The History Channel has renewed Top Gear, the American version of the long-running British car show, for a second season.
Top Gear has performed well, if not spectacularly, for the History Channel since its premiere last November. The combination of its recognizable brand name, hosts, guest stars and of course the cars themselves make for a compelling watch for gear-heads and pedestrians alike.
Rescue Me alum Adam Ferrara headlines as a host, while pro racer Tanner Foust and NASCAR analyst Rutledge Wood give more experienced commentary. Guests like Buzz Aldrin, Michelle Rodriguez and Tony Hawk provided a celebrity hook for most episodes, appearing next to their four-wheeled co-stars.
Matching the British version of Top Gear was no easy task, but the producers certainly led strong with various Lamborghinis and Dodge Vipers racing against an attack helicopter in a feat to match its progenitor’s face-offs. A highlight for me was an episode featuring classic GM cars like the Cutlass and Fiero put through the ringer to decide which will return to production.
Of course, the stunts are only half the story: the hosts’ analysis of new and upcoming cars is as topical as any Motor Trend article, and are much more entertaining. While Top Gear‘s freshman season only featured nine episodes and a clip show, fans can expect a full season when the show returns in the fall.
Top Gear is only one of the History Channel’s myriad reality and competition-based shows. Other featured shows include the gun-slinging Top Shot, Pawn Stars and American Pickers, and consistent favorite Ice Road Truckers. The cable channel has been relying more and more on TLC and Discovery-style “unscripted” shows the last few years, making rivals for shows like American Chopper and Mythbusters.
Both mesh well with Top Gear‘s primary audience of 18-49 males who have DIY tendencies, and the original show’s populartity on YouTube and other online networks was likely a major factor in A&E Television’s decision to import it from the BBC. The original Top Gear has been in production since 1977, and has a worldwide audience in the hundreds of millions.
The hosts of 'Top Gear', casually chatting in front of a million dollars' worth of Italian supercar.
While the History Channel didn’t announce any specific plans for season two, there’s plenty of reason for fans to be excited. A full season order will likely come with an expanded budget, which means that you can expect the Top Gear regulars to play with even more expensive toys and rub elbows with more celebrities.
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Top Gear will return to The History Channel in the fall of 2011.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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Why bother to renew?
because some people enjoy it?
I certainly didn’t, this show was rubbish, Top Gear USA is fake, they rely on the prompters WAY too much to know what they have to say, they talk to the camera, they don’t talk to eachother like they do on Top Gear UK. I live in the USA, and this version completely mocks the camera effects the UK does, the british humor, and everything else the UK offers. The USA tried WAY to hard to make this version likable.
@arron: Top Gear australia dose the same thing, and for some reason i think you don’t live in the USA because if you did you wouldn’t say you live in the USA out of the blue, and how can you say the Top Gear USA tried WAY to hard to be likable if that was their first season of course they have to be likable if not they wouldn’t have a second season.
dude agreed u arnt from the US…we dont say “Rubbish”
Actually, those of us who watch way too much BBC America bec. we love the real TG do tend to say things like, “rubbish” and “pillock”. Kinda rubs off.
You sir, are a tool! I have been to the tapings. There are no teleprompters. They simply do half a dozen or so takes to get the “feel” of the scene and then the producers use the best take.
Also, sir….this is the 2nd season. The show does not have the same budget or freedom (yet) to do what they want. The quality of cameras and equipment used is not comparable to the UK show.
Stop being a cock and go watch season 1 & 2 of the UK show and tell me how awesome it really is!!!!!!!!!
yep the uk top gear gets boring after about 30min and its not funny
Good for them.
@jack
I for one think the show is terrible. I have been watching top gear UK since it appeared on discovery for a short run and love it. The US show is seriously lacking in personality like for example when they send out the super cars and guests who cares about the freaking track and the dips and etc… Describe how the car is performing and do so with some passion and enthusiasm. Adam seems like a good fit for the show but dump tanner and Rutledge. When trying to compare cinematic appeal the USA version is still completely lacking. All around the show sucks! For those who like top gear USA and haven’t watched the UK version, I’m sorry but you have been missing out on the real and only top gear. It airs all the time on BBC America for those who don’t get it you can find the shows on topgear.com and on the BBC web site. On a final note to the history channel fire tanner and Rutledge get some two other guys or gals that can actually give an exciting review of a car and color commentate.
Amen.
