
Watch Top Gear, The Specials
- 2006
- 2 Seasons
"Top Gear" can refer to a number of shows, all titled the same, that are made in different countries. Generally speaking, however, "Top Gear" without any clarification refers to the British TV show, produced by BBC. "Top Gear" is an informative comedy show where the three hosts - Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May - discuss topics related to traveling by motor vehicle. While their area of expertise is cars, some shows have included the use and discussion of motorbikes, trains, and lorries. A typical "Top Gear" episode consists of one of the hosts test driving a car, a "news" segment, an interview with a celebrity, and a challenge of some sort (ex. the men compete to see what is fastest during London rush hour: a boat, car, bus or bike). However, the "Top Gear" specials do not follow this format; instead, the specials only focus on the challenge that's been given to the three men. The typical challenge involves the hosts buying used cars for approximately $1,000 or less, and then driving 1,000 miles from one part of a country to another. These specials tend to be longer than the typical episode; approximately one special episode has aired per season of "Top Gear." Examples of "Top Gear" specials include an episode involving a trip to Bolivia, where the three men must drive cars that they bought long distance and second hand through the Amazon rainforest and across part of South America, for a total of 1,000 miles. Similarly, while in Vietnam, the three hosts must buy motorbikes and "do what the Americans failed to do in ten years" in seven days - drive from south Vietnam to the north. Other "Top Gear" specials have involved trips to Africa, America, India, the Middle East and the Arctic.