TGA ratings hit a bump in the road
7 Oct, 2008
99 Comments 
With just two episodes under their belt, the Top Gear Australia team has taken a battering with only 674,000 viewers returning for the second episode, a drop of over 250,000 viewers compared to the premiere episode.
TGA finished last in its time slot to become the 26th most watched show last night, hinting that the new series may be taking a while to bed in with Aussie audiences.
Hosted by Charlie Cox, Steve Pizzati and Warren Brown, TGA saw a Holden vs. Ford battle and guest appearance from Steve Bisley (of Mad Max fame) in last night’s show.
SBS director of television Matt Campbell said that although he was disappointed, this was not “a disaster”, and that there were many examples of TV shows that had slumped before coming good again.
The network remains positive about the series as a whole and will push on despite mixed opinions from their audience. TGA airs at 7.30pm on SBS each Monday night.
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October 7th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
26th most watched???
Vote:i didnt know there was even 26 free to air channels it competed with……
October 7th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Thats not good news. Whats the competition like to watch? Meaning if the alternative is better than move the show time. TGUK is on sunday evenings, a primetime slot.
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I thought it was only gonna get better…
Vote:Seriously…they need better hosts…I could do a better job >.
October 7th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
The hosts are just woeful; particularly Cox and Pizzati. I could just about stomach Brown without the other two.
It was a bad idea and SBS should dump it before it becomes a complete embarrassment and damages the whole brand.
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
It says “26th most watch show last night” – meaning the evening /night time slot AndrewM.
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
It’s all because of Pizzati.
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
The hosts are about as entertaining or insightful as a 5th grader reading a telephone directory. You can also measure their performance by the expression of the live audience. After seeing their first episode, I’m thankful every moment of my life that the original Top Gear is still airing.
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Go away, I won’t miss you.
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Ah,
Vote:Fair enough then Matt.
I just assumed it meant against its direct timeslot.
October 7th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
its good to see the amount of encouragement given out here………..
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Yeah, I’m with you there AndrewM. I’m not writing it off just yet. I know it isn’t up to the standard of the original, but even that was a little, err, rough in the early days. Hopefully this too will age well.
Wait and see I guess.
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Does Pizatti remind anyone of Ben Dark from Getaway? Sounds the same and just as annoying. Get them off. Get some hosts with character and chemistry rather than just try hards.
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Whats up with hosts’ non Australian accent?? I thought I was watching TGA not TGUK??
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
The guys need to be themselves more. They must remember they’re not JC,MH and JM. I think some of the segments aren’t thought through very well.
Take the Ford v Holden. They had a 1/4 mile drag and that was it. The rest of the segment was them drifting. Obvious they were having fun, and it is fun but on TV it gets a bit boring after a while.
When Charlie said that engine(holden’s) in that car(Ford) I thought, no they not going to try that! That is the sort of thing Topgear gets up to.
I’ll keep watching for now though.
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
The sad thing is that they will always be compared to TGUK. I enjoyed last week’s episode, but I missed it last night. As much as I want it to succeed, it will flop because there can only really be one Top Gear, and that’s the original.
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
“the TGA team has taken a battering with ratings down from 674,000 viewers last week (the premiere episode) to just under 250,000 last night.”
Actually, 674,000 tuned in this week, down from about 930,000 of Episode 1.
The reason is that Episode 1 was very poor, which no doubt turned away a lot of viewers. I thought Ep 2 was a big improvement. I hope the show survives, but the Clarkson wannabe needs to find his own style.
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
They’re bogans, and they’re reading scripts. There’s no fluidity to the delivery and they’re not funny.
Also, seriously, the motor world is in massive turmoil at the moment, lots and lots of relevant news to do and the best they come up with is a Veyron that was crashed a year ago in Britain and some outdated info on Tata which was derogatory and contained no useful information whatsoever.
I don’t know who this show is aimed at, but not people who enjoy Top Gear.
If they’re going to do an Australian version, the news has to be one of the most relevant parts. Tell us useful things relevant to Australians, like caradvice does (wow that sounded gay).
That’s the point of TGA magazine, it’s mostly the UK version, with extra stuff added/changed for us (like the pricing guide in AUD).
The review they did in the first episode on “soft roaders” told me nothing, they didn’t actually review the cars, they just arsed about.
And the Holden v Ford comparision was obvious, pointless and stupid. If you take a V8 and line it up against a turbo |6 what the hell do you expect? Inconclusiveness.
Just a huge sense of disappointment that we had a chance to make a great show that would be informative, funny and relevant to Australians, and we failed, miserably. I think there is opportunity to use the Top Gear model to create an Australian car show that isn’t just an hour of ads (”The Car Show”), but this is not it.
Vote:Maybe it will get better…Clarkson and the boys with insult Australians sooo much over this.
October 7th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Why doesn’t SBS just show us the latest UK Top Gear episodes as soon as it gets aired over there rather than 2 year old episodes? The viewers would be happy, SBS would have sky high ratings, and these Oz presenters would be shown the door. Problem solved.
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
One major reason for the drop in ratings would have been the long weekend in the eastern states.
