24 Sep 06
Why Top Gear Must Continue Television
I have very little interest in cars, but I enjoy watching Top Gear more than any other television show. Now that could be a statement about how ''comedy''? programs simply aren't funny at the moment, (yes Little Britain and Catherine Tate I am talking about you), but in reality it just goes to show how good the program is.
However, after presenter Richard Hammond crashed in a jet-powered car whilst filming on Wednesday the various complainers about the program have taken up calls to axe the show again.
The show is loved all over the world, in fact its one of the BBC's most successful exports, I had a conversation with someone in Atlanta on Wednesday because he didn't know about what had happened. The fact that more than £65,000 has already been raised for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, goes some way to show how much people enjoy the series.
The quality of the program is excellent, having an interest with the production of technology, I can only marvel at the quality of editing that goes into making the series. As for the look of the program, you can't fail to be impressed when they dig around in the camera bag and pull out just the right lens filter for some sexy car.
Update:
In yesterday's Sunday Times, Jeremy Clarkson wrote about the accident and also said this:
The average shooting ratio for a modern television programme is about 20 to one. In other words, you shoot 20 minutes of tape for every one minute that makes it to the screen. Top Gear works on a ratio of 250 to one. Top Gear, and I'm not bragging because this part has nothing to do with me, is probably the best-made programme in the world.
Reports today suggest that Richard is OK, talking and walking- however he is far from being able to return to his day job anytime soon, if at all. Jeremy Clarkson has written about the accident, Richard, and the future of the program in the Sun today, which is well worth reading. The article is well worth reading, not the Sun... which is simply a shit newspaper.
You'd think that the joyous news would silence the vultures circling the crash site since the accident, rejoicing in the fact that Top Gear had finally been taught its lesson that speed kills.
Somehow I doubt it though. The campaign to have us taken off the air, sparked curiously, by the BBC's own news website, will now be ramped up, fuelled by the environmentalists and spearheaded by muddle-headed road safety campaigners.
Richard is winning his fight. And now mine begins. To make sure that he has a show to come back to.
Get well soon Hamster- the quality of British television depends on you!