Adam Carolla’s “Best Damn Car Show”/”The Car Show” Pilot Reviewed

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As we all know Top Gear USA just finished their premier season and lets just say the reviews are mixed. Trying to replicate the proven UK formula is not an easy task, but for US viewers the green behind the ears show is the only option for true car guys/gals until now. Today we had the pleasure of being on set for the filming of the pilot for Speed’s new automotive based program called “The Car Show”. Formerly referred to as Adam Carolla’s “Best Damn Car Show” it features Carolla of course, Wall Street Journal auto writer Dan Neil, John Salley of the ’96 Chicago Bulls, and Matt Farah, host of the online video program “The Smoking Tire.” The program is set to be a direct competitor to History’s Top Gear USA. The format features in studio sections and interviews combined with on road/track driving sections.

In the parking lot waiting to be let into the studio a quick survey of the cars driven by the pilot’s audience and I knew this group was a bunch of gear heads. A modded E92 M3, a C6 Corvette, a Tesla, a Jaguar XKR, a modded Evo X, and a Ferrari 458 lined the lot.  I really did not know what to expect entering the set. I knew both Carolla and Farah are funny guys that are good on camera, but I had not seen much of Neil or Salley prior to the taping. Also with four host and a brand new show I was really not sure how they would all interact.

In the first segment filmed all four host sat at a table, in a similar fashion to “The Best Damn Sports Show”, to discuss current automotive topics. The first couple of minutes of taping were a little stiff, but soon the joke cracking and smack talking began. Carolla, the ever sharp and quick witted car guy,  guides the gang into great discussions of automotive debate. The dynamic was stellar and hugely entertaining. The mix of talent and car knowledge allows the content to appeal to a broad group of viewers.

To start, Dan Neil is the intelligent car nerd of the group who brings to the table years of experience as an automotive journalist for the LA Times and now the Wall Street Journal.

Adam Carolla, the resident funny man, keeps the conversation light with injections of humor.

John Salley is kind of the odd man out in the car knowledge department, but more than makes up for it with a more common mans approach. Giving the less car knowledgeable audience members a way to relate.

Last but certainly not least is Matt Farah, host of the hit web series “The Smoking Tire.com”, who is kinda like your neighborhood car guru. Farah is a guy who washes his food down with motor oil, but is funny, easy to connect with, and says exactly what is on his mind.

During discussion the dialog between the host had the whole audience bursting with laughter. While they may not have all worked together before you would never know it watching the show. This type of genuine trash talking and strong differences in opinion is the dynamic glue that makes Top Gear UK such a hit.

Now while I am not allowed to talk about the content of the segments we saw at the filming. I am allowed to give you my opinion on the quality of the segments I did get a chance to see. The quality of the cinematography is amazing. On par with the boys from the UK. The clips were entertaining and left me wanting to see more of the finished product. Being a car show, viewers can look forward to comparison test, new car reviews, challenges, and event pieces. Of course each segment would not be complete without some trash talking and name calling.

At the end of the 6 hour taping I left thoroughly impressed and very excited to see this show make it to a full series on Speed. Having seen Top Gear USA and Top Gear Australia I can honestly say The Car Show pilot was way more enjoyable to watch and much more entertaining.  So I plead to Speed, PLEASE MAKE THIS SHOW!

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12 comments

  1. Blake
    January 26, 2011

    Farah LITERALLY drinks motor oil? So who will they use for season two?

    Reply
    • Tony D
      January 26, 2011

      well he certainly cannot use it in his hair!

      Reply
    • Guido
      January 29, 2011

      Farrah just plain drinks. On Jan 6 -7 he tweeted drinking 16 vodkas live. What’s the definition of alcoholic?

      Reply
  2. Mark Smith
    January 26, 2011

    From the review it sounds awesome. Farah and Carolla should be able to make every episode pretty funny and I am sure trying to stuff a huge basketball player like Salley into tiny cars will continue to be silly.

    Reply
  3. Jack Renauer
    January 26, 2011

    I saw Dan Niel on Speed recently doing a test drive of the Ferrari 458 Italia. Dan doesn’t do so well in front of the camera, however, he’s a fantastic writer and very funny. Check the link below for his hilarious list of the 50 worst cars.

    http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/0,28757,1658545,00.html

    Reply
  4. Ryan
    January 26, 2011

    Actually I’ve seen a clip with Adam, Dan, and Matt posted on Thesmokingtire and have to say Dan isn’t bad on camera. Adam is always funny and Matt is a seriously down to earth guy with a sense of humor. He actually responds to facebook comments.

    Reply
  5. David
    January 27, 2011

    Thought Carolla was going to be in Top Gear… Anyway I think it will be a well rounded crew. I am a car buff myself and can’t sit through Matt Farah’s rants. In every Smoking Tire I’ve ever seen, he is obviously paid to say some really nice things about cars he clearly knows nothing about… If everyone says he’s great I will give him another chance…

    Reply
  6. Guido
    January 29, 2011

    If Farrah thinks we’ve forgotten about his Datsun episode, we haven’t.

    Why is this clown on a car show pilot? He drove a Datsun 240 with a fiberglass Ferrari 250 GTO kit car body (Alpha 250) and reported it was a real Ferrari 330 with a 250GTO body on it. He lied about seeing the Ferrari V12 and I.D. plates on the chassis. This guy’s an idiot, plain and simple. A lying, stupid idiot.

    Reply
  7. TV Reviwer
    February 1, 2011

    This show is not that good. These guys know nothing about cars. At least Top Gear has hosts with real credibility and chemistry.

    Reply
    • brandon
      February 4, 2011

      nothing about cars? ive listened to Carolla for years, and he certainly knows a few things about cars. everyone else in the lineup save one does have an auto pedigree, and the odd man out is there to BE an odd man out. and the show isnt out yet, so you cant hit on what the chem is like. sheesh, haters. my wife and i love the original top gear and i’d like to see this particular version at least make it out the gate. good luck guys!

      Reply
  8. eric
    March 13, 2011

    I cannot wait for this show to come out! Top gear USA is good but not great, I think this has the potential to be great. I follow Matt Farah on The Smoking Tire and he is a down to earth guy, and I respect his opinion.

    If anyone who is the cast for this show reads this just ignore all the trolls. They are just jellous that they are not in your shoes. Ignore the trolls, and I hope this show gets picked up with great sucess.

    Reply
  9. zadrocks
    July 14, 2011

    I dvr’d the show and am glad that I did. I didn’t have to sit through the whole thing to see if there were any segments for grownups. Carolla’s “humor” was so contrived it was embarassing and as usual was of the lowest order. Juvenile masterbation and toilet humor – Carolla’s specialty – should be taken to MTV and left there. I love cars but this waste of time is awful. Pull the plug soon.
    Move along, nothing to see here.

    Reply

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