its nice to see an american talk so highly of jeremy clarkson lol. jay leno would be the ultimate star in a reasonbly priced car.

bring your tank car down to england if you ever get the chance jay!

Jack Rose, London, England

American copies of great British shows are never as good as the original. They tried a copy of Coupling and it was canceled after one showing, thankfully. The (American) Office is funny, but that's is largely due to a Canadian who was part of a great comedy troupe "The Kids in the Hall." Thanks Jay!

Brad DeBruler, San Diego, California, USA

And this is why I refer to "NBC" as the Not Bright Company.
They just don't get it. Well spoken, Jay!

Lee, Pasco, WA, USA

Yeah, have jay leno on the british talk gear as the 'star in a reasonably price car'.....the conversation between him and jeremy itself would fill up the hour

Jack, Melbourne,

Someone should start a petition for the BBC to get Jay Leno over here to be a Star In A Reasonably Priced Car, in the next series of Top Gear. That's something I'd love to see...

Neil S, Glasgow, Scotland

Great reasoning from Jay as to the potential problems this American incarnation(abomination?) will have to face and the standards it will have to live up to. Personally, while i see Jay as a fantastic car guy, but I think long-term, an American "Gear" series would be better without him. Alot of his 'car guy' culture has tie-ins to GM. He would never hear the end of it if he arbitrarily decided to lambast them for not upping the ante in the solstice or start knocking on the acres of fake wood in a Lucerne. We ultimately need someone with a more 'renegade' style of humor to lead the charge. Maybe Dennis Miller or Colin Quinn? I do see touchy marketing people really putting a pinch on this type of show, but I think instead of calling XXX so-and-so company's product a pile of garbage, it would be nice to highlight what a current product *COULD* be if it was changed a little. Bottom line though, I see this series dying 3eps past the pilot.

Chris, Waterford, Michigan

The only solution to this problem is for NBC or some cable channel to air the original, uncut show here. I really love the fact that we Americans are the butt of many jokes on the show (as are many other groups, Britons not being excluded). However, too many viewers would be offended and the re-broadcast would probably flop due to advertisers yanking the spots, just as Jay said. The only way I will watch Top Gear is to download it. This is really the only TV show that I watch religiously, over and over. It just doesn't get old.

One way to "stoke the fire" stateside would be to send Jeremy, Richard, and James over here once or twice a season to do a show or some special like the American Road Trip episode. There's plenty of best driving roads, places to go caravanning, and epic race ideas for a car vs. planes, trains, boats, etc.

Brian, Atlanta, GA, USA

I think jay leno's a great guy, passionate about cars. He would be great at hosting a car program, not sure about top gear because it is a british show for british people and probably wont work in america.

However I would love to see jay leno on top gear doing "star in a resonably priced car". I hope the top gear guys invite him to do "star in a resonably priced car".

Christian, swansea, UK

American audiences already find Top Gear funny. That isn't the problem. The problem is that a USA TV company trying to copy Top Gear is going to bodge the job even if they can find a team of presenters that work as well together as the current UK presenters.

It's the same the other way around. Watch an episode of Pimp My Ride, then watch an episode of the UK copy of Pimp My Ride. Oh dear.

TV companies shouldn't be doing this, but they do:

i) Find a foreign TV program that would attract viewers. Maybe it's already found viewers on an obscure channel and/or time slot.

ii) Show some episodes to test audiences. They think it's great and want more of it.

iii) Buy the rights to it in their country.

iv) Make a copy of it that's completely different and lacks whatever the original has.

v) Wonder why the copy is unpopular.

If the audience wants the original, license the original and air that.

Angilion, Stoke, England

I've been downloading Top Gear from the internet for the past few years and I love it! To think that there could be an american version to ruin it all frustrates me. American television producers could never re-create what the brits have done. If NBC has purchased the show, why not save some money and just air it in its entirety. So what if I've never heard of the "star" thats doing to drive the reasonbly priced car, Its still fun to watch. The episodes I saw on discovery years ago cut out that segment and changed the british dialogue a bit, but its a British show and should have the British lingo. Just my thoughts on the subject.

