Slashdot Mirror
Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May Making Show For Amazon
mrspoonsi writes: Amazon has announced that former Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May will be reuniting to create “an all-new car show” that will be exclusively on Amazon Prime. The first season will be made available worldwide in 2016 and will be produced executive producer Andy Wilman. The BBC reports: "The move follows their departure from the hit BBC Two show earlier this year. Clarkson's contract was not renewed following an 'unprovoked physical attack' on a Top Gear producer. His co-hosts then followed him in leaving the show. They will now make the unnamed new programme with former Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman, who also quit the BBC following the 'fracas.' In a statement from Amazon, Clarkson said: 'I feel like I've climbed out of a biplane and into a spaceship.'"
I wonder how many parts of the show they are not allowed to copy.
I think of David Letterman and how he had to change the name of his top ten list.
I come here for the love
Mr. Clarkson prefers WARM STEAKS.
My Other Computer Is A Data General Nova III.
I figured I would try it. I signed up for it, Amazon happily took my credit card details and, after they were potentially billing me (yeah I know first month is free), they tell me I can't watch it from my location. Now, I know they have my address on file. I know they can figure out what country my visa card was issued. You would think they would warn me that I cannot view their apparently 'world wide' service from Australia.
...
I heard they're still allowed to fake rock-throwing attacks, but they have to use CGI instead of cutting to a black screen.
>> 'unprovoked physical attack' on a Top Gear producer
Let's see...driving around in awesome cars and smacking around random people. Isn't that already called "Grand Theft Auto?"
It's always been a bit of a PITA to even consume Amazon content; I've got a fairly poor network connection and they're nowhere near as good at throttling as Youtube, let alone Netflix. When you compound that with their long-standing and only relatively recently-relaxed attitude towards permitting Android devices to consume Amazon Instant Video, my desire to have Amazon Prime has been extremely limited... until now.
Assuming this is true, this might be what finally lures me into Prime membership.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
What can they call the show that's both amusing and punitive?
B.B.C - British Blokes Cars (just use and promote the acronym, ought to be no end of merry japes)
Synopsis - several Middle Aged and Unexpectedly Wealthy dufus's from the crumbling British Empire lark and prank about in cars, without the hindrances of a Politically Correct overseer, making enough poo poo and boom boom jokes to keep a newly minted prince Harry soiling his duds in merriment. Long live the Queen.
Featuring segments including 'Who Can We Offend This Week' and 'you'll never afford one of these', mixed with the humor and empathy of a UFC cage grudge match between a roid raging korean ex swimmer who's 'transitioning' and Lord Myrtlefardby, Baron of Upwardly Bumly, presenting a lecture on 'why things were better under Thatcher and get orf moi lawn'
Amazon Drones will bring you each weeks loving hand crafted edition on USB, painstakingly pin striped in a Trans Pacific Partnership sweatshop in Rarotonga. Please ensure you have a valid credit card as the drones are also authoried to apply 'credit inducements' via Taser for late payment or turning the PC off.
You do realize that the only reason Clarkson was not fed is because he went drinking at a local pub after shooting was completed for the day. He arrived at his hotel after the restaurant was closed (but some people were still there chatting) and then blew up because there was no hot food for him.
Clarkson went on a 40 minute rant blaming a producer named Oisin Tymon. Clarkson called the producer lazy, told him he would make certain he lost his job, and used a racial slur describing him as a "lazy Irish cunt". All this in public in front of many people. Eventually he punched the producer, who was taken to the local hospital for treatment of facial injuries.
Clarkson's show also claimed a Tesla ran out of electric power after 55 miles when the claimed range was 200 miles. Tesla sued for libel but the lawsuit was dismissed because "rectification of inaccuracies is not a function of the courts"! However, the BBC admitted in court that the scene where the car ran out of power was faked. I hope Clarkson and friends don't have the same leeway with the truth under Amazon.
The whole thing boils down to Political Correctness
No. Not at all.
