Top Gear Australia - Date Announced

[Eeyore]

I've enjoyed it so far, looking forward to the next season. I agree the jokes and scripted arguments/payouts are cringe worthy, I just wish they'd drop that part. One thing that defies all logic is the wild tangent the 'What Were They Thinking" board has taken... how fucking hard is it to pick up a book or search the web for the most synonymous 'Lemon' cars (whether it be poor looks or poor mechanicals/performance) from around the world (make sure to focus on some local ones too) rather then ranting about Toll Roads and ancient Babylon? WTF... SO FUCKING SHIT!

[GTREA]

One thing that defies all logic is the wild tangent the 'What Were They Thinking" board has taken... how fucking hard is it to pick up a book or search the web for the most synonymous 'Lemon' cars (whether it be poor looks or poor mechanicals/performance) from around the world (make sure to focus on some local ones too) rather then ranting about Toll Roads and ancient Babylon? WTF... SO FUCKING SHIT!

Although I have watched every episode, have enjoyed it, and will watch again I 'Strongly Agree' with this sentiment...No really...they need to fix that shit!

Other than that, they just need to be more off the cuff and less scripted so as they Gel abit better together, lose the hand gestures when they talk and I'll be happy

[RB30-POWER]

tguk seas 1 would have been like 20 years ago and they were pioneering the show.

tgaus is just a rehash/copy of the current proven format, yet it's still debatable if they can get that right.

i personally can see right through them to the scripts that they have been memorising for the last half hour before the show, plus they really carry on because they have too, atleast you know clarkson is a dick to begin with and that's why you get what you get. (he wasn't always but)

topuk is the same, it's more about entertainment then any real substance now days, i suppose it has to be, not that many real car enthusiasts out there that want to know the nitty gritty.

like wtf does putting two cars in top (5th) gear prove and racing up the runway from a stand still, one a porsche and one a barina and the barina gets up to speed quicker or whatever, WTF? who does that, the barina is lighter and has a shorter ratio, how the fuck is that performance in anyway what so ever and clarkson would knock the porsche for it. (can't remember exact cars used but you get the point)

wtf does getting 3 old exotic brand cars from the trading post (unknown condition) and driving them over the country trying to prove what is most reliable, they would all have different service history, treated differently etc.

honestly, wtf to some of their stunts, proves nothing.

[GTREA]

like wtf does putting two cars in top (5th) gear prove and racing up the runway from a stand still, one a porsche and one a barina and the barina gets up to speed quicker or whatever, WTF? who does that, the barina is lighter and has a shorter ratio, how the fuck is that performance in anyway what so ever and clarkson would knock the porsche for it. (can't remember exact cars used but you get the point)

You mean this?



Sure no one would do it, but it does demonstrate 'Lag' to the uneducated

wtf does getting 3 old exotic brand cars from the trading post (unknown condition) and driving them over the country trying to prove what is most reliable, they would all have different service history, treated differently etc.

Again proves very little...well nothing really...but how good was it to see some rare cars like that getting driven around...I loved that story

[Sicarius123]

tguk seas 1 would have been like 20 years ago and they were pioneering the show.

You're talking about OLD top gear, with tiff needle and crew, jeremy clarkson was more the "young upstart", was fucking more boring than 5th gear. It was VERY BBC, kind of like an automotive version of antique roadshow.

Jeremy Clarkson was then brough back in to recreate the show for NEW top gear, which is what we all enjoy watching, Season 1 was a bit dodgy.

[Ansch]

I dare say it's like that american version of kath and kim.. ain't never gonna work..

[ALLMTR]

Fuck, you dont realise how bad this was until you see the original back in the time slot. I think a little wee came out as I watched him try to stop the stig with that fiat. That is some funny shit!

[da9jeff]

+1 the beemer harldy budged! james may driving fast is good to watch. Sooooooooo much better than tgaus.

[ALLMTR]

James May was driving fast?

[Peter...]

James May was driving fast?

Technically thats impossible in an LS400.

[2rismo]

...

News
Release
19 December 2008


Changing of the guard: Charlie Cox departs Top Gear Australia - Jazz legend James Morrison to join in 2009


SBS today announced that Top Gear Australia host, Charlie Cox, has decided to leave the show because of his media commitments and business interests in the UK. He will be replaced by James Morrison - renowned Australian trumpeter and former car show host.

