You start watching Topgear for the cars by the end of it because of the hosts you are watching it for them, now even if they don’t do cars you will still watch them do anything together
The most important thing in any show is the characters, if you like them, it doesn't matter what they do you'll keep watching even if they're cooking potatoes.
For me, I have fond memories of watching Top Gear with my dad-later the Grand Tour. It’s become a show that comforts me in a sense. It got me into cars, but like others have said, I realized that I began loving it for the ‘three stooges’ that presented it.
Massive oversimplification. They are a key ingredient but we came to love the show because they fronted amazing writing and production and format. If they had launched with three guys in a cottage having an unscripted chat about cars they would not have worked.
You also have to give some credit to Top Gear of the CMH era in that is was very well produced. The photography, music, editing, original ideas, etc. all made for a top notch show. It was entertaining to watch even if you didn't care about cars. Just think about the episodes where they turned cars into boats and sailed across the English Channel, turned a car into a rocket, or 50th anniversary of the E-type.
It’s that they are all 3 genuine blokes, living their lives. They don’t feel like they are putting on a show, they generally, together, feel as though they are bouncing nuanced conversation from very different viewpoints and the chemistry/frank nature of their banter. There wasn’t anything that felt fake even though we know we are seeing a great production. People are looking for honesty and honesty requires Negative as well as positive reactions and in a world of “paid for” media, that is rare to truly find. Same reason Rogan is so endearing.
I really, really don’t want this all to end. I hope the three of them continue to collaborate on projects together even if it’s not at the same level as the grand tour
The different hosts from three distinct backgrounds and experiences who share a common passion, was a stroke of genius that brought viewers together who wouldn't usually take the time to spit on each others sneakers.
Clarkson, May and Hammond have always felt like three guys with whom you'd really like to just sit and have a beer and a nice chat about pretty much anything. Yes, they knew their stuff, but they were also quite genuine and likeable, even when they were being complete jerks to each other. The times when the show could get a little silly or contrived always seemed to be when the producers got a little too heavy-handed. Top Gear didn't need any of that; just the three excellent hosts, doing what they do best, and the amazing cars they drove on our behalf. And James's wine show with Oz Clarke was amazing, too!
They were/are ‘naughty schoolboys’ on top gear and the grand tour. You can't manufacture it; it just happens. You either got it or you haven't. So, why try to analyse it? They are great shows that copies cannot replace.
I think the "imbalance" is the whole charm. There are three different ways in which two can gang up on the third. With two it's always the same dynamic.
The 3 amigos have that fatherly knows best but often times funny crap outcome attitude towards cars and other stuff which is appealing because in many ways we also do those things. And their camaraderie is genuine.
You supposed to do it the other way around.. the most interesting part of an interview is released before the full interview as a teaser.. at the end you say when the full video will get released.. usually a day or two after.
I take issue with people saying it was just the hosts. Top Gear had highly original sketches and memes, high production value, and layers and layers of lore with the foundation being the hosts ofc. The show would seamlessly string different bits over an hour so the viewer was on a dopamine IV. One minute Clarkson is super gluing Mays new stereo, then Tom cruise is drifting a hatchback, then an aventador is shouting at you. It was madness that allowed the hosts and us to experience our inner child.
Without the massive fame, if they left after old topgear. I’m fairly sure clarkson would be a farmer now. Hammond would have left men&motors. Worked as a local radio presenter again. Then he’d be working with classic cars into his old age. Maybe a small garage, or just a home garage. I’m not sure what May does so much. He has the pub. Can’t see him getting one without the big fame money at all tho. He’s still be in a pub.. just as a the drinker. Drinking his monthly pip money💯 lol
It wasn't one thing that made TG a phenomenon. It was the cars, expertise, dialogue, comedy, cinematography, music, risks, adventure, chemistry, fun, unpredictability, exclusivity, and familiarity. Of these, I would say that one thing that's missing from all the copycats is the risk. Think about how often the 3 got injured. You don't see that anywhere else.
