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Some 'trade mission' that was...
The Indian High Commission made it sound better than it actually was. I would have enjoyed some cheap jibes and tasteless humour. Instead it was simply staged and rather boring.
For goodness' sake!
It's becoming an international passtime to complain about Top Gear.
"I want to live in a democracy, but I don't want to be offended"
Idiots.
There is good reason to complain about TG, it is utter crap.
to be honest it was their worst Christmas special so far, and I am normally a defender of the Top gear. The credits at the end really did take the pee.
not as funny as the other top gear specials... i prefer the ones where the focus is on the adventure and the driving.
TG episodes have become a bit hit-and-miss regarding entertainment value, in my opinion anyway.
The Christmas special was a miss. Very little that was genuinely amusing or interesting. Mostly prety forgettable.
After almost a decade, is it reaching the end of it's natural life? ...
I usually quite like the silliness but this episode was weak and the lunch delivery race thing was more stupid than I could cope with....
I did s**** at the eat English Muffins thing though 🙂
Yep, got to add some agreement to this. This year's special was so very very poor even in its own right. If you compare it to some of the offer specials it was just a bit embarrassing to be frank. It's turning into Jackass and not in a good way.
This thread has already turned into a list of people ignoring the actual point of the thread completely, and saying saying they either
"don't like top gear"
Or
"normally like top gear but it's not as good as it used to be"
Should be good for a lunchtime laugh though.
After almost a decade, is it reaching the end of it's natural life? ...
Not a chance, not unless you want to stump up the money the program makes for the BBC!
"I want to live in a democracy, but I don't want to be offended"Idiots.
Can you expand on this? If you live in a democracy can you not think things are crap?
You all know its all a big act with Clarkson & that in real life, he is a charming politically correct, environmentalist & keen cyclist.
For me, the casual attitude they displayed towards people's food, in a nation where many are starving and live in utterly abject poverty, just showed how out of touch and ignorant the whole Top Gear production team is.
I watched it hoping to see a unique and original insight into India, and how the nation is developing and changing and that, as well as what a fascinating wonderful country it is, like they did with the Vietnam special (their best programme ever, imo).
Instead it was just Clarkson being a dick, Hammond being a dick, and May looking like he'd rather be somewhere else but needed the money.
A poor waste of BBC resources. Cooduv bin so much better.
I watched it hoping to see a unique and original insight into India, and how the nation is developing and changing and that, as well as what a fascinating wonderful country it is, like they did with the Vietnam special (their best programme ever, imo).
+1
I'm not surprised the Indians didn't like. Even ignoring the normal TG attitudes, the Xmas special was dreadful, particularly in the attitudes displayed towards the local population...
Even our 10 & 11 YO's picked up on the incipient racism
Not a chance, not unless you want to stump up the money the program makes for the BBC!
EastEnders, Celebrity Ice Dancing etc make money for the BBC. X-Factor makes money for ITV. McDonalds make huge profits....
I don't mind that Top Gear is 'light hearted entertainment'. Just that it's not as good as it could be, considering the resources so often wasted on it.
Elfinsafety - Member
I watched it hoping to see a unique and original insight into India, and how the nation is developing and changing and that, as well as what a fascinating wonderful country it is
It's a comedy/car show, not a documentary. I don't watch Rhod Gillbert and expect a cuturally sensitive insight into the valleys do I?
ignoring the actual point of the thread completely
There was a point to this?? 😯
It's a comedy/car show
it tries to be both of those things, but is neither.
it's a 'withering old donkey, that should have been sent to the glue factory 4 years ago' show.
"I want to live in a democracy, but I don't want to be offended"Idiots.
Can you expand on this? If you live in a democracy can you not think things are crap?
My point was, it's impossible not to be 'offended' by all sorts of stuff in a democratic society because a lot of 'being offended' is subjective.
I don't remember anyone complaining when the Top Gear Australia presenters were on - there were loads of things for people to vent their fake offence at in that show ...
Thinking something's crap is different to being 'offended' by it.
ignoring the actual point of the thread completely
There was a point to this??
It's the internet. There's no point to 99% if it. As I believe James May once said (something alond the lines of) "the internet is a giant ball of pornography wrapped in a thin layer of social networking"
A poor waste of BBC resources. Cooduv bin so much better.
