The wait is almost over, for Australians at least. Their version of the show airs on Sept. 29th. This teaser makes it seem like the show will be very hands-on/DIY with lots of Outback-oriented settings. Just from this clip, it seems like their car tester, Charlie Cox, can’t quite pull off a good Clarkson impersonation. He describes driving a Ford GT as "better than sex," which means he’s probably never had really good sex. Eager American viewers will have to wait until Feb. or March ‘09 before they can pan or praise the US version.
Archive for the 'Jeremy Clarkson' Category
Top Gear co-host, Tanner Foust, gives some details about the up-coming show to Jonny Lieberman. He reiterates much of what Adam Carrola said; that they’ll be given free reign to say what they want (and later in the interview he self-censors himself when he puts down econoboxes). The format will be very much the same as the UK’s version, albeit shorter because of commercials. And, as for fellow co-host, Eric Stromer, Foust says that while he’s not a techincal "car guy," he will represent much of their audience; everyday people who aren’t complete gearheads but like cars.
In a recent Top Gear episode, Clarkson & Co. pitted an M3 against a Prius on their test track. The M3 followed the Prius around the circuit as it lapped as fast as it could. It bored Clarkson to tears but he did it in the name of science. The end result showed the M3 averaged 16.1 mpg vs. the Prius’ 14.3 mpg. Does it take a genius to figure out why?
Source: theNewspaper
Photos: BMW, Topspeed.com
So it’s Adam Carolla, Tanner Faust and Eric Stromer. Who? We don’t know either because we don’t watch enough Home and Garden TV. The real question is: Will it make a difference who the hosts are when it’s an NBC product? Meaning, will NBC water it down and refrain from negative reviews out of fear of angering its advertisers? Being that car commercials, along with alcohol and pharmaceuticals, are the 3 biggest ad revenue generators for television, it’s doubtful.
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Something HUGE is brewing at Top Gear, and I’m NOT talking about the confusion over at NBC’s we-hope-will-be-even-half-as-good-as-the-UK-version-but-can’t-be US version of Top Gear.
And we’ve seen Top Gear’s smoking gun pitch. Yes. That is, if it’s real. I think it is. Maybe. Probably.
Think Top Gear on ice. Almost. Yes. It’s true.
The Sun reports that Jeremy Clarkson and the Top Gear crew plan "to build a super patrol car to help cops crack down on crime." Apparently they "looked at cops’ cars and they [weren’t] equipped enough for the job."
Looks like Jeremy Clarkson might be losing some points off his license and 60 Pounds poorer. Caught via camera-phone by a couple who spotted him on the highway in his 6.3 Mercedes, Clarkson, according to the Daily Mail, initially denied being in the car at that time. When shown the photos, he said, "that isn’t a mobile phone." After slamming the door on the reporter, he then shouted, "Look, I write a column for another newspaper. I’m not allowed to talk to you."
Source: Daily Mail via Autospies
Photo: Daily Mail
Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson "was said to be enormously relieved last night after being acquitted in a speeding case" according to the Daily Mail. Our favorite TG host had been accused with failing to identity the driver of factory-lent Alfa Romeo Brera shot - by one of the United Kingdom’s ubiquitous speed cameras - traveling 82mph in a 50mph zone. It failed to get a clear shot of the driver - which was sufficient for Clarkson’s lawyer to get him off.
I’m curious as to how Clarkson could claim he wasn’t driving, but even if the camera couldn’t make out the driver’s face, it is possible Clarkson’s 6 foot, 5 inch frame was sufficiently obvious in the passenger’s seat.
But the interesting aspect isn’t that Clarkson got off, but that anyone could using such a defense, especially in the UK…where civil rights/privacy protections are weaker than those in the United States. I’m curious as to what specific English law protects one so accused from naming the driver, as the increasing number of speed cameras in the United States will undoubtedly lead to further such situations here.
The knee-jerk answer would be to tint one’s windshield, but UK lawmakers, having already though of that, banned that one by imposing stiff fines for their (often clumsy and unattractive) installation…for obvious reasons. Many US states have had such laws since long before speed cameras became chic, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the ongoing battle between speeders and lawmakers isn’t anywhere close to over…for manually adjustable tint LCD glass is already available for (albeit pricey) home installation…
