Top Gear show 6 preview
Posted by Andy Wilman at 10:15AM on Monday 21 July, 2008 31 Comments
I missed my blog last week, so I'm sorry about that. But it always gets hectic towards the end of the series, as the editing of the films catches up with one and stuff.
Before I get on to the coming week's show, though, I just want to clear up a bit of housekeeping. Firstly, if the boys on Final Gear are reading this - WE DID NOT DUB A BLOODY V8 ON THE DAIHATSU TERIOS. Promise, chaps.
We like to do our best with the Jerry Bruckheimer noises, but we have our standards, and one of those standards is to not upset car dweebs - we like them too much.
I asked the director the same question about the engine when I saw the first cut of the film and he said you can hear the V8 camera car in the background, but the Terios still makes its own rorty little sound.
Secondly, if Final Gear boys are still tuned in, one of you wrote a couple of weeks ago that James hadn't been in the series much, and that we therefore must be grooming the viewers for him leaving. Pleeeeeese. Go and put that fertile conspiracy theory brain of yours to better use. Find out if Kennedy was shot in Dallas, or during a faked moon landing.
I think you're right, there's not been enough James and Richard solo films this run - it's a bit of a Rubik's Cube putting a show together and that's the way the cards have fallen. Hopefully we'll sort it in the next series, but no, James isn't going. He'll go when he gets grumpy and fed up with the show, and to my memory he's been grumpy and fed up with the show since the day he started.
I could do a bit more housekeeping about the fresh load of bollocks that's been in the papers - The Sun gets the Bollocks Gold Medal Award this week - but frankly, life's too short.
Right, the final show. Well, the big news is that Sabine is back with a vengeance. You may remember her as the scorching racing driver who schooled Jeremy in his attempt to whack a Jag round the 'Ring in under 10 minutes; now she fronts a German version of Top Gear, with three presenters, and so naturally we issued a challenge - bring some cars, meet us in Belgium, and basically come and have a go if you think you're hard enough.
So they did, and it's a big extravaganza of a shootout that swings from It's a Knockout to some cracking hard racing. And there are, if I say so myself, some priceless moments. Just watch out for Jeremy's partner in one of the races, that's all I'm saying. And also there's a twist at the end, just like a proper Hitchcock thriller.
In addition to that we have Hammond doing the power test, which is the road-going version of the Gumpert Apollo. It is devastatingly ugly, and also devastatingly fast, so practise moving your eyeballs quickly from left to right before you watch the film. Then there's James on his own in Japan, looking at Japan's secret car company.
Finally, as I write this, Jay Kay is coming down with his sights fixed firmly on Cowell's lap time. In truth, I think he's the only star around at the moment with the speed to knock Cowell off the top, and bugger me is he hungry for it. So, no rain dances from anyone please. Let your gardens wither - we need a dry track on Wednesday.
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31 Comments for "Top Gear show 6 preview"
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I can't believe the amount of junk people write in the papers, especially in the UK. If you guys are thinking about a new Top Gear base of operations, my home country, Portugal, would be perfect: lots of sunshine, great food and wine, and lots of petrolheads!
Congratulations Mr Wilman, because the Japan episode was epic. I thought you had over-hyped it when I read your blog, but the episode was amazing. The bit where Jeremy drives out of the tunnel under Tokyo Bay is one of the best Top Gear shots of all time, up there with the Jaguar XK in the Yorkshire Dales. Well done for a brilliant yet surprisingly short series.
Errrr...?? Final show? Only six episodes?!? It's only just started!!
Can't wait for the final episode, Andy. The rest so far have been brilliant (in particular, the Japan race, and last night's feature with James and Jeremy).
I have to admit to complaining once or twice that there hasn't been enough of James in this series, so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for next series.
Great work guys!
I'm so looking forward to this show, but at the same time I'm mortified - what will I do when the series is over?
Still can't get over how much you listen and respond to your viewers.
What happened to James and Richards' tribute to touring cars, or did I just imagine that part?
Last night's show was pretty poor. It just wasn't very 'Top Gear-ish. I suppose you can't expect a great one every week. Shame though.
Any chance of seeing the recently single Sabine on the telly has to be good.
Keep up the good work, Top Gear bods. And don't be away so long this time, please.So you read my thread then? At least you agree there hasn't been enough 'Slow (or Hamster that matter) in this series.
Keep up the good work, although for me you could lose the stuntman.
Hang on, there's only six episodes this season? What gives?
There are way too many 'dweebs' on Final Gear and far too few sensible ones who enjoy TG for what it is. Rally fans have more girlfriends than them!