I agree, but disagree. I think Tanner is a good fit for the show. He knows about cars and drives them really well. Rutledge should definitely not be on This show. Rutledge makes it awkward. Although this show is not even close to as interesting as the British one, I enjoy watching the All-American muscle cars and pickup trucks. I watch both shows and sometimes I get tired of listening to British Accents. That’s just my opinion. Oh and Adam…ummm I’m not sure. I would have to see more of Adam to know if I like him on the show or not
lol@”matching British Top Gear”
Come’ON. It’s a half funded pilot season. The UK guys have been doing this for 16 seasons, and the show has been in production longer than that. I say they did well for a new production pilot. Next season they should have full funding and I bet the start getting into the swing of things.
I think it will be nice to have even more top gear to watch. I loved the Moonshine bit…
Don’t listin to the haters…
haters gonna hate.
I think you guys that are putting the TG crew down should look at the 1st. season of TG UK. It looked like Motor Trend TV, about as bland as dry toast. UK did not even start getting interesting till season 3. Just give them a little time, at least think about how most shows take 2-3 seasons to get their act together.
I love the uk and some of the Australia top gear, but the US was embarrassed to watch. I liked the car salesman and truck episode. But that was it. And im sorry but i don’t like tanner. When he was on supercars he was constantly cheating, and he has no character chemistry with the others. He dosn’t represents Americans, in any way. I think he’s on tv b/c he knows he can’t handle his dream of being a real race driver. Sorry if i offended anyone.
We need to go get our own stig and, dive for the old evel stig. Their you go Tanner, a spot for you.
Look at how many seasons the original Top Gear has had to refine their show to what it is now. Am I happy with the U.S. version? No, but it did show promise. The problem is with the hosts. They are about as appealing as a stripper with explosive diarrhea. They need to replace Rutledge and Adam with someone like Adam Carolla and Travis Pastrana. Someone with charisma because the original is as much about the personalities and interaction between the hosts as it was about the cars. Travis Pastrana would bring an excellent driver, charisma, and some incredible moments in the challenges as he is fearless. Adam Carolla is a car buff, very funny and likable and would easily assume the role of the American Jezzer along with Tanner Foust’s experience and less scripted commentary the show could very easily become a successful Top Gear franchise. Provided Capt.Slow, Hamster, and Jezzer drops by to keep them in line once in awhile.
Oh, I like your idea. I was thinking one of the Jackass guys, stupid me. Your picks are much better.
As others have said, TopGear UK has already finished their 16th season. I’m pretty sure anyone who’s seen old TopGear or even the early seasons of new TopGear will tell you they’re nothing like today.
It’s a pilot season, and as far as I’m concerned the BBC intervened so much with scripting to give it a head-start. I’m willing to bet that as the show grows the hosts will grow closer together, as well as grow more passion for what they’re doing. Over time the series will turn it’s own way and gain it’s own production style etc, etc.
For a first season, it was good. Second season better be better, else the series may be in trouble. The point here is you can’t point fingers and say “fake and g…” just because they’ve taken some pointers from the seniors.
Also, Rutledge is annoying, imo. Tanner’s one hell of a driver and both he and Adam have passion for cars. Adam shows this in many episodes, and if you don’t believe Tanner’s got a fire for them just hit up YouTube… or watch his Evo X test drive. =D
yall should test old school suvs like the fullsize bronco and the k5 blazer and the dodge ram charger.
If you don’t like it don’t watch it, and bugger off so those of us who enjoy the program can continue to watch it in peace.
The people that are here and don’t like the show, have tried to like it. The show needs work, and people are offering some ideas for improvement. Some of us will continue to watch the show, hoping that something happens to make the show better.
To ask those who don’t like the show to stop watching, will only ensure those who want to enjoy it won’t. So, I’ll bugger off but I’m still watching, for now.
You do have a point and I will probably watch the second season, but I’m not holding much hope for it unless they can all three get some kind of chemistry going. I hope that the producers don’t try too hard by copying everything the UK version does. We live in America, target Americans and don’t try to recreate another show. I loved the moonshine episode because it was factual and spawned an American racing past time (plus it was funny to boot). I just don’t hold up much hope for it if they try to do the same as they did in the first season for the most part. Oh and by the way the viper vs. the cobra attack hellicopter was great, but reminded me of when Jeremy drove a boxter and a merc against the British soldiers in a village oh and a the range rover against a challenger tank oh and the evo vs. the British army. Sorry guys but the producers need to be hard at work coming up with fresh material.