Except that Top Gear makes them a ton of cash - so even a decidedly ropey effort like that is actually a boost to BBC resources by the time it has been resold to Dave and other channels.
Hence why it stumbles on.
It's a cash cow now but not long until it's a dog maybe.
Hence why it stumbles on
Bit like the Monarchy then? Bring in more than they cost the UK
😉
It's a comedy/car show, not a documentary. I don't watch Rhod Gillbert and expect a cuturally sensitive insight into the valleys do I?
Was there a reason you missed this bit out of your quotation?
like they did with the Vietnam special (their best programme ever, imo).
I think they should do an episode where they have to turn an Austin Allegro into a speedboat and then use it to jump over a shark...
So the program was show twice over a major holiday period, yet received ONLY 23 complaints? Goodness gracious me!
It's a comedy/car show, not a documentary
As Brakes has pointed out, it failed on both counts.
And when did it actually become a 'comedy' programme? I thought it was a show about cars and driving cars. And it duzent appear in the 'Comedy' section on iPlayer, but in the 'Factual' section...
Except that Top Gear makes them a ton of cash
Did you see this bit?
EastEnders, Celebrity Ice Dancing etc make money for the BBC. X-Factor makes money for ITV. McDonalds make huge profits....
In fairness, I really like top gear, especially the 'specials', but that episode was shit.joao3v16 - Member
For goodness' sake!It's becoming an international passtime to complain about Top Gear.
For me, the casual attitude they displayed towards people's food, in a nation where many are starving and live in utterly abject poverty, just showed how out of touch and ignorant the whole Top Gear production team is.I watched it hoping to see a unique and original insight into India, and how the nation is developing and changing and that, as well as what a fascinating wonderful country it is, like they did with the Vietnam special (their best programme ever, imo).
Instead it was just Clarkson being a dick, Hammond being a dick, and May looking like he'd rather be somewhere else but needed the money.
A poor waste of BBC resources. Cooduv bin so much better.
Cripes 2nd time in as many months i find myself in agreement with PaddedBra, where's my revolver?
GrahamS - Member
I think they should do an episode where they have to turn an Austin Allegro into a speedboat and then use it to jump over a shark...
nice cross-show referencing. 🙂
Goodness gracious me!
[i]Indian! [/i]
I watched it hoping to see a unique and original insight into India, and how the nation is developing and changing and that, as well as what a fascinating wonderful country it is
Oh come off it!
. I write this to convey our deep disappointment over the documentary for its content and the tone of the presentation.
And that's where they fell down. Clearly the high commission were under the impression that this was a documentary, as many here are.
It wasn't very funny, it was mildly amusing, I suspect if the same sort of cheap jokes were levelled against us by the French in a TV programme we'd probably really not give a damn and life would carry on as normal.
Remember, he was only joking, you know, it was a joke, it was funny.
Wasn't it?
I mean, given just how long they have been providing us with hillarious top class entertainment it's a wonder they haven't run out of ideas and started peddling pedestrian 2nd rate crap, isn't it?
I can't think of journalist to host such a show in France. Bigots, racists and xenophobes don't get air time on state TV, or on private TV for that matter.
The British press has however been scandalised by some fairly innocuous comments from our politicians. So innocuous I bet you'll have to Google to remind yourself of anything that's caused fuss.
If you don't like it, don't watch it
I actually enjoy some puerile nonsense now and again
I still don't get why slagging it off seems to have become a pastime. There are plenty of other shows to have a go at - see X Factor, Britains (not) got talent, Strictly, Kardashians, most itv 'dramas'
Just turn over if you don't like it
[img] http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/400547719/1/tumblr_kxz0unU3hy1qa4wz1 [/img]
I don't like him either!
...casual attitude they displayed towards people's food...
Of course, it wouldn't be staged, would it? That must have been some 6 year olds lunch while he was stitching Reeboks together; will no one think of the children?
Did you see the one were they set the caravan on fire? I saw some Pringles in the flames; such waste.
It's not real; it's not serious. Get a sense of perspective rather than sitting in front of the tv waiting for something to be offended about.
I think at least half of us [s]are[/s] were Top Gear fans bothered by the fact it was distinctly under-par.
Indians don't like Clarkson
So why is he on the tv constantly over here in India, can't get rid of it, they love Top Gear over here!!