Lee, Arkansas City, USA / Kansas

I think the producers of the US top gear should visit youtube and watch some of davidsfarm videos. he is no jeremy clarkson, but he knows how to tinker with cars and can build what the producers would want in the prescribed time and it would work. it would be more of a Monster Garage/junkyardwars meet Red Green. but they cannot reproduced the wit and free expression of the original top gear.

Pat O'Malley, London , Ontario Canada

I feel like Top Gear is already rather popular here in America, especially among the Generation Y car enthusiasts who grew up downloading old clips of the show. I know a good amount of people who watch it religiously on BBC America.

The reason that new fans of the show in America are so astounded by Top Gear is that American car shows are predictable and corny, like Motor Trend TV and Car & Driver TV. Watching the latest Mustang being driven at snail's pace around a big, bland track just isn't any fun.

We want proper cinematography. We want hosts with charisma, humor, and personality. We want the Stig.

America is ready for Top Gear, but Top Gear is not ready to be American. Let's air the show here in its original, uncompromised, British form.

Nick, Maine, USA

Leno is absolutely right. I say that they just start showing Top Gear on NBC. Why have an weak and boring American version? I bet that Top Gear would get better ratings than the crap they show now anyway!

Bobby, Turnersville, NJ

Jay Leno's right on the money, in the fact that an americanized version of Top Gear isn't gonna be able to live up to the original. For example, just look at what they do to the version that BBC-A shows. They're stripped of nearly all of what makes the original version entertaining. Mix in the "need to appease the sponsors" angle, and you'll have just another crappy version of Motor Trend TV.

If it ever comes to be, I'll watch a few episodes of it, just to see how bad it is, but it'll never live up to the original.

NOHC, Lebanon, Virginia

Mr. Clarkson and crew make Top Gear what it is. Without the chemistry between Clarkson, Captain Slow, and the diminutive slave-to-fashion Hammond (seriously, mate, the hair? gotta go), the show would be the dry snoozefest that is Motorweek.

And Mr. Leno is absolutely right about the biting wit. No way the wishy-washy American networks would allow their presenters to be honest about their sponsored products.

We really, really don't need an American version of Top Gear. The original is just fine, thanks.

Dan, Houston, Texas, USA

For me, what makes Top Gear the show that it is is the chemistry between JC, JM, and RH. Since I first heard about Gear, I have been skeptically optimistic about the possibility of the show in the US, but found that Jay absolutely nailed it right on the head. In addition to having difficulty recreating the chemistry, I think Leno's most accurate point was the show's inability to rip/skewer/shred a car they didn't like for fear of repercussions from advertisers. The only possible way around this was to institute a policy of no advertisement from car manufacturers (but that may not be a realistic option!).

The simplest solution - air the episodes in the US each week or make them live on bbc.co.uk and hour after the show aired and we won't have to worry about NBC butchering a great show!

Jonathan, Wilmington, DE, USA

Nobody could copy Top Gear.

We Brits have tried it ourselves (Fifth Gear, please JUST STOP), so what chance does anybody else have?

Jason Edmunds, Pontypridd, RCT

For anybody who's ever watched the original, no imitation version of Top Gear will ever live up to it. I can't even fathom it. Not to mention, most Americans simply do not have the same kind of sense of humour as the British. And there is nothing they can do to replicate the Clarkson-May-Hammond chemistry. The entire approach to everything would have to be different. The whole idea of importing it is awful, just awful. And NBC, of all places! It will have to be some flash, PC, ratings-driven, toned-down, sponsor heavy monster of a show. I cringe at the thought.

K, Toronto, Canada

I suppose he's right, and it would be difficult to pull it off, even if Jay had someone like Tim Allen co-presenting the show with him (in a similar way to when Tim was doing the Sitcom "Home Improvement").... though it could work (at a stretch) with Tim Allen fronting the show instead of Jay.