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
i think cox is to blame…he’s so monotonous and boring
Vote:especially in the ford gt review, that could have been great
plus i also think the tracks they use arnt up to scratch, too narrow and dull scenery makes it look brown and not very classy
October 7th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Peter is right. It’s natural to compare with the original. The trio of Clarkson, Hammond and May is just unbeatable; the dweebs here are just trying too hard to be hilarious, way more far-fetched that Mark Webber winning a Grand Prix. I’d much rather have the hosts of Test Drive; even the girl there is better. All they need is less neturality (’coz they never say bad things about the cars they showcase) and it will be the perfect show.
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
I agree with most, the show itself isnt that bad its the hosts. They really are very ordinary and SBS need new hosts if this show is going to be close to the UK show.
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
I agree SBS should continue showing the UK series BUT before we right the Aussie version off remember that the first couple of seasons of the UK version was a lot slower and robotic that the slick show it has become!!! Just look it up on YouTube see for your selves.
So let’s give the Aussie blokes a chance to settle in before we start bagging them so much!
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
please bring back the real Top Gear
Vote:October 7th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Sorry meant to say wright them off……also is Car Advice going to change the time to daylight savings or do you guys still subscribe to the theory that your curtains in Queensland will get too discoloured with the extra hour of sunlight. LOL
Sorry couldn’t resist!
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 12:17 am
thier tryng to b to much top gear uk and no top gear aus u cant make a show exactly the same and thnk ppl are goin to watch 3 losers try and act like the original top gear presentrs if i wanted to watch a ford or holden drift id go onto youtube
Vote:the 3 ute bit was the best part of the whole show
any way the ford vs holden had been done by drive mag and it should the holden had a litle bit off the mark againest the falcon but yet on tp the falcon had nuthn mayb they should get some presenters that know how to drive mayb use the race industrie heros of aus like Lowns and ingrel
soz bout spelln mistakes tierd as lol
October 8th, 2008 at 12:18 am
I think the public holiday & day light savings would have had an effect but also the show needs time to grow.
Vote:It’s obvious it wasn’t 100% spot on but it was far better then any Australian car show before & it will take time for them all to settle into their roles & show there real personalities & how they relate to each other.
People basing their opinion on one episode is pretty stupid.
October 8th, 2008 at 12:33 am
Sadly I can’t see Aussie TG. I did watch the lead-in vidoe on SBS website and the audience looked like a completely bored load of pie eaters. But give it time, maybe two seasons, things will get better. Watch it or lose it.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 12:49 am
Axe the show before it becomes an embarrassment! Oh and Cox is an absolute disaster….
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 12:59 am
My 2c worth.
I was so dissapointed in the F6 v Clubsport review. Told me nothing most people don’t know about the cars. The drag race was pathetic, blind freedy could even see Cox got a jump. It had nothing to do with the Holden being quicker off the line. Then he goes on about it all being over until the speed builds up? Is this guy really a car enthusiast? Or just a rich guy who tried his hand at racing many moons ago only to realise money doesn’t buy you talent. Then sips on wine telling us speed doesn’t matter. On the street maybe not, but it’s a performance car and speed is just as important when taking them to the track as any other parameter would.
Free tip: They should of linked the cars back to their heritage but only with a twist. Get hold of a GTHO (replica would be fine too) and an XU1. Both Bathurst winners and combatants. See the irony; back then Holden was entering the ring with a 6 and Ford with an 8, but now the muscle cars wars have been reversed. See the old with the new on the track would of made things very interesting. I dont think anyone has done a GTHO / F6 – XU1 / Clubsport R8 shoot anywhere.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 1:06 am
But to come up with an idea like that that would visually be a cracker and so close to Bathurst as well you would have to be truely pasionate about your cars and especially Australian cars. These guys are clearly not. Lambo’s, Fezzes and Porsche’s are great, but the reality is 99% of the audience will never relate nor afford these cars. So you really need to be passionate about theaffordable performance cars in the market. Something that Clarkson constantly displays when he talks about that segment of the car market. Listen to the way he talked about the R8 or GTO before it. You would never think this guy has owned and owns pretty much most exotic supercars we dream about. This is why Clarkson touches most car enthusiasts. BEcause he can get the little guy with a small budget just as excited about performance cars as the minority rich lokes who can afford anything. His sense of humour also hels a lot too.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 1:14 am
The things I don’t like so far:
- it’s too scripted. the guys aren’t conversing, they sound like they’re still auditioning.
- they haven’t show us the entire track, try aerial view so we get an idea of the track layout and corner radius. at least then we understand how difficult the track is. at the moment, it looks like a rally course, point a to point b, and not like a complete track. also, they are lacking fast lap times to compare with, couldn’t they just invite a large group of celebs (like TGUK did when they replaced the Liana with the Lacette). more people, more testosterone, more excuses, would have been a better intro to TGA.
- Pizatti needs to tone down the hand gestures, too often and too exaggerated.
- the pace of the show is jump to this, then that, too quickly.
what i liked:
- the A-Class segment, filming the general public’s view on their idea.
- the ute test, wasn’t as bad as the SUV test, sticking to the speed limit…. comon guys! not very top gear-eques.
