'Top Gear' hosts move to Amazon: Why this is controversial
Former 'Top Gear' hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond are reportedly set to host a car program for Amazon. The BBC, which produces 'Top Gear,' decided against renewing Clarkson's contract earlier this year.
Former 'Top Gear' hosts (from l.) James May, Jeremy Clarkson, and Richard Hammond stand outside No.10 Downing Street in London in 2011.
Stefan Rousseau/AP
The personalities of 鈥淭op Gear鈥� are set to appear on a show for Amazon.
Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond will reportedly a new car show for Amazon Prime. The trio鈥檚 former show was on the BBC and featured the three of them discussing and trying out different cars.
The first season of the Amazon show with Clarkson, May, and Hammond will debut in 2016.
While 鈥淭op鈥� was on the air for decades, the show went through a revamp in 2002, eventually becoming the most-viewed factual show worldwide. However, Clarkson was fired earlier this year after a 鈥溾�� between him and a 鈥淭op鈥� producer. May and Hammond decided not to continue on the show without Clarkson.聽
鈥淭op鈥� had been the subject of controversy for some time, with one writing that the 鈥渆ssence of 鈥楾op Gear鈥� lies in childish pranks, 鈥榩olitically incorrect鈥� jokes, [and] smutty comments鈥� and writing that the show consists of 鈥渄rooling over European supercars while making xenophobic remarks.鈥�
However, more than one million people signed a asking that Clarkson be brought back to 鈥淭op.鈥� Amazon Prime Video EU vice-president Jay Marine referenced this demand, saying, 鈥淐ustomers told us they wanted to see the team back on screen, and we are excited to make that happen.鈥�
Streaming services bringing back shows that are canceled is nothing new now, as seen by Hulu's revival of Fox鈥檚 鈥淭he Mindy Project,鈥� Yahoo Screen's decision to bring back NBC鈥檚 鈥淐ommunity,鈥� and the appearance of Fox show 鈥淎rrested Development鈥� on Netflix. However, those shows were merely canceled by their networks 鈥� there wasn鈥檛 a messy breakup, at least not in public. Amazon's decision to create a new show for "Top" hosts comes with more controversy given the circumstances of Clarkson鈥檚 departure.聽
Time will tell whether Clarkson continues to court controversy at Amazon.