Folks, while I'm not able to disclose who the American version of "The Stig" is, let's just say it may not be just one person... I do know we all know of a special someone who travels alot for work (may have just gotten back) who may or may not know alot about driving vehicles (of all sorts, in many environments)... this person, despite no paid driving/racing experience, may/may not have already taped an episode (or two, or three). :worthy:
BBC version, it is not. Maybe it will get better with time. Wow, a couple of Eastbayer's posting on the same day. There is a God.
I did enjoy the show, even thought the humor wasn't quite there. The hosts don't have the dynamic that the BBC hosts do. This could be the best show.............................in the world. We'll see. P.S. I am the Stig.
P.S. I am the Stig. No Jeff you are way too tall.. i am the Stig BBC version, it is not. Maybe it will get better with time. concur Hal... long way to go before they match the BBC version... this one is almost like Battle of the Supercars... except w/o PT ego...
Top Gear USA… moments of brilliance amongst a fog of anticipation. The USA version of the wildly popular BBC show “Top Gear” which is seen in most post Cold War countries, is exciting and yet, dull. Cinematically, the USA show is on par with its BBC predecessor and you’ll feel like the same people are directing the shots. The angles and visual cues are on the money as is the sound effects. This show really puts you in the car at times and offers interesting perspectives. As for the personalities who host the show, well, let’s look into that a bit more in-depth. Before scrutinizing hosts Tanner Foust, Rutledge Wood and Adam Ferrara, we must recognize we are all used to the BBC hosts, their personalities and experiences. We expect something outlandish and over the top and they deliver. Those gents have been hosting the BBC show for quite some time and have their game together. We shouldn’t expect the same from the USA hosts… but, we do. Tanner Foust. We know him as a professional driver with great skill. We also know him from his show “Supercars Exposed”. Tanner is a likeable and knowledgeable guy. His presence on the show gives it credibility and a sense of welcoming the audience to view it. Tanner was a great selection for the show. Rutledge Wood. To be honest, never heard of the guy until Sunday night’s first episode. But he’s a comedian, I can see that in him. His easy going, southern manner, edged with a touch of unpredictability sort of gives him a Jack Black style persona, minus the narcotic sense of craziness. He seems to know his stuff and comes off as quite intelligent, despite his down to earth appearance. If Rutledge continues to develop his on-screen persona into what I hope (and think) he’s capable of, the show can only improve. Rutledge will be a star in future episodes. I foresee Tanner and Rutledge becoming the Abbott and Costello of the show, as they seem to be polar opposites in terms of personality. Tanner, reserved and contemporary, Rutledge a bit over the top and yet, a bit below it as well. This could be a saving grace for the fledgling show. Adam Ferrara. Who is this guy? Why is he on the show? What is his car background? I get the overwhelming sense, given I don’t know who he is, that the producers had a slot to fill and simply hired the lowest bidder; and the lowest bidder is taking on a role similar to Jeremy Clarkson, the BBC Top Gear’s main host! Adam didn’t seem at home during the interview phase of the show (more on that later), and seemed a bit too novice and spoon-fed when talking cars (the whole point of the show). An example I recall was when the three hosts competed against one another in a one mile race. At the conclusion, Adam was giddy… as if he’d never driven a sports car before. This was further evidenced by him stating 180 miles per hour was the fastest he’s ever gone. Now, that’s fast, faster than I have ever driven, but you’d expect the primary host of a car show to have more experience… let alone for his hands to not be shaking with nervous excitement after the fact. Adam obviously has some talent, and maybe it’ll develop into something spectacular for the show. But, for now, he’s more of a wet towel. The choice of guest star for the inaugural episode of Top Gear was Buzz Aldrin. It doesn’t get more American than Buzz! Mr. Aldrin, is an astronaut extraordinaire, American hero and car guy! The guy has intelligence and intestinal fortitude, he’s part of history… and he was done a disservice on the show. Think about it… how many people would have such grand tales to tell about exciting experiences in life and their’ impact upon American society? Mr. Aldrin, thanks for being on the first lunar landing and the second person to ever set foot on the moon… here’s your five minutes… use them wisely! Those five minutes is where Adam Ferrara, again, fell on his face (with the help of the producers I’m sure). His interview with Mr. Aldrin left a lot to be desired. It was dull, ineffectual and just plain boring. A few sound bites of flying on a rocket headed for space and a couple mentions of Mr. Aldrin’s personal vehicle resume’. The second misfortune Mr. Aldrin had on the show (other than the poor interviewing) was the celebrity ride around the test track in a Suzuki something or other. A Japanese car?!?! Come on! How about a Ford Focus (right, Rick)?!?! The Stig. Really? The Stig is the BBC’s professional driver. Not the Americans’. Why in the world would the producers create a second Stig who displays the same, cool, silent demeanor… and dresses identically to the BBC personality?! Come on America, show some creativity! I’d have been fine with calling the character The Stig, but give him a black outfit, not white. Keep his face covered, but make him outspoken using voice altering technology, fake accents or even subtitles! Change it up just a bit. You get the sense the American version is trying to mimic the BBC show too closely instead of taking the show’s platform and re-arranging it, changing it up a tad. What you’re left with is a lesser copy of the BBC show. Overall, the antics and scenarios were well thought out and executed. The hosts haven’t worked together long and their on-screen relationships are still developing. A more interpersonal perspective is needed (like the BBC version). There’s not nearly enough joking or kidding around… not enough sarcasm between the hosts. With the BBC’s show, you get the feeling the hosts are pals, buddies, who watch a game, drink beer and eat fatty foods together. The BBC show gives an aura of spontaneity. On the American show, at least one host seems rather distant and coached. It’s just not as fun or engaging to watch as the BBC show… at least not yet!
Also you gotta realize the car culture is different entirely. We don't have teensy roads and we don't live in the same towns our great-grandparents' great-grandparents were born in. We have wide open spaces, and we can enjoy huge overpowered cars. If you want an example of how different it is and how different the show would necessarily be, you need to watch that episode where the BBC sissies try driving from Florida to New Orleans or when they tried out the new "American muscle" from SF to Bonneville. So completely clueless about Americans and their cars until after driving a few days here and even then they go screaming back home to their preening little supercars. :cry: Don't get me wrong, I dig the show, but I don't see how you could exactly replicate it here and not have some significant differences. I do look forward to watching it when school/toddler allow though and hope it doesn't turn into a rolling advertisement for the Chevy Volt. :doh:
Tam, you're right... I completely respect the BBC show's opinions, as they do know what they're talking about; however, it has to be understood, they're not from the USA and don't completely grasp our driving/car culture. I guess its the same for us, here, but in reverse. Doesn't make one right or wrong necessarily, just a different perspective of sorts... it's all about what color glasses we see through. I would like to mention the BBC show did do another show that featured American vehicles... I believe it was the Challenger, a Corvette and maybe a Viper?!?! The BBC hosts seemed to enjoy those vehicles on that episode.
Yes, that was the SF to Bonneville run. They started out bitching left and right but by the end of it, at least Hammond seemed somewhat impressed. It just took being stuck with the car for days on end to get over themselves. I appreciate where they are coming from, but like most people when you take them out of their element and change things up, they gotta whine, bitch and moan. That episode, I had a hard time because I knew what the Challenger could do and Richard was being such a girl about driving it. That and having to get advice from a dude with a minivan on how to drive the thing? It just illustrated how they're really car reviewers more than anything because they bitched about the car like your every day idiot consumer without trying to figure stuff out like most in our and other car communities. Marc kept telling me to calm down.
