There was quite a bit of Top Gear discussion on Adam’s radio show this morning including Tanner Foust being a guest. Here’s a breakdown along with links to the podcasts for easy listening:

• How Say You? — Adam opens by talking about Tanner, how crazy us Top Gear fans are, how many fans don’t think he’ll do well hosting the show, and more. A caller also asks if there would be any aviation related material on Top Gear America like there kinda is on the UK version (races, etc.). Adam responds that yes there will be (hints at a race, possibly Los Angeles to Las Vegas) and talking about how awesome air racing is.
• Tanner Foust In Studio — Tanner talks about how he got his start and what his work as a stunt driver is like. There’s also talk of how they’re all doing on Top Gear.
• Christopher Titus In Studio Part 1 — Chris tells Adam how envious he is of Adam for being able to host Top Gear America and how hard he tried to get the job. There’s also talk of how crazy women race car drivers are as well as Chris and Adam’s times when they have gone driving on a track.
• Christopher Titus In Studio Part 2 — Some more Top Gear talk, but mostly this segment is talk about Chris’ bad divorce.
• Teresa Does The News — Nothing Top Gear related, it’s just the final Christopher Titus segment if you were interested in hearing the rest of him being in studio.

Eric Stromer, a frequent guest on Adam Carolla’s radio show, host of the HGTV show “Over Your Head,” and overall construction guru will be the third host of the American version of Top Gear. Production of the show will start later this week.

Story via BBC press release, photo via Jalopnik.

Read the full press release »

The Truth About Cars is saying that rally racer, drifter, and stunt driver Tanner Foust will be one of the hosts of the American Top Gear. If you were like me and had never heard of him before, watch this video of him hosting a show on SPEED.

They also are reporting that Dan Neil will no longer be involved with the American Top Gear.

But the big news here is that NBC execs pulled L.A. Times auto writer Dan Neil from the U.S. show after a viewing his audition tape — despite a signed contract with the Pulitzer prize-winning critic. Neil says he’s “very disappointed” with the network’s decision, but understands their motivation. “They couldn’t handle my heat,” he joked. “Seriously. It’s probably because I’m not very good on TV.”

In addition, the article addresses some of the concerns we’ve been having about advertisers.

Neil also reveals that NBC and the BBC are aware that aping the original Top Gear’s no-holds-barred reviewing style could piss off the media company’s automotive advertisers — and devised a solution. “They’re writing around the problem, by not doing car reviews unless they really love the car.”

I seriously hope that’s a joke because making fun of cars is one of the things that makes Top Gear great. Then again, we have to face the reality that the whole reason NBC exists is due to advertisers, so they aren’t exactly going to want to piss them off. So, I guess not reviewing the crap cars is better than no show at all.

Thanks to jnelcar for the tip.