Okay, maybe it isn’t Revolutionary War Part Two exactly. It’s more like the Office revisited. Or the recreation of Skins. Or any great British show that America tries to make its own. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But I am a Top Gear fanatic and, apparently, have a lot of thoughts on the subject. Much of my love for the show is documented throughout this site. I am not ashamed to say I watch it nightly (okay, maybe I’m a little ashamed to admit that). My friend once told me he was watching the episode where “they’re in France” and, in my horribly encyclopedic knowledge of the show, I knew exactly which episode he was talking about. For the record, it’s series 13, episode 5. Thus, it should come as no surprise that I have been watching Top Gear America.
It’s hard to watch the show and keep from comparing it to the British original, especially when the British original is engrained in my brain. And so the judgements begin, with my mind playing Clarkson, Hamster, and Captain Slow instead of Adam Ferrara, Tanner Foust, and Rutledge Wood.
What do I think of Top Gear America?
I like it. I think they’re doing a good job. Obviously there is room for improvement but it’s a good show and it keeps important British elements in check. Furthermore, you can’t judge them by the first season. Just try to watch the first season of British Top Gear. It’s terrible. I’m a diehard fan and I could barely watch each episode once. It takes until season 4 to get watchable and season 5 to turn great. Top Gear America has, so far, skipped the unwatchable portion of British Top Gear. They’ve managed to avoid grannies doing donuts or handbraking parking. Instead, Top Gear America played up their talents with Tanner showing off his drifting skills and teaching a blind man how to drive, which was fantastic.
But, like I said, there’s always room for improvement. I wish the guys would properly introduce the Stig. Right now having an anonymous racing driver seems a bit needless when Tanner’s around. There’s so much potential in Stiggie jokes. The show needs that air of irreverence British Top Gear is known for. They poke fun at each other, themselves, and the show. Nothing is sacred, which makes for hilarious viewing. The Stig has untapped potential in the US. Can you imagine Stiggie in Atlanta? Or the Midwest? Including the Stig in challenges would add some of that fun. Additionally, I’d love for the guys to tease their guests more. I understand not wanting to offend anyone so early on but there’s so much untapped potential. I can’t remember which guest drove a Prius but there was a wealth of opportunity and it was largely passed by. I also think sticking to a single interviewer would be beneficial in the long run. I get trying to give each of the guys a chance to shine but I think there needs to be that single Clarkson in the crowd.
I’m not the target audience for either show. I’m a fashion student. I’m a twenty year old girl. At the moment, I’m decked out in snowflake pajama pants, a tank top, and two braids. But there’s something about these two shows that keeps me watching. And if they can pull in someone who they’re not aiming for, well, they’re doing something right. It’s not just me they’re getting either. They’re getting a marketing major a few floors above me who’s newly addicted. They’re getting my older biochemist brother who introduced me to my love affair with Top Gear. They’re grabbing people’s attention and, most importantly, keeping it.
Overall, though, I think Top Gear America is great. Everyone needs to remember how long it took British Top Gear to get its groove. Remember Jason before James May? It took them four seasons to get established. We haven’t even gotten four episodes from Top Gear America.
And at least Top Gear America isn’t putting nuns in monster trucks.
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