Clarkson, May and Hammond had a great camaraderie and coupled with their slightly juvenile humour and ability to poke fun at various groups in an increasingly PC world, it led to Top Gear becoming a massive money earner for the BBC. Unfortunately it seemed they pushed their luck a couple of times too far, specifically with the Burma and Catagonia specials that led to major backlash. Then Clarkson's alleged assault of a producer led to his sacking from the BBC and May and Hammond quickly followed him out the door to form The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime. That new show flourished on the new platform while Top Gear floundered on the BBC, with the awful and idiotic Chris Evans brought in to be the main host, lasting one terrible season before he was ousted. Aside from Chris Harris, Top Gear never recovered from the dumping of Clarkson, May and Hammond and now the show is dead and buried after Andrew Flintoff's terrible accident.
It works for the same reasons why my wife and I work. Very different minds have differing solutions. What seems hard for one seems a simple fix to the other. Or hearing how the other explains their answers is equally enlightening to understand them but also can be used to better your thinking and wider understanding. Be a drag to be around clones of yourself your whole life.
Yah got stuff on here for 3 years..😮.. but this is your most popular show 😅.. star 🌟 🤩 power is amazing.. even if it is captain slow 🐌 😊. Thanks for the show it was amazing 🎉
The reason it worked was because it was those 3. i would watch those 3 watch paint dry and it would be entertaining. Cars or not, these 3 together will always be gold. The car stuff was just a bonus
Top Gear the original was best and probably will always be 2nd to none when it comes to car shows. Anyone who doesn't think it was a car need look no further than the great road n driving tests the hosts n Stig did. They showed many of latest super cars plus best saloon performance cars. Then throw in the amazing chemistry of three hosts not to mention the budget for the series. The recipe made a great series for any Gear ⚙️ head who appreciated the cars shown n driven hard. Plus got to laugh along the way!
Actually, Clarkson kinda revealed the formula for Top Gear during one of his initial interviews about Clarkson's Farm, because he used the same formula to make his new show successful. (Note that Clarkson's Farm is, of course, not [yet] to the level of Top Gear in success, but it's certainly miles apart from what the solo efforts of May and Hammond.)
Those three ARE Top Gear! even now watching GT, its still Top Gear, its not a show, its the people and thats what the producers dont understand. This is why it will always fail.
One of many reasons Top Gear was so good is that all three hosts were physically "everymen." Not a great athlete in the bunch. Hammond was the most fit but not one was a gym rat. So being ridiculously inept at the physical challenges was definitely part of the fun.
I never really watched for the cars ,it was all about 3 mates dicking about, strangely i did get a top gear vibe from the "Gordon, Gino,and Fred" series , but the chemistry needs to be right and not forced like the revamped top gear failure ..
The reason is was successful is partly that people must like fake-jeopardy-set-up-films, which was a large part of Top Gear. Personally hated that bit.
Shouldn't we just be using our cars less? Therefore lifestyle changes that involve shorter journeys will negate the need for charging anywhere other than at home.
The two biggest things the BBC had going was Top gear with the boys and Doctor Who.. they ruined both. Defund the BBC as it's now redundant, outdated and biased. If the BBC truly believes they are important, trusted and worthwhile like they used to be and still think they are then make them subscription based like everyone else so we can see how important, trusted and fair they are like they used to be when i was kid in the 70's. I Love Clarkson. May and Hammond they are icons and stars and that chemistry they have will be very very hard to see again. I'm more into motorbikes but it was a must see show because it was so amazing and entertaining as well as eye opening. Doctor Who will be revived one day fingers crossed. Maybe in 10 years or so with a bit of series scrubbing from the last few doctors. Don't get all funny i'm Queer but i hate the bad stories and actors like everyone else with a brain cell since the last decent Doctor (Capaldi) left, who was awesome. Doctor Who is not Doctor Who anymore it's a cry baby show with bad writing, acting, minus a strong Doctor trying to save the universe. Who insteads cries or is just stupid although he is mean't to have over a two thousand years of wisdow and experience. Defund the BBC...enough of their biased woke crap as we need a true neutral channel who tells and shows all angles and beliefs so we all know how the country is truly standing. We don't want to be fed lies from one standing which leads to nothing but grief and cival strife and unrest. F**k social media btw it's nothing but a minority of rich entitled idiots with nothing else to do but feed the woke left cancel culture pathetic beast. Most people live thier lives and dont have time to sit and talk s**t and just want entertainment and not an idiotic pathetic attempt at brainwashing. The rest of us live in the real world and Hollywood among others is seeing that in their ever decreasing DEI (Bridge) box office takings. Wake up BBC and stop sniffing your own farts (as well as Hollywoods) ffs before it's too late. That or become redundant, outdated, ignored, unwatched and die in an ever evolving world of entertainmet you won't part of.
