Yet Another Cycling Forum

Off Topic => The Pub => Arts and Entertainment => Topic started by: pcolbeck on 04 February, 2016, 01:07:52 pm

Title: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: pcolbeck on 04 February, 2016, 01:07:52 pm
Has been announced as one of the new presenters.

He won't be very fast, always being stuck in second gear...

Not my joke but I like it !
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 04 February, 2016, 01:12:15 pm
It's PorsCHA!
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Torslanda on 04 February, 2016, 03:56:57 pm
Not watching. Not even if $insert-sleb-of-choice is naked and drizzled in runny honey...

It ceased to be a programme about cars a long time ago (see threads passim) well before Chris 'Hey! Why don't we do this? NOW!' Evans got the gig.* Now they've added someone else who is pretending he isn't middle aged.

*Must be an absolute nightmare to try and keep up with, he's got the attention span of a...

What was I saying?
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: clarion on 04 February, 2016, 04:03:02 pm
On reflection, I wouldn't mind seeing an older, more jaded, and more sarcastic, Chandler Byng reviewing motor cars.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: geraldc on 04 February, 2016, 04:15:31 pm
Being old enough to remember William Woollard review whatever dross Rover/Austin/British Leyland were putting out, and having actually enjoyed the last few years of big kids dicking around in cars, I'm looking forward to Top Gear and whatever they come up with at Amazon.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: LEE on 04 February, 2016, 04:44:00 pm
Since it became a fully scripted and acted comedy show the logical conclusion is that they get comedy actors to play the parts.

It had become the natural replacement for "Last of the Summer Wine", lacking only a 3 blokes sliding downhill in a bathtub episode.

I bet £5 there's a "Doh!  The steering wheel is on the other side" joke being scripted right now.

- Gasolline vs Petrol joke

- "I can't fit in this tiny British car" joke

.. and so on.

Chris Evans and Danny Baker always fancied themselves as funny script writers for TFI Friday so I expect more of the (dreadful) same.


Having sad that, it's got to be better than Demot O'Leary's "Getaway Car" TV show.  The phrase "Car Crash TV" seems incredibly apt for this no-hoper of a show.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 04 February, 2016, 05:14:25 pm
LeBlanc's got $60 million in the bank, so he doesn't need to do this gig. It's a chance to indulge in a hobby, and get paid even more money.

You could argue that the money would be better spent on a motoring journalist, but cars are now domestic appliances. They're all reliable, all do the job. There's just various status grades. Reporting on the cars isn't very interesting in itself.

I've recently watched the official PBP DVD, and 'Der Brevet'. They don't bother much with the bikes, the people are more interesting. They also use some of the filming conventions that Top Gear has pioneered. It would need a celebrity to hold the attention of Joe Public, probably that Guy Martin bloke.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: hillbilly on 04 February, 2016, 06:50:09 pm
He will probably have cut a deal for a % of the global sales and merchandise. 

I think it's a good choice.  Along with Sabine and the rumoured journalist. I'm still cold on the lead presenter though.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Steph on 04 February, 2016, 09:24:18 pm
Who is he?
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Tim Hall on 04 February, 2016, 09:27:03 pm
Who is he?

An American actor from television and film, ma'am. Wowbagger should be able to fill you in on the details.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Bledlow on 04 February, 2016, 11:57:32 pm
Not watching. Not even if $insert-sleb-of-choice is naked and drizzled in runny honey...
Not if they did that to the middle-aged Yank bloke or that ginger tosser, but I can think of some I'd tune in to see in that state. Sabine Schmitz, for example . . .
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Séamas M. on 06 February, 2016, 09:45:38 am
He's up for the challenge. (http://newsthump.com/2016/02/05/leblanc-reveals-pretending-to-like-chris-evans-will-be-toughest-acting-role/)
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: rafletcher on 06 February, 2016, 11:04:27 am
I'm still cold on the lead presenter though.

I enjoyed him on " Don't forget your toothbrush" and some of the original TFI, but always logged him on radio, and can't really see him making of TG what Clarkson & co. did - namely a hugely successful international franchise, one which I generally enjoyed.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: mattc on 06 February, 2016, 11:10:15 am
He's up for the challenge. (http://newsthump.com/2016/02/05/leblanc-reveals-pretending-to-like-chris-evans-will-be-toughest-acting-role/)

 ;D
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Kim on 06 February, 2016, 01:13:26 pm
I'm still cold on the lead presenter though.

I enjoyed him on " Don't forget your toothbrush" and some of the original TFI, but always logged him on radio, and can't really see him making of TG what Clarkson & co. did - namely a hugely successful international franchise, one which I generally enjoyed.