- the use of wakefield raceway, but give us some lap times so we have an idea of how much better you guys really are. two former race car drivers, just set a bench mark, and see if others doing trackdays can come close.
i’m not ranting about how bad the show is. just mentioning areas where i think it can improve. and i agree with some other people that it is better than some shows which simply advertise the cars. the car show wasn’t a favourite, but it too had good parts to it, ie. bike vs car part 1 and 2. part two moreso. Dieter would have been good for this show.
keep trying guys, you get it right at some point.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 1:39 am
It is particularly embarrassing to see three supposedly grown men trying so hard to emulate people they are not.
Vote:I mean are they actors or car enthusiasts ?
They should get a grip and project them themselves as themselves instead of pretending to be others.
They also appear to project a little too much “hysteria” (animation if you wish to be polite) rather than an informed reasoned commentary.
Persisting as “pretenders” (bad ones) for much longer will definitely cruel the viewers.
October 8th, 2008 at 1:56 am
SBS call for auditions again for 2nd season. Must admit though the smart hearse was quite funny. Much better but Pizatti is giving me the irrits still
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 2:31 am
I agree with Laurie, these guys are trying hard to mimic the original Top Gear. They are trying to be cool when they are not. I watch the 1st episode thinking that it would be great but didn’t bother to finish it at all. 2nd episode was another disappointment hoping that it would be more interesting. The 3 host seems to be always excited and exagerating too much which makes you wonder if they know what are they reall talking about. My suggestion, fire the 3 host and let the STIG takeover everything, more driving and no talk at all.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 6:21 am
What is it with this pathetic show just digging it’s own grave. Once again, no attempt to show a track layout, or better yet, use it for whats built for. What I am refering to is the Holden vs Ford segment. Wakefield raceway in Goulburn is a great little track, which they failed to even put into proper use. 2 simple things could of been done in this segment to change the whole aspect around.
1. Show an areial photo of the track, so those who are unfamiliar with the layout, get a brief rundown of the important bits.
2. Put the Holden against Ford in a Time Attack style event. 1 warm up lap.. then hot lap. Fastest time around, declared victor.. more entertaining and you learn a lot more about the way a car is built and performs this way!!
Simple recipe for great viewing. A couple of laps of Wakefield is a better way to test these 2 Aussies cars, than a simple drag n drift wank fest…
More so, this would actually bring the show to the audience. For those that participate in Motorsport events and have done a laps around Wakefield, you would know that a decent time is around the 1:10’s. So it would of been interesting to see what 2 factory muscle cars do.
Simple Maths really…. that simple change of layout of a single segment, IMO, would of made a world of difference. It would of created a better sense of competition between the 2 manafacturers, as well as engage the viewers on a higher level, more so someone like me who races @ Wakey…
And as for the rest of EP2… well.. endless dribble
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 6:36 am
Its a disgrace. One can only imagine that the proprietors of the franchise are none too pleased. Cox should do us all a favour and return to the UK (where he has spent most of the last 20 years). Pizzati should return to the anonymity from which he came and Brown should stick to drawing bad cartoons. On the strength of the first two episodes, TGA has no redeeming features.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 6:54 am
I watched a little bit of the ford vs holden skit on youtube and it could’ve been better. why didn’t they have a challenge like the UK show does? Being American i have a feeling that our version won’t be so great either. Oh well atleast BBC America airs Top Gear now.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 7:17 am
maybe the hosts need some “relief” before they go on – they are far too stressed and forced. If they toned it down a notch, concenbtrated more on the cars rather than “crazy hijinks, haw haw haw”, and allowed the camera more than 2 seconds on a shot of the car (I feel like vomiting, with the montage effect, it is just way overdone), then it might hold your interest. I thought ep 1 showed promise, but ep 2 sucked big time. Really, even with more attention on the Ford GT (at last we at least saw the car), it was just punished with no finesse. Why not pretend that one of us might have enough money to buy one, and tell us something useful rather than just smoking it up? Any 18 year old could have taken the thing out and thrashed it, or done the same with a car worth a tenth the price. And there is no point having long monologues and shots of the driver screeching and carrying on, if it is just going to annoy the viewers. Wasted opportunity, IMO. Show us cars, performance and introduce the guys slooowwwly – dont ram them down our throats. We just might get to like them!
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Is it really that bad?
