Top Gear (American TV series)

Top Gear (American TV series) was an American adaptation of the British television series Top Gear. It premiered on November 21, 2010, on the History channel. The series, like its British counterpart, focused on presenting car reviews, celebrity interviews, and outlandish challenges. However, unlike the original, it featured an all-American cast and initially attempted to carve its own identity by emphasizing American car culture and humor.

The show's initial hosts were Tanner Foust, Adam Ferrara, and Rutledge Wood. These hosts remained throughout the first five seasons. They engaged in various automotive stunts, races, and challenges, often traveling to different locations across the United States and occasionally internationally. Celebrity guests were featured in a segment called "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car," where they would drive a designated vehicle around a track, and their lap times were recorded.

The series underwent a significant format change after the fifth season. In 2016, it was announced that a new cast would host the show, consisting of Antron Brown, William Fichtner, and Tom Ford. This iteration of the show ran for two seasons, focusing more on in-depth car reviews and less on the over-the-top challenges that characterized the earlier seasons.

The American Top Gear was ultimately cancelled in 2017. While it achieved some initial success and attracted a dedicated fanbase, it often struggled to escape the shadow of its immensely popular British predecessor. Critics often cited differences in humor and chemistry between the hosts as factors that contributed to its varying levels of success. The show is notable for its attempts to adapt a successful international format for an American audience, demonstrating both the challenges and potential pitfalls involved in such adaptations.