Top Gear Australia: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 20122021}}

|name image = Top Gear Australia logo.jpg

|image caption = Top Gear Australia logo.jpg

|caption genre = [[Reality television]]

|genre creator = [[Reality television]]

|creator developer =

|endtheme composer = [[Dickey Betts]]

|composer country = [[Dickey Betts]]= Australia

|language num_seasons = English5

|num_seasons num_episodes = 429

|executive_producer producer =

|producer company = [[BBCFreehand WorldwideGroup|Freehand TV]]<br />[[FreehandBBC GroupStudios|FreehandBBC TVStudios Australia]]

| cinematography =

| runtime = 60 minutes (including commercials)

| network = [[SBS One|SBS]] (2008–09)<brAustralian />[[NineTV Networkchannel)|SBS]] (2010–12)

|audio_format last_aired = [[Stereophonic{{End sounddate|Stereo]]2009|06|29|df=y}}

|first_run network2 = [[Nine Network]]

|first_aired first_aired2 = {{Start date|20082010|910|2928|df=y}}

|last_aired last_aired2 = {{StartEnd date|2012|404|28|df=y}}

'''''Top Gear Australia''''' wasis an Australian [[driving|motoring]] [[reality television]] series, based on the British [[BBC]] series ''[[Top Gear (current format)|Top Gear]]''. The programme first premiered on [[SBS One]] on 29 September 2008.<ref>{{citeCite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=29 September 2008 |title=Airdate: Top Gear Australia |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2008/08/airdate-top-gear-australia.html | title=Airdate: Top Gear Australia | access-date=2930 September 2008 | first=David | last=Knox | website=TV Tonight | accessdate=30 September 2008}}</ref><ref name="colosimo">{{citeCite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=19 September 2008 |title=Colosimo first guest on Top Gear Australia |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2008/09/colosimo-first-guest-on-top-gear-australia.html | title=Colosimo first guest on Top Gear Australia | access-date=1930 September 2008 | first=David | last=Knox | website=TV Tonight | accessdate=30 September 2008}}</ref> A second season was ordered following the high ratings for the premiere episode and positive comments from advertisers,<ref name="TGAdust" /> and the second season began broadcasting from 11 May 2009. After acquiring the rights to broadcast the UK version in 2009, the [[Nine Network]] started airing their own version of ''Top Gear Australia'' in September 2010.<ref name='"nine-network-tg'">{{citeCite news |date=23 October 2009 |title=Top Gear Moves to Nine|publisher=EBroadcast Australia|date=23 October 2009|url=http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/enews/nine/Top-Gear-moves-to-Nine-231009.html|accessdate=15 November 2009|url-status=dead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026151855/http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/enews/nine/Top-Gear-moves-to-Nine-231009.html |archivedatearchive-date=26 October 2009 |df=dmyaccess-alldate=15 November 2009 |publisher=EBroadcast Australia}}</ref> ''Top Gear Australia'' returned for a fourth season in 2011.<ref name='"back-in-2011'">{{citeCite news |date=14 December 2010 |title=Top Gear Oz: we're back in 2011!|publisher=Top Gear Australia Transmission Blog|date=14 December 2010|url=http://au.transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2010/12/14/top-gear-oz-were-back-in-2011/|accessdate=14 December 2010|url-status=dead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220010314/http://au.transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2010/12/14/top-gear-oz-were-back-in-2011/ |archivedatearchive-date=20 December 2010 |df=dmyaccess-alldate=14 December 2010 |publisher=Top Gear Australia Transmission Blog}}</ref> The show was cancelled on 28 April 2012 due to declining ratings. An eight part series returned in 2024 on [[Paramount+]] with new hosts.

Prior to filming SBS made an open casting call for presenters, resulting in over 4000 applications.<ref>{{citeCite web |date=29 May 2008 |title=SBS announces Australian Top Gear presenters | publisher=ausmotive.com | date=29 May 2008 | url=http://www.ausmotive.com/2008/05/29/sbs-announces-australian-top-gear-presenters.html | accessdateaccess-date=12 October 2010 |publisher=ausmotive.com}}</ref> The original hosts chosen for ''Top Gear Australia'' were cartoonist and motoring columnist [[Warren Brown (cartoonist)|Warren Brown]], [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing|MotoGP]] commentator [[Charlie Cox (racing)|Charlie Cox]], and race driver / driving instructor [[Steve Pizzati]].

