So, Channel Nine’s just announced it’s starting production of TopGear Australia. A mostly-new cast, too. They have the lovable Shane ‘Kenny’ Jacobson on board, Steve Pizzati’s back for another run and… who’s that grinning third goon in the cheesy promotional photo?
Well, aah, actually… it’s me. Still can’t believe it, but along with Shane and Steve, my moon-shaped head will be leering into your loungeroom soon. Yes, I know: you’ll be making a dartboard out of this photo and inviting your mates round to see who can do the most damage.
If you’re a lonely anorak, you’ll know I’ve worked on just about every car mag in the country, including helping set up TopGear Australia, mag and web. But stepping from the familiarity of print and paper to mugging it up in front of camera is giving me that ‘I forgot to wear clothes to work’ nightmare.
So on the eve of taking off to film our first story, all I can promise you is this: 1. The ideas for this series are, honestly, bloody fantastic; 2. You’re really going to be surprised (and pleasantly); 3. Yes, it really will be TopGear as you want it; 4. Shane is a certifiable car nut: he races, he rallies and he owns cars that will, surely, reduce him to poverty; and 5… but geez, Pizzati can drive.
So, for now, hold your bile, your boiling oil, your poorly-thought-out invective and your mindless abuse until you see episode #1. Trust me: it’s going to be much more than you expect.
Ewen Page
Ewen Who????
Thought Corby was the main man on TopGear Aus Mag?
Anyway, my tip would be to give Pizzati some prozac before you start!
Good luck anyway
might just be alright with kenny on the topgear panel, from a plumbers truck to a lambo, not bad going, i agree with you dave why not put corbs in the mix, at least we have a point of contact on this website that would work in with the show itself, GOOD LUCK GUYS.
I only hope that channel 9 doesn’t do a bodgy job of it and gets it right, i hardly watch it on telly anymore because of channel 9′s incompetance.
Well im just happy that waaaaarnee,didnt get the gig!!
I think you guys should be able to do a decent show-!! I mean well-you all have a fair idea of ,what not to do/say/write!!..
And im sure ch9 will spend more than $100 per episode.
If i may strongly suggest the cool wall!!
Good luck..
This is good news, and I’m not being sarcastic.
I hope it goes well, break a leg boys!
I am a big fan of top gear but the last local SBS show was to hard to watch and I had to leave the room during most episodes at some point. If you can get me to stay in my chair for the whole episode you are onto a winner!
I really want it to work so good luck….
I might be a bit cynical. BUT, is ch9 going to treat the TG fans with more respect this time around. Or, are they just going to treat us like mushrooms (keep us in the dark & feed us b/s)?
It is a good cast, & I hope the show goes well.
But, with the rubbish ch9 has been dishing up ever since they got the rights, I just feel a bit reticent about the whole thing.
This season can only improve over the last ones, Shane is a great bloke, I have met him in the past he really genuine person and i hope that Aussie Top Gear works this time. I watched 2 episodes of the last 2 seasons and that was more than enough.
Just hope Channel 9 show the series in totality, rather than the current shocking situation where they are ‘extending’ the series with the near sighted and slightly retarded idea of promoting the current series of Top Gear and then ‘padding’ it out with old episodes everyone has seen, interspersed with a new episode every 2 – 3 weeks!
Please, save us all the heart ache and just don’t bother…mind you it might do well in Channel 9. Bad show on a bad channel…
Ummmmm who is the 3rd new presenter?????
When is the first episode being filmed? I want to be in the audience!!!!
Good luck!
Please don’t imitate everything the UK Top Gear does. They just do it so much better. Do something different – make it Aussie.
Also, no Stig. Stig is for the UK show. Get somebody local who is a driving legend. Pity Brockie wasn’t still around.
Oh God No
I’m sorry guys But You will never be as good as Clarkson, May and Hammond imitating the UK edition is painful to watch, And As much as I hate to say It The Aussies cant get this concept right. Please Leave us with the UK edition!!!
Great News, Glad Pizzaz got the gig again, as for the other 2 well lets wait and see. As I have said before great shows take time the first three series of TGUK were shit and now well they have become painful. Mind you according to an article in the Telegraph UK James May has said” We are being more serious this season and a lot less “Last of the Summer Wine” silly as we have become. So be prepared for changes and don’t whine too much if it is not your liking
(replying to comment above) Wait, you think the first three series of TG UK were crap? I think they were amazing and much better than any of the crap that channel nine dishes out.
