‘Top Gear’ Recap: New Hosts, Same Furniture
The new Chris Evans era of Top Gear, Season 23, is upon us as the premiere of the popular television series swept across the world. The show, which garners an estimated 350 million viewers globally, recently terminated one of its long-standing hosts, and the other two quit. The show is now hosted by Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc. Other popular car journalists and drivers are apparently part of the show as well, but they weren’t heavily (or at all) featured in the first episode.
The new show has the same set, the same furniture, and a guy wearing the Stig’s white fire suit and helmet. There are some changes, however. For example, the “star in a reasonably priced car” has been replaced by a Mini rallycross car and a rallycross track. Oddly, they chose Jesse Eisenberg to be part of the revamp, even though he’ll be the first to tell you he doesn’t care about cars at all.
The biggest change, aside from the loss of the popular hosts, is the style in which the show is shot. I’m not sure who got the director of photography job in the messy split from BBC and the incredible investment by Amazon video, but the difference in how Seasons 22 and 23 were shot is pretty noticeable. Cinematography has always been a strong point for the show, but in the premiere it could be described as just serviceable.
Regardless of the somewhat disappointing premiere, the show still has the backing and the fan base to be an enjoyable car show for enthusiasts.
Top Gear airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on BBC America.
See what people on Twitter thought of the premiere:
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