TG is already a hugely successful international franchise, which proves that Clarkson & co are not essential for that success.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: orienteer on 06 February, 2016, 01:38:49 pm
It goes from worse to dire:
http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-02-05/f1-star-eddie-jordan-poised-to-join-chris-evans-and-matt-leblanc-as-new-top-gear-presenter (http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-02-05/f1-star-eddie-jordan-poised-to-join-chris-evans-and-matt-leblanc-as-new-top-gear-presenter)
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 February, 2016, 02:44:37 pm
I'm still cold on the lead presenter though.

I enjoyed him on " Don't forget your toothbrush" and some of the original TFI, but always logged him on radio, and can't really see him making of TG what Clarkson & co. did - namely a hugely successful international franchise, one which I generally enjoyed.

TG is already a hugely successful international franchise, which proves that Clarkson & co are not essential for that success.

Though when given the choice some parts of Abroad have shown a preference for the imported version over the local one.  The Russian TG was canned midway through the first series.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: LEE on 07 February, 2016, 06:41:26 pm
Fortunately the TV has an OFF button.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: hillbilly on 07 February, 2016, 06:53:59 pm
You watch it on telly?  How quaint  8)

Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: LEE on 08 February, 2016, 03:25:32 pm
You watch it on telly?  How quaint  8)

I actually have at my disposal several different formats not to watch it on.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: TimC on 08 February, 2016, 05:09:11 pm
It goes from worse to dire:
http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-02-05/f1-star-eddie-jordan-poised-to-join-chris-evans-and-matt-leblanc-as-new-top-gear-presenter (http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-02-05/f1-star-eddie-jordan-poised-to-join-chris-evans-and-matt-leblanc-as-new-top-gear-presenter)

I thought that Matt LeBlanc was quite a good choice; he's shown over the years that he can be both self-deprecating and interesting. And he can drive quickly, which is presumably part of the job-spec. But Eddie Jordan and Chris Evans are out of the same mould and I find them exhausting (SWIDT?) and mildly irritating to listen to, even though I actually like both of them individually. The two together on the same show would be way OTT!
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: trekker12 on 09 February, 2016, 11:03:20 am
I might be wrong and have no way of knowing if I've made this up or if CE has said something on his radio show - which I do quite like but didn't bother with TFI - but I think we need to consider the likelihood that this is going to be removed from the old format of three middle aged blokes pratting about in cars - a format I liked at the time, when it was fresh and new.

Top Gear has got to do something different and I suspect it's going to go more down the route of the One Show as an example with different host presenters of magazine type articles each week all tied to together with CE as main presenter which will mean Matt LeBlanc or Eddie Jordan may well not be on it every week which with a bit of luck will remove some of the repetition that in the end people were starting to get bored of even before Clarkson punched someone.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Zipperhead on 11 February, 2016, 10:37:53 am
Well, according to Gizmodo (http://gizmodo.com/heres-the-full-cast-for-the-new-top-gear-1758449739), there will be 7 presenters....

Chris Evans
Matt LeBlanc

Eddie Jordan
Chris Harris
Sabine Schmitz
Rory Reid
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: LEE on 11 February, 2016, 11:03:51 am
Crikey.... This has gone from 3 slightly xenophobic & sexist buffoons to a sort of GAP advert.

Sings new theme tune - "...I'd like to teach the World to sing..in perfect harmony..."

Will they still haul any available attractive young women out of the audience to stand behind the presenter I wonder?

Next thing you know they'll be delivering food-aid to Syria as their motoring challenge (rather than poking fun at the locals "who...hahahaha...own ...hahahaaha...a Goat..and hoo..hoo..wear silly...haahahaha ...HATS")
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Jaded on 14 March, 2016, 05:01:50 pm
No Cenotaph footage to be shown.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: LEE on 14 March, 2016, 05:41:58 pm
No Cenotaph footage to be shown.

But I assume everyone will be happy with the "Donuts" on public roads, just as long as it's not near the cenotaph?

The basic formula sounds the same, demonstrating that it's fine to act like a total twat on public roads in 2 tons of metal.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Jaded on 14 March, 2016, 06:07:28 pm
That's Top Gear.

Fog lights on - check
Tailgating - check
Hooning round corners - check
Talking on handeheld comms devices - check
Distracted talkngi to camera - check

and so on
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Bledlow on 14 March, 2016, 06:27:15 pm
Well, according to Gizmodo (http://gizmodo.com/heres-the-full-cast-for-the-new-top-gear-1758449739), there will be 7 presenters....

Chris Evans
Matt LeBlanc

Eddie Jordan
Chris Harris
Sabine Schmitz
Rory Reid
I was once accosted by one of them, in the toilets of a Chinese restaurant in the home counties. I believe it was a case of drunken chattiness.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: trekker12 on 14 March, 2016, 08:27:29 pm
No Cenotaph footage to be shown.

