Top Gear

[Reply #280 on:]

All this nonsense about Clarkson's political-incorrectness is just balderdash. His comments are mostly fairly tame, and the few truly outrageous things he says are so outrageous that one can only take them as deliberately absurd, over the top jokes that they are. He has a refined wit and plays an amusing persona. All the thin-skinned dropkicks with nothing better to do than invent excuses to be indignant can all go fuck themselves sideways.

[Reply #281 on:]

Oh...and...I have to take comfort with that.

Edit...Edit...God damn where is the editor.

[Reply #282 on:]

I think it's probably quite apparent that Stewart Lee doesn't really care about him being politically incorrect based on the fact that in the routine he, himself, says that he wishes several children go blind and that several other people die.

[Reply #283 on:]

I wasn't actually talking about him. Comedians are comedians. They can say whatever they like, as long as it's a joke. That's kind of the whole point.

[Reply #284 on:]

Could this be the end for Top Gear:

According to the BBC website Clarkson has been suspended and the show won't be on this week. Hopefully it will be sorted and the show will return soon.

News item

[Reply #285 on:]

That is a serious WTF moment.

[Reply #286 on:]

For now he is suspended and while the rest of the cast/show is not affected .. they said they will not air this week's episode for now...

Clarkson's sacking is for now temporal pending investigation..

still i think that for a long time Clarkson IS Top Gear... boxing him is boxing TG

[Reply #287 on:]

Apparently he punched a producer and the remaining episodes of the current series won't be aired

[Reply #288 on:]

Allegedly, he punched an assistant producer in the face because dinner wasn't ready when they finished filming.

I find it really distressing that so many people are rallying in defense of Clarkson. The man is a vile, racist bully. Sadly, the minute he leaves the BBC, he's going to be offered multi-million pound contracts at ITV, Sky and countless other channels, so it's not like you'll be struggling to get your fix or insidiously racist jokes mixed in with staged stunts and "car banter".

And, frankly, the BBC can't afford to lose him or Top Gear. They're built on an outdated business model that's starting to fall apart and, as a result, they're just clinging to their money-makers (Top Gear and Dr. Who) desperately whilst pumping out more lowest common denominator and less risk-taking content than ever before - so I think there's a pretty good chance that this'll blow over and he'll be back for next series.

[Reply #289 on:]

I find it interesting that years later we're still discussing this fellow and his naughty behavior.

[Reply #290 on:]

I think there's a pretty good chance that this'll blow over and he'll be back for next series.

Agreed. The man's built a career out of being a prick, and the BBC has made a habit of forgiving him for it in exchange for a slice of the pie.

[Reply #291 on:]

totalnerduk, to understand why someone is popular, it seems stupid to simplify the man.  He clearly has presentation talents and it should be noted that he (along with another man) designed the modern Top Gear format that is BBC's biggest money maker.

I won't deny that he is a prick, but he is definitely not a racist.  His remarks may be offensive to some, but that's just people being easily offended at times.

In a sense, I like Jeremy Clarkson because he in a way fights against the PC society and the easily offended people.  The problem is, being offended these days will rally politicians to your side, and do things for you.  So being offended is a great way to get your way.  People have noticed this and now everyone is offended.

If you don't like Top Gear, stop watching it.  Let the rest of us who enjoy the show have it.

That being said, I do find it troubling that Clarkson allegedly punched an assistant producer.  That's not cool.  If that is the case, then I completely agree with the BBC suspending him.  Now I don't know the facts or what happened, but if the allegations are true, then I find it amusing that Top Gear ended due Clarkson's dinner being late.

[Reply #292 on:]

I won't deny that he is a prick, but he is definitely not a racist.  His remarks may be offensive to some, but that's just people being easily offended at times.

Hey, I never said he's a racist. He's not even that much of a prick, to be honest. But he's a bit of a prick. Enough so that people notice.

