So, we’ve just witnessed the second episode of the second season of the second Top Gear franchise. Was it any good? As it happens, the answer is both a thumb-raising “yes”, and a head-shaking “no”.
While my colleague Steane was generally happy with the improvements made in the last episode of TGA, I was a little more critical. The dialogue is still stilted, particularly during the studio segments; James Morrison seems a little uncomfortable in front of the camera and the challenges need to be devised by someone with a better eye for drama.
Those concerns were still at the back of my mind during Episode two, and while it was markedly better than the first it still seems like Top Gear Aus is lacking polish.
Morrison is still an awkward character, and, being forced to spout some real clangers, this episode certainly didn’t help his cause (”Mid-life Chrysler”? What were they thinking?). The banter between Warren Brown and Steve Pizzati during the Model T tutorial was much more natural however, and something that TGA needs more of.
This week’s big challenge was between Brown and Pizzati, and involved both converting a conventional petrol-powered car into an all-electric number. It had great potential and was entertaining to watch, but it was brutally cut short by one of the cars suffering a catastrophic failure. In the end, it didn’t really go anywhere, didn’t prove anything, and didn’t give the pair much scope for hijinks.
The reversing camera challenge too was a bit oddball, and seemed like a flimsy pretext to deliver a PSA about reversing cameras. I can’t help but feel that it should’ve been scrapped and the precious minutes it consumed transferred to the stillborn electric car challenge.
On the flipside, the HSV Clubsport R8 vs. Walkinshaw Performance R8 segment was a good one, and allowed Pizzati to properly show off his knowledge of all things performance.
Warren Brown has the potential to be a good interviewer, but unfortunately this week’s guest - Ian Moss of Cold Chisel fame - didn’t really give him much to work with. That being said, it was good to see a guest who wasn’t an ‘obvious choice’ in the hotseat.
So yes, it’s another step in the right direction for Top Gear Australia. A baby step, but a step nonetheless. It’s got definite potential and the hosts seem to be up to the challenge. It still seems to be let down by the producers and writers that decide what they do, what they say and how they say it.
We’ll still be tuning in next week though.
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I missed the Walkinshaw v R8 comparison… I obviously missed the best bit.
Pizzati is 50kgs soaking wet with bricks in his pockets, man he needs a shave too as he looks like a skinny bogan who think’s he’s funny, FAIL
Look the problem is this. These guys are not passionate bout cars. They want a career in the media rather than the other way around. Have either one of these guys ever raced in a race? Been to the drags and raced? Been to a speed way race? Sorry to say this they just seem so “gay” and worst of all THEY ARE NOT FUNNY. How the f@#$% do the producers of this show think a chubby trumpet player somehow hosting the show gives them more cred? Seriously they got that so wrong.
If they could of, I would of got some old ex Aussie racers to do the whole show, with Aussie larrikin humour, heaps of passionate arguments and some real fast sideways action. No more testing of rubbish bomb challenges and p@#$y people movers. Not until the show picks up and then introduce those p@#$y cars back into the mix.
If I could get them I would have Dick Johnson (ex-Ford legend), Mark Skaife (ex-Nissan/Holden legends) and Allan Jones ex-F1 legend). I would love to listen to these guys comments and humour arguing which car is better. Offcourse you could replace that line up with other guys of the same calibre. It would work so well that I reckon we would be able to sell it overseas too. On one condition though that these ex racing legends were still very passionate about cars.
At the moment the clowns hosting the Aussie show have no credibility whatsoever like most of the Australian motoring journalist going around now. But what kills the show most of all is “AND THEY AREN’T FUNNY EITHER!!!”
Change the line up, or axe the show before you ruin the wonderful reputation Top Gear has built through Clarkson and co. Hell I’d rather see Top Gear Australia replaced with Best Motoring (with English subtitles) which would more suit SBS as well. I find Best Motoring track comparisons the best there is.
i am a fan of Warren and Steve however James needs to grow on me. he does not seem to be a natural and for a guy who loves cars and collects cars does not seem to update or skilled for that matter when it comes to driving.
having said that i still like it better than last year, but i just downloaded season 12 in top gear uk and it just seems so much better… i dont know why but the 3 presenters actually fit and seem to be friends…
You’re right about Ian Moss, he was so boring! I like Cold Chisel but really, I think even the band’s roadie would be more enthusiastic about everything!
Tom (above) has hit the nail on the head. I know its hard to replicate one show in another country, but hes right. Its all about passion, and these guys just dont have a clue.
Every single episode of the BBS UK TG with Clarkson and gang, has me in stitches. The same cannot be said for this lot. Its a shame, but in saying that, I think the USA verson of our Aussie born Kath & Kim did a hellova better job (and thats not saying much cuz its really quite pathetic)…
“They want a career in the media rather than the other way around. Have either one of these guys ever raced in a race? Been to the drags and raced? Been to a speed way race?”
I don’t recall the TGUK guys being hardcore racers, either. Their first racing experiences have been on the show…
Having watched the first few seasons of TGUK recently, I can say it’s mostly a bit bland. It didn’t really get into gear (har har) until the 4th-5th season…
Tom I think you summed it up well,but I think we need 2 more steves as warren is a good cartoonist he has no sense of humour he has not cracked a oneliner yet.You need someone that when you need the larikin to come out its right out.James is no doubt pasionate about cars but to straight as this is entertainment more than boring car facts.
Dont fall into the trap of exroadracers as they are also past that seat of the panse stuff we need a couple of presenters who are their for a good time not a lifetime.
total fail, get this SH!T off tv..
The show for me is absolutely cringe worthy. I actually turned over to another channel in the middle of the “bog standard car” segment…
I almost feel sorry for them while watching it… the Model T segment was a whole lot of nothing, and no, their banter wasn’t natural at all - it was still awful and I found myself shouting “get on with it” at the TV.
Hasn’t improved much at all! Time to axe. I like Tom’s Best Motoring idea….
Tony D is right about the first few series’ of TGUK. It was pretty poor; they changed out one of the presenters (fat bloke replaced by James May). I do think it’ll get better - it might take another series to do it though.
For what it’s worth, I think one of the big problems they have is that the challenges don’t seem to have an aim or finish point. There’s no real conclusion to them. Even the silliest of TGUK challanges seem to manage that.
Still, better to watch a car show that some other rubbish like ‘today tonight’!
The following is the content of an email I just sent to SBS.
“Why is Australias most obvious choice as a presenter for Top Gear not a part of the Show?
I refer, of course, to the legendary Frankie J Holden.
Born in 1952, as was the iconic F J Holden, Frankie is an experienced and respected TV presenter, has a spontaneous sense of Humour (remember spontanous humour? it’s totally different to the rubbish your writers are giving you) and is a member of and well known to Australias largest population group, the so called baby boomers.
While I truly bow at the Brass alter of James and at the Pencil and Paper alter of Warren neither are a patch on Frankie in front of a camera.
The Stig. HMMMMM a figment of the imagination of a pommy pratt and totally lacking any connection to the Aussie psyche.
The average Aussie would relate better to the NRMA man.
Remember Ted Bullpit?
In him Ross Higgins portrayed the way the average Aussie bloke feels about his car.
Please…..grab a bit of that passion and drag me back from Master Chef to a decent motoring show as Top Gear Australia should be.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Rob Patterson.”
I wonder if I’ll get a reply.
Rob.