Er, well....technically Chinese New years. Guess I've missed a few months of posting, but time to dust off the keyboard and splatter some text onto the interweb. Its officially the year of the Rabbit and so much has happened since the last post. Since I am on the topic of rabbits, VW is out w/ some new commercials (although none rabbit related). One is with a mini Darth Vader and another is w/ a black bug. And if you ever wondered: insects oversteer. Enjoy:
Now onto whats happened since we last checked the dip-stick. There was an entire season of Top Gear drowned in good ole american BBQ sauce. The History Channel took three guys and threw them into roughly the same situations and challenges as Top Gear and added "US" at the end. The show wasn't quite as good as the original, but then again, that was to be expected. You can't beat the chemistry, personality, wit, and charm of the original Top Gear cast. Plus, you kind of see the situations before the unfold second time around. But still, the Top Gear US didn't suck too hard. The camera work and production value were maintained. There were parts that were occasionally humorous and their Alaska Adventure to find America's best truck was very entertaining. There was unedited humor and chemistry happening on that trip.
The biggest thing I would get change is the host Adam Ferrera. I think he is an adequate presenter but he adds nothing more to the show. He can't drive very well, he doesn't have great car insight, and he isn't that funny (which is strange, since he's a comedian). The other two guys I kinda like. Tanner Foust is the boy racer, drifter with actual driving talent. Ruteledge Wood is the Nascar back water hick. Adam Ferrara is just a New Yorker w/ ... yea, don't know what he brings. The show needs to bring someone to either fill an automotive audience gap or compliment the rest of the cast. Top Gear US should find someone that maybe prefers luxury cars and sophistication (like James May on Top Gear), or they should find someone who fills another racing discipline (maybe destruction derby, or something). Actually that would probably be pretty good to find some kinda stuntman. He would probably put the cast in more danger than necessary and have some decent driving skills. It should make for good TV.
Speaking of driving skill.. they need to send Rutledge Wood and Adam Ferrara (if he sticks around) to racing school. Those two need driving lessons. The gap between their driving skills are way too far apart from Foust to make the automotive skill challenges fair. All said though, the show is still not too bad for a car show. Its still way better than anything else car related on TV. I hope History brings back TGUS for another season.
