View Full Version : Top Gear tonight in Florida
If any of you caught the episode in the last series where the lads went caravanning, I think you'll agree that, bar a few hiccups, it all went rather well. In fact, even as we watched the firemen put the last of the flames out, there was a general agreement that Jeremy, Richard and James should try this holiday lark again, and so, this week, you'll be able to see their American Fly-Drive special.
The trip began in Miami, Florida, but instead of renting some dull saloon with white paint and velour trim from Avis, the three of them were each given $1,000 and a morning to see if they could buy an interesting car - a car with a few character lines around its grille, and a few stories to tell - for the same money you'd spend on a fortnight's rental.
As it turned out, the buying alone was worth a film, because $1,000 doesn't actually get you much any more, which meant our expat trio spiralled further and further down the food-chain of Miami's car culture, until they ended up in a part of the city where the car dealers were outnumbered by the crack dealers.
Clarkson's salesman, for example, broke out his handgun and telescopic-sighted rifle much more often than he did his Glass's Guide. Eventually though, cars were bought.
Jeremy, typically, overstretched himself and bought a five-litre Chevy Camaro, the murderer's muscle car of choice. In fact, it even had the shirt of the last hitchhiker victim stuffed in the boot.
James, true to form, returned with a 15-year-old shagged Cadillac that had its suspension tuned by a trampoline maker, and Hammond, always a big fan of Brokeback Mountain, arrived in a battered old Dodge pick-up truck.
With the buying done, the adventure really began. The TG holiday cars had to be tested, so they headed north on an 800-mile road trip that aimed to take them up through Florida, across Alabama and Mississippi to the finish point of New Orleans. That's a tough trip for bargain basement cars that even the lowest low life in Miami wouldn't be seen in.
But to make life even harder, there were naturally some Top Gear challenges along the way. So tune in to see what happens when the boys run into the Stig's hillbilly cousin and find out what they cook up when they have to live off roadkill. If that little lot doesn't kill them, will the Alabama Inflammatory Statement Down The Side Of the Car Challenge finish the job?
Find out at 8pm Sunday on BBC Two. Miss that and you've got two more chances: Wednesday 14, 7pm on BBC Two and Saturday 17, 7pm on BBC Three. No excuses, then.[msnwink][msnwink]
I always watch top gear and look forward to seeing this tonight.:)
And there are two episodes of Meerkat Manor on right before it. Top TV! [msnsmile2]
Cruella DeVilla
11-02-2007, 23:40
Wild in Florida was on earlIer too. Top Gear was already in the planner as I know it will be fun!
solanasunshine
12-02-2007, 00:21
Just watching it now! Love the cars especially Richards hillbilly truck![msncool]
Cruella DeVilla
12-02-2007, 00:30
It's got me in stitches[msnwink]
Recorded it will be watching later on
Fourdents
12-02-2007, 00:42
What a load of wallies !
I was not too keen on JC's comments and descriptions of American people either
Just turned it off not impressed
Cruella DeVilla
12-02-2007, 01:00
It really tickled me, made me laugh out loud lots! (You can't take them too seriousy Linda);)
Brilliant absolutely loved it[clap][clap][clap][clap][clap]
CERICROWLEY
12-02-2007, 01:34
I thought it was a scream. Loved the cow, and as usual James always come out the worst.
I watched it and thought it was very funny, I don't usually watch top gear, but with Florida being mentioned, I felt I had to, and so glad I did, thanks Julie for the heads up[msnsmile2]
I did not stop laughing all the way through. I would have been scared stiff with all those hillbillys after them:)
They seem to get better and better with each one.
Not a lover of Top Gear but last night's episode was the best television for months.
Katys Grandad
12-02-2007, 11:31
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Clare R
Not a lover of Top Gear but last night's episode was the best television for months.
[/quote]
Ditto.
we watced it too if anybody takes them seriously they will never go back to america again
djdigitald
12-02-2007, 13:31
What a great laugh last night was! As soon as i saw the slogans on the cars i said to Kaye they would be in trouble driving through the Deep South! I didn't think it would be as bad as it was though! What a scream!
Fantastic, just loved the show last night.
Even my wife who hates Top Gear loved it.
I haven't laughed so much for ages.
My son and I watched this and we both laughed so much! What a scream that episode was. I think Richard Hammond definitely has a death wish though. First nearly ending up with the crocodiles because he was looking at the speedo instead of watching for the end of the runway and then the part with the rednecks! Very entertaining for us but I wonder if his wife was watching????? I wouldn't think she could bring herself to. Love the programme and the guys but I agree, not happy with what Jeremy Clarkson was saying about the Americans. Hope no-one took him too seriously.
I thought last nights show was disgraceful. To visit another country and insult and abuse your hosts in that way is disgusting. That stepped well over the mark. I think just about everyone on this site would agree that Americans are wonderfully hospitable and welcoming and if I were American I would feel terribly insulted by some of the things said in that show.
Grow up Top Gear.
