Leno fears Top Gear USA - How about Leary?

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NBC has officially purchased the rights to produce an American version of Top Gear, and seeing as it has one of this country's biggest gear heads on its payroll, it's a no-brainer that they would at least ask Jay Leno to host. In his most recent editorial for The Sunday Times, Leno recounts being asked by a corporate suit with practically no clue about of the hit British show to host the American version. It goes something like this. "Well, the network has bought the TV show... um... High Gear? Top Gear? Top Gear! Top Gear, yes. We know you like to build cars." Sigh...

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From Dan:I agree fundamentally. NBC does not have the capability to make this show right. Think about TopGear - it has incredible production values, they knock it out of the park. It's brilliant and we don't even get to see it in HD (imagine how glorious it would be in HD). 

NBC will never take the time to get that perfect shot. You know the one, a corner of the car gleaming in the sun, with just the right background. There won't be enough ROI for the work.

Car and Driver TV is shovel ware, it's the same crap the old Nashville Network put out for Motor Trend. The host is so boring. PBS's long-running show sucks too and always has. Boring. 

I just don't see how NBC can do it. 

PLUS, think about how un-PC Top Gear is. They make fun of homosexuals (I'm not condoning it, but it is true), they make fun of America (we're cool with it, we can laugh at it) and yet they have huge hearts (ref: their New Orleans episode, it went from making fun of Red Necks to "Oh s#$t, look at the damage done here"). 

Adam Carolla may be fine. I can't say. The Top Gear guys are bona fide stars in Europe. I actually think Leno could do something like it, but not quite. The hosts must be irreverent. Oh, it just hit me, Dennis Leary - yes he could do it. 

Recap: NBC cannot do it - they don't have the production skill. Top Gear might not be imitable. 

Thought: Why not put TopGear as-is (UK) on NBC. It couldn't hurt to try. It clearly brings in a much wider audience than the crappy car shows on Speed and Spike. 

I will continue to DVR Top Gear and savor it.

Everyday Heroes Project: Jeff Pulver

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Announcing "The Everyday Heroes" Project: (A Summer Project for New Media Enthusiasts)

NBC's epic drama "Heroes" chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities. I believe this concept can be extended outside of the realm of science-fiction and into our daily lives. During the course of the summer of 2007, help us tell the stories of everyday people who are "Everyday Heroes."

Think about a typical day, all the people you pass by in the course of doing what you do, those to whom you might say "Good Morning;" the people who work in your favorite eating establishments, the people who you see in the bank, the gym, people you pass by on the street, people who attend your school, people who you work with, the people in your car pool, the people around you who just fade to black when you are engaged in your daily lives. Yes, those people.


My belief is that everyone has a story.

Some of them are amazing people with amazing stories. Some people have overcome some great odds before the point where they got to be standing there to speak with you. Some of these people have taken on major challenges and overcame them. Some of these people inspire others. Some are people who challenge the status quo, who make a difference.

Every one has a story to tell. But you need to be there to listen to it. One cool aspect is that once you hear these stories, you will never look at that person the same way ever again.

So go outside and take your video cameras and your microphones with you. Join our "Everyday Heroes Project" and help provide a voice to the people who are part of your everyday lives, but until now have been silent. Post these stories to the web, to Blip.tv or YouTube or Brightcove or wherever you post your videos. Tag them "everydayheroes" and share them.

Help people tell their stories.

In the process you would have helped make the world a better place, you would have gotten to know some more people, and you would have discovered a few Everyday Heroes. There could be worse ways to spend the summer.

And PLEASE help spread the word about "The EveryDay Heros" Project.

Visit The Jeff Pulver Blog for the latest on this project: http://pulverblog.pulver.com/

To see Dan Mosqueda's "Hero Story" visit http://danmosqueda.blogspot.com/2007/06/whats-it-like-to-be-shot.html to read about how Second Lieutenant John Allamani is my hero!

To see Twitter Friend "DAYNGR"'s hero post visit: http://dayngrzone.blogspot.com/2006/09/911-my-personal-impact-story-1.html