I'm just saying that he's built a career out of pissing people off (usually on purpose), having strong opinions (often conveniently matching the prevailing mood amongst the majority of his target audience) and being very loud about them, not caring what people who aren't him think, and in general only caring about things which make lots of noise and go fast. He's a bit of a prick, and that's something he's embraced in order to further his career. Which was a bold move, and it's paid off handsomely.

Was that enough of an elaboration for you?

In fact, I'm hoping that it blows over, because I like Top Gear and find Jeremy Clarkson amusing and worth watching despite him being a bit of a prick.

[Reply #293 on:]

Allegedly, he punched an assistant producer in the face because dinner wasn't ready when they finished filming.

Any [reliable] sources on this?

 

I find it really distressing that so many people are rallying in defense of Clarkson. The man is a vile, racist bully.

I dont agree... i might be wrong but i have readed a lot of Clarkson and i thinh he is just a buffon... he is not racist or xenophonic... just plays the stereotipical jokes loud and the political incorrectness... they laught in the show about everyone in the world but they also do and specially the own british ("wellcome to britain.. this is the worst country in the world!") .

I have readed articles from him about how racist the americans are towards people in the TG team that were not "white" ..  And i have seen him many times getting together with other pressenters or humorists from countries he critices a lot and then burst in laught on them and even with them making fun about him and/or british stereotypes just as he does.. (search the video where he meets spanish satiric pressenter Guillermo Fesser , and Fesser begins making fun directly at british and even at prince Charles...and Clarkson is just laughting loud)

I might be wrong but i dont see a racist profile there...  do you people really take him 100% seriosly word by word when he says stuff like "F1 should be ran with cars with machine guns and on fire" ?

I renember when they filmed in spain last time and he was driving in arather busy motorway at mid-day full of cars and he saying "who are all this people and why are they here now! why isnt everyone taking a nap!" ... i laughted because it was poking fun at the spanish "siesta" stereotype.. but its humor..i never saw that as even nearly offensive

Having said this if he really punched someone just because dinner wasnt ready he really is a prick and deserves to be sacked... 

[Reply #294 on:]

As much as I think over political correctness is a bit silly, Jeremy Clarkson is pretty vile. Unfortunately, as people here have said he'll probably walk out of this scott-free.

[Reply #295 on:]

Allegedly, he punched an assistant producer in the face because dinner wasn't ready when they finished filming.

Any [reliable] sources on this?

Plenty.

[Reply #296 on:]

Allegedly, he punched an assistant producer in the face because dinner wasn't ready when they finished filming.

Any [reliable] sources on this?

Plenty.

But you made the part about the face up, I see.  The article it links to also merely states that Clarkson aimed a fist at a producer.

[Reply #297 on:]

Perhaps Jezza will be offered a place in the House of Lords; after all 'Prezza', AKA Two-Jags Prescott, thumped somebody (on camera) and now sits on the red benches! I'd rather have Clarkson in a position of power than Prescott and his cronies

[Reply #298 on:]

Allegedly, he punched an assistant producer in the face because dinner wasn't ready when they finished filming.

Any [reliable] sources on this?

Plenty.

But you made the part about the face up, I see.  The article it links to also merely states that Clarkson aimed a fist at a producer.

Yeah, you're right, I did that without realising. "Punch in the face" just sounds slightly funnier.

[Reply #299 on:]

For now is clear that its an issue between Clarkson and the producer guy over a dinner..

On one side sources like the daily mirror and the sun say he punched the guy over dinner... on the other side James May says there was indeed a discussion over dinner but that it wasnt a big deal...

will see...

[Reply #300 on:]

Yeah, you're right, I did that without realising. "Punch in the face" just sounds slightly funnier.

I've read a couple of articles that say the producer was indeed punched in the face, and had a split lip. So perhaps you did see it somewhere and unconsciously absorbed it.

[Reply #301 on:]

Yeah, I didn't actually read the article that I posted here. I read about it elsewhere, then just did a quick Google search to find proof when asked for it and posted the first thing I found, so maybe I'm not quite as stupid as first thought.

[Reply #302 on:]

To quote James May, he's a bit of a knob but I quite like him.

