Hansen
The rebooted Top Gear’s host, Chris Evans, has finally responded to his critics via an editorial piece for the Daily Mail’s Event Mag. In the article Evans likens his Top Gear experience to a career reality check and wonders the longevity of it all. He has noticed all of the criticism in the industry and mentions:
I think we can all agree that some people in my business would currently prefer me/my career/preferably both to be shot on sight rather than apprehended and taken in for further questioning.
It’s clear, even to a deaf, dumb and blind man, that in their considered opinion I thoroughly deserve to be six feet under and the sooner the better. And no, I’m not being paranoid. All right, well perhaps a little.
As a result of the criticism, Evans has contemplated worst-case scenarios of what could happen to the new Top Gear show. He figures if the show ends up getting cancelled that he can always follow in the footsteps of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, and do his own show while getting paid a lot more.
After licking my wounds, I could attempt to seek similar employment, like Zippy, Bungle, and George did after their infamous exit from Top Gear last year. You know, for ten times the cash but a fraction of the audience.
Zippy, Bungle and George is a reference to a British television series, Rainbow, where they are puppet characters routinely getting into disputes. We question whether anyone would hypothetically pay Evans to do what he does for ten times the amount the BBC currently pays him for his Top Gear contract. Even he recognizes the chances of that not happening:
Failing that, I could sit at home and drive my wife insane until she throws me out, applies for a restraining order and calls in lawyers.
A few months later, desperate and destitute, I could apply for a correspondence course in becoming an international hit man.
Once qualified I could offer my services free of charge in Broadcast magazine thus: “To anyone getting grief from untalented weasels in our industry whose only role in life is dealing in slander about others in order to extend their otherwise moribund existence, STEP ASIDE – ALLOW ME.”
I have no idea what it is that’s driving these rabid malcontents to stoop so low, but I wish them well with their inner demons. In the meantime, I’m going to get on with my job while I still can.
The crew at Shifting Lanes believes we should give the new Top Gear show a shot. The controversies like the Cenotaph stunt and reports of Evans bullying his staff doesn’t really help our case, but soon enough we’ll be able to consume automotive entertainment at double dosage with The Grand Tour starting up on Amazon Prime in the fall of 2016. The tonnage of negativity and hate towards the new Top Gear and especially its new frontman must be an uneasy burden. At least for Evans, he’s begun to realize his uncertain future:
By this time next week our first complete show – studio, films, audience, the lot – will be in the can, ready to be aired. If you don’t hear from me again, you’ll know it didn’t go well. In which case, it was nice writing to you.
(Source: The Daily Mail)
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