Can't watch Top Gear any more..

Jonny7

Really, I used to think it was possibly the best thing on TV..

the scripting never bothered me because there were so many genuine, adlibbed, brilliant moments..

However in the recent and new series.. ugh.. even the 'shakey-barely-caught-on-camera' moments are scripted.. not good

MidlandsM

stop being all pedantic and enjoy it for what it is; entertainment.

aidan_walsh

Um, isn't that the point? That he no longer finds it entertaining?

mink_man

i dont like how its sooooooo scripted, some of it yes, but hammond especially over does it..

high heels

Its offical they are now like my dad..

The gray hair the glasses... When jezza won the best car points thats how my dad would act.. Same with Mays dance at the end...

I am very disapoint!!

eclipse05

Try to watch more of Fifth Gear... it's some alternative

Anyway i love both programs.
I'll be never bored in TopGear. It's fun, light and great to watch... well... maybe you can't learn anything useful but, who cares? :pac:

ScrubsfanChris

If you like Top gear or even love it, by all means keep posting your thoughts on the show.

But lad's, this must be the 100th thread on "top gear is crap now because........"

Mabey have a Sticky for the begrudgers, cause I'm sick of reading this stuff.

Ponster

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Mabey have a Sticky for the begrudgers, cause I'm sick of reading this stuff.

Then just ignore the thread?

I think the OPs point is tht the show was better in the past when it was a lot less scripted and therefore it could be the same again no?

mike65

I haven't seen Sundays edition yet, repeated on Tuesday 8 pm but I wasn't particuarly looking forward to it. I'll do my duty but not expecting much. Its got tired.

Vegeta

mike65 wrote: »

Its got tired.

That's my impression too

Yet another not very interesting test of 3 cars last night

The only stand out moment for me was Rubens

IvySlayer

Stop trying so hard in front of the camera.

Stop the fake arguments.

Shut up Hammond.

I still love it though, mainly because of Jeremy.

Myrddin

Ponster wrote: »

Then just ignore the thread?

I think the OPs point is tht the show was better in the past when it was a lot less scripted and therefore it could be the same again no?

Surely if we can ignore the thread, the OP can ignore the show if its such a pain to watch?

Ponster

EnterNow wrote: »

Surely if we can ignore the thread, the OP can ignore the show if its such a pain to watch?

Nope The TopGear forum is open to all members, even those who feel that that past few seasons haven't been as good as previous ones.

Cond0r

Heh, as I just posted on the thread about last night's show, I have to agree with the begrudgers here. I no longer find it particularly entertaining to watch for all the reasons people have mentioned. They need some new presenters or something. I'm not sure if Clarkson or May annoy me more.

Was Clarkson wearing blue racing shoes during the 4-door supercar piece that started in the City? Sigh.

Myrddin

Ponster wrote: »

Nope The TopGear forum is open to all members, even those who feel that that past few seasons haven't been as good as previous ones.

Well I would hope so, as I'm one of them

But I don't see why anyone would knowingly watch a programme they no longer like, then complain about it. If it's such a pain to watch, then don't watch it - simple If you know its boring & staged, but watch it anyway and find yourself picking out its flaws, then you've only yourself to blame.

Ponster

EnterNow wrote: »

Well I would hope so, as I'm one of them

But I don't see why anyone would knowingly watch a programme they no longer like, then complain about it. If it's such a pain to watch, then don't watch it - simple If you know its boring & staged, but watch it anyway and find yourself picking out its flaws, then you've only yourself to blame.

I guess we who feel that it isn't as good as it used to be feel that it's still a lot better than most muck on the telly. This thread isn't really a complain, more of a rant really. No one but you said that it was a pain to watch

Myrddin

Ponster wrote: »

I guess we who feel that it isn't as good as it used to be feel that it's still a lot better than most muck on the telly.

100% with you on that one, thats why I watch it & always will watch it as long as it's around And this season (I missed the 2nd ep) I feel so far is much better than last season.

Ponster wrote: »

No one but you said that it was a pain to watch

Well the thread title implyed its that bad that it's unwatchable, hence painful As you were getting at, even the worst TG episode beats most other muck on tv which isn't complained about.

mike65

Here is what I wrote in a Guardian blog article last December

No doubt Andy Willman will have a look through this blog as he likes to stay abreast. Here's my two cents worth.

Take a leaf out the Dr Who notebook and rest the series format for a year or two. A short season of 4 specials which are thoroughly "worked up" into top draw 60-75 min programmes that can stand up to repeated viewing would keep the TG "brand" intact while allowing all parties the opportunity to take a breather.

I think this is even more the case after 2 shows this series.

Myrddin

mike65 wrote: »

Here is what I wrote in a Guardian blog article last December



I think this is even more the case after 2 shows this series.

That suggestion to take a year off has been doing the rounds a while now, I think it would be good for them. Disappear for a while, then burst back onto the screens with a rejuvenated show/spirit.

Raedwald

I enjoy TG its light hearted entertainment on a sunday evening, when there is very little else on tv.

