Topic: The Grand Tour - Clarkson, Hammond and May

[Pistolero]

http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2017/12/a-forensic-debunking-of-the-grand-tours-trip-to-switzerland/

what an absolute c*nt of an article  ....

[Something Worse]

How did Hammond come out of that one ok?

[Skeeve]

http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2017/12/a-forensic-debunking-of-the-grand-tours-trip-to-switzerland/

That really is quite an insane article, the show might sometimes be factual by accident, that really isn't the primary purpose of it which is pretty much last of the summer wine with shinier toys and as far as the charger availability, surely that is something that should be raised in an episode featuring an electric car so prominently since not everywhere is as well equipped with them as that part of Switzerland.

There are plenty of actual reasons to complain about TGT, most of the in-studio stuff is still fucking dire for example, was anyone really pining for this show to have a version of star in a reasonably priced car to the extent that they needed to bring back that two person in one episode gimmick that they tried and abandoned in an earlier season of Top Gear itself?

[Crosby Nick]

It would be ok if the people watching it treated Clarkson, May and Hammond in the way they used to treat Alf Garnet. If the 'humour' is that a bunch of unfunny xenophobes, who are deep into their mid-life crises, can't get to grips with the modern world then fine. Sadly I think that the people who watch that shite tend to identify with Clarkson's world view rather than laugh at it's pathetic absurdity.

TGT Humour 101:

Foreigners are a bit poncy (and probably all gay - which is a bad thing in TGT world).
Healthy eating is for foreigners, poofs and birds.
Electric cars are for foreigners, poofs and birds... (there's a pattern to this).
Spending your working life in a sub-homoerotic fantasy family (Clarkson as bear-daddy, May as the 'wife' and Hammond the weird man-baby) with no women is completely normal. Spending time with women is for foreigners, poofs and other women.
And of course:

Petrol cars are for real men...

So you did like it, or you didn’t like it?

[rich87]

The problem this guy makes is thinking The Grand Tour is a factual show when it's clearly more an entertainment show, and I don't think they even attempt to hide that fact. TG was no different, and a lot of the film elements were extremely staged, scripted and situations set up.

I agree and disagree. I actually quite liked the post on Gizmodo as it was informative. It actually cuts into the Grand Tour and asks the presenters to show a responsibility to the viewers. Look just because everybody reads the daily mail, doesn't make them a racist, but a certain proportion will be persuaded by the bile that they spew.

Likewise not everybody that goes to a pub is an alcoholic. But a fair proportion will be.

The pub landlord, the daily mail don't care about there responsibility to there customers, but perhaps TGT should. After all we will all need to be driving electric cars in the next 20-30 years if we are to have a future on this planet.

TGT viewers aren't just kids, they are also petrol heads, and they are the ones that need convincing that there is a future in electric, because they are the ones that will be the early adopters as a lover of cars. Why can't it be an entertainment show without being xenophobic, homophobic and factually incorrect at every minute that ticks by?

Why can't they still make it entertaining without the bullsh*t that goes with it.

Honestly it'd make for a much better program in my opinion.

[Alan_X]

...TGT viewers aren't just kids...    ...they are the ones that need convincing that there is a future in electric, because they are the ones that will be the early adopters as a lover of cars. Why can't it be an entertainment show without being xenophobic, homophobic and factually incorrect at every minute that ticks by?...

In a nutshell.

Edit - but of course the answer to the 'why' is that Clarkson is an arrogant, xenophobic, Tory prick who writes a column for the S*n for fucks sake. I have no idea why he is defended on here of all places.

[voodoo ray]

It's only a TV show.

[Alan_X]

It's only a TV show.

Is it?

[voodoo ray]

Is it?

Yep. It's merely entertainment.

[Alan_X]

Yep. It's merely entertainment.

OK, I stand corrected - it's merely xenophobic, homophobic, right-wing, climate-change-denying, 'entertainment' presented by a right-wing prick who writes for the S*n.

If that's what floats your boat mate...

[Trada]

Watched the first one in the new series reminded me of something they did on Top Gear with super cars trying to get around narrow back streets.

[TepidT2O]

OK, I stand corrected - it's merely xenophobic, homophobic, right-wing, climate-change-denying, 'entertainment' presented by a right-wing prick who writes for the S*n.

If that's what floats your boat mate...

He’s an odd character.. I think he’s parodying being those things most  of the time whilst occasionally becoming those things..

[voodoo ray]

OK, I stand corrected - it's merely xenophobic, homophobic, right-wing, climate-change-denying, 'entertainment' presented by a right-wing prick who writes for the S*n.

If that's what floats your boat mate...

If you don't like it, don't watch it. There's loads of shit I don't either like or agree with or have issues with. You know what? I just don't watch/read/etc them.

You probably also shouldn't believe everything clarkson either says or writes because I doubt he does.

[Something Worse]

Watched the first one in the new series reminded me of something they did on Top Gear with super cars trying to get around narrow back streets.

That stuff always gives me anxiety, like those videos of people sliding into each other in an icy hill.

