170 replies to this topic

[Pop's-SS]

G'day All

Just a reminder that Top Gear Australia is on tonight at 7.30 pm on SBS

Regards ................... Barry

[orangeLJ]

Wasnt really impressed.

To elaborate, a few bad points-

-The hosts-

I dont know if its just me, but they seem to have tried too hard to simply replicate the pommy version. You have the older, "want to win, cocky" main host (ala Clarkson), then you have the small, vibrant yappy host (ala hammond) and then you have the cooky, weird problematic host (ala captain slow).

I really think they needed to go with a more original set of hosts, rather then the ones they have. It seemed like an overdone version of Glen ridges "the car show". All the hosts overacted and seemed way too scripted (maybe its nerves from the first ep?) but they definitely get a thumbs down from me (although the weird bloke is a decent cartoonist)


-The dialogue-

Seemed way over acted, and too scripted, may look good on paper, but defiinitely doesnt look or sound too good when they start acting it out. Their script writers need to have a good long session on "realistic" scripts.

At times it seemed like the hosts were awkwardly stumbling over their lines, and even their reactions to the cars were mundane and scripted, there wasnt too much passion with it all.

Even when the main guy was introducing the aussie stig, he used the same phrases as clarkson and it sounded terrible.

-The set-

Copying the british set straight over wasnt the best way to go about it, but it looks like an old kingswood up on a stand in the background, its not too bad, but I think they could have changed it to suit the australian nature of the show.


-The cars-
For a first show, you think they would have busted out the holden Vs Ford thing, rather then the cars they did. I know "top gear" is aimed at exotics, but they could have done half and half, would appeal to the wider audience IMO.


Overall the show lost my interest mid way through, Top gear UK is such a success, because non-car enthusiasts watch it too, its the number one light entertainment show in the UK. I cant see too many non-car people sitting down to watch some bad impersonations of a pommy hit show, with some cars thrown in the mix...

They really should have pulled people with known personalities, or atleast decent interesting personalities. (whats with that guys bad moustache?)

I will give it another go next week, if they can stuff up a Holden Vs ford show, then there is no hope.

[ToRunYa]

priddy average aye! i did like the flying rav... although endo's would of been great.
dude with the moustache? i think he wanted to be on the mighty boosh.
i think it will only run for a couple of eps its not going to get the cult following of the pommy version.
plus the pommies to funnier shit to cars.

[Pop's-SS]

orangeLJ, exactly my feelings on the show

Can't improve on what you said and I hope they learn to relax the Aussie way.

I'm glad I didn't tape it.

Regards ................ Barry

[Redslur]

I agree with all said above. They need to put more of an Aussie spin on it. Will watch next weeks episode to see how the holden versus Ford thing pans out.

[Heath]

I think everyon has a pretty similar opinion to Chris on this, but I wrote this in another thread before I found this one lol so I just copied it over, but yeah this is a little more optimistic...

I don't mind the old bloke and the cartoonist guys; they have interesting personalities and I like their characters (they're not very original though), but I think it will take a bit more time for their characters on the show to kinda 'develop' like the way that they British version has done so. I don't like that young guy, he has stupid opinions and makes the show look very low-budget because he acts worse than the other two, and his beard thing is atrocious, but maybe in time he too could become alright (or hopefully they will just end up bagging him a few times each episode like they do with Hammond, and then I won't want him to become likeable). Obviously a lot of the jokes were a bit below-par but I think they will warm up and deliver better jokes in a more comfortable manner (assuming it doesn't get axed; i really hope it stays!)

I would have preferred if their studio wasn't like a... replica. Seems like the show is kinda being franchised which I'm not into.

Absolutely loved the reference to the V8 Torana, that made my day

Will be watching eagerly next week

Edited by Heath, 30 September 2008 - 12:51 PM.

[orangeLJ]

Im going the other way heath, I thought the cartoonist bloke had the worst acting, along with the main host.

[Heath]

Wow okay. I thought they were all pretty average but don't agree with that at all. Each to their own

[Statler]

Kind of glad i didn't get the job.

The first 10 minutes would be me bitching about 4wd's & how it should be the Porsche, or Lambo, or Ferrari, or..............

Check oout the new Lambo! Sex on wheels!
Sorry, we cant drive it though!

Oh well, it's probably a dog at 110ks anyway!

Hey Top gear!, I challenge you to a duel!
You with the Lambo, me in the SLR, Gillies range NQ!

It would excite a lot more viewers than lastnights drivel!

My 2c!

[red6]

be interesting to know how many episodes are already in post production and if they have the same execution as last nights episodes.

also id say the imitation of the uk version isnt the choice of the presenters rather the people who cast them and made the decision to choose people who they felt the could mould into replicas of the uk version.

also the reason they didnt do holden vs ford in the first week is simple, its the one thing that is missing from the uk version and they know its what everyone wants to see and that the first episode would pull a good audience reguardless of what its content was.

[slx 050]

It was a bit like the Kath & Kim American knock off for me..... Fraud!

Gasoline on community TV is heaps better.

[RIM-010]

I thought the reference to the V8 Torana was ridiculous... 'His heart beats to the sound of a V8 Torana with flat top pistons'

It was obvious that they had no idea what they were talking about... Why would the Torana have flat tops? And why would flat tops make a difference to the sound? Should've said that it had straight cuts and a Gilmer drive

Tim

[Heath]

^ BULLSHIT. Flat tops mean upped comp, upped comp means good sound and more of it (louder exhaust note). It made perfect sense, but "cammed up" should have been inserted into the sentence.

And even if it was something that didn't make sense, I'm still glad they inserted it because it means someone has been thinking about real cars in the design and execution of the show.

[orangeLJ]

One line about a V8 torana does not mean they were thinking about us heath, it means they thought of the most colloquial (sp) phrase they could think of, and toranas + V8 was their ONLY attempt to push the australian barrier.

And I agree with Rim, the line was bogus. Flat tops may up the compression, but it doesnt mean jack in the scheme of things and you know it (why are we getting all technical anyway? it was a shit line, and badly delivered at that)

[RIM-010]

I know what you're saying, Heath, but my point was as Chris implied... It didn't sound like the bloke genuinely knew what he meant when he said it.

Tim

[MRLXSS]

All 253's have flat tops, i assume that 308's did as well. HAHA!

[orangeLJ]

Karlies corolla has convex top pistons with valve cutouts! must mean its a monster!

[RIM-010]

I was under the impression that they all had prior TV experience...

Tim

[orangeLJ]

yeah I was under the impression they were all somehow in the television industry prior to top gear