An imported car show
Plestis is still planning ahead, and on Jan. 15, NBC announced it was developing an American version of the BBC Two reality show "Top Gear," which launches a new season in the U.S. on BBC America on Feb. 25.
"Top Gear" is a freewheeling combination of "The Fast and the Furious"-style driving and "Jackass"-type stunts, with a liberal dose of "Monty Python"-esque humor.
It's that witty, absurdist, uniquely British sense of fun ? along with a cheeky willingness to criticize any and all carmakers ? that may be the hardest thing to translate from the original.
"It's going to have an American voice and an American tone," Plestis said. "That's all part of casting it correctly. That's why we're starting off with a pilot. This is a smart show, and by the way, it's a sexy show as well. Those cars are just beautiful.
"The time has come for a show like this on American TV, especially broadcast TV. There's nothing like it, and that's what attracts myself and Ben (Silverman) and all of us here at NBC to the show."
All classes of vehicles
"Top Gear" is also known for not being just for car snobs. While the hosts are happy to slide into the butter-soft leather sets of a high-end sports car, they also check out ordinary sedans, coupes, vans, minivans and crossovers (albeit unfamiliar, right-hand-drive British models). One of the show's regular segments features celebrities piloting a "reasonably priced car" around a test track.
"You're going to see the top-end cars," Plestis said, "as well as the fun challenges with the everyday American cars.
"Literally, when we've been talking to Paul Telegdy, who's the head over here for BBC America Worldwide, he would pull up (every day) in another gigantic car that they're test driving, that they flew over from Germany or from some other place in the world, because all the car companies want to be part of this brand."
So, American fans of "Top Gear" will finally be able to see the hosts getting all worked up ? positively or negatively ? over makes and models they could actually buy down at the local auto mall.
"I love that little bit of wonkiness that happens with the show," Plestis said. "It's not a vanilla show. They get into the car culture. Their enthusiasm is infectious. It's funny. It's entertaining. It flies by. And, if we do our job correctly with the casting, hands down, it will work."
NBC has not yet given a projected airdate for its "Top Gear."
