The "New" Top Gear? Not For Me

   Months after Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson was shit-canned, the BBC has announced his 'replacement'. Chris Evans was featured on the show a few times, and is admittedly a car fanatic. But he doesn't have the charisma Clarkson had (despite his foibles), and I don't think he's got what it takes to be able to carry what was the world's most popular car show. And it was THE most popular motoring show "in the world", as Clarkson would put it. It was also the most popular BBC show, with 350 million viewers.
   But naming Evans as the new host is just one of the many problems the once storied franchise faces. Also gone are his side-kicks, James "Captain Slow" May and Richard "Hamster" Hammond. At least according to reports I've seen. Just who's been tapped to replace them has not yet been announced. But whoever the 'new crew' turn out to be, I, among millions of others, will NOT be watching when the show re-launches.
   The "why" is simple. After more than 20 years, the trio above built up a rapport between themselves, and with the audience. They also built up a trust, if you will, with viewers. That's something the new hosts will probably never be able to do.
   Don't get me wrong. Top Gear is far from being put in "park". There's still a lot of mileage left in the show. But without Clarkson, Hammond and May it may soon be running on empty.
   'Nuff said.