Top Gear (2002-2015) Phase II (2016-)

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Erica Ambler wrote:

Salomé wrote:

Erica Ambler wrote:

Clarkson is 54 and suffers badly from arthritis. The last time he threw a punch he broke a finger because he'd no idea how to hit. The real question in my mind is why didn't the young and fit producer stand up for himself?

Because it's generally a bad idea to punch your boss if you want to keep your job? Your mileage may vary, of course.

Clarkson wasn't his boss. Both were BBC employees.

Maybe you should argue about something you know.

And I see we have descended all the way down to the realm of ad hominem. Okay.
I wish I could say that this has been fun, but it's hasn't
In any case, I never meant to devote this much time to Jeremy Clarkson.
It's back to the simple pleasure of happily ignoring his existence for me.
Toodles.

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Erica Ambler wrote:

Salomé wrote:

"My" socialist utopia?

Not sure how we got all the way down there from a discussion that is really about whether or not a creative should be allowed to punch a producer, if said creative brings in a lot of money for his company.

Probably when you brought the banking crisis into it a few posts ago.

And noone is saying a creative should be allowed to punch a producer. I'm questioning whether it's necessary to destroy a multimillion pound business over a trifling incident.

Socialists say yes.

Your continued insistence to refer to me as a socialist does not make it a fact.

But I'm done with this discussion if you are going to stoop to your usual tactic of personal attacks.

I don't even care about any of this nonsense to begin with.

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In general I doubt we long more for protection than the average male. And certainty, that's already implied with character and authority. Both very much do exist. Also this has got nothing to do with effeminacy, it's a question of civilisation. The difference is obvious. Or should be, really.

Believe me, I'm already cutting Clarkson more than his fair share of slack. I already admitted I dislike him and also that I have no right to judge him as a person since I only know of his public persona - like everybody else here, I trust? Your argument seems to be he'd deserve a different set of rules because of his assumed status as wealth creator. For one thing I'd say a TV show is primarily a team effort and no matter how outstanding his position in Top Gear was, he always needed the team to produce the show and create this wealth you speak of. As primus-inter-pares in the Top Gear team nobody should have been more aware of it than Clarkson. And on a sober day he probably would have been aware of it, after all he was the soul of the team and the show. Keeping calm and making a show of good spirits, that's what his response should have been. Just as you say, he had already experience with violence, that's why I'm sure he was warned in no uncertain terms the last time. His mistake was he didn't see that the next time was already waiting around the corner that day. That's what is troubling about it.

But I also don't subscribe to the notion his status would allow him to be judged by different standards than everybody else. And not resorting to physical violence is such a standard, plain and simple. You may perhaps feel as a man you are able to deal with physical assaults on your own. But what about those who can't, are we supposed to just let them take it then? That can't be the answer. In a modern society the answer is simply not to accept violence. Until recently most of us agreed to this. What ever happened that made us question this basic agreement?

SarahN wrote:

I'm only sorry for the fans, they are the ones who've been let down really. My guy's two boys are great fans and they planned on seeing one of the shows, won't happen now.

This is the real point, on the one hand the BBC is there to provide viewer satisfaction, on the other it is an employer like any other that has to manage a highly paid and often rather eclectic workforce....here the two collide and implode - the result is all but inevitable yet conversely to no ones real satisfaction. In Star Trek parlance the needs of the one here outweigh the needs of the many, though it can also be fairly argued that once it went public there was no precedent that could have resolved it any other way....The real thing that might have made a difference is a sense of proportion.. a chance the media and our overtly literal society rapidly made impossible to consider.

Proportion, that's a sensible thing, no doubt about it. Today of course everything tends to be all or nothing, black or white, especially in the media. We are all affected by this, the pressure on the players is enormous. Perhaps a step back is also a chance to take a breather for Clarkson. By all means it should not have come to this. Still, within the week there is going to be another scandal. I'm sure Clarkson will move on, we all will.

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I have zero interest in that show.
Not sure if self-righteousness is a requirement for that to be true.

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I think Ambler, May and Hammond will leave (referring to the post but one above). Methinks they're better as the trio as opposed to the boys staying on with AN Other.

Though it's somehow surreal to see 60 Minutes talking about Top Gear. Guess a part of my mind still thinks of old Top Gear (in the 90s). Back when it was a small, stuttering show. (or hear I, Claudius in the same piece).

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Don't think the Beeb can save much face to be fair. Their website does suggest Jodie Kidd as an option and that wouldn't be bad.

I think it'll be a little tasty when Clarkson hosts HIGNFY in May. Maybe.

May and Hamster out of contract from midnight, being free agents and all.

Some say the Beeb should air the remaining Top Gear's but from what I understand there can't be much to air. Studio stuff is done in the week prior to airing and what has been done in the previous year won't amount to much. Maybe it'll be consigned to a bonanza video to be shown at a staff party like TV bloopers in the 70s of stuff like Star Trek/Galactica/Starsky & Hutch.

Story in the Mirror claiming the live arena shows WILL take place with all 3 of them, but re-named 'Clarkson, Hammond and May Live'.

I hope that's the case, but am wary of trusting a tabloid source.

Blunt Instrument wrote:

Story in the Mirror claiming the live arena shows WILL take place with all 3 of them, but re-named 'Clarkson, Hammond and May Live'.

I hope that's the case, but am wary of trusting a tabloid source.

read it in the Telegraph as well though papers sometimes clone stories. Sounds like a 70s sitcom title. May sounds tired of it all and Hammond disappointed.

Apparently the writers of WC1A have asked for a postponent or some such to re-write opening episode to include the Clarkson sacking. As Monty Python once said: "Sa-ti-ree."

Apparently Clarkson has pulled out of HIGNFY, at least the imminent one, which is not in line with his usual bullish persona but hopefully not a sign of a complete withdrawal.

On one hand maybe for the best, on the other it would've been a good episode on par with the Deyton one. Maybe. But can't help but feel Clarkson will give up on the Beeb altogether at some point.

I can confirm the 'rebranded live shows' story is true. Good ... obviously better to have them going ahead, even without the 'official' air to them.

The unofficial sound lends an air of lads rebellion. I know it's far from the case but it's Judea People's Front and People's Front Judea stuff. Would love tickets to the 02 showing in November I think it is but willing to bet it's sold out already.

That and Fratton Park, who knew?

Should say kind of funny how some lines sound in episodes in hindsight. Watched the Burma and a couple of other specials over Easter. Clarkson when trying to raise the tent in the Polar one saying he'll never complain about a hotel again or in the Burma episode about how they 'talked' to the producers about the hotel there.

The plot thickens ... Clarkson is now saying a health scare led to him lashing out.

If true about the scare, explains some of it but not all of course.

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And still Hammond is quite silent though I imagine he'll go the way the wind's blowing. Good on May yes. Clarkson's a knob but somehow likeable, well to May anyway.

Also, the Beeb or someone has said the remaining Top Gear's will air. Don't know more than that.