Top gear mùa 7 tập 4 năm 2022

Recently Matt LeBlanc announced he will step down as Top Gear after the next season due to a busy schedule and constant travel to meet his commitments with his role on the sitcom “Man with a Plan”. Unfortunately, Matt LeBlanc has barely gotten into his stride as a Top Gear host. Here are my picks, mostly long shots mind you, to replace Matt LeBlanc.

Ben Collins Probability: 7.5/10

This pick is largely intended for the irony. Just imagine the comedic material with Ben Collins, the former Stig, being on the show and having the show not acknowledge he was ever the stig in a direct manner. That said, Ben Collins could probably actually handle the duties of host fairly well with his extensive car knowledge, driving skill, knowledge of the BBC system, and surprisingly well-spoken tone for someone who starred as a silent character. Ben Collins could probably be a host, it’s more up to him if he wants to embrace that role. His diverse driving skill could also ruin certain challenges.

Simon Pegg Probability: 4/10

Another Brit and an actor just like LeBlanc may have the same scheduling issues. It’s also possible Simon would be too much like Chris Evans in demeanor if Top Gear try to avoid that pitfall. He might not be the most serious car person ever, but I did find an article where he praises the Jaguar XKR. There’s nothing more Top Gear than praising Jaguars, so that could be a return to classic Top Gear form in a proper way. Simon has a propensity for well-spoken wit and surely knows how to read a script for studio segments. I have not seen him otherwise linked with Top Gear or the automotive journalism world, so that makes this one a shot in the dark, but one that could still hit the mark.

Jenson Button Probability: 9/10

This option is one of the only “bookies odds” favorite picks that I can get on board with. Jenson is a seasoned racing driver who will likely be free in 2019 as his racing contracts for 2018 run out. Jenson Button also fills the handsome guy role that Matt LeBlanc filled (to keep the females watching, or at least that’s the logic the show traditionally operates on). Besides the superficial characteristics, Jenson simply comes off as a genuinely chill guy who would be tolerable yet competent as a car show host.

The Original Trio Comes Back! Probability: 2/10

I saw one source suggesting the original trio could come back and I just have to come out and say I’d love it, but probably no even if Amazon does not renew the Grand Tour. Top Gear is by all accounts satisfied with their other two standing hosts and it would be folly to throw them out after all they’ve done to save the series from irrelevancy. Plus, Rory Reid and Chris Harris are younger than the old Top Gear trio and could be in the game for years to come, honing the craft and earning acceptance. Heck, the original trio never hit their stride until about the 10th season I would say. Rory Reid and Chris Harris may never be as entertaining, but they have the potential to put out some timeless car films. I would, however, love to see the trio back on the show despite the impracticality of it all. I’d especially like to see Jeremy reading out his “stig lines” again. Clarkson, Hammond, and May would be much more at home in the studio that physically and metaphorically houses so many memories. Such a reunion would be a sight worthy of tears. A bonus would be if BBC created a condensed spin-off series for Rory Reid, Chris Harris, and possibly a third host where they do car reviews and challenges, but none of the celebrity guests or stig track time segments.

Ken Block Probability: 6.5/10

For years Ken Block has been in the automotive world’s spotlight for his Gymkhana exploits and general flamboyant driving style. Ken has a solid relationship with the Top Gear crew despite the slight controversy in their last collaboration. If the Brits forgive him for his role in that controversy (link below), then he’d make an interesting host. Ken isn’t necessarily a typical tv host type, but his time on the largely overlooked Ford sponsored Youtube series “Octane Academy” demonstrates he could be capable of such duties. Ken’s biggest reason for not doing the show would probably be his priorities right now. However, with Ford pulling the Focus and Fiesta from the US market, Ken might be suddenly less busy depending on how things pan out with that relationship. I think there are things Ken Block would do better than hosting Top Gear, but I’d enjoy seeing what he could contribute to the show. He also has mad respect for the car community and his two classy European Ford Escort rally cars demonstrate his appreciation runs deeper than “sick burnouts yo”.

Tiff Needell Probability: 7/10

I did not consider Tiff for the role until I discovered Fifth Gear was canceled back in 2016 (why did nobody make a big deal about this?). Tiff Needell, a former racing car driver, used to host the 1st iteration of Top Gear and has made 3 Top Gear appearances. Tiff was well acquainted with the original trio and could help to bring some of the banter and old-school automotive journalism expertise from the old show. The only problem is that Tiff might not want to host for too much longer into the future, because he is 66 and probably looking to retire sometime within the next 5 years. However, Tiff would be a safe bet to pick up the role and help pump out a few new seasons while in search for a permanent replacement. It would also be a fitting and poetic way to end Tiff’s successful career in the automotive media world. Former Fifth Gear host Tom Ford has been picked up as a new Top Gear America host, so that might set a precedent for hiring experienced car show hosts such as Tiff who know what they are doing on the technical level.

Vicky Butler-Henderson Probability: 7.5/10

Another former Fifth Gear host, Vicky is more than just my “token female” choice for the role, she’s someone with the capabilities to host the top level car show that is Top Gear. Vicky also hosted on the pre-reboot Top Gear along with Tiff, albeit not for quite as long. At 46, Vicky could be a candidate with almost the same skill level as Tiff, but with more years ahead of her depending on her family choices. This could also be a redemption for the Sabine Schmitz situation not turning out quite so well, and her no longer being a main host (is she still on payroll? is she going to be on in the future?). There’s also an issue that Vicky’s husband is the director of The Grand Tour, which could dissuade the BBC from hiring her due to the yet to be fully healed relationship between Jeremy Clarkson and the BBC. On the other hand, everybody loves reaching out an olive branch sometimes.

