Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
Ok, so now they?re bringing out an Australian version of Top Gear. Eeek!
I’m always sceptical about these sorts of things. Don’t get me wrong, I hope it succeeds, but there have been so many instances of popular television shows ruined by second-rate copies, that I fear my cynicism may be justified.
Think about it, when was the last time you were at a party and someone said “geez did you see that new Seinfeld copy, it’s so much better than the original!”, or “the American version of the Office kills the English one!”. You simply don’t hear it, and if you do, you realise as the party rolls on, that the person who uttered the ludicrous claims is clearly insane.
The TV shows mentioned have become immensely successful because of the people who star in them. The original, English version of Top Gear is exactly the same. With an irreverent, humorous look at motoring world, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have become such a polished unit, that they now command an audience of over 350 million worldwide. A staggering figure considering the vehicle for their talents is (ahem) the vehicle.
It’s hard to fathom anything coming close to matching its popularity. And I think this is where most television producers go wrong. I don’t think we should ever try to make an exact copy of a successful TV show.
But there is nothing wrong with adapting a successful framework and adding local features and personalities. Hopefully this is what happens with Australia’s Top Gear. Considering there is a distinct lack of watchable car programs here these days, I’m sure it shouldn’t be too difficult to make this one work.
