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American 'Top Gear' gets green light; 'Smallville' creators get new deal
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An American version of the BBC hit "Top Gear," which has kicked around several networks in recent years, is finally getting up to speed at the History Channel.The cable channel announced Wednesday (April 21) that it will debut a U.S. version of the show in the fall. Actor/comedian Adam Ferrara ("Rescue Me"), stunt driver and rally racer Tanner Foust and Speed Channel host Rutledge Wood will host the show.
"History of the automobile and the history of America are intimately intertwined -- to celebrate one is to celebrate the other, says Nancy Dubuc, History's president and general manager. "I am thrilled to bring the U.S. version of this massively popular series to our viewers. ... 'Top Gear' is an intelligent, entertaining show, unique and groundbreaking in its format -- a perfect match for us."
NBC tried a version of "Top Gear" a couple years ago, but it died at the pilot stage. The original version, which has a worldwide cult following, airs on BBC America in this country.
- "Smallville" creators Al Gough and Miles Millar have signed a new deal at Sony Pictures TV.
Their agreement runs for two years and marks the first deal they've signed since leaving the day-to-day running of The CW series in 2008. Millar tells The Hollywood Reporter that they plan "to hit the ground running" with projects for both network and cable outlets.
Gough and Millar produced "Hannah Montana: The Movie" and co-wrote the screenplays for "Shanghai Noon" and "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," among others. They're also working on a Steven Spielberg-produced sci-fi film called "I Am Number Four."
- A&E will unveil a new scripted show called "The Glades" in July.
The series stars Matt Passmore ("McLeod's Daughters") as a cop who was booted off the force in Chicago and settles in a seemingly tranquil town on the edge of the Everglades in Florida. Kiele Sanchez ("Lost," "Samantha Who?") and Carlos Gomez ("Shark") also star. Clifton Campbell ("Profiler," "White Collar") created the show (formerly called "Sugarloaf"), which debuts July 13.
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Photo credit: FX
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A US Version of this show will only butcher the original concept. half of why BBC's is so good is the hosts the other half is the producing.
I fully expect a US version to suck as bad as the american version of Kitchen Nightmares.
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No, please don't try to do this show in the USA! I just hope that someday I don't accidentally run across the butchered american version while channel surfing and get that sick feeling like I do when I see even two seconds of anything Oprah does or any daytime talk crap. Being an American show means it will have to be PC which automatically spells doom for the show here. Hmmmm, how can we work white male bashing (the last pc bashing target) into every episode and every ad during the show's run? They will find a way of course.
I completely agree with the anonymous writer of Nov 8. US television has a long history of butchering top-rate British TV - who could forget Sanford and Son (a pathetic perversion of Steptoe and Son) or All in the Family (Till Death Do Us Part)?