Top Gear USA

I am a huge fan of the original English Top Gear & like some of the other people who have written reviews here I was very dubious about an American version.

These concerns were valid with the first season or 2 because there was no chemistry between the 3 hosts not to mention they were pretty abysmal when it came to interviewing the guests. That said the first couple of seasons of the UK version were pretty bad compared to what they are now so I thought I'd stick with the USA show - and I'm glad I did. The guys started being more comfortable & began to fit into their unique roles & even got some good chemistry happening.

The show will never be UK top gear because Poms & Yanks come from totally different cultures. Once you sit back and accept that it's Top Gear but instead of the English team doing what the English do well, it's Team USA doing what they do best which is basically more good ol' American razzle dazzle and not as much subtlety when it comes to (well basically anything) things like the hosts winding each other up (e.g. Tanner is not afraid to *literally* flick the other guys in the balls if they get too far in his face) you can really start to enjoy it.

An example of this is at the end of one episode (I think it was season 3 ep 1). Tanner was driving towards the camera in a Corvette Z06 which had been modified into America's fastest police car. As his commentary is winding up he rips the steering wheel sending the Vette into a sweet slow motion 360 while you hear the engine roaring, it was so awesome it made my hair stand up. USA! USA!

I do tend to agree with most of the reviews on here, but I would say that they only hold true for the first couple of seasons. I think I probably watched season one and two and remember the cringe worthy lack of chemistry between the presenters and the complete copy and paste job from the UK Top Gear, but what can you expect so early on? Now watching season five and I have to say it is a much better show, yes each episode is now just one long special/expedition, but I really like it. Yes it may be incredibly scripted and impossible to believe at points, but so is the UK show and it doesn't take away from the fantastic places they drive their high performance vehicles through! One problem with removing celebrity guests, fast lap time etc is that if you don't really enjoy the subject matter (for example drag racing, which I have zero interest in) there is nothing to give you a small break from it. Although it is many times better in its current iteration I hope they bring back something from the UK series.

come on people, you rip it up and down as if in the first season is going to pick up in the off season of BBC TopGear and be just as good. Did any of the people commenting here actually watch the first few seasons of BBC TopGear when it went to its new format in like 2000? it was bad... they had some fatass doing used car tips and reviews in season one who was eventually replaced by may in season 2 doing the same job. The BBC version did not become the most watched show over night it went for like 10 years and in the first few the hosts did not have the casual back and forth conversation flow that they do now, it dident have soul, and it was boring to watch. it was a car review show that was trying to appeal to a larger audience with higher production level as well as bits and comedy. It developed a format, host chemistry and a audience over 10 years.

Now after much clamoring by auto-enthusiast in the US someone has been bold enough (history) to try to produce it and i think for season one considering the measuring stick being held up to them (BBC version) they did a pretty good job. In no way did i expect it to be as polished as the BBC version and hell they may do a host change (but i think they should stick with it). the jokes may be corny but so are the brits jokes, we just don't get them.

all in all i watched every Sunday and my girlfriend dident mind watching w/ me and i think i enjoyed the alaska episode more then the BBC Christmas special.

Funny, witty, fun. I love this watched season 1-6 twice. Light hearted family friendly.

Yeah, I know Adam Ferrara is no Jeremy Clarkson but, he's not supposed to be. The show is surprisingly up front and truthful, considering that it is on a commercial network. People keep bashing the show for being dry and dull. But remember the early days of top gear where there was like 8 people in the crowd AND Jason Dawes.

The second season is where it started to pick up it's also when they introduced James May. Hopefully, they get rid of Rutledge Wood and replace them with someone more capable of the position. But come on give it a chance, let it get a second season and hopefully it will get better.