I think the worrying aspect of this, is that we're seriously falling for all the media hoo-hah over this?  I mean, Jesus, there are more important things to get upset about.

The whole world has taken stupid-pills...

[Reply #303 on:]

Casual acceptance of physical violence in the normal course of social interaction is something we as a species have (generally) tolerated far too long.  If the reported incident is true, it *is* worth worrying about.

When I was growing up, it was socially acceptable for a husband to smack his wife around, so long as he didn't do it in public too often, which was and remains total bullshit.  We still have a very long way to go to reduce casual interpersonal violence.  e.g. #RayRiceElevator.

Let's not gloss over uncalled-for violence simply because we happen to hold someone in admiration.

[Reply #304 on:]

Let's not gloss over uncalled-for violence simply because we happen to hold someone in admiration.

It's perfectly called-for. The man wanted a hot meal, and wasn't able to have one. When he was told that this was an unreasonable thing to be upset about (and I think it's a perfectly reasonable thing to be very upset about), he punched the idiot saying this in the face.

It was perhaps not wise, and definitely not nice, but I can see exactly how and why it happened (and I definitely don't admire Jeremy Clarkson, as much as I might think that on this one single occasion he was actually somewhat justified in acting like a prick).

[Reply #305 on:]

Ya, there's not even a chance I would ever agree with you on that. Not having a meal ready is not a reasonable excuse for violence under any circumstances. If you punch a colleague over something that petty, you should lose your job. And I say that as someone who really, really enjoys Clarkson as a TV personality.

Of course, I'm 70% certain you're being sarcastic. The bit you put in parentheses just gave me that little glimmer of thinking you might be expressing genuine sentiment.

[Reply #306 on:]

[Reply #307 on:]

What's also worth pointing out, if that, indeed, wasn't sarcasm, is that a man at Clarkson's level is so much more powerful than a lowly assistant producer.

This isn't like Clarkson went head to head with the series producer or an executive producer or a director - all of whom would, sort of, carry enough authority to get into an argument, reasonably. He had a go at an assistant producer, which is only one step up from being a researcher which is only one step up from being a runner.

Basically, this is the same level of twattery present in situations where, for example, an actor shouts at a runner for not making their cup of tea strong enough, except that it's far worse because it also includes violence.

[Reply #308 on:]

Of course, I'm 70% certain you're being sarcastic.

Not sure if srs

What's also worth pointing out, if that, indeed, wasn't sarcasm

Hahaha. The fact that nobody knows whether or not I'm being serious when I say that punching somebody in the face because your tea isn't ready is totally justified makes me wonder what else people here think I condone. Or would do.

My post was an attempt at the same tone I've seen from the people who support Clarkson and his actions, whilst trying to make it as obvious as possible that the actions taken were not reasonable. The fact that three people in a row couldn't decide whether or not this was the case probably means that I wasn't over-the-top enough, and that I should probably have said something about appreciating Clarkson's restraint in not attempting to murder everybody around him in cold blood.

No, I'm not serious when I say that Clarkson's behaviour was reasonable or justified. He probably should lose his job, and yes, I think that this incident is about as "justified" as any other time he's made the headlines for being a prick.

Still, as much as he's a prick and as much as it wasn't a justified action, it'll probably be Top Gear's death knell if he's forced out, and I'll be sad to see the programme end. It was his natural habitat - perhaps the one place where a man like him actually belongs is on television, being amusingly obnoxious about cars, for the entertainment of the masses.

Not having a meal ready is not a reasonable excuse for violence under any circumstances.

It wasn't even the fault of the guy who was punched - the hotel kitchen had closed, and they weren't serving hot food. It appears that "a selection of cold cuts" were offered as an alternative to the steak which Clarkson wanted, and he had a screaming match with the proprietor of the hotel as well as the producer, before finally deciding that the only way to obtain satisfaction was to punch somebody. Rather than, y'know, accept an alternative choice of meal.