Except on the bbc news front page
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: TimC on 15 March, 2016, 07:57:48 am
No Cenotaph footage to be shown.

Except on the bbc news front page

Yep, the BBC gets to promote the prog on the 'news' while showing how 'responsible' the new TG is by not showing the fuckwittery they filmed. Great.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Andrew on 15 March, 2016, 09:30:05 am
Yep, the BBC gets to promote the prog on the 'news' while showing how 'responsible' the new TG is by not showing the fuckwittery they filmed. Great.

Glad it wasn't just me that went 'huh?' Here is what we're not going to show you??

Tbh, I actually don't even get it. What was it that they were doing that had to be done in central London? Or any town town street for that matter? Couldn't they prat about like that on a airfield/race track?

I'm not objecting to the "pratting about" in cars per se, even though it's not my thing, I just don't get why it had to be where it was.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Kim on 15 March, 2016, 12:39:38 pm
I'm not objecting to the "pratting about" in cars per se, even though it's not my thing, I just don't get why it had to be where it was.

Makes the programme more marketable to TV companies in ABROAD.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: LEE on 15 March, 2016, 12:43:50 pm
I'm not objecting to the "pratting about" in cars per se, even though it's not my thing, I just don't get why it had to be where it was.

Makes the programme more marketable to TV companies in ABROAD.

It teaches 18 year old Chavs in Citroen Saxos that public roads are for driving like a twat on (not that they didn't know this already).
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: mattc on 15 March, 2016, 12:55:06 pm
No Cenotaph footage to be shown.

Except on the bbc news front page

Yep, the BBC gets to promote the prog on the 'news' while showing how 'responsible' the new TG is by not showing the fuckwittery they filmed. Great.
You have to admit that is genius!
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Polar Bear on 15 March, 2016, 01:14:48 pm
I'm not objecting to the "pratting about" in cars per se, even though it's not my thing, I just don't get why it had to be where it was.

Makes the programme more marketable to TV companies in ABROAD.

It teaches 18 year old Chavs in Citroen Saxos that public roads are for driving like a twat on (not that they didn't know this already).

This, except it reaches every impressionable, void of personality, halfwit, bonehead, knuckledragger who ever gets behind the wheel.   IMO it makes the roads a more dangerous place for the rest of us. 
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Kim on 15 March, 2016, 01:17:21 pm
While I'm inclined to agree, Top Gear isn't even in the top 10 things that make the roads dangerous.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Fab Foodie on 15 March, 2016, 02:46:27 pm
While I'm inclined to agree, Top Gear isn't even in the top 10 things that make the roads dangerous.
Top 11 maybe?
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: geraldc on 15 March, 2016, 03:28:23 pm
I think from the clips shown, and George Osborn's tweets, the premise of the clip was Matt LeBlanc as an American sight seeing in London in very powerful car. Downing street happens to be very close to the Cenotaph, so depending on which side of the street you were standing, he could have been doing donuts by the centotaph, or doing donuts by Downing street.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Dibdib on 15 March, 2016, 03:32:57 pm
While I'm inclined to agree, Top Gear isn't even in the top 10 things that make the roads dangerous.

This, in spades, plus the fact that they're already impressionable, void of personality, bonehead knuckledraggers whether they watch Top Gear or not. See also the ad nauseam discussions in other threads about Strava and irresponsible cyclists.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Jurek on 15 March, 2016, 03:44:17 pm
The donuts I saw on Sunday morning as I went through there, were in the middle of the junction of Parliament Street, Great George Street and Bridge Street, where the white bus is here (https://goo.gl/maps/Tkqgawpw2pt).
It did cross my mind at the time that, given the surprising amount of rubber on the road, someone must have spent a significant amount of time there doing that - the anomaly being that - how could they get away with that, with the amount of police / security that is present there all the time.

From the limited footage I've seen, it looks like they may've been using the bit of road which leads to the Cenotaph (It's still Parliament Street, and not yet Whitehall at that point) as a run-up to the bit at the junction. The presence of the of the Cenotaph in what looks like the background (it was, apparently, shot with a long lens, so everything is foreshortened) may be coincidental.

But I'm speculating. What isn't questionable is that the new show has managed to generate itself an enormous amount of PR, just a few days before it is first broadcast.
Title: Re: Matt LeBlanc - Top Gear
Post by: Kim on 15 March, 2016, 03:51:21 pm
I think from the clips shown, and George Osborn's tweets, the premise of the clip was Matt LeBlanc as an American sight seeing in London in very powerful car.

That would be very dull television if it were realistic.