Seriously, read what happened. Yeah, BBC has done plenty of bone-headed things in the name of PC. This, however, is not one of those things. Clarkson punched a staff member. He admitted to doing it. Physical assault is very clearly a violation of workplace terms there. Hell, if you punched a coworker at your place of employment could you reasonably expect to keep your job? I'm quite sure I could not and I am not nearly as highly regarded (or highly paid) as Clarkson.
This ended up being about the fact that the same rules need to be applied all through the pay scale. Just because he is a celebrity, and a host of the most watched television program in the world does not mean that rules do not apply to him. Hell, if that had happened here in the US, he'd be facing a multi-quintillion-dollar lawsuit already.
Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
Darn. The lads find the one service I don't subscribe to. I guess I'll have to find a stream like I did for the last season on the BBC. TG is special because you get to see them beat up the cars,not just give puff pieces on them. You know the X3 is wack...you know that lots of cars suck even tho they are expensive. There is a boor at every party. JC is that person. I'm sure If I understood the class system of Britain this would be even more interesting, but I live in the colonies.
The whole thing boils down to Political Correctness
No. Not at all. Seriously, read what happened. Yeah, BBC has done plenty of bone-headed things in the name of PC. This, however, is not one of those things. Clarkson punched a staff member. He admitted to doing it.
If we call a spade a spade, Clarkson is basically a dick. The only bad thing about this is that he didn't get a solid smack in the face himself.
My ism, it's full of beliefs.
True, but I find that I can pick up 90% of what I need through Prime. And the fact that I get to watch a rebooted Top Gear that Amazon is paying to produce - a nice bonus.
Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
If we call a spade a spade, Clarkson is basically a dick.
You say dick, May called him a knob, Clarkson would refer to himself as a "bell-end". Thats what he gets paid for - a professional arsehole would be a better metaphor IMHO. And we love him for it.
"and love how Clarkson can get away with it"
For small values of getting away with it.
Only if you want to get anything done.
This may not be about PC, in fact I highly doubt it but to say that this isn't politically motivated is bone headed.
Clarkson has been at odds with the BBC's director of TV, Danny Cohen since he became Director of TV. Cohen has been gunning for Clarkson for years but hasn't been able to do anything as Clarkson and Wilman owned a significant part of Top Gear as TG was originally a joint venture between the BBC and Clarksons/Wilmans production company. Months before the "fraccas", BBC acquired Wilmans and Clarksons stake in Top Gear.
However with the loss in revenue the BBC will feel over this and the inevitable failure of the Chris Harris led Top Gear, I suspect that Cohen will be out of a job within a year.
That's a cop out.
The BBC is not above applying double standards and if this happened at a lower rank, you can bet your arse the person involved would be sent off for "anger management" and that would be the end of it... But as I said, the BBC is not above applying double standards.
Which would be settled for a fraction of a million instead of being the circus that it was in the UK.
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
Do you think the BBC should have disregarded his transgressions as they did with Jimmy Savile?
> Hell, if that had happened here in the US, he'd be facing a multi-quintillion-dollar lawsuit already.
And isn't it interesting that he isn't facing such a suit? The BBC is the victim here - Clarkson acted foolishly, and actually illegally, violently, although looking at the background, it's fair to say he was having difficult times and had had a crap day. But the BBC had to take the action they did, no question, and the consequence was that they had to put workplace ethics above income and ratings. And the producer he hit is the victim too.
But to my total delight, there is no talk of bringing claims and courts into it. Basically honourable people. Let's try not to forget this!
"inevitable failure of the Chris Harris led Top Gear"
Sorry to be picky but I think you mean Chris Evans.
From what I've read, he had been given a diagnosis of "likely cancer" a couple of days before. That kind of shit rocks the very foundations of your world, and has a huge emotional impact; there's no way he would have been emotionally stable at that time. I know I wouldn't be.
Punching someone in the face because you spent too long at the pub to get a hot steak has nothing to do with political correctness. Clarkson even said weeks later that he regrets his actions. Probably noticed a missing paycheck.
If information wants to be free, why does my internet connection cost so much?
if Clarkson had been caught with his cock in a six year old girl, he'd still have his job and we wouldn't have heard fuck all about it.
Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
This may not be about PC, in fact I highly doubt it but to say that this isn't politically motivated is bone headed.
He punched a producer over some steaks being cold, and it was widely circulated. Your conspiracy theory is beyond bone-headed.
I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
turning a Reliant Robin into a fucking space shuttle. And actually launching it.
Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
No link to the special offer? Click the box and type scentcone for 10% off? ;)
I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
1. Start production company Bedder 6
2. Get bbc to fund and broadcast a show to develop three tv personalities
3. Sell production company to the bbc. (Clarkson received £8.4million for his 30 per cent stake in Bedder 6). The main asset of the production company are the tv personalities who remain under contract at the discretion of the bbc.
4. Profit
5. Engineer a fracas to cause the bbc to not renew the contracts thus killing the top gear franchise.
6. Parachute the production team into a new show with the same assets you've already sold once.
7. Profit again.
Smooth operator. I wonder how much you get for getting punched in the face but refuse to take legal action.
It wasn't just the punch either, he had been on warning for a long time after several racist comments, some of them broadcast. He's one of those people who likes to think he ins't a racist, but really is and can't always keep it from coming out.
It will be interesting to see what happens now, because Amazon is likely to give the team more leeway. The thing is, he won't be able to avoid more incidents like those, and there will be complaints... But is Amazon regulated under TV broadcasting rules? Will they just take the negative publicity and figure that it's all good in the end? Or will it just get so bad that even they have to drop him?
const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
People enjoy the fact he acts an arse, him actually being an arse is a bit different. People often love "characters" on television they would despise in real life, sadly Clarkson let his idiot persona take over his real one.
If you think someone isn't free to have a different definition of "freedom" you may be a tyrant.
The difference is that the BBC, as a publicly funded enterprise, should uphold the highest of values and everyone has some kind of say in how it is run.
You can be a total dick on Amazon Prime if you like. People who don't like you simply will not pay for you and won't watch you. There will be very little outcry and no-one will be demanding your job, your boss' job, and the downfall of your company.
Bottom line; people care about the BBC (for better or worse), no one cares about Amazon Prime.
Clarkson has been at odds with the BBC's director of TV, Danny Cohen since he became Director of TV.
There is somebody that Clarkson has met that he didn't end up being at odds with?
That's a cop out. The BBC is not above applying double standards and if this happened at a lower rank, you can bet your arse the person involved would be sent off for "anger management" and that would be the end of it... But as I said, the BBC is not above applying double standards.
I don't think that this hullabaloo about the firing of Jeremy Clarkson (aka. the unjustified politically motivated attack PC attack on Clarkson) is entirely about him punching that producer. It is also about other incidents of him punching people and just generally being a pain-in-the-ass arrogant diva who has gone out of his way to make enemies. He had it made, all he had to do was think before he talked and not punch people over food deliveries or because they published photos of him snogging a woman who isn't his wife but Clarkson being Clarkson had to screw it up by being a dick. It's nobody's fault but his own.
If it wasn't that BBC insisted that all its employees must accept their Political Correctness doctrine, Mr. Jeremy Clarkson would still be hosting the Top Gear program at BBC
I suggest you go to work tomorrow and when something doesn't run 100% smoothly shout at another employee and then punch them in the face. See how long you get to keep your job, and see if using the word "political correctness" helps you at all.
Seems nearly everyone of them feels they can peddle anywhere despite local laws. My city has sacrificed car lanes to make bike lines and bikers still ride the wrong way on one way streets, let alone to mention sidewalks. What is needed is a biker's license equal to a driver's license and equivalent penalties for violating the rules of the road. Breeze by a stop sign? Be subject to strip search just as everyone else is.
Time is what keeps everything from happening all at once.
No, actually. I'm just describing something I pay for, and which I like. I know that's not fashionable, but it actually is possible to like a company and it's products/services. On balance, I think Amazon is a remarkable operation. Not shy about it. The more people who check them out and also use their services, the better it gets for me. I generally - though not always - like what Bezos is doing outside the context of Amazon directly.
Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
If there is one thing that the media and the internet has taught me. EVERYONE is a racist. EVERYONE. You are a racist, you just don't know it yet. It's coming though, something you say offends someone of a different race, trust me. I'm a white male, my existence alone is racist.
People enjoy the fact he acts an arse, him actually being an arse is a bit different. People often love "characters" on television they would despise in real life, sadly Clarkson let his idiot persona take over his real one.
Yes, exactly. People love Woody Allen movies about sexual deviants. If he had made a movie about hooking up with his adopted daughter, people would have loved it. When he did it in real life, people were shocked, although they now have come to accept it.
If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
And has been for a few years.
I'm tired of whining.
I'm tired of whining everywhere.
Stop.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
When he did it in real life, people were shocked, although they now have come to accept it.
Nobody really shocked in real life has come to accept it. Anyone who was actually shocked by it then still feels queasy about it now.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
(Technically pure
cable channels aren't either, but they tend to pretend they are, which is why BBC America censors BBC shows. For example, when Clarkson called TTs "titties" that got bleeped.)
Ah yes, the BBC, where you can show titties but you can't say titties. And then talk about how superior you are because your media is more sane.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Clarkson had to screw it up by being a dick
Hahahaha you still think this was a screw-up? It cost Clarkson basically nothing and got him a bunch of free publicity, and he's getting precisely what he wanted. You ignorant tool. You think that because Clarkson's character is a buffoon that he's an idiot? You really think you're something special, don't you?
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Clarkson even said weeks later that he regrets his actions.
It's good to know that you believe everything you read. It just so happens that I've got a relative in Nigeria who would like to communicate with you via email.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Are they going to ship it to me for free within two days? No, it is Amazon Prime's streaming service. I can't figure why those are bundled together. I'm sure it's great for people who subscribe. But I am not going to subscribe just for Top Gear, and I don't buy enough online to justify the monthly fees. I don't like streaming content. I'd rather have a DVD.
If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
However with the loss in revenue the BBC will feel over this and the inevitable failure of the Chris Harris led Top Gear,
The internets have been calling for a Chris Harris-led Top Gear since the show was cancelled... it's got a fair shot if it doesn't try to be the old show.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
"What could possibly go wrong?"
Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
Of course you can, I bet it only got censored in the US.
...Frankly, part of the charm of the show was the sort of kludgy, clumsily-produced, backyard-BBC feel to it.
As much as I look forward to the show, it's not likely to succeed.
1) there's no flipping way any American audience will stand around. Holy shit, I've always been amazed at how desperate one would have to be to be on TV to stand in a crowd of people, mostly in the dark, for the hours and hours it would take them to shoot that show.*
* unless you're a hottie, in which case you'd clearly have been escorted to the front of the pack to stand innocuously in the background behind Clarkson & crew as they monologue. Usually, I can't be the only one to notice that?
2) I cannot *conceive* of them being able to do most of the stuff they did on location. The legal climate in the US simply won't allow half the crap they do as too dangerous to the stars, or the other half as too dangerous corporate exposure to outside lawsuits. Notice it's called Top Gear, not Safety Gear. Hell, I doubt US lawyers would allow them to put a star in a reasonably-priced car without wrapping them in bubble wrap, much less make the astonishingly-politically-incorrect comments for which Clarkson is famous.
-Styopa
if i hire steve-o from jackass for a cooking show i know its gonna have ball sac's in it
if i hire clarkson for a tv show hes gonna be a brash asshole and talk out his arse
these are facts BBC knew the man and how he acted before they issued him 10 contacts
As a Netflix user - I was hoping that rumor to be true.
I've been purchasing TopGear through iTunes for years because my local cable didn't carry TopGear UK (or it was in a package I didn't want to fork over an extra ++ $50 / month). I did the math. TopGear was $44 / year. Cable wanted an extra $52 Per Month.
Now I have a reason to buy Prime - faster shipping by itself wasn't worth it previously.
Amazon made a good move. They know this show will drive demand - and if the show lives up to expectations - Amazon stands to make money, and expand Prime. Which makes more money.