Final show? Already? How. Can. That. Be? I was just getting into the swing of TG being back with us. I trust we won't be waiting too long for a new series, eh?
I'd also like to echo the sentiments on May's lack of solo car reviews this series. His insights have been much missed and it would be great to see him doing more in the future.
Finally, there was a rather distracting girl in a blue top over Hammond's left shoulder during Sunday night's news sequence, so most of the stories were lost on me. Now, you'll no doubt you'll be expecting me to ask for a recap of the news to make up for it? Not a bit of it. I think a better way of making up to the distracted male populace would be to show a even more of this fine young lady in next week's show...
As you have probably already read on the forum, the Final Gear guys are stoked you lurk the boards and take an interest in their opinions. It's humbling to know that us average folk get heard every once in a while.
Now if only Mr Gordon Brown would do the same...
*pig flies past office window*
End of the series??? How are we going to last the rest of the year? And I was just getting into the idea of the TG stuntman...
I agree about that lass, Jay. I also agree this series is too short.
Six episodes? That's just pants. What will I do on Sundays now? Talk to the wife, I guess. Thanks for that, lads.
Job well done, boys. An excellent episode, and one of my favourites by far! James and Jeremy's piece had some of the funniest moments of the series by far. The part when Jeremy was trying to call in a parking space had me rolling on the floor.
I cannot believe the last episode of the series is upon us. It's a pity that Top Gear does not run 22 episodes a season like most shows do in the US.
C'mon Wilman and company, I'm sure you would have enough material for 16 more!
You're back! I did miss the blog last week. I can't believe it is the final episode either. I hope there will be more next series, no pressure. I think quality is better than quantity.
I really enjoyed Sunday's show. I thought it was funny and a little bit different. Then again, I love every Top Gear episode...
You're back! I did miss the blog last week. I can't believe it is the final episode either. I hope there will be more next series, no pressure. I think quality is better than quantity.
I really enjoyed Sunday's show. I thought it was funny and a little bit different. Then again, I love every Top Gear episode...
Well, since series 7, series of Top Gear have alternated between being short and long, which means that series 12 should be 8-10 episodes, provided that the above isn't just a coincidence. I mean, wasn't this series only so short because there were problems with coming up with ideas for the shows?
Now hold on a second there, Alan. Some of us sensible ones on Final Gear aren't boys, ya know.
Final show. Already? What will I do until you come back? Thank God for my DVDs and the web pages (love the blogs)!
Nice to hear from you again, Andy. It wasn't the same without your blog last week. I can't be bothered to believe anything the papers say any more, unless it's on Jeremy's, James' or Richard's own columns. I'm looking forward to the series finale, especially the Siamese racing against German Top Gear.
Shame the series has finished early, but I know it's so you can do another series in the autumn. Or is that bollocks, too?
What, six episodes?
Football, finished. Tennis, finished. Heroes, finished. Come Monday, there'll be NO GOOD TELLY LEFT!!
Please release the entire series on a proper DVD. With the uncut bits from this site on it, too. Ta.
This season has shaped up to become pretty much what we all want from Top Gear. The mix is indeed perfect. The film with Jeremy and James was great. You don't need big bangs to grab petrolheads by the nuts.
Really enjoyed the last episode. Seeing the GT-R do the circuit was a highlight.
Sunday nights will go back to being dull and full of snooker and athletics until the new series. Especially loved the Alfa film this series.
Loving the current series. Seems like you've managed to go back and capture the essence of TG, rather than getting sidetracked with overly dramatic challenges and celebrity interviews.
Having two celebs in the reasonably priced car was a superb move and perks up what was becoming the dullest part of the show. Also, I think the cinematography on this series has raised the bar. I don't know how you guys do it, but there's very few shows on TV that manage to look so good and yet have three grumpy middle-aged blokes on it.
Do my eyes deceive me!? Final show!? Already!? I can't believe it. It's been so short... but so good. Particularly enjoyed the whole Alfa Romeo film - that was brilliance.
Congratulations to Andy and everyone - this show is a true return to form!
Having said that, I absolutely DO NOT BELIEVE the director's claims that the Terios wasn't overdubbed with a V8 in places.
If it was the "noise of the camera car in the background", why was it so evident in a couple of in-car shots, and in a couple of the overhead/helicopter shots?
Great new series, though still not being shown any of what Jeremy finds on the internet!! And it's all over to quickly!
Oh, and a note to 'Slag': I suspect that the Terios film was interspersed with film footage using audio from the camera car. If the overhead shots also had the camera car audio, that would suggest that the main sound was coming from there. With the modern age being as it is, radio mics allow film footage to be cut with seemingly unrelated audio sound tracks. Perhaps Andy can confirm?