Any time you
take a beloved product and change or adapt it, there are bound to be fans of
the original that have nothing better to do but bitch and moan on internet
discussion boards. “Top Gear USA
The first
problem many people have with this show is the hosts, and I think they are
about 2/3 correct in this assessment. Actor Adam Ferrara is the least competent
of the three, capable of crashing more than actually driving. His personality
can also be somewhat grating, insisting on being as arrogant as the others
without any of the ability and minimal knowledge. The racer included is Tanner
Foust, who has the ability and knowledge paired with the show’s most
obnoxiously conceited personality. Only the expert Rutledge Wood amused me,
with a sense of humor and less competitive nature to make up for an
unwillingness to speed dangerously or crash recklessly like the others.
There could be
an argument that these shows should focus on the ability of the cars more than
anything else, but this is hardly the case with TGUSA, for better or worse. It
comes off more manipulated and staged, like a majority of American “reality”
television seems to be. For example, in one stunt challenge they are given
passengers with drinks that aren’t to be spilled. When Adam and Rutledge drive,
there is liquid in the drinks, but Tanner brings his own car to the race and
apparently didn’t want to get water in the car. So instead of using a different
car or addressing his vanity, instead they try and fake it by having cubs
without water and the actors put their hands over it for the entire drive. The
manipulation of the audience’s intelligence calls into question the validity of
everything shown, and nullifies any belief in the stunts as well. American
producers need to stop treating audiences like idiots when they make reality
television. In that regard, the British version is still lightyears ahead in
terms of accurate information and intelligent tests. The US
The complete
third season is included in this four-disc set, along with special features.
There are extra scenes, audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes footage and
interviews with each of the hosts.
Entertainment Value:
7/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 3/10
Historical
Significance: 3/10
Disc Features: 5/10
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