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The original US version of Top Gear, also known and referred to as Top Gear US, Top Gear America, Top Gear USA, or simply Top Gear, was a motoring television series, based on the BBC series of the same name. Premiering in 2010, Top Gear US was hosted by Adam Ferrara, Rutledge Wood, and Tanner Foust, airing on the History Channel. As of the 28th of June, 2016 the show has been cancelled by History after it's fifth season; it has not yet been picked up by another network. In 2017, BBC America acquired the rights to the US adaptation of Top Gear and released their own show with new presenters, entitled Top Gear America.
Presenters[]
The American version of Top Gear is presented by Adam Ferrara, Rutledge Wood and Tanner Foust. Adam is an actor and a stand-up comedian with a keen interest in luxury cars, Rutledge Wood is a NASCAR analyst and commentator, while Tanner is a professional racing and stunt driver. The show also features it's own Stig, mirroring The Stig used by the UK version.
History[]
Ideas for a US version of Top Gear had circulated for many years before it was finally made a reality by the History channel. Originally the show was to be aired on NBC with the hosts being Adam Carolla, Eric Stromer, and Tanner Foust but the idea was scrapped in 2008. However, in 2010, the History Channel announced plans to move forward with a local version of Top Gear. Debuting later that year, the show has now aired four complete series with a grand total of 61 episodes over the span of five years. The show is hosted by three presenters, as is iconic for the show. Currently, the show is fronted by Rutledge Wood, Tanner Foust, and Adam Ferrara, all of whom have been the presenters of the show since the first season. The show took a brief hiatus over 2015 whilst presenter Adam Ferrara recovered from a broken arm, returning in April of 2016. In late June of 2016 it was announced that History was removing the show from its line-up, effectively cancelling the show.
Format[]
The show closely followed the format of the original British version in it's early seasons. The show included a SIARPC-like segment entitled Big Star, Small Car and even a News segment. In the first part of the second season of the show the News segment was ditched and the Big Star, Small Car segment was less frequently featued. Studio wrap-arounds were still included. In it's third season the show's format changed; the Big Star, Small Car segment and News segment were ditched and the films became longer. The studio scenes were also cut from the show. This format has been maintained across the first and second part of the show's third season as well as the first and second part of the fourth season of the show, with no sign of a change in the fifth season as well.
Seasons[]
Season Number | Year of Airing | Number of Episodes |
---|---|---|
1 | 2010 | 9 |
2 | 2011 - 2012 | 16 |
3 | 2012 - 2013 | 16 |
4 | 2013 - 2014 | 20 |
5 | 2016 | 10 |