Well that’s the end of that. Top Gear America has been cancelled and word of the last episode airing tonight was delivered by Rutledge Wood, one of the three guys who made up the show’s central case. Wood, Adam Ferrara, and Tanner Faust were the three guys tasked with taking an automotive icon and bringing to our shores with its own American twist. It was as rough as 80 grit to start but like most things, it got better with time. Many of you out there will surely celebrate the passing of the show but there are two guys who are among a big group of people that are mourning it. Those two guys? My sons Tom and Jack. They loved every episode and more importantly they loved every episode because they could actually watch it.
The show with the three American guys doing goofy stuff was cars appealed to them because of the neat stuff they drove, the neat places they went, and the campy jokes they cracked. If they had called the show anything BUT Top Gear America, they would have had an easier go of it from the couch-bound critics but they did not.
Both Chad and I have spent time in differing scenarios with Wood and Faust and both are genuinely good guys who love cars. Neither of us has ever spent any time with Adam, but while he lacked the hardcore automotive history the other guys had, he came into his own as the show evolved and frankly, the three were a good trio by the end.
I saw the power of the show first had a couple of years ago when by voice appeared on an episode where the guys came to the NHRA Gatornationals and raced. We signed a raft of documents and as I happened to be on the mic when the guys were running my dulcet tones were used at a couple of points in the show. My kids were awestruck. I get to do some neat stuff but that was an all-timer moment for them that they still talk about. (Admittedly I thought it was pretty freaking awesome as well).
So that’s it. Maybe not forever, but for now.
Before you jump in the comments section to tell us how bad this show was, consider all the other garbage automotive stuff that is one TV from the Dallas Car Sharks on down. This show may not have been “Top Gear” but it was far from the worst thing on the tube.
Here’s word straight from Rutledge Wood about Top Gear America being cancelled –
As one show exits another will replace it…maybe “MHG”?
I admit the first time the show broadcasted, it wasn’t very good. Through the years, the show did improve and now watch every episode. Going to miss the show especially since the new British Top Gear sucks.
from an Aussie I think it was a pretty good show…the TG thing, lets face it, only really worked brilliantly with Hammond/May/Clarkson, but I’d say of all the iterations TG US was next…5th gear UK was ok but not good, Aussie TG was just horrible. There were plenty of others in Russia, Asia, you name it, but none could hold a candle to the original 3. Even the current Evans/Le Blanc etc one is utter crap.
Given all of that I’m a bit shocked they’re canning the US version.. we’ll just have to wait for the new Hammond/My/Clarkson show….in the overall scheme of how much BBC are losing on this I’m staggered they dont sweep the Clarkson incident under the carpet to be honest…
When the original UK Top Gear was cancelled by the BBC, the show in it’s then current format was picked up by UK’s Channel Five and rebranded as 5th Gear, as the BBC owned the Top Gear title. It is much more a motoring magazine than the Keystone Cops mess about in cars format that Clarkson came up with, and continues to be produced and broadcast to this day. It was never a clone of the Clarkson Top Gear.
never said it was a clone of Clarkson’s model.. the reason I mentioned 5th gear was the connection to some TG staff, e.g. Tiff Needham
I liked it better than the crap they have now on BBC. I loved the original but can not get into to it.
As said, when it first aired, TGUS needed some work. Chemistry takes time to develop, and it did. The show is now a favorite of both my wife and I and we will miss it. The jokes and gags may have not been Clarkson quality, but they had gotten pretty good.
I will never understand why America’s car guys smuggly turned their collective noses up toward this show. It is hands down much better than most of the ‘car shows’ out there. The reality show style car shows do nothing to further our hobby, whereas shows like TGUS promote the love of cars and things mechanical, and that, given time would resonate with non-car guys more than the alternatives.
Didn’t care for the show and there for will not miss what I did not watch. To each their own, which is why some people like sour tasting food or drinks.
IIRC the author was one of those air chair q/b\’s that lambbased the show..
I guess when you become part of it, your opinion changes…
It was a good show for what it was,, anyone that thought it be as good as the Clarkson show, was nuts .. The Clarkson are is like a band, together it was full on clicking.. and just like in music, they try to make copies, but they never do as well because they don\’t have that natural chemistry..
It\’s more or less, forced.. now T/G America\’s 3 musketeers got better, but it was different..
If, Topgear bbc wasn\’t avail on cable on this side of the pond, The America top gear would\’ve been a much bigger hit.. Bu you watch the Flipp\’n nutty things the brit\’s do, then watch the America show, and it looks to be missing something,, Maybe if they locked up the liability lawyers then taped and aired a show, it have had the same effect..
I hope either discovery or velocity pick it up.. as it was one of the few shows with vehicles that younger kids could watch, THo.. I\’ll bet the kids have heard every 4 letter word in the book and then some when the parent is working on a project….
Good Riddance.
They should shit-can the Brexit version too.
I’d love to tell you how terrible the show was, but they had turned it around before it was cancelled. Honestly, what the hell BBC? A show gets funny, then you cancel it? There’s plenty of drivel they broadcast on BBC America that could be tossed in favor of this show – but no.
Oh well.
This sucks. Stopped watching the BBC when they axed Clarkson. I guess tonight will be the last show for me when Wood is gone. It was entertament for me to my grand kids. Don’t guess it had enough blood, guts, fighting, cussing, to make the mark.
I really enjoy(ed) the show and will miss it. To me it was like Roadkill but with a bigger budget and more polished production. Just 3 guys having goofy fun with cars, trucks etc.
Tanner Faust was the star with his driving skills. The other guys were amusing foils. Will miss the show. It was a damn sight better than the Ass Monkey Garage fools or the Car Snarks.
I was late to watching the original TG on BBC America. Of course, by that time, they had great chemistry. The British humor and snobbery towards American cars was quite fun to watch.
TGA made the mistake of making near copies of popular episodes of the original TG. They didn’t fool anyone, even someone like me who hadn’t seen every episode. The rough chemistry between the three guys didn’t help. By the time the second season came along, they found that chemistry and their own voice. It was getting damn funny.
I don’t see why another group like MavTV can’t pick it up while the History concentrates on shows of naked hippies running around the woods. Why do they still call the History channel is a mystery.