Remember that this is hardly the first time Top Gear has been rebooted (ugh, that word). The first time around it went from being a straight-up news & road test program (not unlike MotorWeek in the US) to the plucky little motoring show with old men falling down and setting themselves on fire. The only common element: Jeremy Clarkson.
This time around, they still have The Stig. Chris Evans was a frequent guest on the old show and a known gearhead, and I get the impression that once he settles in, his role will probably turn into something of a Clarkson 2.0 (although without the racism and producer-punching). Schmitz is, as others have noted, a former host of D-Motor (essentially Top Gear Germany) and an accomplished driver; she's also shown that she could hold her own with Jezza, May & Hamster in her guest appearances on old-new-Top Gear. The other two are a complete mystery to me. I'm sure the first series will be a trainwreck, but given time, a little bit of slack from the BBC and Top Gear's typical budget, I think this team has a shot at doing something worth watching. My only concern is that with three drivers and a filthy rich DJ/chat show host, the 'common man' element is missing from the presenter panel, and that was something old-new-Top Gear had in spades. On Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at 5:01:22 PM UTC-5, Kevin M. (RPCV) wrote: > > A couple years ago, CBS gave the green-light to a new pilot entitled > "Rockford Files" that featured none of the original cast members, none of > the original writers, and nobody from the original production team. The > only remaining aspect of the original series was the car. Ultimately the > series was rejected. > > This new Top Gear concept reminds me of that. > > I agree with what Adam said, that the chemistry of the cast will dictate > the success of the new show. I'm not a purest and can accept different > incarnations of Top Gear (both the US and Aussie versions were good and > worth watching). But from the press I've seen on the new UK series, it is > all being handled in the tame, breakfast show style of its new host and > (departed) director. It does not bode well. > > On Wed, Dec 23, 2015 at 1:54 PM, Adam Bowie <ad...@adambowie.co.uk > <javascript:>> wrote: > >> David Coulthard has been a presenter on the BBC's Formula One coverage >> until the end of this season. As of a couple of days ago Channel 4 is >> taking over the BBC's F1 rights package, meaning that Coulthard would have >> been out of a job. >> >> I don't think the co-presenters' racing pedigree will make much >> difference to be honest aside from being able to handle the cars properly. >> It'll be more to do with the format and their relationships. >> >> Perhaps more interestingly is the fact that the relaunch's executive >> producer has walked away from the show a few months prior to the show >> airing. >> >> >> http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/dec/22/bbc-top-gear-executive-producer-chris-evans >> >> >> >> On Wed, Dec 23, 2015 at 9:31 PM, 'David Bruggeman' via TVorNotTV < >> tvor...@googlegroups.com <javascript:>> wrote: >> >>> Schmitz was also on the team who hosted the German car show D Motor. >>> That team 'lost' to the UK hosts in the second of Schmitz's two appearances. >>> >>> It sounds like Evans will be joined by three professional drivers. Not >>> sure how that affects the shows appeal to those who don't follow the >>> various non NASCAR circuits. >>> >>> David >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> *From:* Bob Jersey <bob.in...@juno.com <javascript:>> >>> *To:* TVorNotTV <tvor...@googlegroups.com <javascript:>> >>> *Sent:* Wednesday, December 23, 2015 4:14 PM >>> *Subject:* [TV orNotTV] Here's your new Top Gear UK lineup >>> >>> >>> We already know about Chris Evans >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msg/tvornottv/cdUKX-vI91I/sjOUkx5PT7sJ> >>> (link to earlier thread)... the others are: >>> >>> David Coulthard, square-jawed veteran of Formula One (1994-2008, highest >>> finish 2nd in '01); >>> Sabine Schmitz, female German sports-car racing star (and onetime guest >>> on *TG UK* in '04); and >>> Chris Harris, a veteran of several European racing circuits and a >>> longtime journalist with a popular YouTube channel. >>> >>> Variety >>> <http://variety.com/2015/tv/global/former-racing-driver-david-coulthard-joins-new-look-top-gear-1201667125/> >>> >>> (link) >>> >>> B >>> >>> >>> -- >>> -- >>> TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "TV or Not TV" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to tvor...@googlegroups.com >>> <javascript:> >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> tvornottv-...@googlegroups.com <javascript:> >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "TVorNotTV" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to tvornottv+...@googlegroups.com <javascript:>. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >> >> -- >> -- >> TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >> Groups "TV or Not TV" group. >> To post to this group, send email to tvor...@googlegroups.com >> <javascript:> >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> tvornottv-...@googlegroups.com <javascript:> >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "TVorNotTV" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to tvornottv+...@googlegroups.com <javascript:>. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > > > > -- > Kevin M. (RPCV) > -- -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to tvornottv@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to tvornottv-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TVorNotTV" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tvornottv+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