John Duck, Whitby, uk

If this show does get off the ground I would like to see Leno be a guest expert on Gear once in a while. I could see Leno giving some car history lessons or maybe help the presenters with an off the wall car build. Gota do something when Conan takes over right?

Michael Neisius, Torrace, CA

I enjoy watching "Top Gear" and wish it were more available here in the US. Part of the reason I like it is because it is "British". I also lke the fact that cars can be "Ripped to shreds" if there is somthing to critisize. Doing an American version is just plain stupid. I'm glad Jay Leno wants no part of it. If NBC wants to make a car show it should rename it and do it with a completely different premise. I only wish Jeremy,James,and Richard would come to the US and do a program on American cars. Perhaps Chrysler would listen.

Paul Grant, Santa Fe, USA/New Mexico

Finally some one actually gets it!!!

You can not take a show made in one country, remake it in another country and and expect it to translate. Especially if you take a British show and remake it in the U.S. We have seen it happen with many shows. 'Ballykissangel' from Ireland was remade in America and failed. 'Wild At Heart' from Britain was remade as 'Life is Wild' in America and failed. And others.

Now 'Top Gear'? No sorry. I'm sure it won't work.

They want to make an Australian version of the show too but I bet that won't work either. In fact I hear they are having trouble finding suitable presenters.

If a show works in one country, leave it alone and just buy the rights to screen it without thinking you can do just as good a job.

Steffen, Blayney,

I adore TOP GEAR..in fact i watch one show every day after work during lunch. I also adore American muscles cars although its very hard to get my hands on one where i`m living . ( Skopje, Macedonia, EUROPE).
But...imaginig Jay hosting this show is just ..well, ridiculious!
I really pay my respect to him for what he wrote above.
Don`t get fooled!..
Top Gear ( and Fifth Gear) are irreplaceble not because of the cars in the show, but because of the way they ARE reviewed in the show..and Americans cen NEVER do that!
American version of TOP GEAR will never be as cool as the British one, in a same way that the British Version of PIMP MY RIDE will never be as cool as the American one:)

Stratrovarius, Skopje, Macedonia

I agree "Top Gear" should not be done on American commercial television. I'm a huge fan of the show, catching each episode on YouTube when it becomes available. First, we don't have the range of cars available here for such a show and secondly, I think we, as a society, lack the sense of humor necessary to enjoy the show.

I tried to watch "Top Gear" with my wife on BBC America and she missed the point entirely. She said, "Well, all they do is wreck something.:" "Every show they destroy something." And I can only respond, "Yes, but the cars are great and the guys are hilarious!"

Leave "Top Gear" British. this fat American likes it that way.

Randall, Old Mystic, CT, USA

I watch Top Gear for years, and truly.. it can't be done! Top Gear can't be done anywhere but Britain. It's like the piramides, anyone will ever build one again. I can't imagine Top Gear without Clarkson, May and Hammond. So please, U.S. don't ruin Top Gear like you did whith The Office. Leave it for the brithish. You don't know how to build a proper car, do you expect to do a proper show about cars like Top Gear?? Don't think so..
P.S. I am whith Jay Leno on this

walter, lisbon, portugal

Some things like American Idol may be able to cross the pond but this show will not. The Brits have us beat on this one and I don't think that we can do the show justice over here. Especially, if we are doing a monster garage type of show. Leave the Stig across the pond. You can't import that kind of good humor.

Richard, Riverside, CA USA

I think Jay could still make a good Top Gear-ish show, but just do away with the actual car reviews. Have the challenges like car vs train vs plane, or buying a beater and racing it across the desert against a fellow car celeb. And at the end of the show, do an interview and then a celebs fastest lap. I'd rather watch an hour of that than most other shows on tv. No scathing reviews of cars needed.

