Motoring @ AsiaOne

Top marks for Top Gear

Clarkson, Hammond & May at their best with laugh-out-loud motoring mayhem
Julian Lim

Fri, Jul 27, 2007
AsiaOne

While motoring enthusiasts may quibble over their favourite cars, who's the best F1 driver, or even which petrol is better, they'll all probably agree that 'Top Gear' is the most entertaining TV show on cars.

The host of BBC's phenomenally successful Top Gear programme is none other than the politically-incorrect Jeremy Clarkson, who's probably most recently remembered for his damning remarks of the Perodua Kelisa while taking a sledgehammer to it. The poor thing was subsequently put out of its misery with the help of some high-explosives, but not after some considerable mechanical torture.

It's mayhem like this that keeps both motoring maniacs, and people who just like a good laugh, tuning in for more of the same every week.

As such, it is my belief that there is no self-respecting car nut in the English-speaking universe who will admit to not having watched an episode of Top Gear, be it on the BBC or, ... eh hem... on YouTube.

But YouTube does have its limitations.

Video clips posted there cannot exceed the 10 minute preset limit, and it's quite painful watching that red bar crawl as the program slowly loads. Besides, piracy is bad. Incidentally, a BBC report puts Top Gear as the 'most pirated TV show in the world'. One such clip on YouTube apparently had 938,000 views before it was removed.

But even if you subscribe to Starhub's World News package, BBC World lops off half the programme, leaving only a 30-minute version which can make for frustrating viewing due to inconsistencies and references made to sequences that don't make it to the edited-down versions.

Jeremy Clarkson, a.k.a. Mr Politically-Incorrect

So, what's a Clarkson fan to do?

There's a little known channel called FX that is going to start airing the full 1 hour versions of Top Gear sixth season, and according to their marketing team, they are also the only channel in Asia licensed to do so.

To get FX on cable, you'll need to subscribe to the Family Plus package, which comes with 21 other channels - some of which include Channel [V], E! Entertainment, & Animax - and will cost you $12.84 each month.

Still, it might seem like overkill to get a channel, or 22 channels in this case, just for one programme. What else the channel have to offer?

According to FX's website, it offers "all the programmes most MEN would want to watch," which includes "technology, action, adventure, power, speed, fighting, competition, money, comedy, women, sex, and whatever MEN want." OK, where do I sign up?

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SEASON 6

Episode 1 sees Clarkson going head to head with a 62-ton, 1200bhp Challenger II tank in a Land Rover.

In episode 2, Clarkson and co-hosts, Richard Hammond and James May, show how it's possible in the UK to get a 'good' coupe for under ?1,500. A competition ensues to evaluate which of the cars is the best, in terms of speed, reliability, comfort, fuel efficiency, all conducted in hilarious Top Gear fashion.

If you need more incentive, the test for 'ride comfort' involves all three test drivers literally 'wetting their pants'.

Season 6 of Top Gear airs every Tuesday, Saturday & Sunday at 9pm on FX (Starhub Digital Cable Channel 87), starting July 29th.

Trailer: CLARKSON vs TANK

 
 
 
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