Jeremy Clarkson speaks out against female hosts for Top Gear

I8ABMR · 08-30-09, 11:15 PM

Top Gear chief Jeremy Clarkson is no stranger to controversy when he speaks. In fact, he rather seems to thrive on it, which undoubtedly is a big part of the appeal of the show. Earlier this week, he spouted off again apparently in an attempt to irritate (or bemuse) women everywhere while at the same time alienating his core audience.

While discussing Top Gear at a television conference in Scotland, Clarkson apparently indicated that he didn't think a female presenter would be able to hold her own in the testosterone-infused environment that is the Top Gear studio. According to Clarkson: "I think a girl would be a disaster, seeing the chemistry we have now...you bring a girl in and you start taking the piss out of her, that would look like bullying."

What do you think – is Clarkson right or wrong? Could Top Gear benefit from a female voice, or is it better off as a boys' club?

I say don't mess with the greatest automotive TV show ever. Its perfect just the way it is. The idea of throwing a lady into the mix seems weird and will ruin the dynamic of the three other hosts IMHO.

Och · 08-30-09, 11:20 PM

If it aint broke, dont $&*# with it!!!

Unless they bring a half naked Angelina Jolie there, but thats another story.

I8ABMR · 08-30-09, 11:23 PM

I think it would be so lame to toss some random tarted up chick into the mix. They have done stupid **** like this on the speed channel in the states and it always seems so lame and contrived

Danimal · 09-06-09, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I8ABMR

I think it would be so lame to toss some random tarted up chick into the mix. They have done stupid **** like this on the speed channel in the states and it always seems so lame and contrived

I think I agree with this. Women are usually put in these shows as eye candy; which I find annoying. If I want to watch a show about cars, I want to watch cars. That's enough to make my pants fit funny. If the woman fit in well with the guys, well then why not?

I don't remember if it's 5th Gear, but one of those English car shows has a woman host along with the rest, and she fits in fine from what I remember!s

PhilipMSPT · 08-30-09, 11:37 PM

A woman in a male-oriented enthusiasts' show will be complicated.

If she's dominant and defensive, she'll be labeled a b;tch.
If she's passive and compliant, she'll be a ditz.

If it was a man in her place, he'd be one of the boys who can say whatever he wants to say, all the while being humorous, amiable, stupid, and understood the whole time. For a woman, humorous means she's unsexy, amiable means she's weak, stupid is stupid, and being understood is impossible...

Emerald · 08-31-09, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilipMSPT

A woman in a male-oriented enthusiasts' show will be complicated.

If she's dominant and defensive, she'll be labeled a b;tch.
If she's passive and compliant, she'll be a ditz.

If it was a man in her place, he'd be one of the boys who can say whatever he wants to say, all the while being humorous, amiable, stupid, and understood the whole time. For a woman, humorous means she's unsexy, amiable means she's weak, stupid is stupid, and being understood is impossible...

WOW!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX

She would have to have very very very thick skin......

Beyond true....

I will try to add more inside info to this "story" from trip I took last spring.

Let me check and see if its "cool" to do so.

BRB

Big Andy · 08-31-09, 02:58 AM

Top Gear has had a female presenter. From 1997 - 2001 Vikki Butler-Henderson was a regular on the show. She more than held her own and then moved to Channel 5 with her fellow presenters to start Fifth Gear, which she still appears in.

I do agree that putting a female presenter in with the current line up might be difficult but I'm sure that Sabine Schmitz, who drove Clarkson around the Nurburgring in her M5, and who presents the German version of Top Gear could do a decent job.

Och · 08-31-09, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Andy

[i]
I do agree that putting a female presenter in with the current line up might be difficult but I'm sure that Sabine Schmitz, who drove Clarkson around the Nurburgring in her M5, and who presents the German version of Top Gear could do a decent job.

