American Version of Top Gear May Become a Reality . . .
04-10-07, 09:01 AM
#1
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American Version of Top Gear May Become a Reality . . .
BBC Top Gear in US TV deal talks
Top Gear has been a ratings winner for BBC Two
Hit TV show Top Gear could be heading to the US, after the BBC revealed it is in talks to take it over the Atlantic.
The Sun newspaper reported that the show will be fronted by current presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
It said the US show would be the same as the UK version, but focusing on American cars, such as Cadillacs.
US stars will also test their driving skills against mystery racing driver The Stig, the newspaper added.
A spokeswoman for the BBC confirmed that BBC Worldwide - the corporation's commercial arm - had been in talks, but could not confirm details.
"BBC Worldwide has had exploratory conversations with the US networks to bring a local version of Top Gear to the US, but there is not yet a deal on the table," she said.
Top Gear has already been shown in the US on the Discovery Channel.
In November 2005 it won an international Emmy award for the best non-scripted entertainment show.
Top Gear made a successful comeback to BBC Two in January, four months after Richard Hammond was involved in a serious high-speed crash while filming.
Last month an estimated eight million people tuned in to see the last episode in the series - BBC Two's largest audience for 10 years.
The show is due to return for a new series in the autumn.
Top Gear has been a ratings winner for BBC Two
Hit TV show Top Gear could be heading to the US, after the BBC revealed it is in talks to take it over the Atlantic.
The Sun newspaper reported that the show will be fronted by current presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
It said the US show would be the same as the UK version, but focusing on American cars, such as Cadillacs.
US stars will also test their driving skills against mystery racing driver The Stig, the newspaper added.
A spokeswoman for the BBC confirmed that BBC Worldwide - the corporation's commercial arm - had been in talks, but could not confirm details.
"BBC Worldwide has had exploratory conversations with the US networks to bring a local version of Top Gear to the US, but there is not yet a deal on the table," she said.
Top Gear has already been shown in the US on the Discovery Channel.
In November 2005 it won an international Emmy award for the best non-scripted entertainment show.
Top Gear made a successful comeback to BBC Two in January, four months after Richard Hammond was involved in a serious high-speed crash while filming.
Last month an estimated eight million people tuned in to see the last episode in the series - BBC Two's largest audience for 10 years.
The show is due to return for a new series in the autumn.
.
04-10-07, 09:58 AM
#5
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Give Clarkson his show and keep it in the U.K. No American wants to hear a car show bashing American cars...
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04-10-07, 12:07 PM
#8
Err... it's not gonna be as entertaining. I mean, just look what happened to Iron Chef America: The Series.
It's not just American cars that they bash, the Malaysians are taking a huge beating too. Just look at the front page news on www.finalgear.com hahaha.
Besides, the Discovery Channel version has the American bits censored out so meh. I'll stick with the UK version unless the American counterpart can somehow pull it off.
It's not just American cars that they bash, the Malaysians are taking a huge beating too. Just look at the front page news on www.finalgear.com hahaha.
Besides, the Discovery Channel version has the American bits censored out so meh. I'll stick with the UK version unless the American counterpart can somehow pull it off.
04-10-07, 12:20 PM
#9
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04-10-07, 12:55 PM
#10
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I really doubt they're going to be focusing only on American cars, I mean, how many cars does America even make that would be somewhat interesting to watch on Top Gear?
Corvette, Mustang, Viper, Solstice/Sky, CTS-V, STS-V, 300 SRT-8, Crossfire?
That's about all I can think of. You could probably fit all those cars in one episode. I think they mean that they're going to show cars available in the American market, not necessarily only cars made by American companies
Corvette, Mustang, Viper, Solstice/Sky, CTS-V, STS-V, 300 SRT-8, Crossfire?
That's about all I can think of. You could probably fit all those cars in one episode. I think they mean that they're going to show cars available in the American market, not necessarily only cars made by American companies
04-10-07, 02:58 PM
#11
Wow, another show dedicated to the American car... la-de-freakin'-da. How about they put together a show that's dedicated to all the other cars that are on this planet OTHER than American cars... Oh yeah, they already do that... the show is called Top Gear. Dumbest idea I've ever heard... Just give me Top Gear the way it is.
04-10-07, 03:11 PM
#12
Out of Warranty
The UK is a testing ground for a lot of our most popular TV fare. In the US production costs are out of control, and the gutless wonders at the broadcast and cable networks would rather copy a successful show from overseas than develop a trace of creativity on their own. They love to point to the numbers the overseas product generates to get the budgets they need to produce a me-too copy. Of course any failures can be blamed on those crazy Brits - who will watch anything! Funny they are so quick to condemn the BBC audience when they are so willing to accept the praise for their own brilliance in introducing a successful (but un-original) product to our shores.
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