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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ OT: Discovery Channel Top Gear!!
Posted by: Britain Smith Oct 14 2005, 12:21 AM
I urge all you guys to go here:
http://extweb.discovery.com/viewerrelations
and voice your displeasure with The Discovery Channel's decision not to renew "Top Gear"
Please take the 2 minutes & let them know how you feel.
Posted by: jkeyzer Oct 14 2005, 12:24 AM
WTF??
Are they dumbasses or what?
If they can Mythbusters I am going on a rampage. 
Posted by: Mueller Oct 14 2005, 12:32 AM
done....and very disappointed 
How they can still show Monster Garage and those other reality/drama shows is beyond me 
Posted by: bondo Oct 14 2005, 12:38 AM
Discovery/TLC ruined "Junkyard Wars" with their "American Version". I don't think they can handle a good show that they didn't produce themselves. Don't be surprised if next season they have their own auto review show.. which will SUCK!
(I just gave them a piece of my mind.. told them it was a stupid decision and should fire the person that made it) 
Posted by: jonwatts Oct 14 2005, 12:54 AM
Thanks for posting this. I noticed it went off the schedule and I was afraid it wasn't picked up.
Posted by: rick 918-S Oct 14 2005, 01:04 AM
Here's my post:
I just heard your dropping Top Gear! Are you nuts! What pencil pushing four eyed bright boy stamped that boner? Can the pocket protector boy and pick up the show....Duh
Posted by: LvSteveH Oct 14 2005, 01:06 AM
Thanks for posting this, that pisses me off. Here's what I sent 
"Are you guys serious about not renewing Top Gear? Educational television has taken a huge plunge over the last few years with the focus shifting to the likes of monster garage and the death of things like shark week. Yes, shark week pretty much stinks now. I used to look forward to it all year. Anyway, Top Gear is a truly a fun and informative show that appeals to real car guys and wanna be’s alike. It is the first car show I’ve been able to get my wife to watch with me. I don’t know where you are getting your information, but you are clearly listening to the wrong people. Next thing you know Mythbusters will be canceled because it has too much scientific theory mixed in with the occasional violent explosion. Advertisers and demographics are the worst place you could look if quality television is your goal. Most television is dumbed down to the point of insulting intelligent society; why not aspire to bring the masses up a notch instead of dragging the rest of us down."
Posted by: boxstr Oct 14 2005, 01:07 AM
Done. I enjoy the show very much, even if I can't always understand what they are saying.
CCLINLONGLIVETHEQUEEN
Posted by: Dr. Roger Oct 14 2005, 01:33 AM
| QUOTE (Britain Smith @ Oct 13 2005, 11:21 PM) |
| I urge all you guys to go here: http://extweb.discovery.com/viewerrelations and voice your displeasure with The Discovery Channel's decision not to renew "Top Gear" Please take the 2 minutes & let them know how you feel. |
consider it done.
| QUOTE |
| I absolutely love "Top Gear" and a friend told me it was leaving Discovery Channel. This show is about an american obsession. Boys and their toys. They play with the best of the best cars in the world. They do what every american man would do with these cars. Push them to their limits. In detail. Really even better than the Orange County Choppers boys. Don't make the mistake of dropping this one. Sincerely, Roger Grubb . |
thanks for the heads up.
what are they thinking????
Posted by: airsix Oct 14 2005, 01:45 AM
I am bumbed. The older I get the more I'm realizing that we've let the morons be in charge of everything.
I just left my note for them. Thanks for the heads-up, Britain.
-Ben M.
Posted by: Twystd1 Oct 14 2005, 01:52 AM
I did fill out the form and let them know how I feel about this..
Cept I can't (wont) print it here..
Regards,
Twystd1
Posted by: Gint Oct 14 2005, 06:06 AM
I'll have to fill that out later today. That pisses me off. I wondered why it wasn't on Wednesday night. My Tivo is set to record it. I love that show. Cars and British humor. 
Posted by: spare time toys Oct 14 2005, 06:46 AM
I sent mine in. Most of it would get this put in the sandbox OT area. I put stuff in about how they test cars the way real world guy would drive them if they had a chance. I also said how it nice to watch something that wasnt like all the look alike US shows that are stale and PC 
Posted by: jr91472 Oct 14 2005, 07:15 AM
this is bad news.....too bad that "Fifth Gear" beat them to it on Speed Channel.
I enjoy Fifth Gear as well, but it is not nearly as good as Top Gear.
thanks for the head up
Posted by: jr91472 Oct 14 2005, 07:38 AM
Send a note to Top Gear directly....encourage them to pursue altenative outlets here in the US
http://www.topgear.com/content/contactus/
Posted by: boxstr Oct 14 2005, 09:27 AM
Here is the expected corporate reply, the americanization of Top Gear, morons.
