PSA – New series of Top Gear Tonight BBC2 8PM

I don't particularly like cars, but this show is funny. We're not supposed to take it seriously.

The Reliant bit was so true – I've had a number of 3 wheelers and rolled all of them.

How about the Toyota up the volcano? – I was wondering how they were going to extract James May when it caught fire.

I'd be interested to hear the type of programmes that people who don't like Top Gear actually watch?!

Considering the amount of people who "hate" the programme they know what went on in last nights episode! Why the hell did you watch it if you hate it that much?

I love it! One of the most entertaining programmes on TV, it's not to be taken seriously it's just good fun.

I said it earlier but I'll say it again – It much better that some of the tripe that Auntie puts on!

I welcome TopGear on to my screen and I am proud that my TV tax goes towards funding it!

It's one of the few programs that I activeley plan to watch (as oppose to flick on telly sift through monotomous rubish and turn off.) I think it still has a huge appeal to a large number of people and will continue to do so for a long time but for viewers that have been watching it for many years it is the same over and over, the epsiode last night would have been good if I hadn't watched the episode in the second series that had exactly the same reasonably priced car bit when then wheeled out the liana on Dave a while ago. Top gear will always appeal to the casual viewer because it's like nothing else on tv, however to the car fan they have done it all before.

Iain

Really enjoyed it & plan on watching the rest of the series ..if I am out I shall even record it & watch later!

Quite happy if Amy Williams does come back for more laps, she is quite easy on the eye (IMHO)

Worldwide audience of 350million people and most profitable program for the bbc. They're obviously doing something wrong!!!

Oh come on you haters! Dont like it, then dont watch and i'd prefer you didnt put your hating comments on the thread either.
Its about the only programme that i will make plans to watch, although it does interfere with my occasional sunday eve pub visits.
The Reliant Robin thing was hilarious though!!!

Just like your comments on the iphone thread then bigyinn 😀

I try never to post 'ihate' threads, but the anti football whingers have infected me with their negativity and miserableness.

Entertains and irritates in equal measures.

It was awful- from the first bit of boxing badly cut into the Bentley (yet another yawning same-old clip to watch)…

Then the up a volcano.

I actually started to fall asleep well before 9.

It really is a tired-old format now. I thought they were going to try something new?

It really is a tired-old format now.

Pot calling kettle! 😉

The 'funny' thing is all well and good, but I'd quite like a proper motoring show, with decent, quality journalism – not another version of 'Men Behaving Badly'.

Watch 5th Gear then. (Apart from the 'quality journalism' bit).

As others have said already – it is fun and appeals to people who don't care about cars. And my wife is another example of that – she loves it.

I woke up part way through and they have yet another reasonably-priced car challenge in a Kia? Same format?

Really? I suppose you may be the exception that proves the rule

No, I'm here too – as are half my workmates. Can't stand football, boring drivel IMO. But then so is watching practically any sport, if it's a good sport it makes me go and do it, if it's a sport I don't like it makes me want to turn it off. Really not a fan of watching sports full stop I suppose, so I find the constant multi-channel media frenzy quite annoying!

Watch 5th Gear then. (Apart from the 'quality journalism' bit).

Thanks, I do. 🙂

But I'd like to see the BBC, who at least have the budget, make an effort.

I don't want to scrap TG, it's not my cup of tea but if it makes people happy then that's fine.

I just want to see the BBC devote a small proportion of the millions they spend on this repetitive (to me :-), juvenile (imo of course) nonsense on a decent motoring programme.

Why fly shouty, brainy & shorty all over the world when they can peddle their act in a shed down South at minimal cost?
The pre-pubescent Chuckle Brothers fans who seem to make up the target demographic would still get to giggle at their poorly scripted weekly misadventures and the rest of us would get to watch a decent show. 😀

The Loius Spence thing was a bit 'teenage homophobic'. I think most people (even TG viewers) are a bit more enlightened than 'backs to the wall' these days.

IMHO, it's Hammond that's the weak link. He's a TV throwback, to a gladly departed age. Nothing original, funny or informative ever comes out of his mouth. Especially in the 'news' section, Hammond really seems to struggle to keep up with the wit and speed of Clarkson and May.

