No Chris Evans = watchable, and actually enjoyable. Our local Cars and Coffee sponsored a get-together at an audio/video shop tonight and streamed it somehow. The new Reasonably Priced Car is a Toyota GT86, and no more rallycross part to the track, which I can't decide if I like/dislike.
I'm sure the fanbois on Facebook will be touting the Grand Tour-only line but I have to say I'm looking forward to the new season.
I hated Chris Evans, but I loved the rallycross track. I'm sure I'll watch it, but I'm a little disappointed they dropped the dirt track.
I will have to go back and give it a shot. I could not take Chris Evans and bailed after a couple episodes.
It sounds like an improvement. I will watch it if I get the chance, but now that I have Amazon, I'm loving GT.
LeBlanc was a little sedate but not bad and kinda funny, Chris and Rory were great. I'm quite hopeful.
Big improvement, celebrity portion was drawn out but aside that it was good.
I like the GT86 as the reasonably priced car.
The hosts have good chemistry now
The country choice in the travel portion was interesting. I hope to see some more choices like that.
Looking forward to it.
GTN was a HUGE disappointment. Episode 2 was a shock, terrible and unwatchable.
They've(Jeremy et all) moved away from car review type show to (at attempt at) entertaining us, with some car stuff in the mix.
I mean, the simple fact that they thought The American and celebrity death stuff would actually be funny repeatedly.
DrBoost wrote: Looking forward to it. GTN was a HUGE disappointment. Episode 2 was a shock, terrible and unwatchable. They've(Jeremy et all) moved away from car review type show to (at attempt at) entertaining us, with some car stuff in the mix. I mean, the simple fact that they thought The American and celebrity death stuff would actually be funny repeatedly.
One of the best things about this new Top Gear is that the people on the show know cars and are not afraid to show their knowledge. Like for example simple things like Chris Harris critiquing the track and the driving of the celebrity guest. Minor things like that.
I agree, Grand Tour wasn't that great. People forget Top Gear before they left had been slipping it's just a continuation from there.
Chris Evans screws TG, the script screws GT... if only they could combine the two shows... like if they had Clarkson, Hammond, and May as the hosts, and the writers for top gear...
Trackmouse wrote: Chris Evans screws TG, the script screws GT... if only they could combine the two shows... like if they had Clarkson, Hammond, and May as the hosts, and the writers for top gear...
Chris Evans isn't a problem anymore lol.
I don't think you are going to convince the producers who were punched over cold cuts to bring Clarkson back. He also has massive influence on the show. It basically was Grand Tour the past couple of seasons. I was one of the people hoping they would bring new life into the show, they failed last season but this new episode brings hope.
I liked this episode, too. But I also liked The Grand Tour. Is that allowed? 
I liked some of Grand Tour, it definitely got better as it went along and I suspect it will improve with previous seasons. I liked this Top Gear at least as much as the best of the GT shows - the hosts have great chemistry outside the studio. Big step up from last season. Massive.
I'll be watching both whenever they're available.
Opening a season without the Stig turning a lap was a bold move, not sure it was a good call.
Hopefully Chris Harris will loosen up a bit, he didn't seem at all comfortable in the studio scenes.
Tom_Spangler wrote: I liked this episode, too. But I also liked The Grand Tour. Is that allowed?
The internet fanbois would say no. I (& probably many others) would disagree.
So far, I've read good things about it. I had a feeling the chemistry would improve if they reduced it down to LeBlanc, Harris and Reid.
Other than CHoC, I'm not sure what experience Chris Harris has. Performing in front of a live audience might take him some time to get accustomed to.
I would agree my biggest critique of TGT was how overly scripted it felt. In a way, it was like watching the first season of USTG. Stilted and stiff. TG23 suffered from that as well, saved only by the fact LeBlanc is an experienced comedic actor.
Either way, I will watch both shows (and still hold out hope the USTG trio will find a new home). Or more specifically - I'll watch Top Gear again when there is some sort of streaming service since I don't have cable.
Chris Harris was a top-level automotive writer before he turned into a video darling. As was Clarkson. You can tell, he's better with language than the other two even when they're ad-libbing.
Keep your eyes on BBCAmerica.com if you want to stream it.
Tom_Spangler wrote: I liked this episode, too. But I also liked The Grand Tour. Is that allowed?
I'll step in it further - I also liked the US Top Gear... For mindless TV car debauchery.
Old_Town wrote:Tom_Spangler wrote: I liked this episode, too. But I also liked The Grand Tour. Is that allowed?I'll step in it further - I also liked the US Top Gear... For mindless TV car debauchery.
I did as well. The last couple of seasons were arguably better than UKTG - just three guys with hardly any budget having fun. Unfortunately, by the time they found their chemistry, viewers had moved on. I've heard rumors the three may be working on doing another car program, but I fear they may be hamstrung with many of the legal restraints The Grand Tour has to deal with.
The problem with the new Top Gear is the same as the problem with US Top Gear. by calling it Top Gear it's help to an impossible standard and will always be compared to it's former self, to call it anything else it would bring ridicule for being a hack attempt at copying Top Gear.
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