Thank you for contacting Discovery Channel. We appreciate you taking the
time to share your thoughts and concerns with us regarding "Top Gear." Your
comments will be forwarded to our program management and executives and
will be taken into consideration.
The "Top Gear" show was not taken off the air, but rather ran its pattern.
It is being revamped for a U.S. audience and will return later this year.
Look for it in December.
CCLINTOPGEARSHIFTSINTOLOWGEAR
Posted by: effutuo101 Oct 14 2005, 10:17 AM
done. Thank you for the heads up.
Chris
Posted by: itsa914 Oct 14 2005, 10:36 AM
Done.
Posted by: Headrage Oct 14 2005, 11:08 AM
Mine went:
"What happened to Top Gear???
Ya hire a chick ta do yer freaking programming???"
Posted by: Jenny Oct 14 2005, 11:24 AM
Gave 'em a piece of my mind. Brian and I live for that show. At first it was on at 10, then they bumped it to 11, and now it's completely gone.
Jen
Posted by: jhadler Oct 14 2005, 11:37 AM
I can't belive that they pulled the show!! Even my wife liked to watch it!!!
Yes, I wrote in a comment. I had to edit it down however, there was a 1500 character limit...
Here's my $0.02...
"I was bummed this week to find that Top Gear wasn't on at the regularly scheduled time. And I was SHOCKED to find that it's been dropped from the discovery channel line up. And now I find that it's being "revamped" for the US market? Why can't you simply leave a good show alone! The show was witty, intelligent, and entertaining. It was the only car show that my wife actually looked forward to seeing with me. I have seen the results of "American revamping" of successful English shows. The American version of "Junkyard Wars" was a pale shadow of the original. And they all do one thing. Dumb-down the show to the point of being boring, and vapid. The proliferation of mind-numbing, so-called reality shows are an offense to anyone who actually would like to watch something intelligently written and produced. Your decision to take an excellent show off the air and "revamp" it is absurd. There's an old saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it.". What in the world was wrong with Top Gear? NOTHING! It was a brilliant show, that appealed to more than just car nuts like myself. God forbid that we, in the United States be exposed to anything that might expand our cultural awareness by watching programs produced somewhere other than Hollywood. I thought that was what educational television was for! Expand our knowledge of things that we wouldn't otherwise be exposed to. Why not do it in an intelligent, and witty manner? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE! Leave "Top Gear" alone and on the air."
-Josh2
Posted by: jgara962 Oct 14 2005, 12:03 PM
Done.
Posted by: andys Oct 14 2005, 12:15 PM
I'll agree that most of the docu and edu type programs have taken a dive. They sold out thinking man's programming for typical Hollywood sensationalism (Thank goodness Steve Irwin wore out). I can't stand to look at Jesse James even one more time, but his show goes on (???)! Unique Whips.......My brain goes numb, I just don't get it; can someone explain this show to me?
Andys
Posted by: Dr. Roger Oct 14 2005, 12:18 PM
| QUOTE |
| The "Top Gear" show was not "taken off the air" but rather ran its pattern. It is being revamped for a U.S. audience and will return later this year. Look for it in December. |
Well at least it's coming back.
I hope not watered down,mamby pamby, BS show showcasing cars with less than .9 g's lateral and more than 5.5 second 0 to 60 times ....
Posted by: spare time toys Oct 14 2005, 04:23 PM
| QUOTE (rogergrubb @ Oct 14 2005, 01:18 PM) | ||
Well at least it's coming back. I hope not watered down,mamby pamby, BS show showcasing cars with less than .9 g's lateral and more than 5.5 second 0 to 60 times .... |
I got that same email from them.
Posted by: scotty b Oct 14 2005, 05:50 PM
Done and I would encourage all to write an intelligent, fuck free, statement instead of the f-in shitbag comments we all want to make. As for the "revamping" (insert strokin it smilie), Hollywood has a great talent for taking a good program and fuchin it up to appeal to the Am audience. But then again were all a bunch of trendy shit grinnin idiots right???? Oh and we LOOOOOVE some good Am. overacting
Posted by: Mueller Oct 14 2005, 05:55 PM
yea, if they "americanize" it, the show is going to suck.....
what is nice about TG now is that if a car does have problems or there is something they don't like about it, they'll be honest about it.....an american version will be kissing @ss of every car manufacture to get advertising dollars
Posted by: Rider914 Oct 14 2005, 06:01 PM
Thanks for the heads up. I sent in a note also - this has become my favorite show, and they will figure out a way to mess it up.