Personally, I'd ditch Hammond, Star In A RPC, and all the studio bits. Entirely VT/voiceover links.

I just want to see the BBC devote a small proportion of the millions they spend on this repetitive (to me :-), juvenile (imo of course) nonsense on a decent motoring programme.

Most BBC content is tripe, other than the documentary series IMO. Top gear is at least amusing at times! And it's nice to see the fast cars you'll never own.

Especially in the 'news' section, Hammond really seems to struggle to keep up with the wit, and speed of Clarkson and May.

You are aware it's all scripted and pre-recorded, not live, aren't you?

they need to keep hammond as he's the only one even vaguely fit enough to do the more adventurous challenges, like the artic sled thing or cycling through london etc..

i thoroughly enjoyed it, lightweight tv popcorn entertainment, perfect for sunday evenings when you want to switch your brain off and relax.

coffeeking, the remark was aimed at those who have been posting their hatred of football all over the forum in the last few weeks without any attempt to consider the sport itself as opposed to the media hype and nonsense that surrounds it. You, or your work colleagues, as far as I am aware, have not.

The fact that this hype (along with the corresponding media coverage and astronomical wages) would transfer to any other sport which superseded the popularity of football in Britain seems not to have occurred to them (see cricket in India for a perfect example).

You are aware it's all scripted and pre-recorded, not live, aren't you?

Of course. I assumed it's scripted (mostly) by those 3 though. Could well be wrong…?

It just comes across that Hammond is lagging behind the conversation a bit. I suppose it's the subtleties of performance that he lacks, rather than quick wits. Hammond's knob gags and funny faces are often met with a 'yes dear' sort of half smile from Clarkson in particular.

I recently watched a programme devoted to the R&D/production of the RV Lambo.

Not a car for me but it was good to watch. No middleaged men made idiots of themselves and it was actually good to watch.

Sick of seeing moronic-behaviour now. Something is great when it evolves not stands still.

I remember Vic and Bobs Shooting Stars and loving it…..then slowly it became like chewing gum for the eyes- slow water torture, repeating, like bloody Groundhog day.

No middleaged men made idiots of themselves

slow water torture, repeating, like bloody Groundhog day.

Oh, the irony. 🙂

Of course. I assumed it's scripted (mostly) by those 3 though. Could well be wrong…?

I just meant it's not a speed related thing, it's a choice or quality of humour I suppose – they know what they're going to say, they wrote it before, so as you say it's probably down to performance ability, which is probably mildly dented by severe head injury to be fair.

I enjoy it, they're enough of a contrast to amuse.

But I'd like to see the BBC, who at least have the budget, make an effort.

But they do make an effort, Top Gear was going down the pan years ago until they changed the format and made the bias less towards test driving cars and more fun, light hearted and, well, a laugh.

If you watch it expecting to get reviews of the latest Ford Bland GLX (at least done in a 'normal' manner) you are bound to be disappointed.

I recently watched a programme devoted to the R&D/production of the RV Lambo.

Not a car for me but it was good to watch. No middleaged men made idiots of themselves and it was actually good to watch.

Sure, seeing the inner design and workings of nice cars is great. It's also very rare to get that much detail and info and it certainly wouldn't ever be a regular series, so it's a bit of a pointless comparison – it's not trying to compete with the likes of that programme, surely?

But they do make an effort, Top Gear was going down the pan years ago until they changed the format and made the bias less towards test driving cars and more fun, light hearted and, well, a laugh.

If you watch it expecting to get reviews of the latest Ford Bland GLX (at least done in a 'normal' manner) you are bound to be disappointed.

exactly. If you're not looking for light hearted car-based entertainment, go find an engineering program or one that road-tests mundane normal cars. They exist, but they're not trying to be the same thing.

Must admit- I found TG great at first. Loved the three old Alfa's they bought but after a while – like Shooting stars, the same format started to become tiring.

Brilliant programme.

mastiles, It's a case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Why shouldn't I be able to watch a semi serious motoring programme made by the BBC. It's my licence fee as well, you know.