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 7:41 am
I still hope there are some legs left but it is a poor imatation of TP UK which they said they were not going to model. The set is the same the theme etc…
The track is poor with plenty of other options that could have been used eg DECA Shepparton, Angelsea Proving Ground
I dont mind the What where they thinking
I dohnt mind the hosts, at least Cox has some credability like Tiff and has actually raced in anger.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 8:05 am
TGA needs new presenters. Where did they find these guys? Were they auditioned? Charlie Cox in particular is so annoying and so ignorant. He thinks that Monaros raced at Bathurst in 1971. 1968 was the HK 327 and 1969 was the HT 350 both winning. I think there may have been an entry in 1970 of a Monaro 350, but the factory team and all serious teams switched to the Torana XU1 in 1970. Further current Commodores do not have local V8s, they are Chevy V8s, as were both the 327 and 350 engines in 1968, 1969 Monaros. Only Toranas and early Commodores raced 308/304 Holden V8s. I saw the scond half of the first show, was not surprised at how poor it was but gave it another chance. It was still very poor 2nd time around. I will not be watching the show again. Sack Charlie, Peter, the producer, director and writers. Keep Warren, find another presenter or two-it does not have to mimic the UK show with 3 presenters, get a producer and director familiar with presenting an entertaining show and find writers who are both a little informed about cars and who can be funny, even better if they are witty. I suspect that I will win Lotto before this happens.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 8:20 am
This is not a shock at all. I have been watching Top Gear for many years, i use to watch the Half Hour show on BBC on Fox when i was a child a many years ago. The problems that they are facing is what they call “liking the characters”, Charlie Cox, Steve Pizzati and Warren Brown all come over in a different way than when you look at Jeramey, Richard and James. The other problem that they are having is being compared like top gear UK. Next season Top Gear Australia should take over the show them self’s with there own way of presenting the show, things they do and make the Stig Australian having a pasty white sting roaming around Australia looks weird and change his name something Australian something that we have pride in. This is Australians turn to show UK what we can do lets make it better.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 8:21 am
I agree with general sentiment that it just isn’t hitting the mark just yet. However I am not one to deliver the tall poppy syndrome that certainly seems to be rife through a lot of comments here. You have to remember also these guys are over exuberant due to them actually getting this job so it is natural to try hard as you. Once they flow into it I think it will work. Personally I think they needed an ex-race star from Australia that people are actually familiar with like Dick Johnson or Alan Moffat or just someone that can talk without a piece of paper in front of them and that has a genuine passion for cars.
Anyway I am not giving up on it because Australia does needs it’s own car show and I am going to continue to support it. People are so thin skinned these days and have expectations noone can meet. Give them a chance.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Personally I reckon more actually road test reporting than dirfting would have worked. They didn’t even tell us how the smart drove?? Warren actually gave far more informative reviews of the vehicles being driven in the Peking to Paris show he did a year or so ago!! That’s why I thought he’d go alright on this.
Vote:As for the other two, they were basically nobodies before the programme and now they seem to be trying too hard to be somebody. RELAX GUYS just settle down talk about cars, not about how good you are at drifting or going apex to apex! Try talking about the cars NOT the challenge.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Keep Warren … let Charlie and Peter go.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 9:02 am
SBS needs to make some changes and soon. Perhaps some FRESH ideas, not half baked ones borrowed from TG-UK, a change in the show format, new hosts that are not annoying and can actually drive a car with out breaking it!
Vote:Otherwise why would people watch annoying copy cats when they can watch the real thing.
TG-Australia is starting to look terminal and intervention is required in the early days. Otherwise it will get worse and die quickly and I wont be sad to see it go.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Also the hosts don’t seem to know anything about cars or even care! This is reflected in the car reviews and the news segment. And that infuriates me greatly!
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Charlie didn’t press the AWD button to activate AWD when he tested the Rav4 V6 in the snow. He was doing it in 2WD lol.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 9:18 am
I think whoever is writing the script for these guys needs the sack!!
As for the HSV and FPV comparison what a crock!! I told you absolutely nothing about the two cars except they do good burnout!! Well done you wankers!! I didn’t expect them to come out and say one was better than the other, but a few minor details would have been nice?? And where was the stig doing a lap with them???
The problem is that all these episodes have already been filmed and I don’t think that any of the problems that the show has are going to be fixed any time soon! Hopefully the next session will be better. If they get that far.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 9:23 am
I guess everyone including myself had too much expectation with TGA. It will be great show but it will take time to catch up with UK one. Even UK one didn’t have james and richard when they started, so I’m sure they will improve. Just need bit more time to it.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 9:25 am
In the HSV and FPV comparison, the HSV had a half second head start.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 9:37 am
I am not going to watch that show any more. I am car enthusiast and their show is for people who know nothing about cars.F6 vs Clubby comparison was hopeless. They have no balls to declare a winner, create controversy.MOR huggers (middle of road),please don’t offend anyone. Hopeless show….absolutely sux.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Whats wrong with this show
1) Aussies arent funny
2) only 15% of the popultion speaks their unsophisticated accents
3) Unrealistic backdrops in outback…cmon
4) No real manufacturer trusts them with their cars cause always compare them to Ford and Holden and dont understand sophistication. Ford and Holden will never stack up to the 3 axis cars.
5) Noone cares about Ford and Holden, theyre rubbish dinosaurs.
6) The people in the backgrounds look like trailor park trash ready for Calder Park on Friday night eating dim sims instead of spending time with their families.
7) They try to be witty like Clarkeson but have no I.Q’s.
8) The australian Stig is a drunk and cant drive, the track has too many slow spots.
I would never trust these guys with a Ferrari if I was a dealer, they just compare it to a Holden and talk how great Holden is for 2 minutes as if anyone cares.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 10:20 am
A Ford and Holden Comparo, screened the same week as the Bathurst 1000.
Why was this test not done at Bathurst??
It was the worst test (if you can call it that) I had ever seen.
This show has so much potential but it just isn’t working.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 10:26 am
I, like most people here, am bitterly dissapointed with TGA. I adore TGUK, and have done for years, and couldn’t wait for TGA to get here. So the Oz version being so bad on so many levels is such a let down. Westy say’s we have “tall poppy syndrome” but he conveniently overlooks the fact that the show actually is that bad.