(Just my opinion, don’t hate me forever)
I just wish they could get a better ( as in wider and aerial ) shot/view of TG/A track.
Thought the show did improve when it was at SBS, some even where quite a surprise ( Audi RS6 and Maserati Gran Turismo test and a few others.. )
Caiti, dont hate everyone is entitled to an opinion. I have discovered only one fear about the new series and that is the channel nine men’s hairstyle they all have it, if you don’t believe me watch the news, the footy show(both) and Eddies Hot Seat and you will see what I mean bloody awful!!
Steve fight for the right for your beard
TGA will never be a success. After two pathetic seasons when will they give in. Just make us all happy and stick with the UK version only, your wasting your time and money channel nine.
Only One Owner… Channel Nine hairstyle?
Are you insane? At my age, I’m just glad to have a few follicles left; Steve’s goatee is a no-go zone for ‘stylists’ and Shane, well, he’s always going to be Shane.
We’ve just started filming and the stuff we have in the can already is terrific – and certainly much more impressive than the boom-tish/canned laughter comedy gold some of you seem to be expecting.
Talking with UK TV exec producer Andy Wilman about the Australian version some time ago, we agreed that it should never be a bad ‘tribute band’ of the UK version.
It has to have its own voice and its own style, while staying true to what we all recognise as TopGear.
Andy’s in the loop with what we’re doing and, like me, he’s very upbeat about our stories and style.
And for those who don’t know me, rest assured I’m TG to the core. I don’t wear a suit, I do love cars, I have worked on my own… but I’m not a gibbering tech-head, either. I have done a few roadtests in more than 20 years of working in car mags. And I’ve been with TG Australia, the mag and website, since the day we signed the deal to bring them here.
I don’t want to screw this up any more than you want to watch something that makes your spleen ache.
So let’s make a deal: I’ll try not to screw up, if you promise to keep an open mind.
Cheers,
Ewen
Well I reckon this is exciting news. Can’t wait to see the Aussie show. Just hope it’s a lot more interesting and fun than the other tries at an Auss version of TG. Having “Kenny” on indicates a bit of humour??? Hope so – that’s what got me hooked on TGUK, not so much the cars. As an Aussie V8 Muscle Car lover, I often find the european sports cars boring so I hope our Aussie version will have lots of “real cars”. Plenty of Muscle V8 and lots of dirt/gravel road test drives; given the majority of Australia is only accessable via dirt roads and those pretty little low to the ground sporty things from UK/Europe would simply not survive in our great rugged land. My only question is: “WHEN??????” (I accept being dumb if the date of the first show is here somewhere and I haven’t found it). Hey guys – regarding the knockers . . . I hope you really rip it up with lots of awsome Aussie cars. I’ll definitely be watching
Ewen, Thanks for your re assurance re the hairstyles now where do I get tickets for filming of any of the new series.
Maybe Pizzati could be the stig this series that way he won’t have to speak all through the program .
Not sure about the ticket situation – I’ll have to find out. But be sure to come up and say hello if you get in; it’s always good to meet people who really care.
And Steve as The Stig? I reckon you’re misreading him.
What I think you’re referring to is his enthusiasm – but that’s just Steve being Steve. He’s actually a terrific bloke.
When you get to know him you start to understand how much the guy knows and how passionate he is, going back to his childhood love of cars and racing.
Oh finally, a proper car journalist is part of the crew. I don’t know if anyone noticed that the UK three are actually long time car journalists – so when TG Australia came out with 3 blokes who haven’t (except Charlie?) ever had a published word, it was destined to be bad.
The UK three, their writing is extremely entertaining, and always a great read. It translates on screen.
Good luck Ewan. Keep it creative and interesting.
He speaks to us
Nice one Ewen if you keep the show like these posts and listen to everything we the “never wrong” suggest – then tg oz might have a chance!
Sounds good can’t wait.
Can’t wait to see you infront of the camera Ewen. Knowing your history with cars, I think it’s about time Australia got to know of your knowledge and genuine passion for motoring in all forms. And to those wondering who Ewen is, well let me just drop a few names for you, see if you’ve heard of these…Wheels, Motor, Auto Action, Street Machine(twice), FHM, Zoo. Ewen has been editor on all of these magazines, oh and TGA. Just hoping the new series is an Australian version of the TG UK we all enjoy so much. Good luck with it all guys, really looking forward to the first show. That is, as long as channel Nine doesn’t screw it up.
