first reports are in
http://forums.finalgear.com/top-gear...-29017/page-6/
Adam is an excellent substitute for Jeremy. Not as clever, but still funny in his own (more American) way.

Andy Wilman thinks Adam is funnier than Jeremy. =D

One interesting thing that Andy said was before the tapping he didn’t think that this show was going to be broadcastable, just because the guys needed more time to get in a grove, but after the show he was really excited and said that he would probably use the show, but just not as the series premier but as a later episode. He also said that Jeremy is fun and funny but only because her writes out everything that he is going to say first and Adam is just plan funnier because its all on the fly. During the taping about 90% of all the dialogue is improve. I also asked when would this premier but he didn’t have an answer. What he did say is that he would want some time like next January.

Besides the hosts, everything is the exact same. The setting, the stig, the challenges, the news, SIARPC, etc…

I have 3 conclusions:
1. This show will be good as long as the hosts have more time to work together and learn to be a team.
2. Adam will keep this show alive until #1 is accomplished.
3. Chunky needs to die.

The Hoff on American Top Gear!
I have to admit I was skeptical they could pull it off, but after attending the taping of the Top Gear pilot I have to say I'm a believer. First, the set was perfect, walking into the Top Gear hanger created a wave of familiarity, but most importantly was the welcome atmosphere from the producers and talent. Andy Williams gave a great plug to the "Final Gear Mafia" and Adam Corolla commented "Now I'm sure you all can't wait to get home and talk about how terrible the show is, but we've locked the door and barricaded you in, so too bad!" All good joking aside, the crew made it clear they understand how important British Top Gear is and how big the task they have ahead of them.

To kick things off, taping started with "a celebrity in a reasonably priced car", and no less than David Hasselhoff was the first to take the Kia Rio around the new Top Gear track. Adam didn't cut The Hoff much slack, and the segment was pretty funny. The rest of the show followed the traditional Top Gear formula, from a cheap car contest to an exotic car test. Is this forumla good enough to get the series picked up? I think so, it's time to ditch "Dancing with a CSI Idol" and start making some great TV, and Top Gear is the perfect thing to break the broadcast malaise we have today.

Congrats to the American Top Gear crew, and congrats to the Final Gear community for keeping them honest. If the producers continue to respect and listen to the feedback of your forum, I know this show will see nothing but success.

Labels: hoff, Hollywood, Top Gear

Filming for the NBC pilot for Top Gear has wrapped. Speculation about the show's format and hosting choices has left Top Gear fans hoping for at least a decent representation of the popular British show. Some of those prayers may be answered , as NBC brought in a number of BBC folks, along with the original Top Gear producer, the assist in the pilot's taping. The show follows the BBC version's format, right down to the set details. Also, as noted earlier, the "star in a reasonably priced car" segment gets carried over. However, the driver might come as a bit of a surprise (a really awesome surprise, at that). The signature top-notch video production viewers expect is there, though it must be said that the geography of the United States offers a richer variety of visual possibilities than you might be accustomed to seeing on Jeremy & Co.'s show.

One key to the BBC Top Gear's is the camraderie between the presenters. As such, it's probably a little unfair to compare the Top Gear of today, 11 seasons in, to a crew just coming together for the first time. Still, Carolla, Foust and Stromer are off to a good start. Their interactions during taped segments were wildly entertaining, enough to distract the show's own crew members from their tasks. Each host fits into his own role, but not the exact molds laid out by Jezza, Hamster and Captain Slow. Carolla's razor-sharp wit is on full display. Causing at least one member of the audience to say, "That is the most funny Adam Carolla has ever been." Foust is also not made out to be anything more than a total car geek -- his true personality. His enthusiasm may be too technical for general consumption on its own, but it's perfectly complimented by Carolla's blunt comedy. Stromer doesn't fare nearly as well. Before the live audience, he comes across as if he were presenting a sales pitch to a room full of prospective timeshare buyers. Hopefully, he'll adapt his field mannerisms, which are far more easygoing, into his studio presence in the future. That is, if the show has a future on American television.