The ones that people tend to enjoy are the really big adventure ones, and they should maybe a few more of these and lessen the series length.

Wilman has stated that the show as a whole is nearing its conclusion on his end of series blog and that from now on they will try and do less scripted stuff and have the three presenters be more normal and not the characters they have built up.

ringadingding

I thought that it all seemed overacted, too scripted and too many coincidental things happening, ie things catching fire.

The news bits are painful to watch, tired predictable arguments and feigned surprise and poorly scripted jokes with god awful delivery, especially from hammond.

I went back and watched series 7 and 8 and they were miles better, natural, lots of ad lib and real suspense and they each had real arguments on their views on cars, also no make up on any presenters.

Its gone a step too far and i've stopped enjoying and therefore watching it.

Im fully entitled to post this on here as a forum is not just a place to praise things, but to discuss and chat about them without taking it to heart or getting offended.

I did really enjoy the piece on senna though, a true maverick and i wish i knew more about him when he was alive.

mike65

ringadingding wrote: »

Im fully entitled to post this on here as a forum is not just a place to praise things, but to discuss and chat about them without taking it to heart or getting offended.

Did anyone suggest otherwise? This isn't transmission blogs or finalgear.com message boards you can speak your mind here without getting jumped on.

fryup

eclipse05 wrote: »

Try to watch more of Fifth Gear... it's some alternative

well it used to be, but of late its getting more like TG

FrostyJack

I didn't know Fifth Gear was back on, much better than Top Gear has gone now. Why do they even bother with the predetermined "challenges", they used to be funny and entertaining now I just don't believe anything they show. The celeb interviews are now the best part of the show because the news and "reviews" are gone to the dogs. I used to watch Top Gear back in the day to give me an idea of a car I might buy one day, now all they do is drive Bugatti's and Lambo's. That's all well and good if they are entertaining but they now say the same thing about all of them. Go to youtube and watch one of the "classic" episodes and I guarantee you will laugh your head off as well as learn something.

Max Power1

Ponster wrote: »

I guess we who feel that it isn't as good as it used to be feel that it's still a lot better than most muck on the telly. This thread isn't really a complain, more of a rant really. No one but you said that it was a pain to watch

+1

It may not be as good as it was, but its still better than whatever else is on sundays at 8pm!

dlambirl

Its the dullness, predictableness and scripted scenes that has destroyed this season of top gear for me.

Kashkai

Top Gear was a must watch programme for me for years but there can be no doubting that its gotten tired over the past couple of seasons.

There are only so many:
- "amazing races" you can stage between a car and some adrenaline junkies,
- people carrier/motorhome conversions,
- bus/truck destruction derby races
you can have before it becomes very same old, same old!

Looking back on earlier series, my favourite parts were the roadtrips like the trek across the southern states of the US where they get chased by the local rednecks, the trek across the ice to the north pole and my number one, the trek from the Amazon across the Andes to the Pacific.

Perhaps some time off is what is required and maybe this is what they've contemplated themselves with the current truncated series - have they run out of ideas?????

Myrddin

Prosperous Dave wrote: »

Top Gear was a must watch programme for me for years but there can be no doubting that its gotten tired over the past couple of seasons.

There are only so many:
- "amazing races" you can stage between a car and some adrenaline junkies,
- people carrier/motorhome conversions,
- bus/truck destruction derby races
you can have before it becomes very same old, same old!

Looking back on earlier series, my favourite parts were the roadtrips like the trek across the southern states of the US where they get chased by the local rednecks, the trek across the ice to the north pole and my number one, the trek from the Amazon across the Andes to the Pacific.

Perhaps some time off is what is required and maybe this is what they've contemplated themselves with the current truncated series - have they run out of ideas?????

I agree with mostly all of your points, it is important to remember however that the Bolivia special was only last season, and that was one of the best ever.

Kashkai

Yeah the Bolivia episode was class, very funny in places and edge of the seat stuff on the "road of death". However, these excellent roadtrip specials just show how stale the rest of the show has become. Time for a revamp?????

Nephilim Wolf

FrostyJack wrote: »

I didn't know Fifth Gear was back on, much better than Top Gear has gone now. Why do they even bother with the predetermined "challenges", they used to be funny and entertaining now I just don't believe anything they show. The celeb interviews are now the best part of the show because the news and "reviews" are gone to the dogs. I used to watch Top Gear back in the day to give me an idea of a car I might buy one day, now all they do is drive Bugatti's and Lambo's. That's all well and good if they are entertaining but they now say the same thing about all of them. Go to youtube and watch one of the "classic" episodes and I guarantee you will laugh your head off as well as learn something.

I agree with you about too many Bugatti's and Lambo's. I'm a bit tired of them contantly reviewing Aston Martin's and Ferrari's of every kind as well. The other thing that bores me is the guest parts as well. Other than that it's not a bad show, just not as great as it used to be. I also miss they way they used to review normal cars that everybody could afford when Quentin Wilson was in the show, back in the day, they were really great.

mike65

Ah Quentin would just try as sell you a classic Merc! He loves his special old cars.