Top Gear America
| Top Gear America | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Motoring |
| Based on |
Top Gear by Jeremy Clarkson Andy Wilman |
| Presented by |
William Fichtner Tom Ford Antron Brown The Stig |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 2 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Sarah Barnett |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production company(s) | BBC Worldwide |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC America |
| Original release | July 30, 2017 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Top Gear worldwide |
Top Gear America is a motoring television series for BBC America hosted by William Fichtner, Tom Ford and Antron Brown. Based on the original UK version, the new program was announced in April 2017. The eight-episode first season premiered on July 30, 2017.[1]
Format
The format and segments of the show follows the original UK version: studio segments, car reviews, celebrity guests, challenges, power laps and races.[2] However, following the broadcast of the first episode, the show was criticised for its similarity to the UK version.[2]
Development
A previous American version of Top Gear was broadcast on the History Channel from November 2010 until June 2016.[3] Following a second revamp of the UK version in 2017, BBC America announced that Top Gear would return to the United States in late 2017 as a new show, now titled Top Gear America, to be hosted by actor William Fichtner.[4] Later that month, it was confirmed that British journalist and television host Tom Ford and American drag racer Antron Brown would be Fichtner's co-hosts.[5]
Network president, Sarah Barnett, commented, "We are big fans of the mix of cars, credibility and charisma that adds up to the winning formula for Top Gear, and couldn't be happier that BBCA is now the home for the franchise in the US, with Top Gear America joining the original show on our network, Bill, Antron and Wookie are serious gear heads who never take themselves too seriously. It will be quite the trip."[6]
Episodes of Top Gear America will be broadcast on Sunday in the same time slot as the British version.[7] Following a series of teaser trailers featuring The Stig being shipped to and exploring the U.S.[8], the first trailer for the show was released by BBC America on June 29, 2017.[7] That same day, the logo for the first season was unveiled, which features the three hosts and the Stig.[9]
Studio audience and timed celebrity track segments are filmed on location in Las Vegas at SPEEDVEGAS[10].
Episodes
| No. in series |
Title | Original Airdate | Viewers (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Made in America" | July 30, 2017 | TBD |
| The new hosts take a pair of VW Baja Bugs on a 250+ mile drive through Mexico to the US border. | |||
| 2 | "Movie Magic" | August 6, 2017 | TBD |
| This week, the boys teach everyone a few tricks of the movie trade. Bill gets to find out what it was like to be Steve McQueen driving the iconic Mustang that starred in the greatest car chase of all time in the 1968 film, Bullitt. | |||
| 3 | "Life on the Go" | August 13, 2017 | TBD |
| The great wide open is the American landscape. Pick your car, set out down the highway and find a path less traveled. Bill, Wookie and Antron choose campers for this adventure, but will they make it home? Then, the Stig takes a minivan around the track. | |||
| 4 | "Drive Your Life" | August 20, 2017 | TBD |
| TBD | |||
| 5 | "Humble Beginnings" | August 27, 2017 | TBD |
| TBD | |||
| 6 | "Outside the Box" | September 3, 2017 | TBD |
| TBD | |||
| 7 | "TBD" | September 10, 2017 | TBD |
| TBD | |||
| 8 | "TBD" | September 17, 2017 | TBD |
| TBD | |||
References
- ↑ "Top Gear BBC America". www.facebook.com.
- 1 2 Justin T. Westbrook (2 August 2017). "How Did You Feel About The First Episode Of The Rebooted Top Gear America?". Gizmodo Australia. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ↑ "Top Gear USA canceled 'for the immediate future'". The Verge. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
- ↑ O'Connell, Michael (March 20, 2017). "BBC America Doubles Up on 'Top Gear' with New U.S. Version (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ↑ Schwindt, Oriana (March 20, 2017). "'Top Gear America' Ordered By BBC America". Variety. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ↑ "Top Gear USA cancelled, BBC confirms". BBC News. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- 1 2 Szymkowski, Sean (June 29, 2017). "First official trailer for "Top Gear America" underwhelms". Motor Authority. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
- ↑ "#TopGearAmerica is Coming Summer 2017 - BBC America". BBC America.
- ↑ Traugott, Jay (June 29, 2017). "The First Trailer For Top Gear America Is Here". Car Buzz. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
- ↑ "SPEEDVEGAS in Las Vegas to Debut as Home Track for New Series, "Top Gear America," on BBC America". www.vegasnews.com. Retrieved 2017-08-04.