Remembering the Best of Top Gear
When first reporting the story of the suspension of Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson, the final three episodes had been "postponed." Now, news arises from British press that BBC has canceled the final three episodes of the season, even though they were already filmed.
Some news regarding the "fracas" has been released and it appears that Clarkson and a producer may have got into a scuffle (Kerfuffle?) involving dinner expectations. This incident has fired up long time critics of Top Gear and only emboldened their claims that the show doesn't fit into the post-modernist hipster narrative.
Rather, the hosts of Top Gear are excellent writers and have honed their banter with each other into an art form. While some media outlets want to prescribe some great cultural purpose of Top Gear, meaning that it must fulfill some higher purpose than what it really is, we should be reminded of the real roles the three host play. An article by Business Insider highlights this issue perfectly:
On the current incarnation of "Top Gear," Clarkson generally plays the role of the neighborhood buffoon — the less competent, simpleminded foil to his more thoughtful co-hosts, James May and Richard Hammond.
Since no one really knows what will happen with Top Gear, perhaps its better to look back and remember its finer moments.