Last night's Top Gear

[Concrete donkey]

The execution of a relatively solid concept was so incredibly vapid, the show had chance after chance to redeem itself at any point but completely failed to do so. The worst of it was that it was plain dull. As for not being offensive, you saw the Stig's "cousin" and the credits right? The entire presentation was cack-handed and condescending, and for any serious journalist to summarise one of the natural wonders of the world as "thoroughly unpleasant" absolutely beggars belief.

This is what I was looking for, thanks. Its annoying when people say something is crap or offensive without citing examples to back it up. I personally was not offended with the show but then again, I've never considered anyone on that show as being serious journalists while on the show either.

[Brats]

I can't understand the people knocking the show personally. It's one of the best things on TV in my opinion and by all means go and watch Fifth Gear if you're bored. That really brings home just how much better TG is.

Oh it is much better than Fifth Gear I agree but then most things are. I disagree it's still the best thing on TV, Charlie Brooker knocks it into a cocked hat for a start. It's because I have loved the show that I'm knocking it, it's become a bit too familiar.

The early series had a bit more variety such as the caravan conkers. This series in particular has not hit the high watermark of others and is danger of becoming a pastiche of itself. They are concentrating on the trying to repeat the best bits of previous series instead of creating something new, except the repeats aren't as good. Hence we get the boat cars rolled out again and an attempt to repeat the America episode only not as good. This latest series has become more like a greatest hits package - only covered by the local pub band.

There's only so many times you can watch Captain Slow sink in his carboat and find it funny.

[Ajay1986]

for any serious journalist to summarise one of the natural wonders of the world as "thoroughly unpleasant" absolutely beggars belief.

Why?

So what he thought it was "thoroughly unpleasant" thats his opinion, it doesnt stop you regarding it as a natural wonder of the world does it.

[Swallow]

[merf]

completely agree with Brats.

I find myself re-watching and enjoying the repeats on 'Dave' far more than the new stuff.

it still has its moments, Clarkson in the tiny car recently for example, and is worth watching but is in danger of getting dangerously near to 'jumping the shark'.

[Ajay1986]

Thank you.

[Swallow]

What is 'Dave', merf?

[Number45]

It's the renamed UKTV G2.

[Swallow]

Thankyou. What a peculiar name.

[MonkeySteve]

There's only so many times you can watch Captain Slow sink in his carboat and find it funny.

I dunno, I could watch it a good few times yet

[Rossco]

Same here mate, car boat sinkage is top TV!

[merf]

i think this is one of my problems with the program in general, its moving from being small scale and cult into an established mainstream show.

once things move over into the mainstream they can lose their edge and have to repeat ad infinitum the things that made them popular to the 'masses'.

i am sure they can bang out years more of exactly the same cookie cutter show and will draw in a huge audience (see last of the summer wine, latter series of fools & horses and any other format that gets milked til its udders bleed).

[ChrisF]

I'd forgot about this actually - they did get in trouble at the time for ripping up those salt planes.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/jul/08/broadcasting.endangeredhabitats

[Alastair]

Right, watched it last night, can't see what all the fuss is about really, it wasn't the best episode in the world but it certainly wasn't the worst either. The main thing that annoyed me actually was the needless burning of all the trim they took off the cars, why waste it and pollute the air with burning plastics when they could have just given it to the nearest locals who in an area of the world where they are very adept at re-using and recycling it could have done some good.

Have to say that in such a poverty stricken country,

->Open Spoiler<-

they were wasting food in that way.

It clearly wasn't a poor country by African standards, I went to Zimbabwe 10 or 11 years ago when it was still affluent and in the full swing of having a lot of outside business etc rather than the economic collapse of today and it was worse than Botswana as seen on TG in places. Meat is cheap in Africa and they only 'wasted' 3 steaks or something, hardly a massive faux-pas. We must consider the money they injected into local communities whilst filming as well, buying cars, hiring guides, mechanics, food bought, accommodation etc etc.

In fact:

For over 30 years, Botswana had the fastest growing economy in the world. Since independence, Botswana has had one of the fastest growth rates in per capita income in the world. Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to an upper-middle-income country

Botswana

I wasn't keen on the needless erosion of the salt planes but taken in context I imagine they did very little damage when the scale of the place is taken into account.

I could try to justify it all day long and it may come across as defending it when I'm not (I found the cows head in bad taste in particular), I just think as usual with TG people are a bit quick to over-react good or bad.

[Kotatsu Neko]

I'd forgot about this actually - they did get in trouble at the time for ripping up those salt planes.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007...ngeredhabitats

From that article:

Not every guide in Botswana was worried about Top Gear's visit, however. Peter Perlstein, who runs a local helicopter company and helped with filming on one day, said the pans were already a popular 'self-drive destination' and 70-80 vehicles might visit in a weekend: 'Hundreds of tourists drive all over the plain on a regular basis, so I can't see how their vehicles could have made a difference,' he said.