I also agree with most posters that Warren Brown is showing promise but Cox and Pizzati ought to be shown the door, the latter two just don’t seem to have “it”. They are painful to watch, surely we as a nation could’ve come up with better? Can you imagine Clarkson, May and Hammond rolling around laughing, but for all the wrong reasons. It’s embarrasing!
But it’s not just the hosts. The HSV v FPV comparison was complete rubbish, told us nothing of any worth, no lap times, didnt identify at all each cars strengths and weakness’, the 1/4 mile drag was flawed and not a single useful conclusion, let alone a victor. Compare that to TGUK calling a spade a spade.
The ute comparison was long winded and ultimately boring, what exactly was the point of it?
The Ford GT review was all fairy floss and no substance, not a single mention of engine type and spec!!!!!!!!
What about the “news” segment, with a picture of the new FG Falcon and one of the muppets saying the last 12 months sales are the worst ever for Falcon? Was this “news item” written and placed by VW, one of the show’s sponsors? The last 12 months sales figures are largely made up of the outgoing BF Mk2 Falcon, not the FG, and sales of an outgoing model are always slow prior to the release of a new model.
Well done TGA, bash the local manufacturer.
Vote:It’s your ratings that are rapidly becoming the worst ever, and for the first time in a long time I’ll be now looking for something else to do on Monday evenings.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:27 am
AAA, agreed on the head start. Turbos can bog down on launch, but the holden was well ahead before the ford moved at all. And was that a joke with the driver calling the start? Its not as though there wasnt a half dozen tech’s around who could signal the start! Really, that kind of BS is just an insult to your intelligence. Elitist, you forgot about the Oz “personalities”. Who the f*# are the guys that have been on so far? Mad Max was like 30 years ago, for god’s sake! They’ll need to be racing on zimmer frames next. They’d be better off pulling in good looking girls off the street – maybe rename it “reasonably priced tart in a reasonably priced car”. I’d tune in for that for sure!
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Ok… where to begin…
Vote:This weeks was much better than last weeks (could not have been worse). Better production values and filming. (flames on the GT looked awesome)
If the presenters dont get their act together in this season they are gone. I hate watching something and thinking ‘i could do better than that’ really takes the sheen off my enjoyment. And i could. This show is trying to be all style and no substance… currently gets a b- in my book. UKTG is ‘must see’ tv. TGA i will watch but i channel surf it which i never ever did with TGUK. Also the crowd is embarrasing and the Ads are insulting…
October 8th, 2008 at 10:46 am
I have seen every episode of TGUK since the format change. The first season of the new TGUK reminds me of the first season of TGA. Give it time & it will improve. Until we got a set top box we got crap SBS reception. We need to get the current episodes of TGUK – not ones that are 2 years old. I normally get to see the episodes of TGUK 1-2 days after it is shown in the UK thanks to the internet and p2p. TGA was never going to be as good as TGUK in it’s debut season, but give it a chance & it will come close pretty soon. TGA kind of reminds me of Fifth Gear, good stories but without the personalities (VBH the exception). Maybe TGA should get a hot looking babe with driving ability as a co-host and that would give the show something to differentiate it from TGUK.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 10:51 am
I’m still reeling over last weeks episode and the damage they did to that Rav4. Australian families work hard to pull together the 35K to buy a soft roader, are the Australian TG team really putting across the right messages? People want entertaining car reviews not car abuse and it doesn’t need to be pathetic like The Car Show. Anyway, how can you have a comparison of soft roaders which is traditionally a 4cyl class and pitch in a 6cyl Rav4? Is this another case of Toyota splasing around their marketing dollars? If they wanted to do a comparison of Sport SUV’s then they should have used the Forester XT.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 11:05 am
The people saying give TGA time and comparing it to the early seasons of TGUK are missing the point.
TGUK is a worldwide phenomenon; the standard is there for everyone to see. The producers of TGA must have realised that TGA would be compared to TGUK, and unfavourably if they fell short. The decision to proceed with TGA required a clear assessment of whether TGA could meet the standard of TGUK. Hindsight is easy but it should have been obvious that the chances of success were remote a best.
Worse still is that whoever is responsible for TGA seems to have missed the essence of TGUK; the wit and relationship between the presenters/ The TGA presenters are just woeful and the showed is doomed as result. The only issue now is how quickly TGA is canned.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 11:16 am
As much as I was interested in TGA at the beginning, having watched Monday night’s episode, I realised a few things:
1. they shouldnt have copied the format so precisely so that the CLARSKON clone does exactly what clarkson would do, and so on – stupid and very irritating to watch
2. the hosts don’t gel.
3. who on earth picked the audience? Haven’t they realised TGUK put the attractive people at the FRONT?
4. Replace all three hosts and do it again for season 2. This time pick someone from those 10,000 entries that might actually know a thing or two about cars
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
I have the perfect idea for the replacement hosts: Hamish and Andy + either the most presentable V8 super car driver they can find or a sexy lady racing car driver if one exists.
Vote:Sure Hamish and Andy probably know very little about cars but they can learn.
