They may have their own Stig, but Top Gear fans still left unimpressed with US version

By Jessica Satherley



Identical Stig: The US Stig makes his debut in the show's premiere on America's History channel and looks exactly the same as the UK Stig


The US version of Top Gear premiered on America’s History channel last night, but die-hard fans of the British show were left unimpressed.

The American version had all the components needed for the show, including an identical looking Stig and three presenters with a background in cars, speed and comedy, but viewers seemed to think it lacked the latter.

Instead of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, the US show is hosted by racing/stunt driver Tanner Foust, Speed Channel reporter Rutledge Wood and comedian/actor Adam Ferrara.


Lacking comedy: Viewers took to Twitter to add their critiques for the US version, saying the Stig lacked mystique and the presenters lacked humour


But viewers soon took to Twitter with their harsh comparisons, with one writing: ‘Top Gear US verdict: FAIL. Too scripted, no chemistry, not remotely funny, lacks flow.’ [sic]

Another tweeted: ‘Wasted an hour watching Top Gear US. Sucks compared to Top Gear UK.’

One fan wrote an online review saying: ‘I kept trying to figure out who the ‘Clarkson’ was – but I gave up. What’s the point? This is NOT Top Gear as Anglophiles know it.’

While the US Stig was described as lacking mystique and one tweeted: ‘Their Stig should have had a different name and the hosts suck.’

But producer John Hesling stands behind his casting decision of the three hosts and says he spent ‘a year or two’ searching for the perfect men to fill the roles.


US studio: Presenters Tanner Foust, Adam Ferrara and Rutledge Wood chatted in the studio to the live audience


Time trials: The three presenters did time trials in Lamborghinis around the track


‘They got on with each other very, very well. There’s that immediate kind of X
Factor. These guys seem to chat like they’ve known each other for a long, long time,’ he said.

And he added: ‘I don’t see why you’d want a group of sort of bad-teethed Brits coming and telling you about your own car culture.’

Buzz Aldrin was the first celebrity guest to star in the feature 'Big Star In A Small' car, and there was no expense spared with the stunts either in the debut episode.

The three presenters did time trials in Lamborghinis as well as being followed around the streets of a small town by a Cobra helicopter as they drove a Dodge Viper.

The History channel’s series is not the first time the US has tried to re-create Top Gear. In 2005 Discovery made a pilot and in 2008 NBC made another, but neither were broadcast as a series.

The British version of Top Gear is already a huge hit in America – in 2005 it won an Emmy Award – leaving many questioning why the US version was created.


The originals: Richard Hammond (left), Jeremy Clarkson and James May (right), present the original British version of Top Gear



source:dailymail