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Jeremy Clarkson has been sacked by the BBC, the status of James May and Richard Hammond is uncertain, but their pictures have been removed from the Top Gear home page. The BBC chief said Top Gear shall be renewed for another series, but that seems premature since they don't appear to have a replacement cast or format in the works.

Top gear is the most widely watched "factual" television program in the world, it has 350 million viewers in 170 different countries each week. It has been aired since 1977. It is an institution. To throw away such a successful program seems bizarre.

Does anybody have any good information on the whole affair?

Comments?
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Latest is the BBC have got themselves in a right pickle. They are committed contractually around the world for all three of them to do a series of live Top Gear shows. If they don't do them the penalties run into millions.

Apparently despite sacking Clarkson they have asked all the three to commit to the live shows, if you were Clarkson what do you think the answer would be ???

Also heard the other broadcasters here SKY and ITV have already approached them and offering megabucks to do a similar show. It can't be called Top Gear as BBC hold the rights
quote:
Originally posted by lashss:
I always found the show barely watchable...American version included.

Too much opinion and not enough real information. Also, it is not really written for car people.

I find the UK EVO magazine tests and Chris Harris MUCH more entertaining and informative.

LS
Agree COMPLETELY!...although the American version is atrocious & unwatchable, as evidenced by it's relatively quick cancellation!

Now "1" of the American versions hosts Rutledge aka "Buffoon" will be part of a new show...

http://www.history.com/shows/lost-in-transmission

Which will last about as long as the last piece of Chocolate cake at a fat kid's Birthday party...Mark
Agreed. The BBC hosts are car guys in the sense that they like cars, but I never got the idea they worked on them or hot rodded them beyond basic repairs. The value in the show was the opposing personalities, yet they had similar tastes in vehicles no matter how they tried to sell it. They related to non car people and I've had a few friends who enjoy the show which confirmed it for me. Their banter entertained folks. The distaste for american vehicles ran dry after a few seasons. There is only so much BS you can get spoonfed.

The US version was definitely atrocious, and that is putting it nicely. One; They tried to recycle too many aspects of the BBC show and 2; they couldn't have picked worse hosts. I can't believe that rutledge guy got another show. You'd think we only have a few people who can talk about cars in America the way they recycle these terrible hosts.

One show I do enjoy is the Roadkill Episodes from Hot Rod Magazine on youtube. At least there is some informative topics with entertainment mixed in.
quote:
Originally posted by lashss:
The Petrolicious, Chris Harris and EVO Magazine channels on Youtube are superb with very high production values.

This one is just perfection:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewQaikxTUJs

Ridiculous car, amazing noise, expert commentary and very informative.

LS
Yes..."Perfection" does have it's price...this time "Perfection" costs 38 MILLION DOLLARS!!!...Mark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iff3XSMRpIQ
quote:
Originally posted by lashss:
Indeed...an old auction too. One sold privately for $50m.

I did mean that the video production was perfection. Check out the other Petrolicious videos on cars like the Honda CRX and 240Z. I have no interest in either of those cars but the videos are entertaining.

This is one that is very well done:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjj7fBkcQCE

LS
Very Much Enjoy his videos, especially this one.

Burning up tires within a relatively few laps can get $$$$$$...Mark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaAQW8lVaRM

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