Posted by: Zaney Oct 14 2005, 06:57 PM
I wrote:
Please do not "revamp or Americanize" the wondeful, witty show "Top Gear". If someone wants to watch a program aimed at a sixth grade reading level there are plenty of those already in rotation. My humble suggestion is to leave imported shows alone, perhaps even group them together for easier programming. I understand that you all must pay the bills but please don't compromise the "discovery" of new and exciting shows outside of greedy Hollywood. 
Posted by: seanery Oct 14 2005, 07:20 PM
| QUOTE (boxstr @ Oct 14 2005, 10:27 AM) |
| The "Top Gear" show was not taken off the air, but rather ran its pattern. It is being revamped for a U.S. audience and will return later this year. Look for it in December. |
Here's my take. I know there are others in the industry here and they may chime in as well.
The show we see is what's called a "Repackaged" show. It shows segments that were pulled from other pre-aired British episodes. These are very affordable, and easy to put out. I am willing to wager that what we've seen has been nothing but a test.
Now, whether or not the US version will be "all new" (new hosts, location, etc...) will be the $10 question.
*edit*
most Summer shows are tests or shows that the network doesn't have much faith in...(Survivor was a Summer show)
Posted by: Rider914 Oct 14 2005, 07:48 PM
| QUOTE (seanery @ Oct 14 2005, 05:20 PM) | ||
Here's my take. I know there are others in the industry here and they may chime in as well. The show we see is what's called a "Repackaged" show. It shows segments that were pulled from other pre-aired British episodes. These are very affordable, and easy to put out. I am willing to wager that what we've seen has been nothing but a test. Now, whether or not the US version will be "all new" (new hosts, location, etc...) will be the $10 question. |
I sure hope this is not the plan, but I bet that we can look forward to another "car and driver television" where they test cupholders and sliding doors on minivans.
The best part of TG is the unpredictable nature of the show. I loved the 100 quid challenge - the last test was to smash it into a wall and see who was hurt the most.
Could BBC channel (on Directv) show it as original?
Posted by: jonwatts Oct 14 2005, 09:25 PM
At best they'll produce a version for us with the same hosts and perhaps just a few less Anglo-specific references (I love the humor but don't quite understand what it means for a car to handle like the Lord of Derbyshire?)
At worst they'll turn it in to MotorWeak (sic)
Posted by: airsix Oct 14 2005, 09:58 PM
| QUOTE (Mueller @ Oct 14 2005, 03:55 PM) |
| yea, if they "americanize" it, the show is going to suck..... |
EXACTLY!!!!! A lot of the apeal for me is the English flavor. I enjoy that. I enjoy hearing about what it's like across the pond. I enjoy hearing Jeremy make fun of the French. I enjoy the dry jokes and UK-specific jargon. It's all part of the ambiance (can a man say 'ambiance'?)
-Ben M.
ps - I also want an Australian TopGear equivalent. That would be awesome too.
Posted by: BMartin914 Oct 15 2005, 08:39 AM
My comment has been received by "discovery channel."
It is very disappointing that it is going to be revamped for the American market. Junkyard Wars (USA) version II?
Posted by: nebreitling Oct 15 2005, 01:44 PM
that's sad. i have little faith that the 'americanized' version won't simply be an extended car commercial -- not unlike those occasionally shown on Speedvision (errr, speedtv). like i want to watch a 30minute commercial for a new jeep model....
Posted by: BMartin914 Oct 15 2005, 04:28 PM
| QUOTE (nebreitling @ Oct 15 2005, 11:44 AM) |
| that's sad. i have little faith that the 'americanized' version won't simply be an extended car commercial -- not unlike those occasionally shown on Speedvision (errr, speedtv). like i want to watch a 30minute commercial for a new jeep model.... |
It'll always be Speedvision to me.
Even if it is 95% NASCAR-related. How many people can you hire to analyze how one guy bumped another guy and caused a 30-car pileup?
Posted by: soloracer Oct 15 2005, 05:29 PM
Fortunately I get BBC on Satellite so this shouldn't affect me too much. A friend of mine gave me an entire season of Top Gear on DVD. That DVD had me entertained for days. I beleive he has the entire collection from season 1 on DVD. If I am able to get a copy of all the seasons would there be any interest here? All I would ask is for shipping costs and DVD costs to be reimbursed.
Posted by: bd1308 Oct 15 2005, 05:31 PM
| QUOTE (soloracer @ Oct 15 2005, 05:29 PM) |
| Fortunately I get BBC on Satellite so this shouldn't affect me too much. A friend of mine gave me an entire season of Top Gear on DVD. That DVD had me entertained for days. I beleive he has the entire collection from season 1 on DVD. If I am able to get a copy of all the seasons would there be any interest here? All I would ask is for shipping costs and DVD costs to be reimbursed. |
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