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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Fly320s on November 17, 2016, 09:07:44 PM

Title: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: Fly320s on November 17, 2016, 09:07:44 PM
It is available on Amazon Prime as of 7pm EDT.

Great first show.
Title: Re:
Post by: makattak on November 17, 2016, 09:20:05 PM
I thought it started tomorrow.  Thank you!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: K Frame on November 17, 2016, 09:32:33 PM
DAMN IT! I'd forgotten about it!

Title: Re:
Post by: Fly320s on November 18, 2016, 05:07:47 AM
I thought it started tomorrow.  Thank you!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk


It does/did.  Started at 0001 Zulu, which is/was 7pm EDT.
Title: Re:
Post by: RevDisk on November 18, 2016, 10:50:26 AM

It does/did.  Started at 0001 Zulu, which is/was 7pm EDT.

WHAT?

I COULD HAVE WATCHED IT YESTERDAY?

 :facepalm:
Title: Re:
Post by: Jocassee on November 18, 2016, 04:03:25 PM
WHAT?

I COULD HAVE WATCHED IT YESTERDAY?

 :facepalm:

My thoughts exactly sir
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: Calumus on November 19, 2016, 10:24:22 PM
Good first episode, I'm hopeful that I'm actually going to have a decent show to watch again. I am surprised that they didn't bring Ben Collins along with them though.
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: Fly320s on November 20, 2016, 06:03:31 AM
Good first episode, I'm hopeful that I'm actually going to have a decent show to watch again. I am surprised that they didn't bring Ben Collins along with them though.

Maybe he is still under contract with the BBC.

The current Top Gear is better now since that loud mouth guy left. 
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: sumpnz on November 21, 2016, 12:09:49 AM
I do kind of wish they'd kept the Stig type of character.  Commentary from the race driver was pretty marginal.
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: 41magsnub on November 21, 2016, 04:47:45 PM
I do kind of wish they'd kept the Stig type of character.  Commentary from the race driver was pretty marginal.

You must be a communist.
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: roo_ster on November 21, 2016, 06:42:29 PM
OK, I saw the GT / new Clarkson show.  Hooray for Amazon Prime!

Questions:

1. Having seen only a few bits of the previous show in passing over the years, how does it stack up vs the BBC incarnation? (Understood: sample size of one vs sample size of lots.)

2. Is it the same / similar format?

3. Was the old BBC show dialog so obviously scripted as the new GT show's?

================

Verdict (from sample size of one):
OK to pretty good teevee...but not great on its own merits. 

Were I to compare it to, say, home improvement shows, it is the automotive equivalent of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," while I was sort of expecting something more dirty but real like "This Old House" (Norm Abram and Bob Vila years).

Expectations, they are a female dog.
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: Tuco on November 22, 2016, 12:59:55 PM
I came in here with hopes of 'possum talk.

Step right up,
Come on in
If you'd like to take the grand tour...

I reckon this IS better than divorce.
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: RocketMan on November 26, 2016, 09:32:36 PM
I am most of the way through the second episode.  I've come to the conclusion that they need better writers.  This one is...pretty much like the last one.  I hate to say it but the schtick is getting old already.
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: Fly320s on November 27, 2016, 08:30:05 AM
I am most of the way through the second episode.  I've come to the conclusion that they need better writers.  This one is...pretty much like the last one.  I hate to say it but the schtick is getting old already.

They are still working out the kinks.  Give it time.

I liked the second episode better than the first because the unHoly Trinity seem to have relaxed a bit.  Also, I'm more into guns than cars, so the second episode was more entertaining to me.
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: tokugawa on November 27, 2016, 01:38:32 PM
I am most of the way through the second episode.  I've come to the conclusion that they need better writers.  This one is...pretty much like the last one.  I hate to say it but the schtick is getting old already.

 Agree. I got bored with it.  I will give it one or two more to see if they improve.
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: K Frame on November 28, 2016, 06:02:46 AM
I finally watched the first one. I REALLY enjoyed it.

I loved the continued digs at BBC. Thought they were funny as anything.

The whole "fight the audience over which air force is best" was also pretty funny.

The chemistry between the three hasn't diminished a bit, which is great to see.

Even though they're on Amazon, some of the curse words are still being bleeped.

Looking forward to watching the next episode.
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: K Frame on November 28, 2016, 06:06:37 AM
OK, I saw the GT / new Clarkson show.  Hooray for Amazon Prime!

Questions:

1. Having seen only a few bits of the previous show in passing over the years, how does it stack up vs the BBC incarnation? (Understood: sample size of one vs sample size of lots.)

2. Is it the same / similar format?

3. Was the old BBC show dialog so obviously scripted as the new GT show's?

1. Based on a sample size of one, so far as good. On Top Gear you could always tell that they were being inhibited by the BBC's standards and practices group, or whatever they call them. The trio would even allude to it (or come right out and complain about it) at times.

2. Similar format. Talk segments combined with driving and prefilmed segments. That's to be expected.

3. Yes. Even more so because of BBC restrictions.
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: roo_ster on January 16, 2017, 01:55:46 AM
Been getting better as they get more shows under their belts.  Just finished the Namibia Beach Buggy episodes.

Gets a thumb's up from my 12YO son.
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: RevDisk on January 16, 2017, 12:36:45 PM

They have better and worse shows. The Namibia special was very good. It sucks that that they're working under a lot of legal restrictions due to BBC lawyers, but it's not bad overall and the good parts are very good.
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: roo_ster on January 16, 2017, 01:08:15 PM
They have better and worse shows. The Namibia special was very good. It sucks that that they're working under a lot of legal restrictions due to BBC lawyers, but it's not bad overall and the good parts are very good.

What restrictions?
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: RevDisk on January 16, 2017, 01:41:13 PM
What restrictions?

Obviously no Stig.
No static broadcast location.
Can't call the news "the news"
No celebrity interviews.
No star in a car
Racing track was finally approved.
No calling African countryside beautiful
No handwritten laps times.

etc, etc.

Top Gear was the most widely watched factual program in the world, worth a hundred million or so a year. While that's not a huge number for a multi billion dollar company (due to mandatory licensing fees), it's not chump change. Especially when they're hurting for the international market (Doctor Who and Sherlock were their other hits.)
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: Fly320s on January 16, 2017, 01:44:29 PM
Speaking of Sherlock, I saw a promo for a new episode, but I haven't been able to verify it.
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: roo_ster on January 16, 2017, 01:47:22 PM
Speaking of Sherlock, I saw a promo for a new episode, but I haven't been able to verify it.

Last Sherlock was a disappointment.
Title: Re: The Grand Tour is on!
Post by: RocketMan on January 16, 2017, 01:51:28 PM
I've watched all the Grand Tour episodes so far.  Some have been pretty lame, a few have been good (the Namibia episodes especially).
Initially the idea of Mike Skinner as "The American" was pretty neat.  But he has not lived up to my expectations as a character.  IMHO, he would not be missed if he was dropped from the show.
It's still not as good as Top Gear.  I wonder if it would have helped if they had poached some of the original writers from Top Gear.