And he has a fan club..
fhm and Zoo? what cars are they about??
Very disappointing, Wazza Brown was great on TGA and from what I’ve seen of TG on channel 9, very disappointing and poor editing and rehasing old episodes as if they are new.
Topgear Australia is crap. i hate it. no words can describe how terrible it is. Topgear uk is one of my fav shows. i would do anything to get topgear aus rated R (for deadly crapiness). these are just my views. plz dont hate me for expressing them
This is going to be great…. NOT!!!
u guys are going to stuff it up again
I WANT TOPGEAR UUUUUUUUUUKKKKKKKKKKKK!!! !!!
Im still waiting for TOP GEAR and the STIG to drive a FORDRS200 around the test course.
I would find it interesting and educational to see what time the RS200 can belt out compared to all the cars that have ever been tested. I put money on it that it would be in the top 10 if not higher.
Common Top Gear get a hold of the FORD RS200 EVO with 650BHP+ and let the STIG do the rest.
For the sceptics out there, dont worry about channel nine. They will only allow them to make a 15 minute ep so not to go over the precious ads.
I was one of the few none haters of old Top Gear Aus, but hopefully you guys do better still!
Re that Pizzati character, I would rather see Genie Little. Can you run away and see what she is doing and if she is free give her the gig. What a shame, Brock, Possum and gelignite Jack are no longer. Sometimes it is best not to mess with perfection and leave it all alone.
Look, we all know that Steve bounces around like the Duracell bunny on heat GET OVER IT and look beyond and you will find a very intelligent young man who knows his stuff.
For what it is worth, TGA should be an add-on to TGUK, not out there on its own. Sandwich tests in between TGUK material and even do a challenge or two when TGUK doesn’t have a decent challenge. In the process you just about double the length of the show.
Not a fan of Pizzati, I find him irritating like the Used Car Salesman from the early years of TGUK. Find a woman who knows her stuff and can do decent “TV driving,” get the fella who does the weather on Sunrise (the one that races cars), and one more who is decent at interviews… Rove available? and you might just have something.
Aw come on give the guys a chance, and if the show doesn’t live up to the insanely high expectations that everybody seems to have placed before it is televised, after it is shown by all means criticise but not just use abusive language like it’s f….ing crap. Come up with suggestions that will make it better other than “take it off”
@ black dog.
I hope you’re not refering to me as that fan club…I just don’t like to write things off till I see them. I hope Ewen does well, for the benefit of me, as a viewer.
As for FHM & Zoo, well they have F all to do with cars really, just a blokes magazine. But one of the great things about TGUK is blokes being blokes. Racing across countries just for the fun of it. Crashing stuff and driving cars like they stole them. Now who wouldn’t want to do that for a job?????
Well yes i was! it reads like you enjoy Ewen’s scribe,and know his career well!
that’s a fan (bordering on stalker)in my view!!
but that’s cool positive posts on tga are
umm-rare!.
That’s cool. I just read back over my earlier post, you’re right, that does sound a bit stalkerish. But believe me, if the new Aussie series sucks as much as the first series, I’ll be one of the first on here to write something negative. I hope it’s a success and is as enjoyable for the cast as it is for the viewer.
CrashingDog, sounds like you will view it through negative eyes anyway regardless whether it is good. Read my earlier posts.
I wasnt a massive fan of the aussie series either, but give the boys a break. New faces and new ideas, it could work! I love the idea of a TGA vs TGUK shootout, preferibly in respectively native cars ( uk guys in jags aus guys in hsv fpv). Kinda like when the UK guys went up against the germans and Sabine Schmidt. There are a lot of qualifyed V8 supercar drivers who can guest spot to do timed laps, no need for a stig. These guys are poofteeths of a second off each other on the track, it wont make a difference on a telly show. Just please, not too much skaife… cant stand the bloke. It would be nice also to see retrospective reviews, of cars like from the 70′s 80′s and 90′s, especially if they were in some way definative. Even the HDT specials, or even the monster T3 series TE/S50… something uniquely australian. the ED sprint comes to mind as well (being only relatively young).