''Top Gear Australia'' features segments that mirror those seen on the BBC series, including build challenges and test drives. A significant difference is that speedsall and powerspecifications are quoted in [[International System ofMetric Unitssystem|metric units]] and prices are quoted in [[Australian dollar]]s.

# 1:12.00 – [http://www.walkinshawperformance.com.au/wp/2008/aus/ Walkinshaw Performance HSV Clubsport] (with 20" wheels)<ref name="hsvclubsport">Top Gear Australia Series 2, Episode 2 2009.05.18 – ''Steve Pizzati: "It's over 3 seconds quicker than the 22 -inch wheels... just tyres, nothing else, that's all we did."''</ref>

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{{ref endrefend}}

# 1:24.00 – [[Lamborghini Gallardo#Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni|Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2]]

The [[Top Gear Test Track#Star in a Reasonably Priced Car|Star in a Reasonably- Priced Car]] segment is mirrored with the name "Star in a [[wiktionary:bog standard|Bog Standard]] Car". It is identical in execution. The car used in the first two seasons on SBS was a [[Proton Satria Neo]], the third season on Nine used a 2nd hand [[Ford XG Falcon]] ute, manufactured in 1995.

====Lap Timestimes====

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In the first season, the presenters discuss "stupid" ideas in motoring history and put pictures of them on a board. The board was later destroyed in the first episode of the second season when the shark cage [[Mini Moke]] was dropped on top of it.

Imitating its BBC counterpart, the show includes features where the hosts undertake various stunts some of which may antagonise members of the public. In October 2008 it was reported that Pizzati and Brown caused a [[traffic jam]] in [[Toorak, Victoria]] when they drove a [[tractor]] through the Melbourne suburb —– a reference to the colloquial expression "[[Chelsea tractor|Toorak Tractor]]", Australian [[slang]] for luxury [[Sport utility vehicle|SUV]]s.<ref>[{{Cite news |date=2 October 2008 |title=Top Gear Australia causes traffic jam on Toorak Road |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24433262-5006022,00.html Top|url-status=dead Gear|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005122842/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24433262-5006022,00.html Australia|archive-date=5 causesOctober traffic2008 jam|access-date=22 onApril Toorak2024 Road], ''|newspaper=[[Herald Sun]]'', 2|publisher=News OctoberLimited 2008|location=Melbourne}}</ref> The stunt featured in episode 5 of series 1, which aired on 27 October 2008.

[[File:Top gear australia tv ratings.png|thumb|250px|TV ratings for ''Top Gear Australia'' in the Monday 7.30 pm timeslot]]Michael Idato of the ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'' described the first episode as "unsteady on some of the corners" and "a little too tricked up for its own good", noting "a distinct lack of detail, presumably to position the show away from car geeks".<ref>{{citeCite news |last=Idato |first=Michael |date=30 September 2008 |title=No mess, but an unsteady first lap | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/tv--radio/no-mess-but-an-unsteady-first-lap/2008/09/29/1222650986432.html | lasturl-access=Idatoregistration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001034401/http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/tv--radio/no-mess-but-an-unsteady-first-lap/2008/09/29/1222650986432.html |archive-date=Michael1 October 2008 |access-date=30 September 2008 |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | datepublisher=30Fairfax September 2008Media | accessdatelocation=30 September 2008Sydney}}</ref> Stuart Martin, motoring writer for the Adelaide ''[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]'' in Adelaide said a franchise was "always going to have a tough job living up to the UK original" but noted that ''[[Top Gear (current format)|Top Gear]]'' was not an overnight success and urged viewers to "give the locals a chance to find their niche".<ref>{{citeCite news |last=Martin |first=Stuart |date=30 September 2008 |title=Top Gear Down Under has a way to go |url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24426074-5006343,00.html |titleurl-status=Topdead Gear|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004134928/http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24426074-5006343,00.html Down|archive-date=4 UnderOctober has2008 a|access-date=1 wayOctober to2008 go|last=Martin|first=Stuart|newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]] |datepublisher=30News SeptemberLimited 2008|accessdatelocation=1 October 2008Adelaide}}</ref> In retrospect Philip King said that the first season "received lukewarm reviews and couldn't get close to the ratings success of the original".<ref name='"back-in-drivers-seat'">{{citeCite news |last=King |first=Philip |date=9 May 2009 |title=Back Inin Thethe Driverdriver's Seatseat |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/back-in-the-drivers-seat/story-e6frg8gx-1225710504620 |newspaperurl-status=Thedead Age|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231005022/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/back-in-the-drivers-seat/story-e6frg8gx-1225710504620 |archive-date=931 MayDecember 2012 2009|accessdateaccess-date=15 November 2009 |newspaper=The Australian |publisher=News Limited |location=Sydney}}</ref>