Katys Grandad
12-02-2007, 18:19
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Macka
I think just about everyone on this site would agree that Americans are wonderfully hospitable and welcoming and if I were American I would feel terribly insulted by some of the things said in that show.
[/quote]
Hi Macka
I agree that some of the behaviour was childish and inappropriate, but it was very funny.
It was pretty self evident that not ALL Americans are wonderfully hospitable and welcoming.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Macka
I thought last nights show was disgraceful. To visit another country and insult and abuse your hosts in that way is disgusting. That stepped well over the mark. I think just about everyone on this site would agree that Americans are wonderfully hospitable and welcoming and if I were American I would feel terribly insulted by some of the things said in that show.
Grow up Top Gear.
[/quote]
I only managed to catch about the last 10 minutes of the show, so do not have the whole programme to base my comments on, but I have to say I agree with what you say Macka. They seemed to be being very insensitive towards the locals when they pulled up to get petrol.
Normally I find Top Gear a very entertaining programme, and we always try to watch it, but I thought the 10 minutes I saw last night were very un-funny. I think any Americans watching it would be perfectly justified in feeling insulted by it.
Cruella DeVilla
12-02-2007, 19:29
It's still making smile now, mind you I have a wicked sense of humour so it appealed to me.
After the garage saga his comment about vegetables has me snorting with laughter even now!
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Cruella DeVilla
It's still making smile now, mind you I have a wicked sense of humour so it appealed to me.
After the garage saga his comment about vegetables has me snorting with laughter even now!
[/quote]
Me too[laugh][laugh][laugh][laugh][laugh][laugh][laugh][laugh][laugh]
Robert5988
12-02-2007, 21:53
If you watch JC or read his column in the Sunday Times you will know that he (very much TIC) insults every Nation and just about every district in UK - Birmingham especially!
Many of his comments do have a ring of truth however!
Of course, if taken seriously, it was insulting - but it was hilarious all the same. I think the Hamster was safer driving at 285mph than in pick-up with 'Man-Love' slogans in pink.
Perhaps the difference with the programme last night was that they were actually there, in the other country, apparently making fun of it. As I said earlier, I haven't seen the whole programme, just the 10 minutes at the end.
I think "tongue in cheek" springs to mind[msnwink]
emm I think you need to watch the whole programme[msnwink]
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Mach 2
I think "tongue in cheek" springs to mind[msnwink]
emm I think you need to watch the whole programme[msnwink]
[/quote]
Yes, I think perhaps you're right. I'll have to try and catch one of the repeats.
Just watched TG as we Sky+'d it yesterday. Very funny but very un-PC. Particularly liked the fat-stig, all in all, one long joke. In the end, I think the joke was on the three presenters as they looked genuinly shocked that people would take them seriously.
djdigitald
13-02-2007, 13:23
The top gear stunts are notoriously funny and not to be taken seriously and this one was just the same. I think some people need to lighten up a little and take it for what it really was, FUN! The whole point was proven at the end when they 'Gave' the cars away instead of what they were originally going to do 'Sell' them. The whole New Orleans scene shocked them a lot.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by djdigitald
The top gear stunts are notoriously funny and not to be taken seriously and this one was just the same. I think some people need to lighten up a little and take it for what it really was, FUN! The whole point was proven at the end when they 'Gave' the cars away instead of what they were originally going to do 'Sell' them. The whole New Orleans scene shocked them a lot.
[/quote]
Yes, I know they are fun, and we watch Top Gear because it is such fun! I just think that the bit at the end of this week's programme wasn't so funny when it appeared to be upsetting the local people when they were trying to get petrol.
Some of the other stunts that have been funny over the years were the one where they turned vehicles into boats, or tried various winter olympics things with cars (ice hockey, ski jump for example), or they raced to the south of France with one in a car and the others on the train. These were all hilarious, but not done at the expense of the feelings of the people in the country they were travelling in - that just seems to be in bad taste. I agree that at the end they seemed to be shocked by what they saw, so perhaps that put all their daft stuff into perspective.
However,as Mach 2 said, I really should watch the whole programme. [msnsmile]
FraserLynn
14-02-2007, 00:03
I have to say I thought it was one of the funniest bits of television I have seen in a long while. I am still LOL when I think of JC sat in his car with a shower on it.
Their humour is about pointing out and exagerating the worst traits in people and they are always more brutal on themselves than others.
I do think it is a bit much to accuse them of unfair behaviour towards the Americans, lets face it the mob in the garage looked like they were about to get violent over a slogan painted on a car - a far worse, more biggoted action than anything the top gear team can be accused of.
Whilst I agree that in many places (especially florida) the americans are very welcoming and I do enjoy their hospitality, I think it is only fair to also accept that there are also some parts of the states were you are only welcome if you conform to their beliefs of right and wrong and many people are actually not welcome at all.
I am gutted to say I missed all three [accidentally on each occasion] -If its repeated again -please tell me [msncry]