October 8th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Full disclosure..
Vote:I sent in an awesome application with a fair budget for the ‘talent scout’ for SBS. It mightn’t be the best one they got (had to be top 20 but) but to see an idiot with a texter every week on the show burns me big time.
And the compares deserve to go on the ‘what were they thinking’ board more than any car i can think of. WTF!
October 8th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
I too am embarassed that the show could be so bad!!! The premise of the show is great, but the deer-in-headlight presenters are getting hung out to dry by poor editing and a lack of good direction. They have not got any chemistry, and seem to be getting louder in an attempt to make themselves seem funny or interesting. I think they could introduce Dick Johnson as a guest, and slowly adopt him into the show full time, getting rid of Pizzati and Brown. As someone stated earlier, even an 18 year old could drift like these clowns. These blokes make Glen Ridge look brilliant!!! :-( I really hope it gets better.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
The Ford Holden test was pure boganism, how many family’s are going to drift the kids to school, and then drift to work?
Vote:Better suggestions were made on the Car Advice t shirt competition (who won that by the way?)
If I wanted to see bogans doing burnouts I would visit any suburb of Logan City…
October 8th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
The t shirt was like the “audition” SALESPERSON. It was won by a relitive or business associate (living in sydney preferably) of SBS Australia….
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
DanMan, not true, we are waiting for SBS to pick the winner.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
TGA show – 6/10, TGA hosts – 1/10. Complete stupidity to attempt to remake BBC show. Make more Aussie stuff and character to show, bring local muscle cars, long forgotten Toranas, etc,, etc.
Presenters are just hopeless, I could do this much better. What about Grant Denyer?
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
The t shirt was like the “audition” SALESPERSON. It was won(SORRY GOING TO BE WON) by a relitive or business associate (living in sydney preferably) of SBS Australia….
My bad text ammendede…
It wont be as Good as an English shirt anyway…
Sorry couldn’t help it.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Well it’s unanimous then, SBS replace the hosts asap. To coin a phrase from the great James May himself, “…they’re complete cocks….”
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
i was at the filming for the 3 episode last night and I think it’s getting a lot better. You can’t just start with good chemistry and confidence it takes time
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
How long should it take to have chemistry? I can make best friends with a client in the first 30 seconds. They need how many episodes?
Vote:One of the key criteria for presenters should have been who has the ability to create a presence and personality quickly. Establish a connection with the viewing public.
Yes I am quick to criticize, because I can see where it could have been done so much better.
October 8th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Charlie here (wooooooo). Why (woooopieeeeee!!!!) does everyone pick (yeee-harrrr) on meeeeeeeeeeeee (oooooooooohhh!!!!ahhhhhhhh!!!!!). Doenst every-woooohoooo-one talk (rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr) like me??? Maaaaaaaaaaate….
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I think it is a great show
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
These clowns know nothing about the cars. It was killing me to watch them butcher new cars. I wanted to jump thought the screen and slap them around. SBS is ultimately to blame and whoever edited and decided this was ready to be served up to the Australian public should go first. Very frustrating, I will rejoice the axing when it comes.
Vote:OR change the Hosts, maybe Dick Johnson, Jim Richards and Stacey McMahon
October 8th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Get Koshy and Mel to do it.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I agree, the show has room for improvement, but given the amount of experts replying to this post I’m surprised we don’t already have at least 10 motoring shows on our screens, all of much higher quality than anything TG UK has ever produced.
So much for giving the local talent a fair go. Talk about cultural cringe.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Dont know what show you guys R watching, but I reckon its gr8. specially that cartoonist guy – what a card! and talented – me mum wet ‘erself watching ‘im! champagne comedy, thats wot it is. you guys just arent smart enuff to understand it (sniff!)…no-ones smart enough…maybe we can take the show to the states… they’d understand quality humour…its wasted on you lot
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Me and Stacey McMahon could do it….
The show, the show!
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Add a chick to the team to add some female attitude. They are 50% of the population you know. Get rid of Steve. Rachel Splatt or Natalie Lownes would be good choices..
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Vicki Butler-Henderson
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Ill take a quote out of top gears own word’s. What where they thinking? when they got these hosts. TEST DRIVE CARS and don’t act like 18 year olds with big cars.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
The reason we have gone so long without a rather high profile car show id because they have been hosted by guys/girls who know nothing about cars except from what they read in either the press release or brochre [that is assuming they can read] let alone have any interest or passion for cars
Which turns Car enthusiasts away so ratings dropped
As a result they were often relegated to weekends during the day when car enthusiasts are out enjoying their cars so ratings dropped even further.
And to have someone like Kochie Mel or Andrew O’ Keefe even Jennifer Hawkins [heaven forbid] or some other “IT” celebrity from another network would have the same effect
Sure Charlie Steve and Warren aren’t as good as Clarkson Hammond or May.. but they do have an interest in cars or an automotive background.. which is a start at least
Vote:Remember it took TG 5 yrs to be as successful as it is now
October 8th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
It was the first time i’ve seen TGA last monday. To be honest it wasn’t bad. My fav host was the cartoonist guy, the rest were crap. No one will beat Hammond, Clarkson and May!
