The Official Countdown to TG Australia Thread

[Puss]

Now that there are like, about 6 Aussies on the board, I thought we might like to get a bit excited about the impending launch of Top Gear Australia next week. ;D

So many questions...

Will Warren play the ukelele?
How many times will Steve say "fully sic!"?
Will the viewer be drowned in a sea of "bewdys" "strewths" and "crikeys!".
Will I find the whole thing embarrassing and wish I hadn't watched it?

I don't know what everyone else thinks, but the answers to these questions and so many more (like, for example, does the format translate to a different set of presenters in a different country with a different cultural context) will be revealed on SBS this Monday at 7.30pm AEST.

Only two and a half days to go...


Oh and you can check out the officical website here www.sbs.com.au/topgearaustralia/

[lew]

........us brits will have to wait for youtube and torrents, I want to join in .....reports please

[Eclair]

Onya Puss!

Actually there are more than 6 of us...but others are shy ;D Who'd have thunk? ;D

Plus...the only states not represented on JMB are ACT , NT and WA...oh thats quite a few Rise to the challenge please! As we've lots of New South Welshmen and womens , Victorians and Queenslanders, plus one from South Australia and one from Tasmania!

Here's another sneak peak.... ;D


another TG Australia sneak peek

[Eclair]

Funny how they've copied James's old chairs a bit for the set ;D

EDIT: Actually they are new versions of James's old chairs...kinda ;D

[mayniac]

It looks like its going to be a great show, almost as good as Top gear, Britain!!!!!!!!!

[Puss]

Hey Eclair! That sneak peak is actually pretty funny. ;D

[richmondgal]

I so cannot wait. I've seen all the preview and all and it looks good. Warren Brown seems to be an awesome bloke.

[soraya]

Now only one day to go ;D I'm not going to have any expectations, all right maybe just a few, mmmm maybe a lot. Let's just wait and see. I hope they are going to show some of the original TG throughout the year though. Looks like there are places left to go to the taping of TG Australia, anyone thinking of going?

[richmondgal]

Unfortunately i can't because of my age, but i hope to go to Top Gear Live if my parents let me go.

[soraya]

So....what did everyone think about the new TG aus?

[dutchdiva]

I'm just waiting for a download torrent so I can watch it. I will let you know

[Puss]

Well at first, I must admit, I was worried. They all looked insanely nervous, but as the show wore on (an the number of glasses of GSM drunk by me, increased) the boys relaxed and the whole show grew on me.

The production values are so similar it is scary. The cinematography is beautiful and Aus looks gorgeous, particularly the Australian Alps.

I am a bit concerned that there is no one with the force Jezza's personality to carry the show. Charlie Cox does a good job and is very likable but he doesn't have the Jezza nes c'est qoi.
I was very impressed with Warren. Mind you, I have always been a fan, I think he is by far the best presenter and it is amazing how much of a difference that makes.

I hope that the format allows the presenters to develop their owns style and personalities as much as possible. At the moment my biggest concern is that they have tried to make a new Jezza, Hamster and James and apart from the fact they will never replicate the originals, I think our boys have a lot more to them than that.

Still very enjoyable and I will watch next week for sure. ;D

[Doofey]

I didn't mind it. No doubt as they settle down and get experience they will be better. Some quite funny moments.

Good luck to the guys!

[lurker]

It looks really exciting. Where do they film the shows? Is their track a copy of the Dunsfold track or is it different?

[dutchdiva]

I have just seen it and I love it !

[lymaze]

I'm glad it sounds like it worked. Can't wait to get to see it.

[Puss]

I think this review in the Sydney Morning Herald sums up my feelings pretty nicely.

TG Australia Review

[Wyvern]

Plenty of torrents up, I'm downloading and looking forward to watching tomorrow

[soraya]

I also found it a bit weird having the exact same format, but I guess that is what being a franchise is all about. All up we did enjoy it but some of the jokes were a bit lacking. I'm still waiting for some more aussie humour. I've enjoyed Warren on tv since his stint on Peking to Paris and some other bits and pieces he's done. Looking forward to the next one.

[redalert]

First episode is on YouTube. Just search Top Gear Australia.

[richmondgal]

Not bad for a start. you should've seen finalgear going into meltdown after the show. There's now 27 pages about the first show. To me, I think it was enjoyable to watch, but too fast paced because of the little amount of time they had. They ended up cramming too much in and therefore not enough substance. Overall, it had the charm that the Top Gear name brings to everyone and also the ambitious but rubbish message aswell in the form of the Mini Moke and the shark incident. The test track-Hmm, whoever set that up should be shot.
Apart from that, it was great. The whole family watched it with me. Can't wait for the next episode.

[soraya]

Yes, the track looked absolute rubbish, although I haven't seen a map of it. Looked like something my kids go round on their bikes at the playground

[Eclair]

LOL Soraya....I thought TG Aus showcased a fabulous first episode !

Sad that there are 30 odd pages of ranting and raving about it on FG
(yes Tall Poppy Syndrome still robust and thriving in Aus )...but I thought twas excellent and one good point made over at Rant and Rave site was if comparison made to first episode of TG UK, it was very well done indeed* To chuck in yet another aussie saying, I think "its all good" ;D

*meant in the nicest possible way of course. TG's come a long way since

[Wyvern]

I really enjoyed it

I was thinking in exactly the way you mention, Eclair... I was keeping in mind the first episode of "new" Top Gear and I thought it compared very favourably. Things I like included the presenters, especially Charlie and Warren (though I expect Steve will grow on me in time), the overall look of the films and that they jumped straight in at the deep end with the kind of larking about our lot have been up to for years (Warren rather literally - if there's an enduring image I've taken away from show one, it's him wrapped in sausages...). I also enjoyed the language they can get away with on Australian TV ;D

Less good? Really not sure about the track layout, though "Clarkson Curve"... *snort* ;D And I'm glad that they can't do any better with the SIARP(or should that be 'BS'?)C than our boys.

And just plain freaky? That was the TOP GEAR STUDIO... except it wasn't... except it looked like it... except it had different people in it and no broken Hilux... Did they just clone Dunsfold hangar? It reminded me of those heritage parks where they recreate old buildings brick-for-brick

Good on 'em.

PS: Improves on a second watching