I’d love to say that the TGA show sucks, but this time I’ll give them a fighting chance. I don’t like the UK show anymore, the show has gone to Jeremy’s head.
It’ll be great to see what Channel 9 can do if they have;
1. a decent budget.
2. impartiality.
3. The ability to develop your own personalities rather than simply copy the English presenters.
4. A decent test track unlike the last one, maybe make it more like the one in the UK?
Love the UK series and didn’t love the first two Aussie versions, let’s see if it is third time lucky?
Give Peas a Chance (comment 43),
A UK V Aus shootout is a great idea.
I remember before the first season started, TG Australia magazine had a feature on the TV show, promising some sort of hook up with the mother show. I wonder why it never happened?
Fingers crossed for season 3, Shane’s a funny guy, and Steve has bucket loads of enthusiasm and passion… thumbs down on the goatee
Ewen, is this your first gig on telly? Let’s hope it goes well for you all. No pressure, but if you cock it up, public floggings will be enforced… nothing personal.
Canberra-are you serious?
tguk v tgau !!! while im sure our boys would give it a bloody good go(I’m an optimist)
Fact is they would be eaten alive in a similar way that an orca eats a seal after it toys with it..
Yes lets hope it goes well,should do-er well they have more money this time-that mmm usually helps!
But you are 100% right Public floggings will be enforced along with having to join the Prius owners club-and wear the t/shirt for a minimum of 12mths.
Black dog, The new series of TGUK has been canned by the critics as boring and the biggest bore is one J Clarkson who apparently shouts lots and says nothing Now unless you have seen? via illegal means and know differently then let’s wait
I heard that the new show is more like 5th gear!
ie proper car tests on boring cars etc!!
my mate in the UK keeps me up to speed,apparently tg has been in the bad books for setting a bad example!
took them 12 years to notice!!
my point is that jc and his testicles have been at it for a long time that’s all-our guys havnt.
Black dog you are right on the TGUK boys being around for a longtime, however isn’t time for their baby brother TGA to show they belong to the family. They might not be the same as their big brother but they belong to the family just the same.
A thought re sibling rivalry, maybe Jc and the boys don’t really want TGA to be too successful and it is possibly why the first 2 series were below par. It is being repeated on sbs2 at the moment and they may have done some minor chopping/editing but it is nowhere as bad as everybody thinks. There are worse shows on believe it or not
Unfortunately, TGA will never be asa good as TGUK, as I believe copying a tv show will always be crap, its like watching police academy 6 or big brother celebrity season 5.
I watched TGA on SBS and they were on hamilton island with an audi to be converted into a yacht; and then driving a tractor down toorak, where have we seen that before. Even had bullshit acting with reversing into a parked car and imitating hammond and clarkson screwing around. Cant they come up with an original challenge, or are we going to be watching the aussie version of all the TGUK challenges. TGA will only succeed if it is original and have very different challenges.
And as a must try and steer clear of the Holden versus Ford crap. I want to see a variety of cars, unique challenges and try not to copy clarkson and the boys, because they are a one of a kind and brilliant at what they do. TGA will need to find their own brilliance. I honestly hope Australia can have a brilliant version of TGUK, but it will take a brilliant mind to succeed. From what Ive seen so far, its embarassing. I feel embarassed for the TGA presenters as they come across as real yobs which is not a reflection of the true australian
TGA are hamstrung by the format, dammed if you do follow it and dammed if you don’t. Take Masterchef as a example the Oz version is no where like the Uk version, same concept different way. Flexibility on behalf of the concept owners. Cant really see that happening with the way JC is, as he is the one of the owners of the concept and he makes money from it. Just how much did he get when they moved to nine.
C’mon guys you are forgetting the fact that BBC & TGUK took over 12 years to get the formula right, the formula that has made it the most watched show on planet Earth, and the only reason they changed it back in 2000 is because they realised Jeremy’s cynicism was winning a cult following and probably most of their ratings, only thing I miss about the old TGUK is Jeremy’s interactions with Tiff and their love hate relationships with each others taste in cars, that was priceless and the reason they shoulda kept him,and the fact he is an awesome drifter,
at least channel 9 have tried to freshen TGA for a rerelease, I reckon they will have better writers to imagine less contrived, more sponataneous looking stunts but the presenters have gotta not be so nice to the cars, if it’s rubbish then rubbish it, we need to see the ruthlessness in the reviewing that made the UK show a hit, but good luck to them
The Aussie series was so atrocious the only reason I ever watched it was to see if I could stand it – kinda like putting your hand in a boiling vat of excrement to see how long you could do it. In fact the only difference between the vat of hot poo and the Aussie show was the former was more entertaining.
