How is hiring someone who is virtually unknown in America going to maintain Top Gear's success in America?
I’ve said it before in this thread, but I think Top Gear’s popularity in America is often unbelievably exaggerated or completely misunderstood. It has a small, niche fan base in America, but it certainly isn’t a well known programme, and it’s hosts are certainly not house hold names. It airs on BBC America, a basic cable channel with low ratings and that some cable/satellite providers don’t even carry. Top Gear USA airs on the History channel and I’m sure it get’s higher ratings than the British original, and despite being in its 5th series is far from a huge success itself.
May and Hammond are missing a trick, they should agree to do the next series with a different guest presenter each week. It would raise their profiles, it could be a running joke each week as to how that week's presenter wasn't as good as Jeremy in some aspect or other (or maybe occasionally better!) and would generally give what had become a pretty stale format a breath of fresh air while still keeping a sense of continuity.
And after one series like that, if they really wanted to, they could probably bring Clarkson back.
The show will come back hopefully with the affable, charming James May as lead-host (he's always been the better presenter of the three as proven across his other programmes), Hammond and some other amusing car-nut - Perhaps this could be a different person every series in an extension of the guest-host approach taken by HIGNFY. That way the likes of Coogan, Rowan Atkinson, Johnny Vaughan, Chris Evans etc wouldn't feel pressured to be the centre of the show and it wouldn't mean they'd have to commit more than a few months to it as opposed to doing it full-time. It'd also mean there was a greater anticipation about each new series to see how the "new guy" would perform. And if one of them was a hit and wanted to stay-on permanently then......
So what happened to the widely-reported alleged "dream team" lineup:]
part of me thinks stuff like this is leaked just to see how the audience might react, if the reaction is positive they do it, if not the come up with some other idea, the dream team lineup didnt exactly have people clammering for them to try it.
and the whole May/Hammond thing, of course they havent resigned, they were on contracts like Clarkson, which expired at the termination/end of the last series and whilst they may have other ongoing contracts for other BBC shows, they arent contracted to do Top Gear.
Looks like a U-Turn already mayhe leaving the door open to Clarkson? May and Hammond staying maybe they don't want to change things too much?
Surprising as they seemed to want a whole new line up a few weeks ago.
If I was that pair I would jump ship to ITV see how the BBC get on with the loss of revenue if Top Gear flops.
If this happens, I'll lose all respect for Hammond and May. It's clear betrayal; they should stick loyal to their friendship with Clarkson. The only way I'd be happy about it is if they're doing it because Clarkson has been promised a return on the 2017 series.
If this happens, I'll lose all respect for Hammond and May. It's clear betrayal; they should stick loyal to their friendship with Clarkson. The only way I'd be happy about it is if they're doing it because Clarkson has been promised a return on the 2017 series.
Yes as you say at the end... the only scenario I can see this happening is if this if the BBC trying to engineer an "acceptable scenario" in which JC returns. The very suggestion of guest presenters means it's a temporary 1 series solution. And why would they need a temporary solution? Because they'd be aiming to have JC back the following series. I mean there is no other reason to do it really.
The longer both sides go without announcing their future plans.. the more likely they're going to come back together imho.
Yes as you say at the end... the only scenario I can see this happening is if this if the BBC trying to engineer an "acceptable scenario" in which JC returns. The very suggestion of guest presenters means it's a temporary 1 series solution. And why would they need a temporary solution? Because they'd be aiming to have JC back the following series. I mean there is no other reason to do it really.
The longer both sides go without announcing their future plans.. the more likely they're going to come back together imho.
The ideal scenario would be the trio back on Top Gear but how long would the BBC be prepared to wait before reinstating Clarkson as presenter?
I wouldn't want to see two series of alternating presenters or a permanent presenter who isn't Clarkson introduced the following year.
The very suggestion of guest presenters means it's a temporary 1 series solution. And why would they need a temporary solution? Because they'd be aiming to have JC back the following series. I mean there is no other reason to do it really
tbh I wouldn't like TG with different guest presenters, don't know why but would prefer a permanent presenter. I also don't mind if the current line-up (any of them) never return ... as long as the replacements float my boat. appreciate I'm in a minority on that one
If this happens, I'll lose all respect for Hammond and May. It's clear betrayal; they should stick loyal to their friendship with Clarkson. The only way I'd be happy about it is if they're doing it because Clarkson has been promised a return on the 2017 series.
They could really take the piss if they had the two old presenters and a guest presenter: they could have Clarkson as a Star In A Reasonably Priced Car. That wouldn't be renewing his contract as a presenter of Top Gear, it would just be the usual one off appearance contract.
