Episode #23.1

I was looking forward to this "New" show I wanted for it to be good but had my doubts it would work. I was a big fan of the old show and I would not call myself a fan of driving and cars. The other presenters simply did such a great job. as for the new presenters I didn't expect them to be this bad, simply no chemistry between Matt and Chris. Matt did his best but Evans just didn't click. The only good point about episode 1 is the new star in a rally car segment. I will watch again as it surely can't get any worse, It may be unfair to base my review on a pilot episode. But I am more and more looking forward to the new Clarkson and company version on Netflix.

People say the old show became overgrown, obnoxious and self-indulgent, but at least while the boys were driving super cars around the world they would actually review them and give you every fact and figure they had. This new show had barely a scripted sentence pertaining to a car they were driving. That along with Chris Evans god awful presenting skills which would have suited a village panto better than TV and the absolute lack of any rapport between the show's hosts is why I won't be watching this again, and I recommend you don't either.

One upside to this mess is Matt Le'Blanc, he seems to enjoy himself on the show but only when he's presenting alone.

Oh, and please Chris Evans.. stop shouting.. just stop shouting.

"Ifeelzeneedzeneedforzspeed." - either this killer line from Sabine, or the PC wagon full of Indians, the "chemistry" of two 2x4's, Gordon's cars versus what-now? - take your pick, the show gave me plenty of reasons for turning it off. It is something else entirely now - the show you used to love will be airing on Amazon. This however, does not fly with me and I'm not putting myself through another hour of this. I'll be surprised if it finds its crowd and if it proves big enough for BBC to keep pouring money into it. Leblanc is okay on his own, but when they're together with Evans - oh. my. god. If you are going to keep this running though, BBC - word to the wise - make Sabine The Stig.

To start off I want to state that I'm not familiar with Chris Evans and I'm somewhat familiar with Matt Le Blanc. I heard some people had misgivings about Chris being involved with Top Gear and now I clearly understand why.

The entire feel of the show was completely off, right from the start with the incredibly awkward introduction of Matt and a overly energetic Chris who felt compelled to shout at the camera like the audience was a bunch of pensioners who forgot their hearing aids.

The segments with Chris had an incredibly scripted feel that lacked any genuine emotion. With the previous hosts I didn't notice the scripted bits, the show felt more cohesive. This "new" Top Gear feels like a movie with bad CG effects that stick out like a sore thumb. Every contest had a BS you win and then Chris wins plot line result that a three year old child could have predicted.

The BBC needs to find a better host who can handle off the cuff humou, someone who is more of an everyday bloke that can talk like a normal human being.

That being said, Matt Le Blanc was OK, incredibly dry, but OK when reviewing the cars. Couldn't tell a joke to save his life... That bit about your mothers g-string was odd and the way he tried to play up the "bad guys" was just awful. With a different host Matt may have really turned out better but he was very awkward and forced with Chris. He looked like a guy on a date with a woman who is desperately attempting to get in his pants and post the play by play on snap chat.

I have watched Top Gear on and off since it's first show in the late 70's where Noel Edmonds was it's main presenter. This show was mainly aimed at people who liked cars and wanted honest reviews. When Clarkson arrived on the show around 1986 he gave honest reviews where he was not concerned if he upset the manufacturers. In a way Clarkson would say what you would love to say but were too afraid in case you offended anyone. He had a new way of presenting which gave the show a lift. After ten years on the program Clarkson left where he had his own program, aptly named CLARKSON where you could see the beginnings of what would become the new Top Gear format which has been a huge success as it not only appealed to car fanatics, but a whole new audience who would never have watched the original Top Gear. The original program had got old and stale so this re-boot made it the great success it has been over the past 14 years. Now new Top Gear, the BBC missed a trick not to re-invent but to re- heat old programs with new presenters who are not up to the task. When going on an adventure Clarkson, Hammond and May would explain why they were doing it and what the end goal would be, whether this was best rear wheel drive, best 4x4, best convertible and so on. What was the point of driving to Blackpool in two three wheelers? What was the entertainment value with one being on a transporter? The Jeep and Land Rover trials were utterly awful and dull. What's the point of taking a three wheeler to the top of a hill. We already know the Jeep and Land Rover will not struggle making those journeys. This was just weak and lazy programming with no thought, imagination or entertainment value whatsoever. The rally cross is a good idea but the guests were dull which made it difficult to watch. Chris Evans was turning the studio into TFI Friday, just remember how successful OFI Sunday was!! I think Chris Evans should stick to what he knows best and do shows which are his idea and built around him as he is struggling with this format. I think if Top Gear is going to remain with the BBC it is in urgent need of another re-boot to move it as far as possible from the Clarkson, Hammond and May era. This show was still at it's peak when the others left so it's always going to be a monumental task to continue this format without the magic of the original three. I don't even think this new Top Gear will make it to Dave where the original and best is still being shown. If the Grand tour is a success, which it probably will be then the BBC will have a huge decision to make about commissioning another series of this now awful program.