Today is still the early days of EV, so no worries, soon enough, there will be enough chargers everywhere for everyone, you just have to plan your trip in advance. As for the 30 minutes charging times, for everyone,, after driving 3 hours, it would be nice to stop for 30 minutes. It works out just fine. Grab a burger, hit the loo, sometimes i find 30 minutes is not enough time to eat and poop. Most people travel between cities with kids and Wives where they need at least 45 minutes at a rest stop. It all works out just fine. They will built more Charging stations as EV grows, I dont see that as a problem at all, in fact, it only gets better and better as time goes on.
💯James would be in that gang of really really annoying self impressed condescending kids. Hammond would be the nice normal one. Clarkson the one on his own with the weird mate at that age. Lol I could see Hammond and clarkson being mates at some point.
Clarkson over did the 'shock jock' at a time when the political landscape seemed to be going the same way. The 'free speech' lot must have s seen a lot of themselves in Clarkson and didn't like it, which is why they were always looking to bring him down. People who considered themselves 'woke' weren't that concerned about him as they knew he was a clever man being deliberately controversial, but not to be taken seriously as he was clearly being self deprecating.
My observation... James May was the secret. He is us and Clarkson and Hammond were the bullies. I'd give a nice wad of cash to sit and have a meal with May. He is conversant, charming, affable and a truly nice man. The other two are yabbos...
The great thing about Clarkson, May and Hammond is that they are smart people emulating stupid. Usually on TV it´s the other way around.
As I was told it’s easy for a clever person to act stupid. It difficult for a stupid person to act clever
True
You’ve hit the nail on the head @michaelheimbrand5424
Often times they are not emulating stupid, its just how blokes work and that's the beauty of this entire show.
You start watching Topgear for the cars by the end of it because of the hosts you are watching it for them, now even if they don’t do cars you will still watch them do anything together
The most important thing in any show is the characters, if you like them, it doesn't matter what they do you'll keep watching even if they're cooking potatoes.
What I miss the most is
Sunday’s, roast dinner then afterwards watching Top Gear with beer.
Nailed it. What's not to like about that!!
100%. With my dad watching a Top Gear special on Sunday eve where they go to some far off place was part of my upbringing
@@Autonova was the absolute best and more importantly….no women allowed 🤣🤣
@@lordmfitzgerald3rd754 haha defo! 🤣
funny to hear james may call people dull after years of clarkson and hammond calling him dull
It's about you guys. Clarkson, May and Hammond. You guys could have a cooking show and it'd be a hit.
May does have one :P
For me, I have fond memories of watching Top Gear with my dad-later the Grand Tour. It’s become a show that comforts me in a sense. It got me into cars, but like others have said, I realized that I began loving it for the ‘three stooges’ that presented it.
It’s easy. Those three. I will happily watch them build a Lego set for hours and still have better entertainment than anything on TV now provides
Massive oversimplification. They are a key ingredient but we came to love the show because they fronted amazing writing and production and format. If they had launched with three guys in a cottage having an unscripted chat about cars they would not have worked.
You also have to give some credit to Top Gear of the CMH era in that is was very well produced. The photography, music, editing, original ideas, etc. all made for a top notch show. It was entertaining to watch even if you didn't care about cars. Just think about the episodes where they turned cars into boats and sailed across the English Channel, turned a car into a rocket, or 50th anniversary of the E-type.
It worked so well in my opinion because you all love the same thing but you show it outwardly in three different ways.
I know it's over. but I think I speak for everyone that we would love to see another series....of.....anything really- miss you guys
No trio has better chemistry, than Clarkson Hammond & May.
Old school Top gear rules, the Grand tour is all that, & more.