And that Christmas special is on at the end of the month, they are really promoting it as something big...going to be interesting... 😀
If you don't like it, don't watch it
On that basis, broadcast whatever you like?
So the program was show twice over a major holiday period, yet received ONLY 23 complaints? Goodness gracious me!
180something on the BBC news site. Must have gone up after the daily wail told people to be outraged.
Oh come off it!
Come off what? The Vietnam special showed how it could be done. That was great telly. The India special was like a Tescos BSO compared to a 'proper bike'.
It wasn't very funny, it was mildly amusing,
It wazunt even that.
..casual attitude they displayed towards people's food...
Of course, it wouldn't be staged, would it? That must have been some 6 year olds lunch while he was stitching Reeboks together; will no one think of the children?It's not real; it's not serious. Get a sense of perspective rather than sitting in front of the tv waiting for something to be offended about.
Ever bin to somewhere like India? Seen real poverty? Emaciated people begging just to get a few scraps of food?
As for 'perspective'; having witnessed what I've just mentioned, I think the idea of casually wasting food in the context of a show about India, just to get a cheap laugh, is extremely ignorant and insensitive.
I suggest you go and witness real poverty for yourself, then you yourself might actually gain a sense of 'perspective'.
I don't like him either!
If I was Luke, I wooduv glassed the bloke; you don't know what might happen, no sense in waiting to find out, bosh! Pre-emptive strike.
just Clarkson being a dick
His ghost writer is a nice chap, though.
I actually enjoy some puerile nonsense now and again
I do too.
What I don't enjoy is someone being deliberately offensive, xenophobic and racist under the guise of "just having a laugh".
Shameful that this nonsense is broadcast in the 21st century.
For f*ck sake, you can't do anything nowadays without some cock end complaining.
As Brakes has pointed out, it failed on both counts.
Actually I'd say it wins on both counts, it does have car content and show some nice cars, new cars etc, and it does so with an amusing background generally (thought some more or less amusing).
As for 'perspective'; having witnessed what I've just mentioned, I think the idea of casually wasting food in the context of a show about India, just to get a cheap laugh, is extremely ignorant and insensitive.
Thing is you could say that about LOADS of programmes. Hell, you could claim that just MAKING a tv programme is insensitive when you could, instead, give the cash to the needy.
For f*ck sake, you can't do anything nowadays without some cock end complaining.
You can, you just need to engage yer brain rather than leaving it switched off.
Plus, I'll leave you to work out the delicious (unintended I'm sure) irony in your statement. 😉
Actually I'd say it wins on both counts, it does have car content and show some nice cars, new cars etc, and it does so with an amusing background generally (thought some more or less amusing).
A trio of old motors
+
An unfunny painfully contrived mess of a programme.
= FAIL.
I want to live in a democracy, but I don't want to be offended"
Idiots.
I am not sure why you think this or why this gets trotted out everytime someoen complains about anything. Why do we have laws and make shit illegal if we are not allowed to be offended? Racially motivated crimes? Incitement to commit crimes. Blasphemy, paedophiles etc. It is not as simple as you would like to make it appear. Democracy does not also give you the right to be offensive either.
So the program was show twice over a major holiday period, yet received ONLY 23 complaints? Goodness gracious me!
So 23 people who actually like this shit complained imagine what would have happened if those who think it is utter shit and offensive and therefore dont watch it were forced to watch it- might increase the complaints...even fans seem to accept it was poor and in bad taste [ or worse than usual]
Just turn over if you don't like it
Did you read the thread some people do like it but think this was a crap episode
For f*ck sake, you can't do anything nowadays without some cock end complaining.
Do you miss Mr Davidson and the hilarious “chalky White character as well?
Ps elfin is pointing out that you are clearly complaining and by your own logic now a cock end
A trio of old motors+
An unfunny painfully contrived mess of a programme.
Funny is subjective, you can't really claim a win there. Old motors doesn't make it not a motoring programme. If they did an episode on classics specifically woudl that be a car fail too? Give over.
you can't really claim a win there
I can and I have. Case closed I'm afraid. I don't make the rules, I just play a superior game, hence why I win. 🙂
Junky; shh! I wanted to prolong the suspense for as long as poss...
I can and I have. Case closed I'm afraid. I don't make the rules, I just play a superior game, hence why I win.