I'd like to see some histories of famous marques & races (Mille Miglia, Le Mans, John Wyers' Gulf Porsche team, AC Cars) interviews with famous drivers, on car/bike footage of famous circuits, old/new comparisons, secondhand performance bargains, new technology features.
It's not beyond the wit of man to present these in an entertaining manner, for adults.

Top Gear is a programme for kids at the mo. Nothing wrong with this, but it's got nowt to do with motoring.
I like Harry Potter – It doesn't mean I can't like Shakespeare as well.

Top Gear was going down the pan years ago until they changed the format

The change was radical and it worked so they did well; viewing figures is what counts – much as I hate to admit that as so much of what people want to watch is so dire. BB is going due to falling viewing figures but I wonder who the hardcore left who enjoy that sort of thing are.

Why shouldn't I be able to watch a semi serious motoring programme on our national broadcaster?

Because they know (from the plummeting figures TG started to get) that it wasn't what the majority of viewers of that kind of programme wanted.

They can't please everyone all the time so they please as many people as they can within reason.

The BBC is not solely about lowest common denominator TV.

It's why we have BBC2,3 & 4, Radio's 3 & 4 etc.

Not everyone wants dumbed-down trash. We all pay the licence fee.
BBC are not a solely commercial organisation.

The BBC is not solely about lowest common denominator TV.

Depends on what the BBC charter says. IIRC it was to produce programmes that cover the viewing interests of the majority, in round terms, so yes it is as in true elitist fashion, the majority just want to watch something that's vaguely amusing and not particularly high-brow. If you wan't the more high-brow stuff you tend to go to R2/R3/R4 etc[or at least you don't listen to R1], TG is BBC1 – general viewing for the majority.

The BBC is not solely about lowest common denominator TV.

Agreed – they have a wide range of programmes to appeal to a varied audience. Some we like, some we do not. Personally I detest Eastenders but I don't cry about it being on because I appreciate that some people do like it.

And for any criticism the BBC gets, surely that should all be balanced against the fantastic documentary/nature programming they produce. I watched Yellowstone on HD at my mum's yesterday after the football – even though I watched it all when it was first aired I still found it compelling viewing.

And another reason to compliment the BBC – the fantastic 'Luther' – great crime drama.

No, the Charter is there to ensure that the interests of all are met, not just the interests of the majority 😀

A few extracts from the latest Charter:

A redefinition of the BBC's "public services" (which are considered its prime function):

* Sustaining citizenship and civil society;
* Promoting education and learning;
* Stimulating creativity and cultural excellence;
* Representing the UK, its nations, regions and communities;
* Bringing the UK to the world and the world to the UK;
* Helping to deliver to the public the benefit of emerging communications technologies and services, and taking a leading role in the switchover to digital television.

The BBC must display at least one of the following characteristics in all content: high quality, originality, innovation, to be challenging and to be engaging.
The BBC must demonstrate that it provides public value in all of its major activities.

EDIT:

mastiles, as per my previous posts, I have no problem with TG being on the telly, or Eastenders for that matter, although I watch neither.

I just want a decent motoring programme on the BBC!
Not too much to ask, given that the majority of us will be motorists at some time in our lives. 🙂

I know its not quite the same thing but BBC4 has a number of the documentries that Rusty is mentioning … best of both maybe?

RS – none of those say "cater for all".

* Representing the UK, its nations, regions and communities;

Seems to cover it.

Anyway, I'm off to get a girly perm, roll a dragster, insult motorcyclists, snog my boss then claim to Piers Morgan that I can no longer 'perform'. 😀

I just want a decent motoring programme on the BBC!

Why? There are 'proper' motoring programmes on other channels. Is there room/interest for another?

mastiles, we're going round in circles, rather appropriate given the subject.

We'll never know about the interest unless one is researched/made, but there is certainly room.

Who'd have thought that a programme about ballroom dancing would be one of the most popular on the BBC?

And with that, I'm off for a ride.

Some of it's good, but Clarkson is so completely egregious that it makes me hate it.

It'd be great if that dick wasn't on it.