Cox said he arrived at the decision reluctantly but, as a director of ten British and Australian companies and as a broadcaster for the BBC for the past ten years, it became clear he couldn’t give the time to the show it required.

"My time on Top Gear Australia was very special and it was a fantastic opportunity to be part of launching an extraordinary series. Sadly, though, I’ve lived in the UK for the past 19 years and I'm not able to give the time I want to Series Two. It seems best to leave the show and I wish James all the best in joining the two best blokes in Australian television -Warren Brown and Steve Pizzati," Cox said.

James Morrison paid tribute to the work of Charlie Cox and says he’s “thrilled” to be joining the Top Gear team.

"As a huge fan of the show, you couldn't ask for better blokes to be working with than Warren and Steve - this is going to be FUN! I don't want to sound like I'm blowing my own trumpet... but I think series two is going to be bigger and better than ever - I just hope some of the challenges include playing a chorus of the blues!"

Top Gear Australia co-host Warren Brown said:

“I’m as excited as anyone to be knocking around with James on the next series of Top Gear Australia. As everyone knows, he’s a red-hot hand behind the wheel, an unrepentant, unreconstructed and unabashed car enthusiast – but more importantly he’s a bloke with whom it’s huge fun to be around. (Aside from that, he’s far more accomplished with a trumpet than I am with a five-string banjo as Steve Pizzati will testify).

“No doubt about it – we’ll be missing Charlie, a top bloke who’s become a terrific mate, but I’d love to welcome James on board and can’t wait to work with him on Top Gear Australia II.”

Top Gear Australia co-host, Steve Pizzati said:

“It’s a shame that Charlie’s commitments overseas mean that he can’t complete the journey we all started together nearly a year ago. I’m looking forward to James joining Warren and myself, although, on top of everything else, it now means I’ll have to learn how to play a bloody musical instrument too! Perhaps the kazoo...”

SBS’s Director of Content, Television and Online, Matt Campbell said:

"SBS thanks Charlie Cox for helping to launch and bed down Top Gear Australia. I understand the decision Charlie has made and accept his UK commitments wouldn’t allow him to return in 2009. We now look forward to seeing James Morrison on our screens when the series returns in 2009. James brings with him a deep love of cars, a huge personality and a strong sense of fun - a perfect complement to Warren and Steve."


Background:

James Morrison

James Morrison is, by anybody’s standards, a virtuoso in the true sense of the word. Besides the trumpet, this multi-instrumentalist also plays trombone, euphonium, flugel horn, tuba, saxophones, and piano. He also professes to owning 96 cars and met his wife during a celebrity car race.

At the age of seven, he was given his first instrument, at nine he formed his first band and at thirteen he was playing professionally in nightclubs. His international career developed equally as fast. James Morrison debuted in the USA with a breathtaking concert at the Monterey Jazz Festival when he had just turned 16. Following this were performances at the big festivals in Europe playing with many of the legends of jazz.

Now 47, James Morrison’s career thus far has been diverse and perhaps not typical of most jazz musicians. He has played with orchestras around the world and performed for Royalty as well as political heavyweights. In 1997, James was recognised for his service to the arts in Australia and awarded a medal of The Order of Australia.

Apart from touring the world for most of the year James is also head of Morrison Records, an independent label dedicated to the best of jazz. He also spends much time in education, doing master classes and workshops in many countries and running a jazz scholarship.

When not writing film scores, composing or being patron of several youth orchestras, James relaxes in some fairly unconventional ways for a musician - competing in triathlons, abseiling, flying his private plane or driving in a rally championship. His love of cars is well known, as he was host of the national TV program “Behind the Wheel”.

James proved he has what it takes to join the Top Gear Australia team during his spin around the track as a Star in a Bog Standard Car in episode three of series one.

[TonyJZX]

I like James Morrison. He's got fucken personality. It can only get better from this point on.

[TJ]

Booyah!!

Good riddance coxhead

[myliberty]

Next series may be worth a look.

[tipper]

now get rid of which ever cunt it is who say "what werrrreee they thinking?".

he's fucked.

i didnt mind watching it so much, its got potential.