As for CH9? more time changes than sundial in a hurricane, and more ads than actual programming time, really begin to grate. Proof positive that CH9 overpaid for the viewing rights and are now trying to extort more ad buyers than there are available viewers.
i dont what to watch another top gear with other people hosting it!
come on ,say your not British ‘still’ and let the Aussies have a go. Here in Aussie-land we too have a need for speed (why else so many speed fines in the land of Aussie); We need to have some of our own creative needs shown to the rest of the world.
This land of vast roads and great distances (is this not enough for the show alone!); Where we can cover much distance in one hour shows (all over the globe to be viewed,-our back yard- the outback).
The long roads between city to city, great coverage!
If you cann’t see this picture then your obviusily starring at a blank wall, ch; 9.
Off your seat and on your horse lets help these Blokes get Aussie on the global map? (HELP THEIR SHOW)
P>S> This is not a cold war, just a fact cars are every-where mate!(give them great support!)
Had the pleasure of doing a day’s filming with the Oz presenters in the UK recently and can’t see where all the bile is coming from. Some great stuff was shot and the Oz presenters were a well-informed and intelligent bunch of blokes, who were great to work with. If you’re reading this Ewan, I was on your car’s medic team on one of the more eccentric challenges, you helped make the day go well. All the best for the new series.
top gear Australia, what a joke sorry but its crap, I never watched before and never will now,
this copy is not top gear, when will you learn its not the cars, that make the show, its the men that make it.
there is only ONE top gear and that is the U.K.
come on Clarkson,May,Hammond.
I am a Aussie but some times you have to just leave things along.
PS. Ben Collin should be BLACK listed and not make a cent.
Okay Im from America and just went hands down for the show. dont mess this up for me. They just relieved stig the warriors lost the nrl and Im in the Gold Coast..
At least race around ayers rock with some 911s please. Im stressed out!
This is going to be rubbish, again. The only reason the original show works is because of the interplay between the 3 characters. Stop trying to spin off the show channel 9; if you really want to waste money I can think of more entertaining ways to do it.
havent you failed enough top gear is an old favourite even befor it was aired on sbs but atleast have the respect to leave it alone im affraid that top gear’s success will evntually lead to its death shame on you channel nine
secondly theirs more to australia that holden ford and being a sterio typical loser
When does Top Gear Australia come on channel nine???
Need to know ergently!!!
Please answer this question for me so I can see the new walkinshaw.
So, it’s all finally been announced and now we know who’s who…. I was skeptical about Shane to start with, but Ewen has given us a bit of an insight about him, so I’ll give him a chance. I always kinda liked Steve’s enthusiasm, at least you can tell the guy is passionate about cars. And surely that’s a “must-have” ingredient for the show? Ewen I’m aware of through reading on and off all of the car mags he’s had anything to do with, so I’m aware he knows his stuff. Just so INCREDIBLY glad that the boofhead known as “Waaaaaaarrrrnnneeeeyyyyy ” didn’t get the gig… that would have been a deal breaker for me.
My only hope is (likely in vain) that Ch 9 will not edit the crap out of it and let it be the hour format it deserves to be (currently we get 1 minute of advertising for every 2 minutes of show to produce around an hour and a half of air time) and not have it completely disjointed like has been done to the series they’ve been showing. I’ll not hold my breath though… but thank God for DVR is all I can say. Oh, and is it to much trouble to ask Ch 9 that a show starts and finishes on time? can’t they afford a decent bloody clock anywhere in the country?
@ ShelbyGT500 top-gear-australia-return s-after-commonwealth-game s.
yoo shood watch englands top gear its epic
PLease Take top gear australia Of tv It IS SHIT in fact i believe its a “woftam”
I watched the first Australian show tonight and sad to say,there wasn’t anything that really captivated.
The presenters deliver a poor quality imitation in comparison to the UK presenters who have that typical English humor. The Australian content is pretty lame and needs a good overhaul before it even comes near the TopGear quality of the UK
I take pleasure in, cause I found exactly what I used to be looking for. You have ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye