Leno: Top gear rip off?

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/08/jay_lenos_secret_weapon_a_race.html

New York Magazine said: Yesterday at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, California, Jay Leno revealed exciting new details about the format of his upcoming prime-time show. [...] Best of all, though, is NBC's bid for automaker advertising — they're building Leno a racetrack outside of his new studio on which celebrity guests will race against each other in alternate fuel cars ("You can see who is faster, Shaquille O'Neal or Cameron Diaz," boasted an excited Leno). And it could totally work, provided advertisers don't expect a refund when the first beloved star perishes in a fiery explosion.

Howard Stern could potentially have a stroke over this one. He's always ranting about how Jay stole the concept of Jaywalking from him.

I mean, it's a cool (albeit unoriginal) idea, but I hope it's w/ the blessing of the Top Gear folks.

Given that Jay was actually the most recent star in a recently priced car and the nature of the talk between him and Jeremy, I expect it is with the full blessing.

Who here wants a shot at the reasonably priced car?

To rent or to own?

Keith wrote: Given that Jay was actually the most recent star in a recently priced car and the nature of the talk between him and Jeremy, I expect it is with the full blessing. Who here wants a shot at the reasonably priced car?

I honestly always wondered where I would place on the board...

Keith wrote: Given that Jay was actually the most recent star in a recently priced car and the nature of the talk between him and Jeremy, I expect it is with the full blessing. Who here wants a shot at the reasonably priced car?

I think it is safe to say that we all do....and that many of us would like to be above Jordan.

well, Leno says Top Gear is the best show on televison at the moment and even turned down the offer of making the US version saying he doesnt want to Americanize a good show. I think it is a very very cool idea and i hope it does well... too bad Paul Newman wasnt able to see it, bet he would be a blast to watch out there...

How about Paris Hilton.....in a reasonably pricing pink Lambo

Lamborghini is working on an electric car.

I bet the Chevy Volt will be the first car.

JmfnB wrote: Lamborghini is working on an electric car. I bet the Chevy Volt will be the first car.

im expecting it to be just as reliable as a Countach...

If what they were saying yesterday on Stern is true, it will be a Ford Focus Hybrid... And yes, Stern did pitch a fit over how stupid and boring this bit will be. Guess he's not a Top Gear fan

problemaddict wrote: If what they were saying yesterday on Stern is true, it will be a Ford Focus Hybrid... And yes, Stern did pitch a fit over how stupid and boring this bit will be. Guess he's not a Top Gear fan

Heard it yesterday. I think he glanced over the significance of this ripoff only because he's not into cars at all and would never watch Top Gear.

As I was listening, I was thinking how lame of a ripoff it is.

Because Stern is so relevant now anyway. (Where's is that rolls eyes smiley?)

Keith wrote: Who here wants a shot at the reasonably priced car?

Yes, please. I like driving other peoples' cars.

Stern secretly knows he would be at the bottom of the board.

MitchellC wrote: Stern secretly knows he would be at the bottom of the board.

Isn't Stern from NYC? To most folks there, a "car" is a yellow thing with a light on the roof. You know, the ones that still move during a transit strike...

People still listen to Stern? I stopped listening to that idiot in high school.

rebelgtp wrote: People still listen to Stern? I stopped listening to that idiot in high school.

I stopped about 10 minutes into the first time I turned on his show.

And now Leno has that dumba$$ John Melendez, who thinks he's Howard Jr. I lost respect for Leno when he hired that idiot.

Pretty much anyone or anything related to Stern is crap. I'm convinced the next thing he says will be controversial--I don't need to experience it. Stupid controversy is still stupid.

There has been a riff between Stern and Leno that is decades old. Stern shows up on The Tonight show with two scantily clad bimbos and has them kiss on camera. The Tonight Show folks do some creative camera angles and keep it off the screen, but meanwhile, he's talking to Jay with one of these girls crawling all over him.

Jay is understandabley miffed, I mean this is his job, and certainly not his demographic. Howard goes on the radio the next day whining about being censored, Jay actually calls in and tries to explain to him that he also has an audience and is trying to keep them happy. Howard wants none of it.

Howard Stern is unltimatley self defeating, when all you have is shock, eventually your audience tires of it. Jay has always been a class act and is certainly bigger picture as far as longevity goes. I am genuinely looking forward to the new show, even before the car bit (which is juts awesome bonus), and happy its in prime time.

Howards TV show was all about strippers and shock...

But those were really small snippets of his radio show. For the most part its just a talk show, and he was an entertaining guy. He WAS shocking when he started, but really as far as shock value he wasn't anything special towards the end of his radio show.I still enjoyed listening to him, and not just to hear him say stuff he wasn't supposed to... that was really a minor part of his show.

Howard who???

Hope Leno can pull off the new show. As long as it doesn't turn into a hour long "buy this for your ride" show, I'll watch it.

guys I used to work with LOVE Howard Stern... I will admit some of his crap is funny.. but once he has repeated it 20 times.. I never want to hear his voice again

Toyman01 wrote: Hope Leno can pull off the new show. As long as it doesn't turn into a hour long "buy this for your ride" show, I'll watch it.

I don't think Leno will go out like that. I think the show will be a talk show based around cars. Then, if Jay runs out of material, all he has to do is walk into the garage and talk about some obscure car he owns that will make us all drool. The guy has resources, and I'm hoping Hollywood pull, enough to make this happen.

Maybe he didn't do Top Gear USA because he didn't want to work with the talent already onboard? Now he's running the show. I'm looking forward to it.

mad_machine wrote: guys I used to work with LOVE Howard Stern... I will admit some of his crap is funny.. but once he has repeated it 20 times.. I never want to hear his voice again

My sentiments exactly.

I like Leno. He seems like a real car guy and I think it would be a real treat to meet him some day. He's probably the only celebrity I'd go out of my way to meet.

So I look forward to seeing the new show.

Stern is a lowest common denominator ass. His 'humor' is frozen at a 3rd grade level; he relies on shock to generate laughs. No, I can't stand the guy.

As long as Leno doesn't let the advertisers run the show he should do OK. The good thing: he's got enough money that he can afford to tell them to stick it.