NBC has another trick up their sleeve for the upcoming season. Making an American version of a popular British show is an old tactic. But a popular British car show? YahooNews reports:

The popular BBC car show “Top Gear” is revving up a U.S. edition. NBC has ordered a pilot for “Gear,” which will be announced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit (January 19-27). Casting is under way for hosts.

I absolutely love Top Gear. I’m only a little interested in cars, to be honest. But something about the format and the hosts makes it a fascinating show. Who couldn’t get into watching stunt drivers play football (soccer) with compact cars? Or blowing up buildings with a truck on top, just to see how the truck fairs in the explosion?

But the sad truth is that American versions of shows almost always fail. I absolutely love Iron Chef, but Iron Chef America just doesn’t have the same charm. Alton Brown is really it’s saving grace, but I can’t get behind the competitors. The Office is hugely popular, but I can’t count the number of times I was told it doesn’t compare to it’s British counterpart. Trading Spaces and Changing Rooms?

Honestly, the charm of the presenters is half the draw to Top Gear. Are they going to be able to replicate that kind of talent in America? Or are they going to pick three pretty boys who look sexy but don’t really know an alternator from a carburetor?

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 15th, 2008 at 9:18 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.