McGuinness & Flintoff hosting new Top Gear

[john-e89]

Surely the best thing to do is to stop watching if they don''t like it and leave it for the people who do?

This is purely speculation on my part, but I think there is genuinely a lot of affection for the programme and (in my opinion anyway) it's become a bit of an institution in the UK.

When Clarkson & co took over, Top Gear developed in a markedly different direction which was fun and interesting, and it almost went mainstream, but after he was sacked and the others left, the BBC seem to have made some quite desperate and bizarre editorial decisions to keep the format going, so as to preserve the viewing figures.

We've ended up with two replicas of the same thing, one with a big budget and one with an even bigger one, but subjectively neither as good as the one pre-punchgate.

Change is good - I don't think anybody would argue any differently. But, and this is the crux, it needs to be applied with a modicum of order, pragmatism and common sense. Parachuting an ex-cricketer and a not-very funny comedian* into the roles, without any clear sign of subject matter expertise doesn't really seem to tick any of those boxes, so naturally people feel entitled to have an opinion

* my opinion - someone must like him because he seems to be doing OK for himself

Surely the best thing to do is to stop watching if they don''t like it and leave it for the people who do?

This is purely speculation on my part, but I think there is genuinely a lot of affection for the programme and (in my opinion anyway) it's become a bit of an institution in the UK.

When Clarkson & co took over, Top Gear developed in a markedly different direction which was fun and interesting, and it almost went mainstream, but after he was sacked and the others left, the BBC seem to have made some quite desperate and bizarre editorial decisions to keep the format going, so as to preserve the viewing figures.

We've ended up with two replicas of the same thing, one with a big budget and one with an even bigger one, but subjectively neither as good as the one pre-punchgate.

Change is good - I don't think anybody would argue any differently. But, and this is the crux, it needs to be applied with a modicum of order, pragmatism and common sense. Parachuting an ex-cricketer and a not-very funny comedian* into the roles, without any clear sign of subject matter expertise doesn't really seem to tick any of those boxes, so naturally people feel entitled to have an opinion

* my opinion - someone must like him because he seems to be doing OK for himself

* Everyone’s a fan of someone........ :wink:

 

[Beerman]

Surely the best thing to do is to stop watching if they don''t like it and leave it for the people who do?

This is purely speculation on my part, but I think there is genuinely a lot of affection for the programme and (in my opinion anyway) it's become a bit of an institution in the UK.

When Clarkson & co took over, Top Gear developed in a markedly different direction which was fun and interesting, and it almost went mainstream, but after he was sacked and the others left, the BBC seem to have made some quite desperate and bizarre editorial decisions to keep the format going, so as to preserve the viewing figures.

We've ended up with two replicas of the same thing, one with a big budget and one with an even bigger one, but subjectively neither as good as the one pre-punchgate.

Change is good - I don't think anybody would argue any differently. But, and this is the crux, it needs to be applied with a modicum of order, pragmatism and common sense. Parachuting an ex-cricketer and a not-very funny comedian* into the roles, without any clear sign of subject matter expertise doesn't really seem to tick any of those boxes, so naturally people feel entitled to have an opinion

* my opinion - someone must like him because he seems to be doing OK for himself

It's an entertainment show with cars. Matt Is Blanc wasn't a journalist before he started. He was good last year.

Richard Hammond wasn't a journalist either was he? He was also dire in the other shows he was on, but did fill his role well on Top Gear. He over does it on The Grand Tour though.

Do you think Clarkson, May and Hammond are particularly knowledgeable about cars and driving? Clarkson's lap times were slower than many of the celebrities on the track and he had plenty of practice.

I honestly know nothing about the cricketer. I've never watched a ruined game of rounders ever, but I do read he was amusing and got stuck into car challenges on his programme on Sky.

At times Paddy is funny. I've no idea how it'll go or how they will work together, but I won't judge until I've seen.

Usually the BBC do make a good job of something when they put the their mind to it. I wasn't a fan of Evans on Top Gear, and he did try too hard, but people would have written off anyone post Clarkson and Co.

I hope they've done trials with these two and know they bounce off each other. Who knows?

At the end of the day force another car programme off the TV and it'll only be replaced some crap cooking show. Shows like The Great British Bake Off pull in more viewers than Top Gear ever did. It does appear it would make plenty of men happy.

 

[RustyZ4]

Its like the new Z4, I will wait till I see it to make judgement,, I agree, on paper with TG, it doesn't look good , but you never know, we might all be pleasantly surprised, I cant imagine after the disaster Chris Evans was, they would not have thought this through, and even done some test shows and ideas, Freddie is quite amusing on a league of their own and certainly is game (no pun intended), Paddy on the other hand, likey, likey and all that, doesn't spring out at me as a natural successor,
Anyway lets watch and then pass comment, no good writing it off before its even started,,, how many Dr Who fans wrote off a female Dr before it was made, and are now eating their words

 

[Ewazix]

Do you think Clarkson, May and Hammond are particularly knowledgeable about cars and driving? Clarkson's lap times were slower than many of the celebrities on the track and he had plenty of practice.

Not sure about the other two but I remember JC testing for Performance Car magazine way back in 1984, including an epic pan-continental test of the original E28 M5 that first whetted my appetite for a BMW and was the forerunner of that particular Top Gear test format. I probably still have in the loft somewhere (the mag' not an M5 ). So to be fair I think JC's got a bit motor journo' credibility.

 

[Havard]

I am pretty sure this is doomed. I feel really sorry for Chris Harris as I could watch him and his enthusiasm all day.

I like Paddy and Freddie but I am not convinced they know anything about cars and that will come through.

How about Tiff, Jason Plato, Matt Neal, Jenson Button or anyone that has driven at a decent level. What happened to Rory anyway?

H.

 

[ronk]

Flintoff is to be on the One Show tomorrow night so we might get some hints of his potential ?

 

[Doddsy]

And on that bombshell it’s time to end Top Gear for good. Goodnight!

 

[LittleZ4]

This is one of those pairings that I struggle to see working, but in the interest of fairness will give it a watch. I actually went to see Top gear being filmed on the last season........was painful!!!

Hopefully these two might make it more bearable for the audience with a bit more comedic banter.