Brad, Cleveland,

Jay is right on! We have had our versions of Top Gear with an American overlay - Jesse James' Monster Garage covered the build section with silly concept builds - When he got down to midgets and dwarfs building mini-cars and all women teams (over half incompetent) and some stupid ideas, I think Jesse pulled the plug. - - Road test would have to be either watered down or comparisons between dissimilar cars ( you know, "if you are a family man you'll need the mini-van but a single man on the town would want the roadster," etc.). It appears that to me in a US car program you need tatoos, piercings, a bad haircut, a bad attitude or a big ol' moustashe and omnipresent hat. Bosses have to be harsh and demanding, and everything is based on a false or contrived deadline. - - The restyling projects usually consist of wheels and tyres big enough for for a 747, splash graphix, and a stereo/video unit that could make your ears bleed if turned up to 5 on a scale of 20!!!

Rick Feibusch, Venice, CA

My husband and I are new fans of Top Gear--it is our favorite show! We cannot imagine American hosts trying to create the unique humor and commentary of Jeremy, Richard, and James. If the show was put on hold until Richard's return, how can we think of all 3 being replaced? We would love to have more episodes of the show played in America, and yes, PLEASE, DVDs of the past series!
We will watch any show Jay does about cars, but he is correct in declining the offer of an American Top Gear. Top Gear is and should remain, a British show.

Susan, Connecticut,

Jay, I have to agree with you. We cannot do what the Brits do. The great thing about the BBC and Top Gear is they do it the British way, and trying to mimic it in the US just won't wash. NBC will turn it into pablum, reality TV , "Days of our Lives" or something else equally boring and treacly. Best thing would be just give us access to the real thing. Buy the distribution rights & make it more available over here. I don't have cable, so never see the program, but if it was on NBC "as-is", I'd sure look for it.

Ken Nelson, South Lyon,, Michigan

I'm sure that there must be thousands of TV journalist type people in the US who will be able to drive useless every day cars extremely fast round disused airfields and burn rubber from VA to LA. Don't bother to have anyone find out when they go wrong if anyone can repair them for under two thousand quid either, because that would spoil the show.

I don't think that there are people in the US with the correct DNA codes to do a show like Top Gear, and if they do it, it will last four weeks as the viewers will fail to understand its reasoning. Its a show for overgrown kids who like showing off to each other. Hey, Americans are good at that !

Philamine Buquet, Newport, England

I have watched Top Gear since I was a kid back when Quentin Willson, Tiff Needell, Tony Mason and a very youthful Jeremy Clarkson ran the show all the way up to its latest, and greatest, incarnation with James, Jeremy and Richard and having lived in both the UK and North America and experienced television on both sides of the pond can tell you with complete assurance and conviction AN AMERICAN TOP GEAR WILL NOT WORK!!!

I'm assuming NBC picked it up based on the success of the latest version of the show. They will not find anyone with the same humour, irreverence, and wit as not just Jeremy, but James and Richard too. The show is a hit because of the bond between the three and the freedom the BBC allows them. Both those factors simply won't be present in an American network TV show. Don't spoil a good thing by making chintzy American knock-offs. I'd rather sporadic episodes of the real thing! Or even better, PLEASE BBC, release the episodes on DVD!

And Jay.......good call!

Scott Millson, Toronto, Canada

To be honest Top Gear doesn't do much review of cars other than the news section these days, and the 'variety show with cars' format is what has made Top Gear so successful. All you need to do is feature boatloads of exotics and V8s, along with variety bits at demolition derbies, drives on the Utah salt flats, and vignettes about truckers, police chases, motorcyclists and so on. The potentially offensive to sponsor bits of Top Gear amount to no more than about ten minutes which would easily be replaced by the commercials necessary to air the show in the US.

That said, good chemistry between the hosts is also necessary. They'll also need a good writing staff and some very clever camera work. I think the expense for these things is the biggest barrier to the show's success.

Greg, Chciago, IL

I'm an American who loves Top Gear, but I can honestly see that on network run television the show could never work. The sponsors would be very quick to pull the ads if something offensive is said on the air. Network television is at the mercy of sponsors and that's just the unfortunate way things work around here. I would personally love to see the show air on a premium network like HBO where they don't have to worry about sponsors crying about negative criticism of their products Hell, the show might even work on PBS!