😆
...cock end complaining
Perfect TG response!
May/Hammond/Clarkson: "Cock!"
Slow-witted audience: "Hurr hurr hurrrr"
Repeat ad nauseum
Roll credits.
Heh! You like that one innit, CK? 😀
Ps elfin is pointing out that you are clearly complaining and by your own logic now a cock end
I guess that makes me as bad as you two.
I wasn't complaining I was stating a fact
No, you were [i]complaining[/i].
Stating a fact is something you do when you are presenting something which has bin proven to be and cannot be denied. You were not doing this. You were merely expressing your onion, in a manner that reveals you have a problem with what you wrongly perceive to be a fact. This is what is known as a [i]complaint[/i].
See, I have just stated a [i]fact[/i].
Hope this helps.
Ah, I see you've now edited your post, presumably to save yourself further embarrassment. No matter, I still give this advice to you for free, cos that's the kind, caring sort of person I am. 🙂
Do you often find yourself sitting alone and wonder why?
You are one boring mofo.
Do you often find yourself sitting alone and wonder why?
Yes I do actually. I also often wonder 'who?', 'what?' 'where?' 'when?' and 'how?'
Pends on the subject really.
I think it's good to wonder.
The chuzzlewhit (elf) is spot on here. Desperately dull programme that could have celebrated indian driving and culture in all its rich glory in a whitty, funny and original way. But didn't. Just desperately tedious.
Instead it was just Clarkson being a dick, Hammond being a dick, and May looking like he'd rather be somewhere else but needed the money.A poor waste of BBC resources. Cooduv bin so much better.
Agreed
could have celebrated indian driving and culture in all its rich glory
when have topgear celebrated anything other than clarksons ego..!!?
it gives exactly what's expected.. if you expected more it's your own silly fault..
true
Top gear always seems to have the same old theme which is getting very tired now IMHO. I didn't find much either to be interesting or funny in this Christmas special. There are much better comedies...with its growing popularity the car component seems just incidental to the shows "personality display" where the presenters try to shock us with their childish boorishness. Anyway luckily there is normally plenty of better stuff on.
when have topgear celebrated anything other than clarksons ego..!!?
Go and watch Dave, and check out some older episodes. It wasn't always thus - not to the extent it is now. Clarkson also used to stay in his box a bit more - he's not improving with age. It's the fact TG has been so successful over the years which leads him to believe in his own hype and reckon he can get away with anything.
On that basis, broadcast whatever you like?
So everyone has to like every program broadcast?
The point is everyone has a choice, watch something else if its not to your taste
Yeah but if you follow that kind of philosophy to it's conclusion, then it's ok to have proper racist ranting nutters etc broadcasting stuff on telly? Cos whilst many will be offended, some viewers might not be. And because some might not be, and want to watch that, we as a society should allow it?
IE, no censorship at all?
What if someone thinks it's ok to broadcast hardcore porn at the same time your kids are coming home and expecting to watch CeeBeebies or whatever?
I don't remember anyone complaining when the Top Gear Australia presenters were on - there were loads of things for people to vent their fake offence at in that show ...
Actually, the Australian cut of that special was somewhat different in places than the version played in the UK
I want to live in a democracy, but I don't want to be offended"
Idiots.
I am not sure why you think this or why this gets trotted out everytime someoen complains about anything. Why do we have laws and make shit illegal if we are not allowed to be offended? Racially motivated crimes? Incitement to commit crimes. Blasphemy, paedophiles etc. It is not as simple as you would like to make it appear. Democracy does not also give you the right to be offensive either.
I stole the quote from some guy and there's a bit more context around it than I could be bothered to explain. But the principle was that there's a lot of people being 'offended' by stupid things that they could just avoid contact with, or accept that some people opinions are different to theirs.
Yes, certain things are generically morally offensive, and should be treated as such so that they're dealt with appropriately.
But most of the stuff we hear people being 'offended' by and complaining about just seems to be trivial nonsense.
And then there's the PC do-gooders who come out with nonsense like not using the word Christmas because it's offensive to Muslims ... has anyone ever heard a Muslim claim that their religion will not tolerate Christmas? ... Nope, didn't think so ... but a group of busy-body non-Muslim jobsworth's think it's their busines to tell the Muslims what they should find offensive & has everyone tip-toeing around on egg-shells in case we say the 'wrong' thing ...
