Clarkson Does it again, This time in the USA!!!!

**Tess Tickle** · #1 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 08:52 AM

Well I tuned in to Top Gear last night and was giggling away at the three musky queers on their trip to America. I did think it was a little foolish flying to Miami, buying a car for less than $1000 and then driving them to New Orleans to sell them, But they do do stupid things, so I went with it, I should have realised that problems would arise when they were struggling to even buy a car, but the places they went to !!! Still thought it was funny with The Stigs BIG American cousin and then when ‘hamster’ nearly ran his pickup into the creek full of alligators !! Clarkson with a full cow on the roof, but then when they hand sign painted each others cars……………………. did they not realise just how much sh…one..t they were in. Man Love Rules OK, Hillary Clinton for President, Nascar Sucks was not going to looked on favourably in the southern states, and when the woman garage owner sent for the boys, and they arrived in the pickup, I really thought that they were dead, and probably nearly were. I’m not going to go on but I don’t think they should be allowed to portray the English they way they did in a foreign country albeit the States……………I for one didn’t think it was funny anymore………….your comments ??

ttc546 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 09:41 AM

Sorry mate, but you didn't find it funny?

It was just a fantastic bit of entertainment and quite a telling, although stereotypical, view of the South.

As this is a US based forum, the concensus might be different - but, even if only part of the program is true and not staged, then the US needs to look to itself for some answers. The New Orleans scene was shameful on America

Fat Stig - just hilarious!
0-5-0 and the alligators - very funny
Clarkson and the shower - LOL
The car slogans in Alabama - controversial but funny
The night raid on May's A/C -

immitation Cheese!
The gas station stop with the rednecks - truly scary

New Orleans - shameful on America
The credits - "Billy Bob name" etc

The show wasn't just entertainment - pathos at the end with Jezza's comments.
A commentary on buddy driving.
A commentary on just good plain fun
A commentary on the South.
A commentary on America

I'll put the flame suit on...

John H · #3 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 10:10 AM

This topic is currently being debated on several other motoring forums that I frequent, and is generating a fair bit of heat too. Most folk seem to just find it harmless fun, but there are quite a number who like Allan think they have pushed it too far, me included.

JH

ttc546 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John H

but there are quite a number who like Allan think they have pushed it too far, me included.

JH

Could you explain further? Just curious as to what you mean.

John H · #5 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttc546

Could you explain further? Just curious as to what you mean.

First off, Top Gear is NOT a motoring programme, it is just light entertainment with a motoring theme, so you can forget any serious analysis. So these filmed "stunts" are just that, comedy films with a car theme.

I thought the one about the road repairs the other week was merely tedious, but this weeks one was a bit more worrying. Clarkson is well known for his anti-american views, and this film was little more than him taking the mickey out of americans. Remember that this is all cleverly staged, and those so called "rednecks" were likely to have been film extras.

Top Gear is one of the last bastions of common sense left in a world of anti-car, anti-speed, health and safety obsesssed political loonies, but when they overstep the mark as I think they did with this film, they only score an own goal.

Just my 2p.

John H

ttc546 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 10:36 AM

Well, traditional motoring programmes are exceedingly dull, and most info can be found in any glossy mag. Its a lads mag type of programme and I have no problem with that at all. As the Top Gear web site Blog shows, the Director was only going to use this film for a 20min slot but there was so much good stuff in there that a full programme was called for.

Does it take the p*ss out of America (some aspects) - you bet!
Does it take the p*ss out of themselves - you bet it does

Humour is being able to laugh at yourself as well as at others.

Any film director can take the quirkiness of a particular culture and turn it into entertainment without everyone getting all hot under the collar. The "Borat" movie is a case in point, as well as many of the Louis Theroux programmes.

Was the programme about motoring? In my view - in a sort of off-beat way - then Yes. We all dream about a road-trip across the US. Some can do it in various exotica, some in heaps of cr*p like their cars. It shows that fun can be had in whatever type and condition of car you have.

I don't believe it did them any dis-service to be "English lads abroad" but it did point out some inconsistencies in the American dream.

Rich_y2 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 10:42 AM

Well I'll admit it - it raised quite a few laughs in our house last night although I'd agree some of it was a bit over the top but as mentioned above it is entertainment nothing more and nothing less. Sure I thought most of it was staged (thankfully, I doubt they really wanted to be chased by the locals at the gas station) but it didn't stop us laughing out loud at many points.

Reckoning on cooking/eating roadkill might have been over the top but was semi-topical I guess at the moment (seems to be plenty of survival cooking type programmes on at the moment) and the dead something on the highway wasn't entirely necessary... but not too much to make me turn over and watch Corrie.

Does Clarkson annoy me with his nonsense comments and views on the world? Yes most of the time, but it doesn't stop me watching and muttering at the TV - he's entertaining and the mix of the other two just adds to the laughs.

Does it offend me when I watch US comedy and they have a go at the Brit's with their rubbish teeth, dodgy semi-cockney accents and that everyone knows the Queen... not in the least.

C.G.Mojo · #8 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 10:58 AM

Top Gear = BBC = Socialist BS

**Tess Tickle** · #9 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttc546

Sorry mate, but you didn't find it funny?

Fat Stig - just hilarious!
0-5-0 and the alligators - very funny
Clarkson and the shower - LOL
The car slogans in Alabama - controversial but funny
The night raid on May's A/C -

immitation Cheese!
The gas station stop with the rednecks - truly scary

New Orleans - shameful on America
The credits - "Billy Bob name" etc

Don't get me wrong, ………..
Up to the sign writing on the cars, I was rolling on the floor and even my better half (who never watches Top Gear) was crying at JC in the shower, It's just that I for one, thought it stepped over the line, and staged or not staged the remainder of the program just left a sour taste.
We all know it’s probably the one program that gets away with Not Being Politically Correct, and that’s one of the reasons I watch the program and put up with some of the drivel that Clarkson comes out with. Whether the situation in New Orleans is right or wrong, I don’t know enough of the in’s and outs, to be able to comment. I’m not a politician, but there again neither is Clarkson or his Director.

**K-Man S** · #10 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 01:41 PM

Most Americans were surprised to find out the New Orleans is in America after hurricane Katrina, most people think it is in South America or something like that because of Mardi Gras...

andylee · #11 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 03:09 PM

I wonder who is quicker FAT Stiq or SKINNY Stiq??

I must admit I prefer the old topgear! Sexist, laddish and full of nice cars!!!

The only thing I like about the current TG is seeing Stiq thrashing some nice car round the track and wonder whether that car can beat the cayman s laptime!!!

skup · #12 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 03:25 PM

I think the show is just that entertaiment but I like seeing the cars. I would never make my car buying decision on them. I still like watching the show. Does anyone know if the show is on in the US?