White Roof Radio #359
News from Motoringfile.com as always. Gabe even managed to dial up the correct podcast this night which definitely worked in our favor. Countryman crashes get us started, Cadillac is making an odd little car, Austrailia MINI Challenge being systematically dismantled, some Coupe talk, some MINI Connected talk and, MINI United, as far as we know, isn’t really going to be in Dubai.
We do some personal Ask Chad and talk about the new Top Gear America and some of us don’t think it’s as bad as you. We do need some questions for our good man Chad (ahem, from DetroitTuned.com) to finish out the year. So, email those in or call-in to (206) 202-3252 to get them in before the Christmas break.
Woofcast 359: [audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.whiteroofradio.com/podcasts/woof359.mp3]
Finally, don’t forget the MINI of Ontario Bootgate Party this coming Sunday! Or, check with your local dealer to see if they are having one. As always, don’t forget to tell them White Roof Radio sent you.
Download | WRR @ iTunes | 26.2MB | 57:15
<p>I think Top Gear America is already starting to get better. It probably never be able to live up to the standard of its BBC brother, but I think it will continue to develop its own entertaining personality. Besides everyone knows stuff is funnier with a healthy dose of British slang thrown in–it’s just not fair.</p>
<p>I just watched the 3rd episode. They did a proper ‘challenge’ type segment just like Jezza and the boys do. It wasn’t as good, but it was fun to watch. It seems that each episode is better than the last as they find their groove. I hope they stick with it!</p>
<p>Great shows guys.</p>
<p>Funny about the idea of using the crashed R60 for a desktop. I actually had this for a few days to poke some fun at a coworker that is a R60 fan.</p>
<p>I am totally with you DB on Top Gear America. So far I suffered through the first episode, survived the second and third. Still lacking a lot of the production and photography values of the BBC Top Gear. Not to worried about the chemistry between the guys as even the BBC version took a while to really start working. In many ways I expect if it can survive the first season and get a second to see improvements though I still wonder how this will work out as one of the biggest reasons why I love BBC’s product is that they are not beholden to any advertisers pretty much so give their gut reactions better than I think we will ever see in the US.</p>
<p>Gabe, I’d love to hear more about what you think will happen to MINI design going forward after the Hildebrand departure. Next WWR perhaps?</p>
<p>So this is WWR and MF alter ego pic above, or arch rivals?
lol</p>
<p>I hate to say it, but if Top Gear got canceled tomorrow, would anybody notice? Nope. The show is horrible. There is zero chemistry, the wit of all the hosts seems so forced. Can’t we just broadcast the European one here instead?</p>
<p>Haven’t listened to the WRR episode just yet, but still couldn’t resist commenting. I was disappointed at first with TopGear, but after just a few episodes and some thinking, I’ve got faith. It was frustrating to see them essentially re-do lots of stunts from the original TopGear (attack helo vs. car, etc) and the chemistry is not quite there, but…</p>
<p>In all seriousness, they have had only 3 shows to get the chemistry going – WRR has had what, 5 years? We’re spoiled if we want them to nail it from the start. I’m hoping it continues to improve and maybe we’ll get lucky and end up with two entertaining TopGears on TV – even if it is embarrassing that Americans aren’t original enough to develop our own great enthusiast TV show…</p>
<p>First episodes of most programs like this really need time to start gelling. Heck I bet even if you were to talk to DB he would advise that it even took WWR time to start getting smooth running show it is today.</p>
<p>@MatthewW – We’ll try to get Gabe back. I’m sure he is dying to talk about that!</p>
<p>@JonPD – In fact, <a href="http://donburnside.com/archive/firsts/" rel="nofollow">I already did</a>.</p>
<p>Thanks for the comments gang!</p>
<p>Hey Tanner Faust, nice members only jacket, are you the last member????</p>
<p>top gear UK > top gear USA</p>
<p>Top Gear USA is nowhere near as painful as the whiny, pathetic and ill-informed discussion of it on this podcast. If you constantly compare every aspect of TG USA directly to the British version, there’s no way you’ll like it. No matter how hard they try, it cannot and never will be as good, plain and simple. Just accept it for what it is – a car show that is 10 times better than any other car show produced in the U.S. On its own merits, I think Top Gear USA is pretty good and it has vastly improved over the last three weeks. Yes, it isn’t perfect but the more we support these types of shows, the better the chances of seeing more car shows on American TV.</p>
<p>Finally, the reason the original NBC pilot was cancelled wasn’t because it was bad, it was because Knight Rider bombed and NBC decided that they didn’t want to take a chance on another car show. Adam Carolla would have been a phenominal host (and has a much better podcast).</p>
<p>Thanks for listening and the feedback DC! Greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I’ve seen 4 episodes of US Top Gear now, and it’s still pretty bad. Like you guys said, the music sucks, but also the hosts are terrible. It’s all way too scripted, and they have no personality. I just went back and watched that first 3 episodes of Top Gear UK season 1, and it was better in every possible way. I’m hoping for a season 2 of US Top Gear, just with different hosts, ones who can read, and are at least a little bit interesting.</p>