😁
It’s that they are all 3 genuine blokes, living their lives. They don’t feel like they are putting on a show, they generally, together, feel as though they are bouncing nuanced conversation from very different viewpoints and the chemistry/frank nature of their banter. There wasn’t anything that felt fake even though we know we are seeing a great production. People are looking for honesty and honesty requires Negative as well as positive reactions and in a world of “paid for” media, that is rare to truly find. Same reason Rogan is so endearing.
You made such a great point and then you had destroy your credibility in the last sentence
@@TheGerbennosuh you hate JRE? What happened to him that you hate him?
It was also the very British banter, I don't care about cars at all about from the cooler ones just being cool, but I'd still watch it for them.
Yes the british imperialism definitly showed
He's on to something. Mythbusters was that way. Jaime and Adam didn't like each other.
True. But also they didn't DISLIKE each other. That's the key, possibly.
They definitely respected each other and whenever he talks about Jamie you can hear Adam express that with great enthusiasm.
I really, really don’t want this all to end. I hope the three of them continue to collaborate on projects together even if it’s not at the same level as the grand tour
Me seeing the thumbnail thinking the secret behind top gear’s success was the office intercooler
I'm not a car guy whatsoever in top gear is one of my all-time favorite shows
Top gear top show! Top three blokes. It will take another 100 years to find trio like them!!! I wish them all the best whatever they do! ❤
The different hosts from three distinct backgrounds and experiences who share a common passion, was a stroke of genius that brought viewers together who wouldn't usually take the time to spit on each others sneakers.
Clarkson, May and Hammond have always felt like three guys with whom you'd really like to just sit and have a beer and a nice chat about pretty much anything. Yes, they knew their stuff, but they were also quite genuine and likeable, even when they were being complete jerks to each other. The times when the show could get a little silly or contrived always seemed to be when the producers got a little too heavy-handed. Top Gear didn't need any of that; just the three excellent hosts, doing what they do best, and the amazing cars they drove on our behalf. And James's wine show with Oz Clarke was amazing, too!
They were/are ‘naughty schoolboys’ on top gear and the grand tour. You can't manufacture it; it just happens. You either got it or you haven't. So, why try to analyse it? They are great shows that copies cannot replace.
I think the "imbalance" is the whole charm. There are three different ways in which two can gang up on the third. With two it's always the same dynamic.
The 3 amigos have that fatherly knows best but often times funny crap outcome attitude towards cars and other stuff which is appealing because in many ways we also do those things. And their camaraderie is genuine.
Older brother explained Top Gear to me as: it's a comedy show with 3 men and some cars.
You supposed to do it the other way around.. the most interesting part of an interview is released before the full interview as a teaser.. at the end you say when the full video will get released.. usually a day or two after.
The full interview was released days ago. This is just a clip from it
Relax😀
@@ethanhunt2263It doesn't matter these are tv people they don't care about views
I take issue with people saying it was just the hosts. Top Gear had highly original sketches and memes, high production value, and layers and layers of lore with the foundation being the hosts ofc. The show would seamlessly string different bits over an hour so the viewer was on a dopamine IV. One minute Clarkson is super gluing Mays new stereo, then Tom cruise is drifting a hatchback, then an aventador is shouting at you. It was madness that allowed the hosts and us to experience our inner child.
i love the way you add tremendous value by constantly interrupting your guest with wonderful gems such as 'yep', 'yeah', 'umm', 'yes', 'err' etc
That’s part of a conversation Clive.
starting watching top gear because of cars. finish it by loving them three. ❤
Without the massive fame, if they left after old topgear.
I’m fairly sure clarkson would be a farmer now.
Hammond would have left men&motors. Worked as a local radio presenter again.
Then he’d be working with classic cars into his old age. Maybe a small garage, or just a home garage.
I’m not sure what May does so much.
He has the pub. Can’t see him getting one without the big fame money at all tho.
He’s still be in a pub.. just as a the drinker. Drinking his monthly pip money💯 lol
It wasn't one thing that made TG a phenomenon. It was the cars, expertise, dialogue, comedy, cinematography, music, risks, adventure, chemistry, fun, unpredictability, exclusivity, and familiarity.
