I think it reflects the state of the country we live in. The country that has papers like The Sun, The Mail, etc, etc. If people didn't want that sort of program, would it be commissioned?
They must have known - why else did they go into Chile at the first opportunity?
I watched the first 10 minutes last night just to see what cars they chose. What struck me was the lack of anykind of chemistry between the three presenters. May looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but with the other two. Couldnt be bothered to watch the rest so cant and wont comment on what the show was like *
* I realise this flies in the face of normal STW behaviour but I got a holiday for being mean to W&*$^t the poor lamb and dont wish to antagonise the wraiths of moderation 😆
Well, quite frankly, I'm offended by the reaction to the opinion on all this outrage about the Argentinian reaction reaction.
As a result, I shall no longer watch Eastenders.
As a result, I shall no longer watch Eastenders.
some good has come from all thus then!
Do we have any indication about how the braying mob were portrayed in argentina's news media? Maybe they are embarrassed of it and the anger about a numberplate(?!) towards the TG team was just within the small (compared to the nation) group that were throwing stones.
I was just flash mob generated from a thread on UnoMalvinasMundo.com
In the spirit of STW hand wringing, I'm offended on behalf of the Argentinian population who weren't offended, but were portrayed as being offended and offended on behalf of by Guardian readers.
300!
Gah, in future, whenever I see those studio scenes in Top Gear where all the bleauqs are gathered around in a (arms folded wide-legged stance) ring as if attending a wealthy caucasian cockfight where they are betting silently on endless wink-yerself-to-death Nationalistic, chauvinistic, schoolboy tauntz n' bantz...
... I won't be able to shake the feeling that they are mostly STWers 8)
Which is a perfectly valid point to make in reply to people moaning about it being a waste of [b]Licence Fee payers[/b] money wouldn't you say ?
Many of whom would be Asian, German or Argentinian.
Then they should be objecting to it on something other than its financial performance then ?
Wouldn't you say ?
Asian, German or Argentinian.
Interesting...I didn't know we had a significant population if any of those.
Hang on...
Interesting...I didn't know we had a significant population if any of those.
The population of South East Asians in this country is over 1 million. I would call that fairly significant.
Then they should be objecting to it on something other than its financial performance then ?Wouldn't you say ?
The BBC is publicly funded so therefore it should be inclusive of all the various cultures that fund it.
The BBC is publicly funded
Partially true
Malvern rider +1
So when does the new series start? It isn't this Sunday :0(
The BBC is publicly funded so therefore it should be inclusive of all the various cultures that fund it.
Agreed.
It financial performance is still a piss poor way to criticise it though.
What with it making so much money.
Amazed you can't bring yourself to agree with such obvious logic really.
Amazed you can't bring yourself to agree with such obvious logic really.
To be fair, I never actually criticized it's financial performance.
Agreed.It financial performance is still a piss poor way to criticise it though.
What with it making so much money.
Amazed you can't bring yourself to agree with such obvious logic really.
Maybe his point was that public money shouldnt be spent on such shite irrespective if how much money is made.
To be fair, I never actually criticized it's financial performance.
twice (on this page) you've quoted me, as if to disagree with my point.
If you didn't intend to disagree, you need to work on your communication skills.
public money shouldnt be spent on such shite irrespective if how much money is made.
Someone will have the same exact thing to say about any single program made.
Just because some people will say something is shite, it shouldn't get made at all ?
Seems a logical way to reduce BBC output to nothing at all.
wice (on this page) you've quoted me, as if to disagree with my point.If you didn't intend to disagree, you need to work on your communication skills.
I think you should work on your interpretation skills.
Someone will have the same exact thing to say about any single program made.
True but things like Miranda are just shite not borderline racist.
I think you should work on your interpretation skills.
So you were agreeing with me when you quoted my posts ?
Fair enough. My mistake.
Ok seen episode 1- 'ok'. Got a tiny way into the 2nd and turned it off (where they started adapting the cars/A team music).
It just seemed like 'same old topgear'. I also felt it went on for far too long- with stricter editing they could have had something shorter and more interesting. Its disappearing up its own tailpipe so to speak.
THat's a shame as the ending to the 2nd half when they need the police escort is the most interesting part of it.
I still am quite up for a Top Gear romp. It's easy watching when you just need something on. But this 2 parter was quite shit. You could tell they were clutching at straws when suddenly a perfect road turns into a swamp.
I wanted to like it. The only time I have ever turned over topgear is on the celebrity driver bit, wait wait, then switch back. Never really liked the majority of the stars who don't seem to be petrolheads just plugging something. Some were good though.
The 928 is an awesome car. I wish TG would stop choosing and killing those.