The first episode debuted with an audience of 933,000 viewers,<ref>{{citeCite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=30 September 2008 |title=TEN's tears for Idol | url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2008/09/tens-tears-for-idol.html | last=Knox| first=David| website=TV Tonight | access-date=30 September 2008 | accessdatewebsite=30TV September 2008Tonight}}</ref> SBS's highest ever ratings for a locally produced television programme. ''Top Gear Australia'' came third in its time slot and beat an elimination episode of ''[[Australian Idol]]''.<ref name="TGAdust">{{cite news |last=Field |first=Katherine |date=30 September 2008 |title=Idol left in Top Gear's dust |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24425336-12377,00.html |lasturl-status=Fielddead |firstarchive-url=Katherinehttps://web.archive.org/web/20081004152712/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24425336-12377,00.html |archive-date=4 October 2008 |access-date=30 September 2008 |newspaper=[[The Australian]] |datepublisher=30News SeptemberLimited 2008|accessdatelocation=30 September 2008Sydney}}</ref> The figure was slightly higher than any season premiere of the BBC version aired on SBS, up until that date.<ref name="TGAdust"/> However, subsequent episodes failed to match this figure, and the first season averaged around 650,000 viewers an episode. In comparison, viewing figures for the previous three ''Top Gear UK'' episodes shown in the same timeslot averaged around 903,000 viewers, though during this period ''Top Gear Australia'' still remained the highest rating program on SBS.<ref name=tvtratings>[http://www.tvtonight.com.au/category/ratings/ TV Tonight: Ratings Archive]</ref> Series one has since been repeated on SBS Two.

For the second series SBS attempted to address some of the criticism brought up against the first series.<ref>[{{Cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=1 June 2009 |title=Car tuning |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/06/car-tuning.html TV|access-date=22 Tonight:April Car2024 Tuning]|website=TV Tonight}}</ref> The second series of the show debuted with 689,000 viewers,<ref>[{{Cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=12 May 2009 |title=Top Gear Australia takes a second test-drive |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/05/top-gear-australia-takes-a-second-test-drive.html Top|access-date=22 GearApril Australia2024 takes|website=TV a second test-drive]Tonight}}</ref> averaging 576,500 viewers across the series against the high rating ''[[MasterChef Australia]]''.<ref name=tvtratings/> Ratings dropped throughout the second series, leading to speculation that SBS would not buy a third series.

[[Jeremy Clarkson]] has commented on the Australian version, saying "We're loving it, even though your funny accents make you hard to understand".<ref name="eNews20081020">{{cite web|url=http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/enews/win/Jeremy-Clarkson-Gives-His-Stamp-of-Approval-to-Top-Gear-Australia-201008.html|title=Jeremy Clarkson Gives His Stamp of Approval to Top Gear Australia|publisher=eNews by eBroadcast Australia|date=20 October 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023151629/http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/enews/win/Jeremy-Clarkson-Gives-His-Stamp-of-Approval-to-Top-Gear-Australia-201008.html|archivedatearchive-date=23 October 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The third series premiered on 28 September 2010 on the [[Nine Network]], pulling in 1,538,000 viewers, making it the second most watched television programme that day. The 75-minute ''The Ashes'' special, which featured the ''Top Gear UK'' presenters facing against the Australian presenters in a series of challenges, also won its timeslot against competing programmes.<ref name="WK40">{{cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=27 September 2010 |title=Week 40 |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/09/week-40-3.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930150941/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/09/week-40-3.html |archive-date=30 September 2010 |access-date=29 September 2010 |website=TV Tonight}}</ref><ref name="TGDrivesTheRatings">{{cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=29 September 2010 |title=Top Gear drives up the ratings |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/09/top-gear-drives-up-the-ratings.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002224255/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/09/top-gear-drives-up-the-ratings.html |archive-date=2 October 2010 |access-date=29 September 2010 |website=TV Tonight}}</ref>