Of these, I would say that one thing that's missing from all the copycats is the risk. Think about how often the 3 got injured. You don't see that anywhere else.
Clarkson, May and Hammond had a great camaraderie and coupled with their slightly juvenile humour and ability to poke fun at various groups in an increasingly PC world, it led to Top Gear becoming a massive money earner for the BBC. Unfortunately it seemed they pushed their luck a couple of times too far, specifically with the Burma and Catagonia specials that led to major backlash. Then Clarkson's alleged assault of a producer led to his sacking from the BBC and May and Hammond quickly followed him out the door to form The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime. That new show flourished on the new platform while Top Gear floundered on the BBC, with the awful and idiotic Chris Evans brought in to be the main host, lasting one terrible season before he was ousted. Aside from Chris Harris, Top Gear never recovered from the dumping of Clarkson, May and Hammond and now the show is dead and buried after Andrew Flintoff's terrible accident.
It works for the same reasons why my wife and I work. Very different minds have differing solutions. What seems hard for one seems a simple fix to the other.
Or hearing how the other explains their answers is equally enlightening to understand them but also can be used to better your thinking and wider understanding.
Be a drag to be around clones of yourself your whole life.
top gear is about two guys mocking a third guy, then they rotate again and again
it was the Monty Python effect. That sort of silly humour.
It’s amazing tbe hights these found together.
It was all clarkson tbh
The debt they have for him can never be stated
Last of the Summer Wine was also three men arsing about.......
Yah got stuff on here for 3 years..😮.. but this is your most popular show 😅.. star 🌟 🤩 power is amazing.. even if it is captain slow 🐌 😊. Thanks for the show it was amazing 🎉
This is similar to the reason why mythbusters worked with Adam and jaime
The reason it worked was because it was those 3. i would watch those 3 watch paint dry and it would be entertaining. Cars or not, these 3 together will always be gold. The car stuff was just a bonus
The whole show came across as having a laugh with your dad or if you are older having a laugh with your mates on a road trip
Top Gear the original was best and probably will always be 2nd to none when it comes to car shows. Anyone who doesn't think it was a car need look no further than the great road n driving tests the hosts n Stig did. They showed many of latest super cars plus best saloon performance cars. Then throw in the amazing chemistry of three hosts not to mention the budget for the series. The recipe made a great series for any Gear ⚙️ head who appreciated the cars shown n driven hard. Plus got to laugh along the way!
It is 3 different guys / friends doing funny / crazy / stupid things ... They enyoj doing that + we love to watching that.
Actually, Clarkson kinda revealed the formula for Top Gear during one of his initial interviews about Clarkson's Farm, because he used the same formula to make his new show successful. (Note that Clarkson's Farm is, of course, not [yet] to the level of Top Gear in success, but it's certainly miles apart from what the solo efforts of May and Hammond.)
Why it was so successful is because it was funny! Intelligent humour coupled with oversized school boy pranks.
Very similar to Mythbusters and the relationship between Adam and Jamie. In big part why they were so successful
Those three ARE Top Gear! even now watching GT, its still Top Gear, its not a show, its the people and thats what the producers dont understand. This is why it will always fail.
The boys have "the right stuff" as. An assimilated quote from Chuck Yeager
Don t think / analize too much ... Just watch them and have fun.
People want watch a show that the people who make want to make it. That will always show through.
One of many reasons Top Gear was so good is that all three hosts were physically "everymen." Not a great athlete in the bunch. Hammond was the most fit but not one was a gym rat. So being ridiculously inept at the physical challenges was definitely part of the fun.
The best chemistry since the Three Stooges (and yes, that’s intended as a compliment).
I never really watched for the cars ,it was all about 3 mates dicking about, strangely i did get a top gear vibe from the "Gordon, Gino,and Fred" series , but the chemistry needs to be right and not forced like the revamped top gear failure ..
The reason is was successful is partly that people must like fake-jeopardy-set-up-films, which was a large part of Top Gear. Personally hated that bit.
Sounds like you are describing an American TV show ... Three Stooges.
This light is bad for May's toupee lmao
Top Gear ended with the three of them leaving
Shouldn't we just be using our cars less? Therefore lifestyle changes that involve shorter journeys will negate the need for charging anywhere other than at home.