Plus the idiot who pitched the idea to Jay either needs to get his facts straight or the producers need to pay attention to the show better. It sounds like Top Gear America is going to end up being Monster Garage 2.0.

On behalf of all Americans I want to publicly apologize to Jeremy and the gang, the BBC and the rest of the world for the horrible way NBC is about to wreck Top Gear. Please forgive us. We have the stupidest people in charge around here.

Robby, Salt Lake City, Utah. USA

As a long time fan of TG it would be nice to see TG other than via the internet. I can not help but think that the snow will flop without its current line-up. I think the BBC would be smarter to send TG over here on BBCA rather than NBC. NBC has given us many flops over the years so I would not be surprised if its gone in a week. And as a host Adam Corolla what show does he have on the air that hasn't floped??? I think I might watch once but I can't say that it will replace JC, RH, and JM; They are Topgear!!

Mike, Barto, PA

I completely agree with Jay. There is definitely going to be an issue with the sponsors. There needs to be a car nut on the show like John Force, Steve Millen, Jerry Seinfeld, one of those people that started AMG, Lingenfelter, etc. I am very skeptical that Adam Corolla can fit the bill. He can be controversial, but his car cred leave something to be desired. In all honesty I would be cool if we just show the original TG show on Sunday night (when it comes out) with more American Stars!! Jay Leno should go out there and be a star in a reasonably priced car!!

Rob, Pasadena, Ca

Transplanting Top Gear in another country is a naive idea that will fail. The success of that program stems from an idiosyncratic mix of personalities and culture. These attributes are not ready-made product; they cannot be duplicated.

Transplanting Top Gear in the US is even more absurb because a core principle of Top Gear, and a deeply-held belief of Jeremy Clarkson, is that Americans are stupid and American cars are rubbish. Jingoism and a snooty, wilful sort of Oxbridge ignorance are a humorous consolation for the majority of viewers who will never afford the cars or the motoring lifestyle that Top Gear dictates.

Joe, New York, US

I love how Leno automatically positions himself as Clarkson when we all know he's totally James May.

Jamie, Pittsburgh, PA

I don't for a microsecond believe the American public will understand it as it is not something that translates when they come "over the pond" to watch it on tele. Given that The Weakest Link failed miserably as well as other great UK shows, our decendants in the USA will make it a stupid inane boring and content free show with the tast of a McD's burger. When true Pistonheads like Leno won't go near it, you can bet your bottom $ it'll have folks so far up the manufacturers back pockets it'll be an embarassing and expensive failure.

Let us just hope it doesn't get syndicated back to the UK/Rest of World!!

Steve, Sydney, Australia

Let's face it Top Gear had run out of ideas years ago. It is just a jobs for the boys waste of time now. Look at the audience, morons to a man. The best thing would be for that hugely overrated trio to go to the US with the show - and not come back.

Gerard van Dam, Oxford, Oxon

I think that were a network to have the stones to show Top Gear as is, they would have a roaring success, and sponsors would pay, even if they're being hacked down to size. There is plenty of cutting humor on US TV (Family Guy, Futurama anyone?) that is on mainstream channels. But sponsors would have to be warned beforehand of what the deal is.

And keep in mind, Top Gear gets their cars to test from the vary brands themselves. Without the manufacturers loaning them the cars, there would be no roadtests. But why would they give Top Gear their cars if their critique is so cutting? Because when a car does something right, it gets praise. And because they can be so cutting, the praise shines so much brighter.

So while I agree that most US TV can be a bit bland and toned down, I frankly think that it is because the big networks don't have the stones. I think the various car manufacturers wouldn't have any problem with it. Except maybe the US ones... but they don't count anyway!

DocWilco, Den Haag, The Netherlands

Jay, you are so right. Topgear is the absolute best car show there is and that is so hard to beat. So instead of making an american version of Topgear why don't they show the original Topgear (British version) without cutting sections like cool wall (no longer there, damn fifth gear), news etc.