The Nine Network renewed the series for a 4th season in 2011 before being cancelled after three of the six recorded episodes aired due to declining ratings.<ref>{{cite webnews |last=Ottley url|first=Stephen |date=14 September 2011 |title=Top Gear Australia axed |url=http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/top-gear-australia-axed-20110914-1k8lc.html |url-status=dead title|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024070843/http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/top-gear-australia-axed-20110914-1k8lc.html |archive-date=24 TopOctober Gear2011 Australia|access-date=22 axedApril 2024 |newspaper=[[The dateSydney Morning Herald]] |department=Drive 14|publisher=Fairfax SeptemberMedia 2011|location=Sydney}}</ref><ref>{{cite webnews |last1=Sobolewski url|first1=Helene |last2=Ianella |first2=Atimo |date=15 September 2011 |title=Top Gear Australia hits the skids |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/top-gear-australia-hits-the-skids/story-e6fredpu-1226137274236 | title url-status=dead Top Gear Australia |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911095142/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/top-gear-australia-hits -the -skids/story-e6fredpu-1226137274236 | archive-date = 1511 September 20112012 |access-date=22 publisherApril 2024 |newspaper=The Advertiser |publisher=News Limited |location=Adelaide Now|page=49 |id={{EBSCOhost|201109151049728637}}}}</ref> The remaining unaired episodes were eventually [[burning off|burnt-off]] on Nine's subchannel [[Go! (Australian TV channel)|Go!]] in April 2012.<ref name="unaired episodes">{{cite web |urllast=Knox |first=David |date=28 March 2012 |title=Returning: Chuck, Community, The Bachelor, Top Gear Australia |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2012/03/returning-chuck-community-the-bachelor-top-gear-australia.html | title url-status=live Returning|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407214435/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2012/03/returning-chuck-community-the-bachelor-top-gear-australia.html Chuck,|archive-date=7 Community,April The2012 Bachelor,|access-date=22 TopApril Gear Australia2024 | publisher website= TV Tonight.com.au}}</ref>

An Australian version of [[Top Gear (magazine)|''Top Gear'' magazine]] titled ''[[Top Gear Australia (magazine)|Top Gear Australia]]'' (published by Park Publishing, a partnership between [[ACP Magazines]] and the BBC)<ref>{{cite webnews |date=13 March 2008 |title=ACP teams up with BBC for Top Gear magazine |url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,26278,23367077-10388,00.html | titleurl-status=ACP teams up with BBC for Top Gear magazinedead | publisherarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319032140/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,26278,23367077-10388,00.html | archive-date=1319 March 2008 | accessdateaccess-date=30 September 2008 |work=news.com.au |publisher=News Limited}}</ref> was launched in June 2008 and features an amalgam of original Australian articles together with licensed content from the British and other international versions of the magazine.

==DVD Releaserelease==

==Unaired Episodesepisodes==

The [[The Nine Network|Channel 9]] had not shown the final episode of the third series, or the final three episodes from the fourth. The remaining episodes from series four began to be shown in April 2012 on GO[[9Go!|Go!]].<ref name="unaired episodes" /> The episode from series three was going to be included in the first DVD release, but was removed at the last minute. Images from this episode appear on the case and discs, and the episode is included in the running time. All of the unaired episodes were included in the second DVD release.

==International Broadcastbroadcast==

Every episode of ''Top Gear Australia'' has been broadcast in New Zealand on [[Prime (New Zealand)|Prime]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Erica |date=3 May 2011 |title=Life in the fast lane |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWGLNB&req_dat=3AB36969C29445C598BFB754B6281F39&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F15597ACAA48BF118 |access-date=22 April 2024 |work=[[The Post (New Zealand newspaper)|The Post]] |publisher=Fairfax Media |location=Wellington |page=5 |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref> excluding the final series. It does not broadcast on BBC knowledge (like Top Gear UK)

[[Category:Special2024 BroadcastingAustralian Servicetelevision showsseries debuts]]

[[Category:English-languageParamount+ televisionoriginal showsprogramming]]