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Liam-Give local talent a fair go is fine, not the talentless. There are prbably many who have commented here who could do better.
Brett-Vicki Butler-Henderson? You must be joking, lacks talent in any form (especially in the looks department), squeals annoyingly and has a pommy hyphenated name.
What were they thinking, pinning up pictures with one pin and letting them swing? Really makes them look like Richard Craniums!
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Car Advice,
Can you arrange a live blog with all or part of the Top Gear team?
Vote:Obviously we have a diverse range of enthusiasts from different walks of life who share a common passion.
I want an Australian car show i am proud of, not embarrassed by.
October 8th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Everyone keeps whinging about old UKTG. Sure, old Top Gear wasn’t as polished as the recent stuff and the relationships were different, but it was still a long way from TGA.
(1) Clarkson’s acerbic wit has always been a driving force for the show; none of the TGA guys come close (in fact very few people have Clarkson’s bite).
(2) They actually reviewed cars. Not, as someone said, “drove around like an 18 year old”. Seriously, Charlie acts like a P plater with the keys to dad’s expensive car. The dude is an ex-racing driver, wtf!? May and Clarkson have years (I mean serious years) behind them in reviewing cars, makes a huge difference.
(3) The chemistry was always there between the presenters, right from the beginning. The relationships have evolved over time and now they piss around and mock each other. You can’t 3 randoms and expect them to act the same. Even Jason from season 1 was more charismatic than these guys. And Jason was a car dealer, so he brought industry experience with him.
The big problem seems that they’ve taken the recent TG and tried to replicate it. TG in season 1 started by reviewing cars and telling motor industry news. Over the years they built up a relationship, became more controversial, more popular and introduced more challenges and “cool wall” type stuff.
You have to start at the beginning. I don’t want TGA to do challenges. Tell me the news, be entertaining, and just review some f*@king cars properly.
Another thing that I don’t get: why is TGA based at an airfield? TGUK is because, a) Britain has a lot of them b) it’s a place away from populations where they can do the driving without annoying people with noise.
Why isn’t TGA based somewhere like, say, a race track? Here in Queensland, for example, they could set up shop in Ipswich/Brisbane and use QR during the week when it’s not in use. A proper race track to do testing on. Plus there’s a bunch of sheds/paddocks/whatever out Ipswich way to have a studio. Just a thought.
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
GTRmon “(2) They actually reviewed cars. Not, as someone said, “drove around like an 18 year old”. Seriously, Charlie acts like a P plater with the keys to dad’s expensive car. The dude is an ex-racing driver, wtf!?”
I resemble – err I mean resent that comment! (woooo….yeahhhhhhhh!!!! aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrr!!!)
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
What happened to the old days when thay just tested a car and gave to a run down on how thay performed .Like i wont to buy a small suv thay didnt tell me any thing . Thay just acted like kids in the sand dunes with no feed back. And as if i would drive a toyota rav though the dunes like those idiots
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
If Clarkson likes Ester Ranson why can\’t I like Vicki Butler-Henderson?
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Look, Australian Top Gear was a good idea – aussies CAN be funny, because if the couldn’t we’d all suicide because our lives are so boring. And we obviously love cars – bazillions of people above this comment felt so compelled about a car show that they wrote an essay on it. Hey, I did too.
Charlie Cox just comes across like a tosser. I don’t know if he is one in real life – I will assume he isn’t – but he reminds me of Dicko, except Cox doesn’t even seem to know what he’s talking about. He even insults his other hosts – probably because he feels the need to emulate Clarkson – but where Clarkson is joking, and quite funny, Cox seems harsh, and quite hurtful. He talks himself up non-stop, and unfortunately, is too stale, emotionless, and lacking in enthusiasm to be strong host. Unless you haven’t worked it out, I think he is the main problem with the show.
Pizzati and Brown, in contrast, have potential. Pizzati may have a, uh… distinctive voice, but when Cox is removed from the equation, he is playful and enjoyable to watch, in a happy-go-lucky, geeky sort of way. When he is talking with Cox, he tries to appear knowledgable, but becomes boring, and his voice becomes more irritable for the viewer. Odd, but it’s true. Oh, and he needs to throw out the “designer” stubble – he grosses out even my girlfriend, and that takes a lot considering she puts up with a fugly person like me.
Brown is doing a better job of keeping me watching TGA. Although he never comes across as being anything but nervous and unsure of what he should say, when he does open his mouth, usually it’s because he’s got an interesting point to make. And at least he’s got a sense of humour that doesn’t pick out all the motoring cliches of the last 50 years (yes, I’m talking about you, Cox!). And I think the cartooning thing makes him a bit unique – a bit like Top Gear itself really: a little bit different, but always very funny.
All the hosts have the same problem – that forced delivery that so many people have commented about on this site. But there is light at the end of the tunnel – the “Smart Hearse” story (that didn’t include Cox), worked rather well, because it had a sense of fun and spontinaety about it.
And I agree with everything others have said about the Top Gear track – it looks really boring, the camera angles don’t give you any sense of what it looks like – and I guess it doesn’t help that Cox is obviously feigning enthusiasm and feeling quite stupid while he’s talking about a lap.
