US Top Gear may be on the way, sounds like it will suck

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http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.co...-history-.html

Official: 'Top Gear' coming to History this fall
It's official: “Top Gear” is crossing the pond.

History is teaming with BBC Worldwide Prods. to launch a U.S. version of the series this fall. The network has made a 10-episode commitment to “Gear,” which showcases all-things automotive — customization, stunts, reviews and auto-centric celebrity interviews.

History’s “Gear” will be hosted by comedian and “Rescue Me” co-star Adam Ferrara, stunt driver Tanner Foust and racing analyst Rutledge Wood. Scott Messick will executive produce.

“The history of the automobile and the history of America are intimately intertwined — to celebrate one is to celebrate the other,” History president and GM Nancy Dubuc said. “We’ll stay true to the original format and add a sense of the American car culture.”

“Top Gear” fits the History brand even better than one might expect. The network’s very first program to air on what was then called the History Channel was called “Automobiles: Corvette.” Car-related content has performed well on the channel, and History had several auto-related pilots in the works when it landed “Gear.”

“We have a ready-made audience for this programming,” Dubuc said. “We can stay true to form on this show and explore the history of cars and driving.”

“Top Gear” premiered in the U.K. in 1977, then relaunched in 2002 as a studio-based format. “Gear” is BBC Two’s most-watched program, and the brand has spun-off a magazine and road tour. NBC came close to doing a Stateside version in 2008.

BBC Worldwide exec vp programming and production Jane Tranter said the U.S. version has the potential to be an even bigger hit than the original.

“It will have a completely different landscape,” she said. “There’s a different relationship with cars in the U.S. and a fascination with customization that’s much greater than in the U.K. There’s the potential for the U.S. ‘Top Gear’ to have even greater traction with an audience.”

The potential business upside for the show is significant as the auto industry is the largest advertiser in the world. Yet Tranter assures that fans need not to worry about heavy-handed product placement and that the show will remain editorially independent.

Producers put considerable effort into casting the U.S. version, trying to find the right mix of hosts who would each bring a unique perspective yet mesh well together.

“We tackled it like a drama series,” Tranter said. “We need to get that balance of chemistry right from the get-go.