Top Gear America hosts announced....

[Goodspeed]

NBCÔÇÖS ÔÇÿTOP GEARÔÇÖ BUCKLES UP ITS HOSTS FOR HIGH-OCTANE PILOT FROM BBC WORLDWIDE AMERICA BASED ON INTERNATIONAL HIT FRANCHISE

BURBANK - June 16, 2008 - Television and radio comedian Adam Carolla, champion rally and drift racer Tanner Foust, and TV construction guru Eric Stromer, will lead NBCÔÇÖs pilot of the international smash hit series ÔÇ£Top Gear.ÔÇØ The production will begin later this week.

Produced by BBC Worldwide America, the U.S. version of the hit franchise will mirror the UK showÔÇÖs irreverent humor and camaraderie between the three presenters, epic races, outrageous stunts and challenges, unique celebrity guest participation and eccentric methods of testing cars.

"This franchise is a proven winner worldwide and the hosting team of Adam, Tanner and Eric that we have brought together for the U.S. version offers a perfect match of humor, insider know-how and priceless track experience," said Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment. "We are going to create a high-powered show that, like the original, will keep viewers in every demographic clutching the edge of their seats."

These three guys will get to drive the worlds most amazing cars, go on incredible road trips and blow stuff up. Its a dirty old job but someone has to do itwhy didnt I get the job?! said Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, TV Sales and Content & Production, BBC Worldwide America.

Jeremy Clarkson, executive producer and host of the UK ÔÇ£Top GearÔÇØ said: ÔÇ£This is fantastic news - but how on earth you lot are going to do it on the wrong side of the road IÔÇÖve no idea.ÔÇØ

Adam Carolla

Television and radio personality Adam Carolla is host of the daily, nationally-syndicated radio program ÔÇ£The Adam Carolla Show,ÔÇØ based out of Los AngelesÔÇÖ KLSX 97.1/ FREE FM. With partners Jimmy Kimmel and Daniel Kellison, Carolla created Jackhole Industries where he produced and starred in two hit Comedy Central shows, "The Man Show" and "Crank Yankers." Carolla also co-hosted the nationally-syndicated radio program ÔÇ£LovelineÔÇØ with Dr. Drew Pinsky for 10 years, as well as its TV version on MTV. Carolla also recently wrote and starred in the independent, award-winning feature film, ÔÇ£The Hammer.ÔÇØ In season six of ÔÇ£Dancing with the Stars,ÔÇØ Adam became the first ever contestant to complete a Paso Doble on a unicycle. Carolla is an avid car collector and owns several classic collectible Lamborghinis, Maseratis, two Ferraris and an Audi S4.

Tanner Foust

Tanner Foust is in high-demand as a stunt driver, with film credits including ÔÇ£The Bourne Ultimatum,ÔÇØ ÔÇ£The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo DriftÔÇØ and ÔÇ£The Dukes of Hazard.ÔÇØ Foust is a winning competitor in rally, drift, ice racing and time attack with multiple champion podium placements including the 2007 X Games Rally Champion and 2007 Formula Drift Pro Drift Champion. His varied race experience includes open wheel competition, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb (2002 - 2004), five Ice Racing championships and the 2005 PGT Rally Championship. He also holds class lap records at numerous U.S. road courses in Time Attack. In addition, Foust also hosted ÔÇ£Supercars ExposedÔÇØ for the SPEED channel. FoustÔÇÖs car of choice is a tricked-out M3.

Eric Stromer

Eric Stromer, host of the HGTV show "Over Your Head," started life in construction and remodeling houses after a short acting career as a soap opera hunk was abruptly ended by a Styrofoam boulder on the set of ÔÇ£Santa Barbara.ÔÇØ For 20 years he ran a successful building company before becoming the face of HGTVÔÇÖs hit show. HeÔÇÖs a regular on Adam CarollaÔÇÖs nationally-syndicated radio show giving out construction advice, and also appears on TLCÔÇÖs ÔÇ£Clean Sweep,ÔÇØ NBCÔÇÖs ÔÇ£Three WishesÔÇØ and is a special correspondent for ÔÇ£The Insider.ÔÇØ Stromer prefers his Camry hybrid.

The producers

The pilot of ÔÇ£Top GearÔÇØ will be executive produced by Tod Mesirow and Kevin Harris. MesirowÔÇÖs background includes producing credits on ÔÇ£Wired Science,ÔÇØ Discovery Channel's ÔÇ£Smash Lab,ÔÇØ ÔÇ£Mythbusters,ÔÇØ and ÔÇ£Monster Garage.ÔÇØ He also executive produced Discovery Studio's ÔÇ£Overhaulin'ÔÇØ for TLC. HarrisÔÇÖ credits include ÔÇ£The ApprenticeÔÇØ and ÔÇ£The Baby BorrowersÔÇØ for NBC.

My take: Every single American automotive program I have watched has blown heavily. Shows like Motorweek and Motor Trend TV will put me to sleep with their dull, drab presentational methods. Shows like Monster Garage and Overhaulin are more intriguing, but are done in such a kitschy, overly-scripted, un-funny and unemotional way that I also don't really enjoy watching them.

For this program, I've never liked anything this Carolla guy has done, Foust obviously has the credentials (and he sort of looks like Hamster, so I'm guessing he'll play the same "mediator" role), and the last guy I've never heard of but he looks like a doucheface that also drives a Hybrid. I'll watch the premiere, but if I hear one single stupid announcer voice (Monster Garage) or see less than an ounce of genuine camaraderie and un-rigid, unscripted nonsense (TG UK style) like in Overhaulin, etc etc. then I'll tune out.