It isnt TGUK we all know that but on its own merits it shows promise. Watch some of TGUK from the 70′s and 80′s remember TGUK has had 34 years to get it right…
Yes I’ve watched every season of Top Gear. Sure it was bland and a bit crude around the edges, but the production office had little funding etc… What the U.S. version is lacking is the passion and personality that the U.K. Top gear crew and cast has had since day one. It’s like they went hey these guys in england get huge ratings. Let us see if we can copy every thing and throw some American cars in there so Americans can relate to it. I mean they even copied the show down to the cast members by trying to match each cast member to their UK counterparts which has bombed so far. I am going to give them a chance in season two, but if they can’t pull it together and relax on camera when in the studio and on some of their challenges it won’t be something I’ll keep watching and it will go down as another shameless rip off in my book. I am hoping they get the chemistry working between the hosts because I love being able to relate to some of the content on the show.
the U.S Top Gear is good i watched the U.K top gear and i liked the U.S better.
my opinion
I agree like most, I think the US version is garbage and it basically comes down to the hosts..and I quote:(“They are about as appealing as a stripper with explosive diarrhea”). That pretty much says it all…I also think Adam Carolla/Travis Pastrana would be an EXCELLENT choice as well. I don’t hold up much hope, might try to watch an episode or two and give it a chance. But I’ll never miss a re-run of the original UK version!
I love that Tanner is on TGUS and he is just like Hammond being short and all, so he gives us the reviews as a short Guy just like hamster. I enjoy TGUS and am glad to see a 2nd season coming out. I also enjoy the UK version. Jeremy is a riot.
My son LOVES this show, got me watching it now. Where did you find a 75 Maverick with a V8 under the hood for price of 2,000.00? Breaks my heart to see it get trashed. I’m a car nut and would’ve made it a show car. My son & I found a negelated step child Mustang (74-78) its a 77 fastback with a 302. Don’t care by the time we are done it will be show able. Anyone that knows where I can find some parts contact me at jleejacko@aol.com
I love the show but they need to do their research before making commentary. I just finished watching episode 2 from the second season and in the last segment they crashed their “first” cars at 25 mph and said it was compareable to a 50 mph crash but if you do the physics of the crash its not at all.
Great show. I love it. show only us cars. like the ones that are aloud in us. no bs, I hate British top gear they always come back to cars no one can afford or Range ROVER.
I think The Car Show with Adam Corolla on the speed channel is a much better show. TGUS seems very amaturish.
my name is shania rice I’m in high school and i was watching the episode when you let teenagers drive a clutch and parallel park. I just wanted to say that a clutch was the first car i learned how to drive so teenagers do know how to drive a clutch lol.
Its season 2, and I’m still not feeling it. It feels horribly scripted and poorly acted. Perhaps its the lifeless acting that gives away the scripting. The cast seems to know a lot about cars, but they don’t appear passionate about them, and feel sterile. But the nail in the coffin is I’m just not feeling any chemistry between the three hosts. They show tries to script them to appear chummy and comedic, but between these three is feels inauthentic. You just can create chemistry with corny pre planned “ooops” I hit your car moments, and scripted arguments. Actors much sex partners either have chemistry or they don’t and you’ve got to get the casting right. After a couple episodes that may just indicate more tuning is needed, but into the second season it just shows a major design failure.
I feel they should have cast a personable ring leader that is sentimental about tough american trucks an muscle cars. Someone sort of like Mike Rowe on Dirty Jobs. Hes the kind of easy going guy everyone is comfortable with, has a lot of presence, and has a natural sense of spontaneous humor. Then a fast talking smart mouthed kid obsessed with street racing and into tricking out Honda’s. Finally, a sudo-sophisticated guy (or gal) thats a feature nut into salons with too many options. All natural foils for one another. Of course all must gel in a way you can tell they affectionately poke fun at one another on or off the camera.
I think you guys should test a Mustang:)
yes they should, but i think they should test them side-by-side-by-side-by-side, all the mustangs from 1965-2011.
top gear usa is a waste of time and money. i really tried to watch and all i see is a counterfeit top gear bbc. clarksen,hammond and may have genuine chemistry and a very relaxed presentation that entertains. usa is just doing tv by the numbers
I think the US version is way better then the British Version. I like the British version but they basically hate American cars over there. It is nice to see some American cars on the US version. Also, I completely disagree with getting rid of Rutledge…I think him and Adam are the two best on there. I think they have good chemistry. I will watch every US episode!
I just recently discovered the show when a buddy of mine brought over an episode to watch.
I’m not a huge car guy, but I genuinely enjoy watching it, and so does my young son of 8. I think the hosts are quite charismatic, the situations they stage are great, and it has high entertainment value. Plus I’m learning a thing here and there about some of these great vehicles.
I haven’t compared it to the British version, but quite frankly I’m enjoying it so who really cares? Isn’t that the whole point??
Looking forward to season two!