Amol, Calabasa, CA

I knew when I heard about the American adaptation of Top Gear that it would never be as good as the original. Without the cheeky Brits hosting the show, without the pull-no-punches opinions, or the decidedly un-PC criticism, it's just another boring car show: Here are the specs, here are the performance numbers, here's the price and options list...etc.

What makes the show work simply is not acceptable for an American audience, and as you said, sponsor-driven programming.

Hats off to you, Jay, for refusing to be part of this watered down ripoff of the best show on TV. Thank you.

Sherief Abdel-Rahman, San Diego, CA, CA

I fell in love with the show the way it is. It's because we dont have it in America that its so popular. It has a flavor that we cant duplicate, I pray that this American Top Gear or "Gear" tries to not mimic the origional, that could spell disaster for both.

Adam Olufs, Bartlett, USA, IL

I couldn't agree more with Leno's sentiments. As long as advertisers are involved, the show will have to be watered down. Plus, from what I've heard so far, there will be only one host. It is the interaction of Jeremy, James, and Richard that makes Top Gear work. I'm holding out hope, but as a whole, I don't think I'll find the American Top Gear nearly as entertaining as the original. However, I *am* interested to see if they do the "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car".

Luke, Greenwood, SC, USA

I must agree completely with Mr. Leno. As soon as I read of the initial rumors of an American Top Gear, the thought that went through my head was, "Oh no, I hope they don't make it."

An integral part of Top Gear's success is the combination of hosts Jeremy, James, and Richard. With a different host, that synergy will be lost entirely.

I believe one of two things will happen. Either (1) the show will try to mimic the British version closely, but will flop because the host talent isn't right, or (2) in an attempt to "appeal to American audiences," it will be dumbed down to the level of something like "Pimp My Ride" and turn into 44 minutes of mindless drivel.

In either case, I don't expect the show to last longer than a few episodes. Forever after, no one will attempt a major network car show, for fear it will share the same fate as NBC's Top Gear. Worse yet, it may ruin our chances of ever getting the real (British) Top Gear shown here in the US...

Robert, Watkins Glen, NY, USA

I'm an American who thinks Jeremy Clarkson is hilarious, and Jay is absolutely right about the sponsor inhibitions. I've watched it get worse and worse in the car magazines to which I subscribe. This is because they rely on the manufacturers for test vehicles, invitations to shows, etc. and the manufacturers have legions of PR people watching for any little slight (of course,If they'd put that money toward building decent vehicles they wouldn't have to be so sensitive).

Mike, Pierre, South Dakota, U.S.

Jay, Clarkson and his chums are not the original Top Gear.

I find Clarkson very amusing indeed if at times slightly juvenile. He's not been to 'sensitivity school' and tat's so refreshing in our odern age.

But, for me, Top Gear was infintely better when i was being fronted by Raymon Baxter who was much more of a gentleman.

Still, unlike many othe of the BBC's attempts to connect with the lower orders, all the TG presenters know how speak clearly without grunts, slurs and glottal stops.

As for transferring Clarkson to the USA? I suspect that most Americans wouldn't find him funny. I was on an exchange at a jilitary station in the US when the video that Queen made to support the song 'I want to break free' in which the band are dressed in female clothing. The overwhelming reaction in tbe officers' mess was of disgust and horror. And then they turned round to have a go at myself and another British colleague because we were falling out of our setas laughing.

Chris Palmer, Southampton,

I agree with you, Mr Leno.

I am wondering how's TG (Australia) is going to look like without Clarkson, Hammond and James.

Cynthia , Perth, WA

Well said Jay, you hit the nail on the head! Speaking as an ex Brit, here in Vancouver now for 30 yrs, commercial tv in the US will not stand for Jeremy's honest, rude sense of humour and frankly I'm not sure that American audiences would find it funny. I think you were right to run!

Paul, Vancouver, Canada