Bottom line: Top Gear UK for the win

[Evan]

...I thought I heard the show got cancelled?

anyway, I hate Adam Corolla, and having a drifter as the 'talent' sure doenst help the shows credibility. And a hybrid driving soap star home remodeller? What the fuck?

[.RJ]

And a hybrid driving soap star home remodeller? What the fuck?

This is the pussification of America.

I probably wont watch it. Havent turned on my TV other than to watch F1 or Moto GP in months...

[ViPER1313]

How sad is this??

Jeremy = Adam Carolla = The over the top, overly confident role.
James = Eric Stromer = The older, slow driving guy.
Richard = Tanner Foust = The small guy who knows how to drive.

They are trying to make a carbon copy except using American actors. Not that the British version isn't scripted, but I don't think this is going to come off as genuinely as the British version does. Not to mention Adam Carolla sucks in everything he has ever done after the man show and isn't very funny (ie... Jimmy Kimmel (sp?) is still doing late night but Corollas show got pulled after 1/2 a season or so.) And Eric Stromer looks like a d-bag in that picture.

[Evan]

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"Featured "after market" accessory of the week."

Nopi T00nerVision?

[Goodspeed]

http://www.nbc.com/Primetime/Top_Gear/index.shtml

Whether you're a car fan or not, the drama, horsepower and tricked-out hot rods are sure to drive you back to this series again and again.

I foresee this show being ruined by sponsors, and I'll be damned if they can match the cinematography of TG UK.

[Dave]

so, it's agreed, we all expect it to suck heavily. I'll continue to DVR every episode of the original, but I'm intrigued and admit I will definitely watch it just to see how badly they screw it up by Americanizing it.
I also predict that it will be destroyed by sponsorship, over-scripting, and inability to talk poorly about a car that obviously sucks. And I personally do not see any of these guys buying a diesel 3-series, race-prepping it, and then battling with professional drivers as a team.

[ScottyB]

i'll watch it, but i have a feeling it's destined for tragedy. the US version show is trying way too hard, plus you can't emulate chemistry, which is what the OG version has and what makes it a success. plus the freaking board meeting focus group greedy ass network people will neuter the hell out of it so you know we won't get any hilarious un-pc stupidity, ala the America episode.

i hope the stig is a proper redneck.

[BLINGMW]

i hope the stig is a proper redneck.

Maybe they're accepting applications?

+100 Adam C sucks. Other than his role as Death on Family Guy. While we're at it, Kimmel sucks too. I don't know where they found those guys. I assume they have some similar contract with the devil like Bob Sagat does.

[WRXtranceformed]

Fuck, Adam Carolla is a fag. That show sucks before it's gotten off the ground.

[Andy]

As much as I agree with all the of the comments, it's at least a move in the right direction e.g. away from Motorweek and towards TG UK. Did you guys ever see older TG UK? It blows huge ass along with brand new fifth gear. TG UK is a pretty special show so if TG USA is 50-60 percent as good, I'll watch it.

[JackoliciousLegs]

http://www.nbc.com/Primetime/Top_Gear/index.shtml
"Featured "after market" accessory of the week."
Nopi T00nerVision?

At least that's an online only feature.

[Goodspeed]

As much as I agree with all the of the comments, it's at least a move in the right direction e.g. away from Motorweek and towards TG UK. Did you guys ever see older TG UK? It blows huge ass along with brand new fifth gear. TG UK is a pretty special show so if TG USA is 50-60 percent as good, I'll watch it.

Yes, I've been a regular TG UK viewer since the early 2000's and I've watched a lot of old early-late 90's episodes and clips back when Tiff was on TG. And it did suck compared to today, but JC was still outlandish, the hosts still had genuine opinions, and there were no sponsors or other gimmicky BS. I won't fully knock it until I see it, but I've been so let down by American programs that I'm betting it won't be able to hold a candle to TG UK or Fifth Gear. Even if it is 60% as good, I'll just continue to watch 100% TG UK instead.

[Andy]

TG UK is owned by the BBC which I assume lives off of taxpayer dollars so it has the freedom to criticize manufacturers. That's a luxury that the american version won't have. You can't bite the hand that feeds you.

[John]

Ummm... this is old news (they announced this stuff 2 months ago), but concur with most of your comments. Tanner Foust is not a great driver, but has a face that appeals to TV, so that's why he was selected.

[JustinG]

hilarious, a quote from a blog on Jalopnik, speaking of Top Gear USA

Will the US Top Gear test track be a drag strip or a NASCAR style oval?

[Evan]

TG UK is owned by the BBC which I assume lives off of taxpayer dollars so it has the freedom to criticize manufacturers. That's a luxury that the american version won't have. You can't bite the hand that feeds you.

meh, that has never stopped the rags from blasting cars on a regular basis

[.RJ]

meh, that has never stopped the rags from blasting cars on a regular basis

Its a far different blasting of cars (and bikes) than the British mags though. I forget what mag it was, but Ducati pulled their advertising when they wrote a scathing long term review of the 999 - something to do with spending more time in the shop than on the road and a blown motor.

[Evan]

true. and i do love me some good hatin'

Im willing to bet just about anything that there will be a "green" segment on the show done by the hybrid driving soap opera fag

[.RJ]

Im willing to bet just about anything that there will be a "green" segment on the show done by the hybrid driving soap opera fag

Yup.

I'll wait a few months and see if everyone says it sucks