The whole thing positively reeks of the upper-class sense of entitlement that Clarkson so carefully tries to avoid being associated with his public persona.

[Reply #309 on:]

As I've understood it, it was Clarkson himself that reported the incident to the BBC.  The assistant producer never managed to file a complaint.

[Reply #310 on:]

The whole thing positively reeks of the upper-class sense of entitlement that Clarkson so carefully tries to avoid being associated with his public persona.

If he were upper class I'd hope he'd have a man to administer thrashings for him

[Reply #311 on:]

Casual acceptance of physical violence in the normal course of social interaction is something we as a species have (generally) tolerated far too long.  If the reported incident is true, it *is* worth worrying about.

Allow me to clarify.  Circumstances aside, the near hysterical levels of media attention and rhetoric this has garnered over the past week or so is absolutely ridiculous to say the least.  Senior BBC executives referring to him as "Savile-like", referencing former childrens TV presenter, Radio DJ, and most prolific sex offender in the UK, Jimmy Savile.  

Now, frankly, I find that offensive, certainly to victims of Savile to make light of their suffering in such a way to equate this minor fracas to what they went through.

What should have happened with this, is what did happen, JC reported this himself, and it's being dealt with internally.  Frankly, it's none of our business what they decide, (personally I hope he's not fired, and if he is, they replace him with Sabine Schmitz, because she's worthy).   I just think the level of column inches that this has generated is laughable beyond belief...

[Reply #312 on:]

If he were upper class I'd hope he'd have a man to administer thrashings for him

He's not actually upper-class, but he does have the same sort of money to throw around and aggressive sense of entitlement that they tend to.

Only the landed gentry, descended from generations of nobility, tend to have the money, the sense of entitlement, and the disdain for working with their own hands that leads to paying somebody to administer thrashings on their behalf.

That's how you can tell that somebody's really upper-class. They don't leave the house without a dedicated crowd of assorted bodyguards, thrashers, prostitutes, and peasants to whom they're showing off.

[Reply #313 on:]

As i said if he indeed attacked the guy over a dinner he deserves to be sacked..


but this is all too weird.... because there is very little actually confirmed yet...  many contradictory informations (i readed before some sources saying he was sacked forever and Top Gear gone... then TG website publics info saying next program is delayed and things still under investigation with no more info as today) and one week allready for something that should be solved rather quick..

he either is sacked or not ...  but this time and indecision might be costing BBC much money

[Reply #314 on:]

Alas he will no longer be presenting Top Gear; I just hope his replacement is somebody interesting and not a celebrity or a so called comedian.

[Reply #315 on:]

Listening to James May on Sky News, I kinda agree with what he said, "It was tragedy that something small got blown up into something big."   Which I kind of agree with, it's like anything they did, was hyper dissected by news media.   

Also, like James May, he's a bit of a knob but I like him.

I echo my sentiments earlier in this thread, it should have been dealt with internally and not been national news, plane crashes and tsunamis are that, not pathetic spats.   In the end, due process willed out, but I get the feeling that the BBC were backed into a corner by events, and they had to act.

I kinda hope that Hammond and May stay on, and they bring in Sabine, as she's awesome.

[Reply #316 on:]

Now it's just May, Taylor and Deacon. Wow.

[Reply #317 on:]

I kinda hope that Hammond and May stay on, and they bring in Sabine, as she's awesome.

She allready has her motoring program in germany ... also the trio had became basically cartoons of themselves ... i cant even see Tiff doing that now...

[Reply #318 on:]

Well its final:


http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2015/03/25/bbc-releases-statement-on-clarkson/

seems confirmed that JC punched the guy ..wich is not aceptable in any circustances (except self-defense or similar).. punching anyone by a dinner or a fracas over a dinner is not acceptable.. i enjoyed JC a lot in TG but this simple cant be acepted...so bye TG... it was a fun ride... it was utterly a cartoon in the last phase... but a fun ride nontheless..

[Reply #319 on:]

I had never heard of this show until a couple weeks ago, and now it seems I hear about it every other day. I assume it's new.