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Top Gear (U.S. TV series)
Top Gear is an American motoring television series that was originally slated to air on NBC as an early 2009 replacement series, but was dropped by the network before broadcast due to issues relating to its high production costs and concerns that it would not develop an audience following the failure of the show Knight Rider.<ref name="JL-NBCcut">Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref> It is based on the BBC series of the same name.
On April 21, 2010, Top Gear's website reported that the History Channel and the BBC Worldwide had announced that work has begun on a new American version of Top Gear.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8634791.stm</ref><ref>Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref> The article noted Tanner Foust would continue with the series, with new hosts Adam Ferrara, an actor and comedian, and Rutledge Wood, an automotive and racing analyst. The show is expected to premiere in Fall, 2010, but no dates had been set. There is no word whether the show will be broadcast in the UK.
History
As early as April 2007, the BBC was looking to export Top Gear to the United States.<ref>{{#if: BBC hopes for an export hit as 'Top Gear' takes on America
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On June 16, 2008, NBC and BBC officially announced an American version of Top Gear.<ref name="ABofficial">Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref><ref name="JNofficial">Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref> On June 19, 2008, Adam Carolla mentioned on his radio talk show that NBC would be allowing the hosts of Top Gear to praise and criticize cars as they saw fit.<ref name="CarollaCriticize">Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref> The studio segments for the pilot were taped on July 26, 2008 to generally favorable reviews citing close following of the UK version's format.<ref name="PilotWrap">Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref> NBC was expected to have Top Gear premiere as a mid-season replacement in 2009.<ref>Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref>
On December 11, 2008, it was revealed that NBC reversed its decision to place the show as a mid-season replacement, citing concerns about the potential success of a car-themed show in light of the failure of Knight Rider. NBC allowed the BBC to shop it around for cable networks to possibly pick it up.<ref name="JL-NBCcut" /> In February 2009 Jeremy Clarkson stated that the American version had been "canned", claiming that focus groups "... just don't understand a single word we're on about. They just don't get it really."<ref>Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref>
Jay Leno, who originally turned down offers to host the show, expressed concern over whether or not a show like Top Gear could be successful in America.<ref name="ABLeno">Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref><ref name="JNLeno">Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref> In a column published by The Sunday Times, Leno expresses concern that an American version could lack the critical reviews the British version is known for.<ref name="Leno">{{#if: I hope we don’t ruin Top Gear
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}}|Template error: argument title is required.}}</ref> The British show is produced for the BBC with public funds while the American show will air on commercial television. Leno believes that the show may have to worry about offending current and potential sponsors by giving their products poor reviews, leading to a compromise in the journalistic integrity and freedom of the original show.
Hosts
The NBC pilot version of Top Gear was hosted by Adam Carolla, Tanner Foust, and Eric Stromer. The History Channel version will feature Adam Ferrara, Tanner Foust, and Rutledge Wood.
Format
The show will follow a similar format of the U.K. show. Three main hosts will present, a secret race driver will test vehicles, and celebrities will be invited for interviews and to drive vehicles around a test track.<ref name=ustopgear/> In addition, challenges similar in nature to the ones presented in the U.K. show will be replicated in Top Gear. The "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" segment of the pilot for NBC featured a Kia Rio as the reasonably priced car. Producers of the History Channel version have noted a greater interest in car customization by American car enthusiasts than in Britain, an element that will be incorporated into the new show.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8634791.stm</ref>