The two biggest things the BBC had going was Top gear with the boys and Doctor Who.. they ruined both. Defund the BBC as it's now redundant, outdated and biased. If the BBC truly believes they are important, trusted and worthwhile like they used to be and still think they are then make them subscription based like everyone else so we can see how important, trusted and fair they are like they used to be when i was kid in the 70's. I Love Clarkson. May and Hammond they are icons and stars and that chemistry they have will be very very hard to see again. I'm more into motorbikes but it was a must see show because it was so amazing and entertaining as well as eye opening. Doctor Who will be revived one day fingers crossed. Maybe in 10 years or so with a bit of series scrubbing from the last few doctors. Don't get all funny i'm Queer but i hate the bad stories and actors like everyone else with a brain cell since the last decent Doctor (Capaldi) left, who was awesome. Doctor Who is not Doctor Who anymore it's a cry baby show with bad writing, acting, minus a strong Doctor trying to save the universe. Who insteads cries or is just stupid although he is mean't to have over a two thousand years of wisdow and experience. Defund the BBC...enough of their biased woke crap as we need a true neutral channel who tells and shows all angles and beliefs so we all know how the country is truly standing. We don't want to be fed lies from one standing which leads to nothing but grief and cival strife and unrest. F**k social media btw it's nothing but a minority of rich entitled idiots with nothing else to do but feed the woke left cancel culture pathetic beast. Most people live thier lives and dont have time to sit and talk s**t and just want entertainment and not an idiotic pathetic attempt at brainwashing. The rest of us live in the real world and Hollywood among others is seeing that in their ever decreasing DEI (Bridge) box office takings. Wake up BBC and stop sniffing your own farts (as well as Hollywoods) ffs before it's too late. That or become redundant, outdated, ignored, unwatched and die in an ever evolving world of entertainmet you won't part of.
Marketing
It's success has never been a secret, it's 3 grown up children having a laugh.
I laugh when the sprogs here talk about the "old" TG. It's been around since the 70's boys!
I'd have been in May's gang. I knew the "Clarkson" type and I hated them. And never took much notice of the "Hammonds".
Wilman, Clarkson and Hammond were the reason for the success.
and James May had nothing to do with the success ?
@@spongebobsquaretits He should have been replaced.
And Richard Porter!
@@funkyhousemanOTSOT
Today is still the early days of EV, so no worries, soon enough, there will be enough chargers everywhere for everyone, you just have to plan your trip in advance. As for the 30 minutes charging times, for everyone,, after driving 3 hours, it would be nice to stop for 30 minutes. It works out just fine. Grab a burger, hit the loo, sometimes i find 30 minutes is not enough time to eat and poop. Most people travel between cities with kids and Wives where they need at least 45 minutes at a rest stop. It all works out just fine. They will built more Charging stations as EV grows, I dont see that as a problem at all, in fact, it only gets better and better as time goes on.
harris is terrible new top gear is unwatchable
💯James would be in that gang of really really annoying self impressed condescending kids.
Hammond would be the nice normal one.
Clarkson the one on his own with the weird mate at that age. Lol
I could see Hammond and clarkson being mates at some point.
I find Grand Tour boring and childish. Feels too staged. And I like cars more than your comedy so I miss CARS in Grand Tour A LOT.
Top Gear was rubbish. Unwatchable. I was glad when it was taken off air.
Clarkson over did the 'shock jock' at a time when the political landscape seemed to be going the same way. The 'free speech' lot must have s seen a lot of themselves in Clarkson and didn't like it, which is why they were always looking to bring him down. People who considered themselves 'woke' weren't that concerned about him as they knew he was a clever man being deliberately controversial, but not to be taken seriously as he was clearly being self deprecating.
My observation...
James May was the secret. He is us and Clarkson and Hammond were the bullies. I'd give a nice wad of cash to sit and have a meal with May. He is conversant, charming, affable and a truly nice man. The other two are yabbos...
Un programa muy bueno sigo viendo los episodios a día de hoy no me canso de verlo lástima que no sigan
I miss those 3 idiots! The escapades that they got up to was just a joy to watch!