As a seasoned gamer who has seen more than his fair share of twists and turns in the world of entertainment, I can’t help but feel a sense of intrigue when it comes to the recent claims about the authenticity of Top Gear’s road tests. While I have always admired Jeremy Clarkson for his wit and charm, the allegations made by Joe Rogan and Chris Harris regarding the pre-scripted nature of some segments is certainly thought-provoking.
It’s astonishing how much has transpired since Jeremy Clarkson was let go from Top Gear over a decade ago, given the remarkable success he’s achieved with Amazon’s The Grand Tour and Clarkson’s Farm, which will return for its fourth season in 2025 despite speculation about its cancellation due to his remarks about Meghan Markle. Despite his reputation for criticizing others, Clarkson recently spoke up in defense concerning one of Top Gear’s most notorious episodes.
We’re discussing the controversial review of Elon Musk’s initial Tesla electric vehicles, which aired on Top Gear in 2008 and sparked a legal dispute with the BBC by the billionaire entrepreneur. Chris Harris, who was part of the Top Gear team from 2016 to 2022, recently appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience and echoed the host’s views that the Tesla test (which eventually led to a lawsuit) might have been staged. Harris emphasized that this wasn’t an isolated incident.
What Joe Rogan And Chris Harris Claimed About Top Gear
Clarkson claimed several mechanical issues occurred during the 2008 episode, while Rogan suggested that the problems were scripted beforehand and later portrayed on screen.
They did a terrible thing. I talked to [Musk] about it, and he was furious. They pretended that his car died, and they did it for a sketch. And this was the early days of Tesla, when Tesla had just that little tiny car that was basically just a lotus with an electric engine. . . . And they got away with it, because it’s entertainment and they were allowed to create a script, and apparently someone got a hold of the script and they read in the script before they even filmed it. And then the car dies, and then we have to figure out how the car died.
As I sat there listening to Rogan, it was clear he didn’t seem to be fretting over potential lawsuits for his words. On the other hand, Chris Harris appeared a bit more cautious about the specific phrasing of his reply. Nevertheless, he stood by Rogan’s assertion that the segments in Top Gear were predetermined, expressing his agreement.
As a gamer putting my thoughts into words, let me tell you, I’ve got to be mindful about what I share here without bursting anyone’s bubble. That’s because those car shows are carefully crafted. In essence, you could say we’re figuring out the end result first, then working our way back. It’s like being guided: “This is what you’ll discover, this is what will happen. Our job is to help us get there.” Now, I can see how that works in reality TV, but when it comes to reviewing a product that countless people have worked hard on, and their income depends on its success… well, that’s a whole different ball game.
Joe Rogan felt strongly that Top Gear had provided an unjust assessment of Tesla’s electric vehicles at a time when the company was still relatively new, which in his opinion tarnished Tesla’s reputation and may have been based on biased or fabricated opinions.
The thing to remember here, however, is that Elon Musk did file a lawsuit against the BBC tied to Top Gear‘s review. In 2013, the Tesla complaint against Clarkson’s on-air claims was dismissed, with the judge ruling that the company’s reputation wasn’t damaged.
How Jeremy Clarkson Responded To Claims The Show’s Segments Are Scripted
After Chris Harris appeared and promoted his interview on The Joe Rogan Experience, Jeremy Clarkson wrote a column in The Sun, expressing skepticism about the claims made during the podcast. Instead of accusing the celebrities of fabricating stories, Clarkson’s article centered around the longstanding issue of urban legends throughout history, using examples like the misconception that Vikings wore horned helmets and the dubious tales surrounding John Bonham as illustrations.
Initially acknowledging Harris’ tale about Freddie Flintoff’s terrifying accident in 2022, Clarkson subsequently voiced his disappointment concerning rumors that the road tests on Top Gear were staged. He made these remarks to emphasize their authenticity.
There are lots of made-up stories about what happened when I hosted Top Gear. People still believe, for instance, that we did the H982 FKL number plate thing in Argentina on purpose. And in the big scheme of things, it doesn’t matter. But it does wind me up something rotten when Joe and Chris perpetuate the myth that my Tesla road test was unfair. And the fact is, Elon Musk took the BBC to court on the matter and lost. He lost the appeal, too. I know no one believes me.
Jeremy Clarkson doesn’t always present every incident from Top Gear as completely real and authentic. In fact, he has openly discussed the staged Reliant Robin stunt among other examples. However, it’s evident that in his view, car reviews and tests carry a higher degree of significance compared to the show’s other content.
On Top Gear, we’ve often caused controversy throughout the years, but rest assured, our car reviews have consistently been conducted with utmost impartiality.
It’s clear that the term “reality TV” has drifted far from its original meaning of unscripted reality, as cast members from shows like 90 Day Fiancé have claimed staged storylines. However, when it comes to supposedly impartial critiques, the difference between truth and fiction becomes even more ambiguous.
With an Amazon Prime membership, you can watch both “The Grand Tour” and “Clarkson’s Farm” in their entirety. Furthermore, viewers will discover a wealth of additional shows to enjoy as part of the 2024 TV lineup.
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2024-09-09 18:07