It appears there is another gear beyond Top Gear and you will only be able to engage it on Amazon.com.
Jeremy Clarkson, the popular, embattled, and ultimately fired presenter of the highly-rated Top Gear program on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), has found a new spot for his hard-edged and biting automotive commentary. You might say he has found a prime spot, since his new show will only be available on Amazon.com Prime starting in 2016.
Many BMW enthusiasts with with whom we are familiar have been wondering if the acerbic host would find another show and if he would bring along Richard Hammond and James May, his co-presenters from his old show.
He will.
Clarkson had a tough year, generating controversy with some comments he may or may not have made but the whole Top Gear thing was brought to an ignominious conclusion when he was fired for punching out a show producer for not catering to his every whim; or at least not catering, since it involved Clarkson not being able to get a meal.
In fact, Clarkson’s career as the main Top Gear presenter has been checkered, to say the least, spattered with numerous controversies surrounding what Jeremy said or did.
But Amazon,com, which is looking to take its streaming video service to the next level, has hooked a huge name, at least among car enthusiasts. Clarkson, on his Twitter page, commented “Amazon now saying I can’t be their chief drone pilot. Apparently they want us to make a car show.”
The team of Clarkson, Hammond, and May, along with Andy Wilman, a Top Gear producer who decided to quit when Clarkson was fired, have signed on with Amazon Prime for three seasons. No other details were provided as to the nature, format, or content of the show.
For good or ill, we've always had a soft spot for Jeremy, especially since he has been a fan of BMWs. We don’t know if Clarkson’s new show will be better or worse, but we do know one thing: We’re glad we already have an Amazon Prime subscription.—Scott Blazey
[Photo courtesy of Amazon.com.]