The Grand Tour

First episode came out this week. Anyone watch this?

Perfectly recreates the fun of the old Top Gear in an even bigger and better show. Clarkson, May, and Hammond still have fantastic chemistry. The photography is fantastic. And the bigger budget is noticeable, not only in the road tests (right off the bat they have a McLaren P1 vs. Porsche 918 vs. Ferrari La Ferrari) but also in the traveling show format.

Any misses? Not sure their outspoken conservative NASCAR driver--called "The American"--who stands in for the Stig is going to make the grade. Their new track is not as big as the one on TG, even if it is trickier. And it's unclear if they can do "Stars in a Reasonably Priced Car" without getting sued.

Still, the magic is there and I'm definitely onboard for this show.

I was looking forward to it and enjoyed it tremendously. You're right though; the American Stig just falls a bit flat and could use some tweeking.

All in all, it's great to have the fellas back!

Getting a Prime account this week just for this show. Really looking forward to it.

I can remember when "The Grand Tour" referred to Voyager I & IIs missions to the outer planets.

It has an earlier meaning.

Haven't seen you in a while, welcome back!

Yes. It referred to Dayton's mom's inner thighs.

Knock it off.

Loved the opening. In London, we see a sad, downtrodden Clarkson leaving the BBC on a rainy day, getting on an airplane, flying to L.A., getting into a customized Rocket Mustang, driving out to the sunny desert, and, as we hear the song "I Can See Clearly Now," he starts to cheer up. Then May and Hammond pull up in similar Mustangs on either side of him, they exchange smiles and nods, and then all three drive across the desert flats...

I couldn't help but break out in a big smile.

Yeah, I'm not really feeling "the American" either. Apart from that one nit-picky bit, two thumbs way up for The Grand Tour, the boys still have it, I'm locked in for the series! I'm giving the premire episode out of five.

Yup. I hope Chris Evans is somewhere, either taking notes or crying.

Evans won't be taking notes, because he's already bowed out of Top Gear... It's all on LeBlanc and the rest of the new bods now.

The American definitely falls flat, especially after Trump. The rest is fine though. Ep 2's "Operation Desert Stumble" was very scripted rather than the spontaneous stuff that is much funnier but it still pulled a few smiles from my jaded embittered mouth. They do need to get some celebs on though, even if they're "helping" review cars by being stuffed in the glovebox, etc.

Two weeks behind right now, work's been too much like work lately.