And what’s with calling the Australian driver “The Stig” too? That’s like having an Australian Harry Potter. Why are there two alien like racing drivers called “The Stig” on the planet – don’t even pretend that they’re one and the same person. What do Top Gear want to do with 2 stigs? Breed them? Actually, that could make for quite an interesting adults-only episode. Are the Stigs both men? Do the Stigs even have genitalia?
Oh, and “What were they thinking” when they made that segment? It is no substitute for the cool board. Episode one of this segment showed promise, but episode two was so unfunny I cringed. Why couldn’t they have thought of something funnier, like matching newly released cars with the social-stereotypes that drive them? Come on, I’m no comedian – when SBS spends a million dollars an episode, surely they can come up with something better.
The production of the show itself is very good – you can tell that it’s been handled with care in the editing room. It looks slick, even though the presenters aren’t. Well, yet.
I don’t really have much hope for Cox, but Pizzati and Brown’s styles should develop nicely. They have their own niche personalities that are different from the british TG three – Pizzati is a sort of Gen Y chic geek, and Brown is the honest, man-of-reason with a cartoonist bent sort of person. What a shame Charlie Cox has already tried to brand Warren Brown our James May with his endless comments about the slow nature of his driving. What will he call Warren? “Captain Sluggish?” – Come on boys, average viewers like me can see through these things.
Well, my message is clear – dump Charlie Cox. You do not need someone who knows everything about cars. Even worse, you do not need someone who THINKS they know everything about cars, like Cox.
Top Gear Australia CAN work – it just NEEDS work. They can replace hosts; TG Britain replaced some fat guy with James May ages ago, and haven’t looked back.
The thing is, Top Gear Australia to flourish, and for the hosts to relax into their roles, they need far less pressure on them to perform. I’m obviously not helping here, but if SBS expects millions of viewers, and millions of advertising dollars, it must wait a few years, and let Top Gear, like a swiss cheese, mature.
But the holes in Top Gear Australia’s program shouldn’t be left alone, like in a swiss cheese. They need fixing.
Whoa – the length of this doesn’t make me look like I don’t have a life, now does it?
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
The Falcon and Commodore comparison was pathetic.
The tests weren’t even accurate which is pretty sad. The Commodore had a 1/2 second start doing the 1/4 mile in which they didnt even mention.
They didn’t even give us any proper specs like power/torque/weight or anything technical or even price for that matter.
Also whats up with not taking the Commodore around for a lap to compare it to the Falcon?
The only thing they could do was half a** attempts at burnouts.
They have the right cars but simply don’t know what to do with them.
And lets not even go in to the SMART and coffin thingy. That was really pathetic and in bad taste.
Pretty bad so far. Hopefully it will improve or else it will definitely get the flick.
Cheers
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
whinge whinge whinge!
its only been two episodes, please everyone give it a chance, im sure they will come along sooner rather than later! yes the show needs to be polished up, yes they arent entirely comfortable (imo) as presenters, but remember sbs has gone for people who have proper driving experience and enthusiasm rather than the journo type who merely reads cue cards…the 2nd episode was a big improvement over the 1st and i feel it will get better as time goes on…
it seems to me that alot of people bashing have a reeeal bad case of cultural cringe!
If rubbish like kath and kim can some how survive, nay excel (i cant stand that show for the record), the TGA can…you just have to give it a chance, Australia needs a proper car show and this could be it!
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
After the first two episodes of TGA I can honestly say I would prefer to watch Fifth Gear with Vicki, Tom and Tiff, at least they tell you if the car is good or bad. The first episode comparison told me nothing about the the Forester, RAV4, and Xtrail, who are they trying to please, the car manufactures or the motoring public?
Vote:October 8th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Robj – I agree with you that Rachel Splatt would make a good replacement Host for Cox … However;
Vote:F3 Championship Leader – Leanne Tander;
Former Brute Ute Racer – Danielle A’giro or even Production Car Racer – Amber Anderson
would know a helluva lot more about cars than Lowndes’ Wife.. all she would be able to say is “it has very comfy interior and comes in Pink [hehehe]“
October 8th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
All this discussion goes to prove that the potential exists in this country for a fair dinkum, no holds barred motoring show for enthusiasts.
Vote:I think you would all agree that such a show is overdue.
The problem is that TGA with its current pretender’s format and hopelessly overblown hosts just, doesn’t cut it.
I am curious enough to continue watching to see if can get any worse however I’m certain that I will be constantly preying that Piss-ant pisses off ASAP and Cox cripples himself with his own ego.
If Brown was given a new team he might eventually measure up providing he TRIES TO BE BROWN and nobody else.
The real big winner out of this disgraceful farce is the so-called SBS “Talent Scout” who pocketed big bucks for selecting such an inept team in the first place.
The sponsors (advertisers) of the show should be concerned about having their products (cars) tainted by the low-brow image that the presenters seem intent on projecting.
It’s all too crass
October 9th, 2008 at 7:32 am
I’ve gone back and re-watched Series One from TGUK… Even they got off to a lack-lustre start. I’ll keep watching in the short-term.
Vote:October 21st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
top gear is the best show ive ever seen in my life yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr from wwwwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaddddddddddddddeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Vote: