scannon Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 (edited) And next week's show pulled from the schedule! Looks to me like England and the BBC are getting too deep into the PC world. http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-31824040 Edited March 10, 2015 by scannon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted March 10, 2015 Author Share Posted March 10, 2015 It appears he punched a producer. http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-03-10/top-gear-series-postponed-after-jeremy-clarkson-punches-producer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NVP66S Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 I've heard that Top Gear is the BBC's most popular show. In my opinion, that is partially because it's not politically correct. But as the BBC has no advertising revenue, they don't need to care about ratings. I like that show enough to actually buy the discs, which have a full hour of content, not with 20 minutes cut out by BBC America. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted March 11, 2015 Author Share Posted March 11, 2015 It is their most popular show and one of the articles said it is their biggest source of income. I think the whole politically correct thing has gotten way out of hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Off Road SHO Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 It is their most popular show and one of the articles said it is their biggest source of income. I think the whole politically correct thing has gotten way out of hand. Who pays whom? Do other countries pay the BBC? And I agree with the PC thing. It seems as though everybody is trying to be the most indignant or offened. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearbox Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Who pays whom? Do other countries pay the BBC? And I agree with the PC thing. It seems as though everybody is trying to be the most indignant or offened. Tom The BBC stands to lose 50 million GBP, or about 85 million USD, from foreign distribution rights, not to mention a drop of 4 million viewers since he has been off the air. From the BBC's stand point, I could see it as risk management for potential future litigation. After all, from what I understand, Jeremy assaulted an assistant producer merely for not arranging for a hot meal after a long shooting day. Was there a heated exchange between the two which ticked Jeremy off, or was it just his Prima Donna coming out? Neither is known at this point, but in either case, you know there will be a potential lawsuit. So the BBC is just mitigating it's role, not to mention liability, in this matter by acting indignant which is smart. But needless to say, I think this is all play acting. The BBC is not going to lose it's largest revenue stream, and I am sure that they will get Jeremy to publicly apologise, and pay a quiet settlement to the assistant producer coupled with big a promotion. Nice to be that assistant producer now, or should I say executive producer lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexasS2K Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Clarkson makes the show in my opinion. PC has gotten so ridiculous that Starbucks now calls its black coffee as uncreamed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 Rumor has it he punched out a producer for not having a hot meal available at the end of a cold day of filming. May have been some argument prior to the punch. I suspect he will be back after some amends have been made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Clarkson makes the show in my opinion. PC has gotten so ridiculous that Starbucks now calls its black coffee as uncreamed. So, did Clarkson 'cream' the producer or 'un-blacken' him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearbox Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 The plot thickens, as you may have heard, Clarkson had went on a rant at some charity event auctioning off a lap around the Top Gear Test Track. Basically after venting on all the BBC executives, his parting remark was something like "should I get fired, so be it." While the media is playing this up as heightened tensions between the BBC and Clarkson and perhaps a peak at secret conversations, my satirical side tells me that this may be a PR stroke of genius. Just look at all the free airplay and conversations this has started, including this thread. The millions of people signing petitions and calling for Clarkson's reinstatement. And strangely enough, the assistant producer has not materialized and I have yet to see any calls for his resignation. Very well orchestrated if you ask me. But the BBC has ended their investigation, gathered all the evidence, and we should be hearing shortly. The BBC has decided to air the remaining taped episodes and speculation of replacement candidates abound. But should Jeremy be replaced, I think we all know it will not be the same. Just like the US Top Gear, it will be just a lame copy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rikker Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 I liked the show a lot more in past years than now.they recycle the same sketches and stories that the mayhem rings hollow and looks planned after a while. Maybe this whole "fracas" thing is just a stunt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Personally, I cannot tolerate that garrulous, pompous ass JC, and I make it a point to never watch (or even consider watching) the show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Well, beyond all expectations of some reasonable resolution the BBC has actually sacked Jeremy Clarkson. No word yet on what they plan other than the are going with a "top Gear" show next season. I thought that JC might have rights to the shows name but evidently not. I can't see the show being the same with him gone, even though I personally don't like him all that much, it gave the show an interesting edge. As for the "new" show, "Well, how hard could it be"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted March 25, 2015 Author Share Posted March 25, 2015 BBC has also cancelled the rest of the current season. Rather than sacking JC they are not renewing his contract which has the same effect. It will be interesting to see where he and Hammond and May land. The other two's contract's expire in a couple of months and they have said they will not continue on TG without JC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmustang Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Here is the link http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32052736 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearbox Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 (edited) Seems that is there may be more afoot. Tymon, the assistant producer, appears to have had some kind of love hate relationship with Clarkson for quite some time. This was not the first time they threw down and has often traded insults and heated words. They would settle their differences by drinking themselves into a stupor, part as friends and then start the entire cycle over again. Tymon did not press charges or even comment on the incident and it was Clarkson who reported it to the BBC. No police charges had been pressed. The timing is also interesting as all the presenters on the show have their contracts to be renewed at the same time. As of date, May and Hammond have made comments suggesting that they will not continue with the show, despite the BBC expressing interest in keeping the show ongoing without Clarkson. My take is that Clarkson, whether you love him, hate him, or indifferent, is a valuable commodity. So egos aside, I believe May and Hammond also understand this. Let's face it, none of the copy cat shows such as 5th gear, Top Gear USA, or anything else has even come close. It is almost never the show that causes us to return each week, rather the personalities. Just like when Charlie Sheen had his meltdown and was replaced, the show was never the same and subsequently cancelled. But why go through all this drama to leave a show when the contracts were about to expire? One thought is all the renewed interest in the show which has become part of our routine weekly diet, and perhaps to prevent any backlash to the presenters as being money hungry and greedy. Whether it be for money, creative control, or what ever else, I believe the three can write their own ticket at this point and am sure that there is already a line forming at Clarkson's door or arrangements that had already been put in place. Plus great positioning as Clarkson is now looked upon as the victim and the BBC as the bad guys. But what ever the scenario, I have to believe the show will be back with the original presenters in one form or another. Edited March 27, 2015 by Gearbox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderbrake Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 I'm believe the success of the show is NOT based on the personalities of the 3 principals, but the outrageous, funny, unusual, wierd and unbelieveable premises that the segment is based on. Like putting steel wheels on a Jaguar convertible, to make a "Sports Train". How in the world did they get the British Government permission to run that on the railroad tracks? Likewise, cars racing jet airplanes, building a hovercraft, a home made electric car getting stuck in downtown London, etc.. The producers of the show are the reason the situations are so interesting. There is no doubt that the personalities of the three principals greatly help the success of the show, but I believe they could easily find a replacement for Jeremy Clarkson. Just advertise for a self centered, irritating jerk who knows a lot about cars, and can drive an expensive one without crashing it (too often). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearbox Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 I'm believe the success of the show is NOT based on the personalities of the 3 principals, but the outrageous, funny, unusual, wierd and unbelieveable premises that the segment is based on. Like putting steel wheels on a Jaguar convertible, to make a "Sports Train". How in the world did they get the British Government permission to run that on the railroad tracks? Likewise, cars racing jet airplanes, building a hovercraft, a home made electric car getting stuck in downtown London, etc.. The producers of the show are the reason the situations are so interesting. There is no doubt that the personalities of the three principals greatly help the success of the show, but I believe they could easily find a replacement for Jeremy Clarkson. Just advertise for a self centered, irritating jerk who knows a lot about cars, and can drive an expensive one without crashing it (too often). Time will tell, but usually that is not the case. Just look at any popular show that aired where the cast was drastically changed. The US Top Gear for example was supposed to be an exact copy using the UK formula, but it failed miserably and subsequently cancelled. So has any other show that tried to copy the same theme. Plus you cannot discount human behavior, we become familiar and comfortable with a certain dynamic or personality and anything that is substituted will ring false and be uncomfortable to watch. But TG was the brainchild of Clarkson and Andy Wilman, the Executive Producer, both had equal shares until Clarkson sold his stake for 20 million to the BBC in 2003. But my point is that what makes you believe the entire show was developed solely by the producers and Clarkson didn't have any creative input nor masterminded all of the plot lines? Outside of the Executive Producer, all the other producers are hired and fired at will as well as the writers. After all, the assistant producer in question was responsible for the catering for the crew. So no, I do not believe Clarkson will be so easy to replace and the BBC really shot themselves in the foot as no one was complaining about his actions, not the public nor the assistant producer who was punched. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboWood Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 I have to side with the thought that TG will not be the same now. Part of what makes the show great is the pranks they all play on each other. Those pranks build drama and I believe they can only exist with a group of guys that know each other well enough to cross all the grey lines, but never go too far. If you look at the first few seasons these didn't exist, the show was far more serious. The jokes was a result of evolution. I'm not sure the public will have patience for this to develop with a new host. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearbox Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 Clarkson, Hammond, and May are now hosting an on the road show that was planned before the drama unfolded. Needless to say, they will not be using the TG name nor able to use any product of the old show including the Stig. But it appears that this may be a good launching pad for a new series. Also it was reported that Andy Wilman (Exec Prod) has also resigned from the BBC. It's amazing how fast Clarkson got back on the air, if you didn't know better, it almost seems it was all planned lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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