When History got rid of Top Gear USA, I had hoped that it would land somewhere else. Then the rumblings sprang forth about BBC bringing Top Gear back stateside under the banner Top Gear America. I was happy again.
But then they re-casted it with new hosts and I'm thinking, "What's wrong with you producers? Did you not learn anything from the recasting of original Top Gear?"
The major takeaway about the Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May departure and their replacements was that the audience of Top Gear believes that the hosts are legitimately friends outside of the show. And we, as the audience were made to feel embraced by this trio of buddies and we follow them along in their adventures.
Think 3 Stooges if you must.
In Top Gear USA we got that from Tanner, Adam and Rutledge. These three guys are every bit believable as buddies. Their chemistry was fantastic, even though it wasn't as good as Jeremy, Richard and James, it was fun watching these friends tease each other in much the same fashion as their British counterparts.
Top Gear America's host are far, far, FAR!!! from that. There is no spark. The commentary during the "Star in a Car" segment is sooo dull and at times they just sit there and don't say anything as we watch the car race along the track at a speed of a school bus. In the opening episode we are even told that these guys were just thrown together, much like a manufactured boyband from a reality show. William Fichtner is really the only glue holding these guys together but that's because his years of experience acting helps him bring that presence to the screen. But he's not a comedian and lacks that comedic timing that is absolutely necessary with a show whose British counterparts are loaded with it and the original American version was coming into it's own as well.
I understand that Antron Brown is a driver and Tom Ford worked on Fifth Gear and in similar capacity as he is here but they don't give off the enthusiasm that Tanner, Adam or Rut when describing cars. I just don't believe that they like cars. They come off bored and I don't know why, especially when they've been given a closed track and a quarter of a million dollar super car to drive into the asphalt.
Compare Top Gear America's first episode of them driving in Baja versus The Grand Tour's episode driving the iron coast in Africa; night and day.
I don't expect Top Gear America to be anything like that of Top Gear but you definitely need to get the chemistry right with the hosts. Producers, you need a reset for your state side reboot. I'm telling you, take your format and bring back Tanner, Rutledge and Adam. Cause this new three "ain't it!"