Now the USA needs a Federal Tax code :-P
This is what I don't get. Clarkson has this British bloke persona, the kind of guy you can have a pint with and not have to worry about the conversation delving into fashion design or spa treatments. Basically, the opposite of the effeminate metrosexual.
Yet, he basically punched someone out over catering.
The last words out of the mouth of the guy he hit had better have been "vegan only."
My karma is in a nose dive
Clarkson had to screw it up by being a dick
Hahahaha you still think this was a screw-up? It cost Clarkson basically nothing and got him a bunch of free publicity, and he's getting precisely what he wanted. You ignorant tool. You think that because Clarkson's character is a buffoon that he's an idiot? You really think you're something special, don't you?
Hahahahahaha If anybody here is an ignorant tool it's you. Are you really trying to convince us that Clarkson pretended to blow his gasket and punched Oisin Tymon in the face to get out of his BBC lucrative contract and strike it big on Amazon Prime of all places? I am simply awestruck by the genius of that plan.
I preface this by saying none of the following excuses the conduct, but I do think many of the accounts leave out some of the context behind the punch. Clarkson was going through a divorce and had just been told he had cancer. The day of filming had not gone well, he was tired, and drunk. He profusely apologized in the morning and went to the BBC himself to confess. He did something wrong, he made a mistake, but the reports make it sound like it happened because he was a terrible human being rather than a decent one with some flaws.
I think the end result of the fracas will actually be a win all around. The trio will be forced to get out of the rut they had been in. BBC gets out of a show they were never really comfortable hosting. Those that never liked TG no longer have it shown over the airwaves. U.S. fans no longer have to pony up for BBC America or resort to torrenting the show. Amazon gets a nice crown jewel for Prime streaming.
I think Clarkson crossed the line when he challenged BBC in a public forum. BBC felt that it couldn't back down, which meant its only recourse was to fire Clarkson. It's unfortunate because I'm a Top Gear fan, and I rather like Clarkson's sometimes rude demeanor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
*whoosh*
deleting the extra space after periods so i can stay relevant, yeah.
his BBC lucrative contract
You really think nobody would pay him more than the BBC? Seriously?
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
If you don't like him, don't watch him.
Personally, I think BBC shot their golden goose, but hey, they have tax money to fall back on so who cares! (BTW, I might not be right, but I really don't care.)
... "When you pry the source from my cold dead hands."
Clarkson was at fault. BBC is at fault. Society is at fault. We like to watch Clarkson BECAUSE he is not above being non-PC if he thinks he has a reason.
You can assign blame however you like, but the punch was thrown by Clarkson. Nobody physically forced his hand. If he really is the same person on and off screen, he may want to consider seeking psychiatric help.
If you don't like him, don't watch him.
Personally I think he's hilarious. I've been watching Top Gear for about a decade or more now. That is not an endorsement for him to be as arrogant off screen as on, though; I view Top Gear as a source of entertainment. People who watched Breaking Bad didn't expect Bryan Cranston to be a meth cooker in real life; why would I expect Clarkson to be the same person in real life that he portrays on TV?
Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
So i should assume Clarkson himself made up the whole thing? Cus he is the one that said it. And there are literally ZERO cases where punching a work colleague is ok. What the fuck are you drinking buddy. Cus its not just poo.
If information wants to be free, why does my internet connection cost so much?
The only good thing the guy did was punch Piers Morgan.
Of late? That infestation has been there as long as I can remember, which is as long as I've had a TV && bothered to see Top Gear. And it's probably 5 years since I started to refuse to watch anything with Clarkson in it after his "trade unionists should be shot" claim. Friends of mine have been shot by firing squads for being trade unionists, and I'd be more than happy to return the favour to Clarkson (with him trusting that the first time I pick up a gun I'll be able to successfully shoot to hurt but not kill).
I can't conceive of the circumstances that would cause me to remain in the room while this were on, let alone actually pay for it. If I were to consider taking on Amazon Prime (which I've been fairly neutral on thus far), then this is a strong argument against it.
Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"