Colin Furze Probability: 4/10

Rory Reid and Colin Furze could have some chemistry as they used to work with each other frequently on the automotive YouTube channel “Fast Furious & Funny”. Colin has a well-documented background in engineering odd, classic Top Gear style contraptions and has collaborated with the show before, specifically with the Stig. The elements keeping Colin from being a more serious candidate are his demeanor, which doesn’t seem to fit Top Gear and his lack of experience with the Top Gear style of reviewing cars. Colin also lacks the same level of fame or respect in the automotive programming community as some other candidates. Overall, I think he’s very entertaining on YouTube, but I don’t know if he would be a fit for Top Gear. Oddly, I’d rather have him in a reboot of spinoff series “Man Lab” by James May. It would be a safe bet to say he will see him make a cameo at some point down the road.

Matt Farah Probability: 3.5/10

Could we see Matt Farah’s Million Dollar Top Gear contract next? Maybe not, but we can have dreams dang it! Matt Farah is the former host of Tuned on /Drive, a contributor to Drive on NBCSN, head of “The Smoking Tire” automotive YouTube channel and podcast, and head of an upstart watch podcast “Watch and Listen”. Matt Farah shared airtime with current Top Gear host Chris Harris while working at Drive. They weren’t necessarily buddies, but they did know each other and seem to respect each other. Matt Farah is a versatile presenter and can make jokes and references on the fly based on subjects not related to cars, which is part of what made the old Top Gear trio successful. Matt Farah is also known for his professionalism among industry insiders. The biggest factors preventing Matt from being a top of the pile candidate are his lack of mainstream popularity (though he is friends with Joe Rogan), his other projects, and most of all how much he would have to sacrifice to take a job in England with his stable life in California.

Jerry Seinfeld Probability: 7.5/10

Jerry Seinfeld and Matt LeBlanc both gained fame as major characters on popular 90s sitcoms, so there is already that connection. Furthermore, Jerry spent some of his show money enjoying Porsches and other exotic cars just like LeBlanc. What Jerry loses in looks, he’s a bit older, he makes up for in increased comedic wit. Other lists tap Jerry to become the replacement, but not as many lists as expected. Jerry definitely has fame and appeal he could bring to the show. However, Jerry already has a popular car show on Netflix titled “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee”. However, this show is likely much lower stress than Matt LeBlanc’s sitcom. Jerry’s series also does not necessarily tie him to the US either. It would actually be interesting to see that show travel and cross over with Top Gear. Jerry Seinfeld would make a fine Top Gear host, but he’s not the youngest choice and it would be entirely up to his lifestyle choices. Jerry could definitely do fine without a Top Gear gig, and he already stars in a show that may fit his semi-retired lifestyle better.

Honorable Mentions

Other picks: Travis Pastrana, Alex Roy, Johnny Lieberman (Motortrend), Jason Plato and Jonny Smith (both formerly of Fifth Gear), Tom Ford (formerly Fifth Gear currently Top Gear USA), any of the original Top Gear USA hosts, Boris Johnson (jk but it could be conceivable), Jimmy Carr, Stephen Fry, Steve Sutcliffe (formerly of Autocar), and Doug Demuro (once again, we can dream). Image Source: https://goo.gl/images/uiXxDq

Q: Is Top Gear UK over? A: No

This came up from some click bate British tabloid headline, but no, Top Gear UK is far from dead. The show would go on even with just two hosts! There’s a new US show, and the BBC clearly has Top Gear as part of their long-term business strategy. Top Gear, along with BBC Earth and Doctor Who, is one of the BBC’s most popular and famed franchises. With the recent revelations about the track likely being destroyed for more culturally bankrupt jerks driving Range Rovers to have posh housing, there is uncertainty about the nature of the show’s future. Sure, if the season after LeBlanc leaves goes awry we might see the show go on a hiatus, but Top Gear is here to say as long as the name and brand hold clout. It would take a huge industry shift to actually “kill” Top Gear Uk.

As a last note, a trashy Guardian article alluded to earlier is linked below. It literally says in reference to Top Gear that, “Maybe it can lure in Adam Sandler or Vin Diesel or Jay Leno with the promise of driving around the Alps in a supercar a few times a year.” There’s lots of subpar journalism surrounding this drama, and it’s entirely laughable. Sure, comedians, actors, and celebrity automotive fans are all possibilities, but these are not good choices to illustrate that. Nobody is hiring Adam Sandler to host a car show considering his lack of automotive experience and is a meme for his lack of humor. Vin Diesel is an actor who probably does somewhat like cars in real life, but could anybody take him seriously as a Top Gear host? If Paul Walker was alive, he would be a better fit. Jay Leno probably wouldn’t be up to the constant travel of Top Gear, and I believe he’s content with his car collection and YouTube show. The article also suggests the show is near collapse. The media in Britain has long cheered for Top Gear’s collapse, at least partially because of the environMENTALists and those who think all the fast cars and raunchy humor is too “un-PC” for primetime television. These have been my picks and rationalizations, I hope to read many alternative picks and opinions in the comments. #blogpost #topgear #mattleblanc