Yeah but I wouldnt exactly call Sabine a woman :X

jracerlmn · 08-31-09, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Andy

Top Gear has had a female presenter. From 1997 - 2001 Vikki Butler-Henderson was a regular on the show. She more than held her own and then moved to Channel 5 with her fellow presenters to start Fifth Gear, which she still appears in.

I do agree that putting a female presenter in with the current line up might be difficult but I'm sure that Sabine Schmitz, who drove Clarkson around the Nurburgring in her M5, and who presents the German version of Top Gear could do a decent job.

for some reason, she just annoys me so much when i watch her on episodes of fifth gear.

Or it could just be Fifth gear entirely.

bitkahuna · 08-31-09, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jracerlmn

for some reason, she just annoys me so much when i watch her on episodes of fifth gear.

Or it could just be Fifth gear entirely.

i actually think she's better than the guys, although overall, the scripting is HORRENDOUS. they actually do good DRIVING and reviews, but the on screen personalities come across as sickly and over the top with lame humor.

metalgear · 09-05-09, 02:33 PM

i think that the automotive world will always belong to the male species, but that's just my opinion. females are just not that into cars

mmarshall · 09-05-09, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metalgear

i think that the automotive world will always belong to the male species, but that's just my opinion. females are just not that into cars

Tell that to Danica Patrick and Denise McCluggage. And to Jean Jennings of AUTOMOBILE magazine. And to the girls on Motorweek who do the weekly auto-industry news.

1SICKLEX · 08-31-09, 10:18 AM

She would have to have very very very thick skin......

bitkahuna · 08-31-09, 01:14 PM

i once saw a broadway play called "defending the caveman", a one man show about how in a modern world of feminists, and guys having to show their 'softer side', that guys are often abandoning their true male nature and that no matter what anyone says, there are fundamental differences in behavior between men and women. overall, i think that's true (not saying one is better than the other!).

anyway, in this funny play he talks about how men and women greet one another. a man will greet a male friend with a smile saying "hey a$$hole how are ya!" a woman will greet a female friend with a smile saying "ooh i love that outfit and your hair!" INSULTS vs. COMPLIMENTS. lol

sure we all know exceptions to this, and Emerald, don't flame me, it's just an observation by someone that is sometimes but not always true.

anyway, i mention this because on top gear, they flame each other constantly, with jeremy commenting on hammond's height, james may being captain slow, etc.

as has been said you'd have to have a very thick-skinned female host who, to quote what someone said about margaret thatcher, has (metaphorically!) balls of steel.

Emerald · 09-05-09, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bitkahuna

i once saw a broadway play called "defending the caveman", a one man show about how in a modern world of feminists, and guys having to show their 'softer side', that guys are often abandoning their true male nature and that no matter what anyone says, there are fundamental differences in behavior between men and women. overall, i think that's true (not saying one is better than the other!).

anyway, in this funny play he talks about how men and women greet one another. a man will greet a male friend with a smile saying "hey a$$hole how are ya!" a woman will greet a female friend with a smile saying "ooh i love that outfit and your hair!" INSULTS vs. COMPLIMENTS. lol

sure we all know exceptions to this, and Emerald, don't flame me, it's just an observation by someone that is sometimes but not always true.

anyway, i mention this because on top gear, they flame each other constantly, with jeremy commenting on hammond's height, james may being captain slow, etc.

as has been said you'd have to have a very thick-skinned female host who, to quote what someone said about margaret thatcher, has (metaphorically!) balls of steel.

LoL!! uh....you're correct, it IS true

I think people mistake me for the Feminist type because I love to work on cars n stuff. The problem with most of those types is that they want to be like men or sumthin.

Cars are a guy thing....but some girls like to play with them as well...cool.

however, dont expect all guys to want (or like) you doing "their thing". Thats just the way things are and always have been. no biggie to me.

kinda reminds me of female boxers who want to fight male boxers for sum crazy reason....retarded.

also, Ive been advised to "keep my mouth shut" about TopGear and its affiliates.