I don't laugh out loud at TV very often

(note from Chris Hafner - let's go ahead and use this as our Weekly Open Thread as well).

The US version to Top Gear is growing on me. Tonight I found myself with tears in my eyes laughing at the Moonshiner Challenge. I could literally see some of our Car Lust contributors doing this very challenge if we all had $1000 and a weekend with nothing to do. Anyone want to sugar daddy this riotous event?!? I promise I'd video tape it!

But for real, I see some definite improvement as Top Gear is moving from episode to episode. Are they the Brits? No, and they may never be, and I'm OK with that.

Are you watching the series? What do you think?

Comments

[Ron Stimbert on December 06, 2010 at 01:10 AM]

Dude,

I am totally with you. With this episode, I am now paying full attention.

I want to jump a Caddy.

[Stacy on December 06, 2010 at 05:07 AM]

Tanner and Rutledge are really doing it up right, but Adam just doesn't fit in and it's really looking like a mid-season replacement is in order.

Some of the music and visuals are also just an excessively blatant copy of the UK series, and a little off for an American show. But as you say, it's making rapid strides - and I'm watching!

[wtd on December 06, 2010 at 06:33 AM]

Adam needs replaced with the U.S. version of Jeremy, which is P.J. O'Rourke.

The Stig didn't hotlap the Boss 302?! That was a total travesty. All that being said, the show is getting better, and I'm very excited to see the Raptor jump tomorrow night.

[Anthony Cagle on December 06, 2010 at 08:44 AM]

I agree, the second one (that's all I'm up to) was much better than the pilot. I was getting some good laughs out of it as well. I do agree that Adam seems to be the weakest link at this point. I just don't know why he's there.

In other news, I discovered that the Dodge Magnum come in an AWD version. I have found my field vehicle. . . . .

[Chris Meirose on December 06, 2010 at 04:06 PM]

The two wheel drive Magnum (well...one wheel drive...) are completely useless in snow. Some police agencies here in our region found that out the hard way. But AWD would be fun!

RE: Top Gear

I almost threw up I laughed so hard when Adam got air in that Caddy and the subsequent "U" shaped frame! I wrote the post prior to that segment coming on. I haven't laughed that hard since my first viewing of "Something About Mary"!

[MattC on December 07, 2010 at 04:37 PM]

I really think that the 3rd episode is an indication that TGUS is on the right track. I do not understand the problem with Adam with some of the other posters. I like him and think he fits in fine. Foust is an accomplished racer and seems more relaxed here than on other past shows. Rutledge is really growing on me. I knew nothing of him prior to TG, but he is very relaxed in fron of the camera.It is about time that these guys got out of California to do a challenge. This is where I think you will see the guys start to really bond and develop true chemistry.

[Geoff on December 07, 2010 at 08:08 PM]

I still haven't had a chance to catch this show yet, but keep meaning to. Probably by the time I get round to it they will have settled in to make it a good show.

[Chris Meirose on December 07, 2010 at 10:52 PM]

Rutledge - He was new to me, but I like him. He's my preferred of the three doing voice over. When he talks about cars he is the most passionate and the easiest to listen to.

Foust - his driving skills give him credibility. Yes, he is a drifter, but he's driven a LOT of incredible cars the past few years outside of drifting.

Ferrara - I don't mind him overall, and he conducts the best interview of the three. In non-scripted things he is fluent and funny where Foust can be forced. Plus he brings a "Joe Average" view. He's not a great driver, seems somewhat limited in car knowledge overall, so he connects with people the other two might not.

Overall, I think each of the three brings a unique voice. It does remain to be seen if they bring the right voice, but for the time being I am enjoying them all.

And doing an entire episode around a the Bootlegger Challenge this early on is pretty impressive to me. That's stepping out and taking a risk in my view (even if it has parallels to the UK version), and I like that risk on top of liking this particular episode.

--Big Chris

[Don Gwinn on December 08, 2010 at 08:37 AM]

This is definitely the best episode yet. I'm watching it in drips and dribbles on the DVR, so I haven't even finished it yet, but it had a couple of moments where the Top Gear spirit shows through.
It was heartening to see the boys honor the Top Gear motto "Always Leave a Man Behind" when Rutledge's awesome Turbo Coupe died.

It's still jarring to see the comedian guy what's-his-name trying to fill Jeremy Clarkson's shoes, but I'm going to watch this season and see what happens.

[Educatordan on December 09, 2010 at 10:45 AM]

I now love the series too. I'm very glad I set my DVR to record "all new episodes" of the show. I actually like all the cast and who cares if Adam doesn't know cars as well or is as good of a driver? Here's why I like Adam, cause when driving the Caddy he answers the question; Why do I like this car?

Cause my dad had one.

[Infiniti Driver on December 10, 2010 at 10:39 AM]

This to me by far was their strongest episode yet, and does give me hope. The first wasn't great at all, second was okay and an improvement, but this one worked.

The one weak point I still see is they still seem to not really know what to do with The Stig in the US show. Even if it ends up being a blatant copy of the UK show, they need to make snarky or sarcastic comments about him, or do something else to give him a bit of personality despite (or even because) he's just this figure in a white helmet and white nomex racing suit. The fact they didn't do a power lap of the Boss 302 is a shame, and maybe shows that they really have no idea what to do with US Stig. They need to make him more then just "The guy in the white clothing who does our power lap".

But anyway, nothing seemed too forced or akward to me this time, the interview went well enough, and the whole "let's be moonshiners" bit was a nice US approach to a typical Top Gear challenge. And jumping the caddy so hard that the frame bent was classic. Shame it didn't run apparently, it would have been hilarious to keep trying to continue the challenge with it like that.

[stanczyk on December 17, 2010 at 08:18 AM]

Last 302 Mustang Boss prmiere was a cool event ..
TG USA is superior in one cathegory :) .. they'll present Modern Muscle ..:)

[Cookie the Dog's Owner on December 30, 2010 at 11:33 AM]

For a contrary opinion: http://www.professorbainbridge.com/professorbainbridgecom/2010/12/american-top-gear-sucks.html

[TJ on February 01, 2011 at 10:42 AM]

I think Rutledge is the show's weak point. To me, he's incredibly scripted.

Really, this show shouldn't be compared to the BBC version, but it's hard not to when it shares the same name.

Tanner is knowledgeable, but comes off as a metrosexual dweeb. I still prefer watching him over Rutledge, who seems to be a dilettante about all things automotive and probably would rather be on a single-speed bicycle.

Adam can get annoying; I think they try to focus on him talking about his Jersey-blue collar-Italian roots too much. He knows about super-cars; maybe he should talk more about them?