The amount of stupidity could be enormous: Just get the 3 of them back and sort the mess out.
tbh I wouldn't like TG with different guest presenters, don't know why but would prefer a permanent presenter. I also don't mind if the current line-up (any of them) never return ... as long as the replacements float my boat. appreciate I'm in a minority on that one
You can't have Top Gear without Clarkson, Hammond and May. It would be like fish without the chips.
It seems to me that the BBC can't get anyone willing to be the scapegoat for Top Gear being a failure.
Whoever it is will be compared the past 3 presenters. People will just laugh and switch off.
I have a feeling that they wanted a year or 2 off of Top Gear but Clarkson took it into his own hands as usual & ballsed it up.
I'm waiting for the day that we see a video of Clarkson shaking hands with the guy he smacked about. Says sorry, we all live happily ever after, welcome back to Top Gear.
If this happens, I'll lose all respect for Hammond and May. It's clear betrayal; they should stick loyal to their friendship with Clarkson. The only way I'd be happy about it is if they're doing it because Clarkson has been promised a return on the 2017 series.
There is no mention of them staying on TG. They've been offered a contract which I'm sure they'll turn down. The BBC have proved once again that they haven't got a clue. After all this time they still don't get it. The guest presenter idea just won't work.
Comments
I’ve said it before in this thread, but I think Top Gear’s popularity in America is often unbelievably exaggerated or completely misunderstood. It has a small, niche fan base in America, but it certainly isn’t a well known programme, and it’s hosts are certainly not house hold names. It airs on BBC America, a basic cable channel with low ratings and that some cable/satellite providers don’t even carry. Top Gear USA airs on the History channel and I’m sure it get’s higher ratings than the British original, and despite being in its 5th series is far from a huge success itself.
https://www.facebook.com/clarksonhammondandmaylive?fref=nf
Seems the BBC are thinking along the same lines:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/top-gear-to-follow-have-i-got-news-for-you-format-with-different-host-for-each-episode-10288627.html
Ahem......
03-04-2015, 08:27
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11580679/BBC-has-chosen-dream-team-of-Top-Gear-presenters-to-replace-Jeremy-Clarkson.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/top-gear-jodie-kidd-philip-glenister-and-guy-martin-in-advanced-talks-to-join-show-10223806.html
part of me thinks stuff like this is leaked just to see how the audience might react, if the reaction is positive they do it, if not the come up with some other idea, the dream team lineup didnt exactly have people clammering for them to try it.
and the whole May/Hammond thing, of course they havent resigned, they were on contracts like Clarkson, which expired at the termination/end of the last series and whilst they may have other ongoing contracts for other BBC shows, they arent contracted to do Top Gear.
Looks like a U-Turn already mayhe leaving the door open to Clarkson? May and Hammond staying maybe they don't want to change things too much?
Surprising as they seemed to want a whole new line up a few weeks ago.
If I was that pair I would jump ship to ITV see how the BBC get on with the loss of revenue if Top Gear flops.
If this happens, I'll lose all respect for Hammond and May. It's clear betrayal; they should stick loyal to their friendship with Clarkson. The only way I'd be happy about it is if they're doing it because Clarkson has been promised a return on the 2017 series.
Yes as you say at the end... the only scenario I can see this happening is if this if the BBC trying to engineer an "acceptable scenario" in which JC returns. The very suggestion of guest presenters means it's a temporary 1 series solution. And why would they need a temporary solution? Because they'd be aiming to have JC back the following series. I mean there is no other reason to do it really.
The longer both sides go without announcing their future plans.. the more likely they're going to come back together imho.
The ideal scenario would be the trio back on Top Gear but how long would the BBC be prepared to wait before reinstating Clarkson as presenter?
I wouldn't want to see two series of alternating presenters or a permanent presenter who isn't Clarkson introduced the following year.
Thats what I was going to say lol. How many years has it been with "guest" presenters?
Too many...
I'm sure they'll be heartbroken....
The amount of stupidity could be enormous: Just get the 3 of them back and sort the mess out.
You can't have Top Gear without Clarkson, Hammond and May. It would be like fish without the chips.
Whoever it is will be compared the past 3 presenters. People will just laugh and switch off.
I have a feeling that they wanted a year or 2 off of Top Gear but Clarkson took it into his own hands as usual & ballsed it up.
I'm waiting for the day that we see a video of Clarkson shaking hands with the guy he smacked about. Says sorry, we all live happily ever after, welcome back to Top Gear.
There is no mention of them staying on TG. They've been offered a contract which I'm sure they'll turn down. The BBC have proved once again that they haven't got a clue. After all this time they still don't get it. The guest presenter idea just won't work.