# Amazon signs former Top Gear crew for new show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 30, 2015, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582 "2015-07-30T15:26:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/1 "2015-07-30T15:26:15Z")
> **[Amazon sign Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson, Hammond and May for new show](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/celebritynews/amazon-sign-top-gear-s-jeremy-clarkson-richard-hammond-and-james-may-for-new-show-10426102.html)** > > Name of new show yet to be announced and The Stig will not feature Looks like they’re getting the trio back together and giving them a decent budget and total control over their own content. I wonder how this affects the international audience - I don’t know how widespread amazon prime is, or if they’ll do some other distribution in foreign markets. It’s a pretty big coup for amazon. They want to promote their streaming service, and Top Gear has one of the best budget to viewer ratios in all of television. I was surprised to learn that a whole season costs around $10-12m to produce, which seems crazy cheap. There are US TV shows that cost that much per episode. And for that, Amazon gets a huge instant international audience. Looking forward to it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/2 "2015-07-30T16:11:49Z")
Wikipedia says that Amazon Instant Video is available in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Austria and Germany. They might use this opportunity to expand to other countries. And of course they could sell the program to local broadcasters or cable outlets in countries where their service is not available. I believe the BBC program was watched in dozens of countries. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/3 "2015-07-30T20:02:06Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > …and total control over their own content. But if they’re allowed to draw cocks won’t that take some of the fun out of it? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/4 "2015-07-30T21:14:35Z")
Bet producers were lining up to work with Clarkson… ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/5 "2015-07-31T10:09:27Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Bet producers were lining up to work with Clarkson… I bet they are too… ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/6 "2015-07-31T18:12:35Z")
[Business Insider](http://www.businessinsider.com/jeremy-clarkson-and-former-top-gear-co-hosts-have-signed-a-deal-with-amazon-2015-7#ixzz3hSv7isJt) says Amazon is giving them a $250 million budget for 3 seasons. If that previous $10-12 million number is correct, that’s a huge increase from what the BBC was giving them. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/7 "2015-07-31T18:21:05Z")
Money won’t improve that show. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/8 "2015-07-31T18:52:45Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Money won’t improve that show. Presumably some of will got towards a small team of chefs available 24/7 while filming. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/9 "2015-07-31T19:39:17Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Presumably some of will got towards a small team of chefs available 24/7 while filming. And the hockey goalie mask that each of the production staff needs to wear. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/10 "2015-07-31T19:46:35Z")
One of the things they did on Top Gear was to make fun of the BBC, particularly the bureaucracy inherent in such a large governmental organization. So will they be making fun of Amazon and/or Jeff Bezos? ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/11 "2015-07-31T19:49:12Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > [Business Insider](http://www.businessinsider.com/jeremy-clarkson-and-former-top-gear-co-hosts-have-signed-a-deal-with-amazon-2015-7#ixzz3hSv7isJt) says Amazon is giving them a $250 million budget for 3 seasons. If that previous $10-12 million number is correct, that’s a huge increase from what the BBC was giving them. Well, I for one am looking forward to the show where they play darts with Bugatti Veyrons. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/12 "2015-07-31T19:57:06Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Bet producers were lining up to work with Clarkson… You mean like the main producer that is following them from the BBC show to produce the one on Amazon? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/13 "2015-08-01T02:10:12Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > [Business Insider](http://www.businessinsider.com/jeremy-clarkson-and-former-top-gear-co-hosts-have-signed-a-deal-with-amazon-2015-7#ixzz3hSv7isJt) says Amazon is giving them a $250 million budget for 3 seasons. If that previous $10-12 million number is correct, that’s a huge increase from what the BBC was giving them. They had quite a lot of infrastructure already in place; things like the studio, the track, and the top secret development centre on the B2707 just outside Worcestershire. What they didn’t have, they had the pull of the BBC to get people to let them use. Plus, they’ll need a new Stig, and those don’t come cheap. I think they grow them in vats. ---
**Author:** ![SuperNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/14 "2015-08-02T18:37:22Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > [Amazon Prime sign Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May for exclusive new show | London Evening Standard | The Standard](http://www.standard.co.uk/news/celebritynews/amazon-sign-top-gears-jeremy-clarkson-richard-hammond-and-james-may-for-new-show-10426102.html) > > Looks like they’re getting the trio back together and giving them a decent budget and total control over their own content. I wonder how this affects the international audience - I don’t know how widespread amazon prime is, or if they’ll do some other distribution in foreign markets. > > It’s a pretty big coup for amazon. They want to promote their streaming service, and Top Gear has one of the best budget to viewer ratios in all of television. I was surprised to learn that a whole season costs around $10-12m to produce, which seems crazy cheap. There are US TV shows that cost that much per episode. And for that, Amazon gets a huge instant international audience. > > Looking forward to it. Just saw the [picture with the article](http://www.standard.co.uk/incoming/article10426110.ece/alternates/w620/clark.jpg). I didn’t realize they had replaced Hammond with Hans Gruber. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/15 "2015-08-02T20:58:22Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Plus, they’ll need a new Stig, and those don’t come cheap. I think they grow them in vats. I think the Stig is owned by Top Gear and the BBC. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/16 "2015-08-02T21:34:50Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I think the Stig is owned by Top Gear and the BBC. Can’t Amazon take a cutting and graft it onto something with a heartier rootstock? ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/17 "2015-08-03T03:25:14Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I think the Stig is owned by Top Gear and the BBC. The should replace him with a pair of identical twins, called “The Gits”. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/18 "2015-08-03T03:31:30Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > You mean like the main producer that is following them from the BBC show to produce the one on Amazon? Hey, if he can take a punch over steak, more power to him. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/19 "2015-08-03T04:11:38Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Hey, if he can take a punch over steak, more power to him. [Andy Wilman](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Wilman) isn’t the guy who got punched. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582/20 "2015-08-03T05:41:36Z")
I’m a Murrican totally unfamiliar with this show or these people, but I sometimes read UK tabloid web sites (or at least the headings). I was always reading things like “Top Bosses Warn Clarkson One More Racist Remark and He Gets Sacked” and then “Clarkson Did So and So, Gets Sacked.” Can Amazon prime get the Dukes of Hazard and give Hulk Hogan a show? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-signs-former-top-gear-crew-for-new-show/726582.md?page=2)