Top Gear...Anyone?!?!

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Locke

That actually doesnt seem like all that much considering the ridiculous popularity of the show.

it makes them something like 150m a year world wide, they got a great deal

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Locke

Maybe, but I look at it from a residuals perspective, moving on hes only getting his presenter's fee.

Look at Seinfeld. He is one of the top paid actors in the world per annum and he doesnt do jack because he lives off residuals and royalties whereas Clarkson sold all of that to the BBC especially when you consider the value of the franchise.

Clarkson's family already has millions after his mother created and sold the first Paddington Bear toy.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Clarkson's family already has millions after his mother created and sold the first Paddington Bear toy.

I honestly did not know that.

[polak]

Jeremy's daugher posted a funny tweet the other day:

"Oh God, BBC please take him back... He's started cooking..."

[dammage79]

Seems like foreign cable providers can sue the BBC over cancelled shows. This should cost them far more than simply keeping their golden cow happy.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/201...nsion-top-gear

[Locke]

So when do we find out the fate of Clarkson and Top Gear?

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by Locke

So when do we find out the fate of Clarkson and Top Gear?

After the reasonably priced lawsuit?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest

After the reasonably priced lawsuit?

I dont really get it, it seems like the BBC are the ones who are dragging this out. He lost his cool, hes admitted that, it seems that hes apologized to the producer who accepted his apology and just wants to get back to work, and hes apologized to the BBC for the ordeal.

But the BBC wants to lose millions of pounds by cancelling the rest of the season and pay out damages to other networks who have already paid for the entire season in order to carry out this investigation.

The people who have the most to lose are the ones dragging it out?

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by Locke

I dont really get it, it seems like the BBC are the ones who are dragging this out. He lost his cool, hes admitted that, it seems that hes apologized to the producer who accepted his apology and just wants to get back to work, and hes apologized to the BBC for the ordeal.

But the BBC wants to lose millions of pounds by cancelling the rest of the season and pay out damages to other networks who have already paid for the entire season in order to carry out this investigation.

The people who have the most to lose are the ones dragging it out?

I think it's more about teaching a lesson to Clarkson and anyone who wants to act like him. It's setting a precedent. He got a final warning from the BBC and if the BBC doesn't do anything now they won't be able to deal with it later.

For example - Most remember 2&7 sports here in Calgary. Mike L was finally fired for being a ass-hole. However, he was able to sue because he was given a plethora of written warnings with no actual discipline. So when they finally fired his ######y self he was able to sue for a ridiculous amount.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest

I think it's more about teaching a lesson to Clarkson and anyone who wants to act like him. It's setting a precedent. He got a final warning from the BBC and if the BBC doesn't do anything now they won't be able to deal with it later.

For example - Most remember 2&7 sports here in Calgary. Mike L was finally fired for being a ass-hole. However, he was able to sue because he was given a plethora of written warnings with no actual discipline. So when they finally fired his ######y self he was able to sue for a ridiculous amount.

Okay, and thats fair enough. They've painted themselves into a corner and now have to apply the proper procedure in order to maintain precedents. That makes sense, but at the same time that procedure is going to cost them a fortune.

I guess thats where I'm torn, I tend to view things like this with a bit more 'substance over form.' They seems to be following form to a fault even though the incident really doesnt have much substance.

Selfishly speaking I hope this gets resolved because I love Top Gear and it would really suck if it just ended or changed because of this.

[PIMking]

I thought I read this AM somewhere that Top gear is done and Clarkson quit.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by PIMking

I thought I read this AM somewhere that Top gear is done and Clarkson quit.

I'm pretty sure if that were true that would front page news for every media outlet around. We'd have heard something even by accident.

[d_phaneuf]

my guess is they are dragging it out until the story blows over

maybe they dont do the final 2 episodes of this year, possibly release them on one of the dvds they do or something like that, and he's back in Summer/Fall

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

my guess is they are dragging it out until the story blows over

maybe they dont do the final 2 episodes of this year, possibly release them on one of the dvds they do or something like that, and he's back in Summer/Fall

The main issue being that all 3 presenters are up for contract negotiations at the end of the month so a decision has to be made pretty quickly.

[dammage79]

Seems fate will have a hand in Never letting Top Gear do the 918, P1, Laferrari comparison. Crazy that this happens just as all three car makers finally agreed on doing it.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by Locke

The main issue being that all 3 presenters are up for contract negotiations at the end of the month so a decision has to be made pretty quickly.

You have to wonder if this wasn't a negotiations ploy..... make the BBC see how much they stand to lose if they screw this up.

Still, I get that an accountable employer has to keep even it's stars in check. I could see BBC secretly trying to sell the entire Top Gear franchise for a gazillion pounds to a rival network like ITV or something just to get rid of the Clarkson problem and keep the public license fee payer happy.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

You have to wonder if this wasn't a negotiations ploy..... make the BBC see how much they stand to lose if they screw this up.

Still, I get that an accountable employer has to keep even it's stars in check. I could see BBC secretly trying to sell the entire Top Gear franchise for a gazillion pounds to a rival network like ITV or something just to get rid of the Clarkson problem and keep the public license fee payer happy.

Nobody is going to pay a gazillion pounds for the Top Gear name and concept if the 3 presenters are not attached to it.

You can see this in the mediocre "Fifth Gear" which even has ex-Top Gear hosts like Tiff Needle. Tiff has a good rivalry with Jeremy in some of Jeremy's personal side-productions. He would be a good host but he can't replace Clarkson. And why the heck is Fifth Gear a History channel production now???

[polak]

Top Gear US and Top Gear AUS, while not bad compared to what else is on TV, is no where near as good as the UK edition simply cause of the hosts.

The hosts make the show.

[PIMking]

History channel should pony up and get the three and fire the guys they have now

[Locke]

Yeah, I was thinking about this a bit more.

Good on BBC for buying the format and good on Clarkson for selling it, but how much value does that format have without Clarkson? I'd wager not much.

From what I understand, he comes up with the witty banter, he comes up with the crazy races and the odd tests and the specials and hes the star-power that attracts the guest-stars and sways car companies into allowing Top Gear to use their vehicles.

Hes the straw that stirs the drink, even if Top Gear continued with May, Hammond and some Schlump it would just go the way of Top Gear US, it would fizzle and die.

So while he got some money out of the BBC for his format it doesnt really matter, if hes gone the format is essentially worthless and he can come up with something similar but sufficiently different elsewhere.

Either way, if he ever starts another motoring show anywhere else hes going to get sued to hell and back but he'll probably win and it'll likely be worth it either way.