[Alan_X]

If you don't like it, don't watch it. There's loads of shit I don't either like or agree with or have issues with. You know what? I just don't watch/read/etc them.

You probably also shouldn't believe everything clarkson either says or writes because I doubt he does.

I don’t watch it. There’s a thread on here though and I’m commenting on that. As for not believing everything he writes. Are you suggesting he’s actually a leftie and just acts like a massive right wing prick? That’s a bit of a worry when you read the comments his fans write. They clearly don’t get the ironic construct.

[cloggypop]

Jeremy Clarkson wears stonewashed boot cut jeans. With a suit jacket.

[Something Worse]

Jeremy Clarkson wears stonewashed boot cut jeans. With a suit jacket.

Couldn't help but notice the ones he wore in the studio had fucked up hems from where he'd walked on them.

[cloggypop]

Couldn't help but notice the ones he wore in the studio had fucked up hems from where he'd walked on them.

He was under a strong challenge from Martin Roberts from Homes Under The Hammer but came out strong and managed to hold his lead as the shittest dressed man on television.

[Something Worse]

That Chiron was something else, holy shit

[Pistolero]

That Chiron was something else, holy shit

Yep, just watched it...an insane machine and no mistake

[Kashinoda]

I don’t watch it. There’s a thread on here though and I’m commenting on that. As for not believing everything he writes. Are you suggesting he’s actually a leftie and just acts like a massive right wing prick? That’s a bit of a worry when you read the comments his fans write. They clearly don’t get the ironic construct.

Wonder how his fans felt about his vote to remain.

[sminp]

No idea why people get wound up about this, it's just a TV show for fucks sake. Some people need to grow up.

[Nitramdorf]

Series 3 first episode is up on Amazon at the moment.I believe they have binned the guests.13 episodes in total. Just seen the montage and theres some stunning scenery.

[gamble]

I do still watch this, just for the cars and the photography is quite nice, but honestly it's the same old shtick from them. They are laughing all the way to the bank.

[voodoo ray]

it is what it is. if you like it, you'll like it, if you don't, then you won't.

[nuts100]

Brilliant biography on Jim Clark
When they do stuff like the Clark bit, they really are head and shoulders above anything else.

[CraigDS]

The Jim Clark bit was excellent, a real great bit of filming. The three of them together can be tough to watch sometimes (I can just about manage an hour of them), but they do make some fantastic TV at times.

Love the Urus too, it’s even better in person as well. Saw Firmino yesterday in a bright yellow one like Clarkson was driving 

[AndyInVA]

Just read the article. It does seem just repeatition of what everyone knew before Clarkson was fired from the BBC.  The show is clearly scripted for entertainment and was becoming tired and stale. Writing something like that article is as redundant as many of the show gags which would explain why Clarkson et al decided this series would be their last.

EDIT. Seems it may not be their last as Clarkson has since highlighted. It has gotten very stale to me and just seems to be the same thing over and over.

[CraigDS]

Writing something like that article is as redundant as many of the show gags which would explain why Clarkson et al decided this series would be their last.

It's been renewed for a 4th series.

[bradders1011]

It's been renewed for a 4th series.

It's just going to be specials after this series - Richard Porter confirmed it himself on the Gareth Jones podcast.

[AndyMuller]

These 3 tits still going are they? May is less of a tit than the other two to be fair.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

What happened with LeBlanc?

[rob1966]

What happened with LeBlanc?

In regards to Top Gear? Wants to spend more time with his family in the US

[Graeme]

Brilliant biography on Jim Clark
When they do stuff like the Clark bit, they really are head and shoulders above anything else.

Came on to say something similar. Just been catching up today and the piece on Jim Clark was outstanding.

[Nobby Reserve]

Just read the article. It does seem just repeatition of what everyone knew before Clarkson was fired from the BBC.  The show is clearly scripted for entertainment and was becoming tired and stale.

There was a time where it wasn't obvious where the line between scripted and natural buffoonery began and ended with their road trips. Sometimes you guessed it was a set up (the rednecks in the US) but laughed anyway at the thought of it being true. Other times clearly were random (like May having his legs whipped out from under him by that tow-rope and banging his head), and the results of the amphibious vehicles.

But as they seemed to try harder, it became more blatantly staged and rigged, and became stale. 

[bradders1011]

The delivery to Colombia from 'GAK' was quite funny.

[nuts100]

Say what you want about the presenters, however the trip through Scotland, the cinematography was just stunning.

They sometimes get it absolutely spot on

Scotland, stunning country

[Qston]

Say what you want about the presenters, however the trip through Scotland, the cinematography was just stunning.

They sometimes get it absolutely spot on

Scotland, stunning country

Just watched it. That scenery is absolutely stunning.

Anyone know which road they took that 'shortcut' on ? I want to drive it. Not the 500 tour route which i know but their version of it

[bradders1011]

It'd be fascinating if they did a spin-off documentary on the work the mechanics/contractors do building and maintaining their vehicles. It's a few galaxies removed from Edd China fettling a Triumph Stag back to life.

[Lee1-6Liv]

Really enjoyed the Mongolia special, real adventure and very funny, seems less scripted than the usual specials.