Deep breath. And relax.
And then there's the PC do-gooders who come out with nonsense like not using the word Christmas because it's offensive to Muslims
Linky or it's not true.
And then there's the rabid Daily Mail journalist who makes up a story about PC do-gooders who come out with nonsense like not using the word Christmas because it's offensive to Muslims
FTFY
And then there's the PC do-gooders who come out with nonsense like not using the word Christmas because it's offensive to Muslims
Linky or it's not true.
There's been numerous instances over the past few years. I can't be bothered finding any links.
This year it was Tesco refusing to sell Christmas cards with Christian-themed pictures ... I assumed Tesco had been extensively picketed by outraged Muslims, Hindu's, Jews etc ... Apparently not though - turns out some idiot Tesco employee(s) decided that after decades of being perfectly acceptable they're suddenly massively offensive to all other religions in the universe, so took it upon themselves to save us all from drowning in our own outrage and horror at seeing an illustration of a baby/shepherds/wisemen/angel ... because of course we're all incapable of just overlooking stuff we're not interested in 🙄
Elfinsafety - Member
I watched it hoping to see a unique and original insight into India, and how the nation is developing and changing and that, as well as what a fascinating wonderful country it is, like they did with the Vietnam special (their best programme ever, imo).
Really? You watched Top Gear to get a serious view on a country?
That's like watching Pron to learn about a loving relationship.
I can't be bothered finding any links.
Ah - it's not true then.
This year it was Tesco refusing to sell Christmas cards with Christian-themed pictures
Well interestingly enough I decided to do your research for you. A google for "tesco christmas cards" came up with [url= http://www.****/news/article-2077278/Supermarkets-ashamed-sell-religious-Christmas-cards-obscene-ones-litter-high-street.html?ito=feeds-newsxml ]this article[/url] (apologies for the source), "Tesco said: ‘Our religious Christmas card range has increased for the second year running.’"
This year it was Tesco refusing to sell Christmas cards with Christian-themed pictures ... I assumed Tesco had been extensively picketed by outraged Muslims, Hindu's, Jews etc ... Apparently not though - turns out some idiot Tesco employee(s) decided that after decades of being perfectly acceptable they're suddenly massively offensive to all other religions in the universe, so took it upon themselves
So it [i]wasn't[/i] Tesco refusing to sell Christmas cards with Christian-themed pictures then?
Really? You watched Top Gear to get a serious view on a country?
I assumed, following the excellent Vietnam special, that the India one might be similar in quality. Sadly I assumed wrongly.
I wazunt going to take it all that seriously, no. It's Top Gear. But I din't expect it to be quite as pathetically crap as it turned out.
Yeah but if you follow that kind of philosophy to it's conclusion, then it's ok to have proper racist ranting nutters etc broadcasting stuff on telly? Cos whilst many will be offended, some viewers might not be. And because some might not be, and want to watch that, we as a society should allow it?IE, no censorship at all?
What if someone thinks it's ok to broadcast hardcore porn at the same time your kids are coming home and expecting to watch CeeBeebies or whatever?
It's a bit of a jump from staged puerile nonsense to hardcore porn
No, it's about an 'I want to watch what I want and I don't care if it offends anyone' type attitude. If you take it to it's conclusion, then why not just allow folk to broadcast what they want, as if they have an audience who want to watch it, then it's perfectly valid, no?
Where do you draw the line, is the point here.
I say, these biscuits are bloody nice. Garibaldi?
Where do you draw the line
After Clarkson and Top Gear but before broadcasting hardcore pron at CBeebies time. Next question
I ****ing hate that "Turn it off if you don't like it" argument. I watched it, hoping it would be good. It wasn't. I have every right to say it wasn't good.
I have to agree with Elfin here. They have made some staggeringly good TV before - the Vietnam special, the original "race" where they took the DB9 to the Alps etc. - but this one was lazy, predictable, transparent faux-buffoonery.
There was one bit that had potential - the all-comers Indian hill climb. If they had strung that out a bit more, got a few more runners, and actually spent some time focussing on the locals there, it would have been fun, and insightful in a light way. But instead, they had to make it about that duo of idiots and their egos, and James May. I actually like May - his other programs are routinely brilliant.