Octane TV

Television and radio comedian Adam Carolla, champion rally and drift racer Tanner Foust, and TV construction guru Eric Stromer, will lead NBC’s pilot of the international smash hit series “Top Gear.” The production will begin later this week.

Produced by BBC Worldwide America, the U.S. version of the hit franchise will mirror the UK show’s irreverent humor and camaraderie between the three presenters, epic races, outrageous stunts and challenges, unique celebrity guest participation and eccentric methods of testing cars.

"This franchise is a proven winner worldwide and the hosting team of Adam, Tanner and Eric that we have brought together for the U.S. version offers a perfect match of humor, insider know-how and priceless track experience," said Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment. "We are going to create a high-powered show that, like the original, will keep viewers in every demographic clutching the edge of their seats."

“These three guys will get to drive the world’s most amazing cars, go on incredible road trips and blow stuff up. It’s a dirty old job but someone has to do it…why didn’t I get the job?!” said Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, TV Sales and Content & Production, BBC Worldwide America.

Jeremy Clarkson, executive producer and host of the UK “Top Gear” said: “This is fantastic news - but how on earth you lot are going to do it on the wrong side of the road I’ve no idea.”

Adam Carolla
Television and radio personality Adam Carolla is host of the daily, nationally-syndicated radio program “The Adam Carolla Show,” based out of Los Angeles’ KLSX 97.1/ FREE FM. With partners Jimmy Kimmel and Daniel Kellison, Carolla created Jackhole Industries where he produced and starred in two hit Comedy Central shows, "The Man Show" and "Crank Yankers." Carolla also co-hosted the nationally-syndicated radio program “Loveline” with Dr. Drew Pinsky for 10 years, as well as its TV version on MTV. Carolla also recently wrote and starred in the independent, award-winning feature film, “The Hammer.” In season six of “Dancing with the Stars,” Adam became the first ever contestant to complete a Paso Doble on a unicycle. Carolla is an avid car collector and owns several classic collectible Lamborghinis, Maseratis, two Ferraris and an Audi S4.

Tanner Foust
Tanner Foust is in high-demand as a stunt driver, with film credits including “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” and “The Dukes of Hazard.” Foust is a winning competitor in rally, drift, ice racing and time attack with multiple champion podium placements including the 2007 X Games Rally Champion and 2007 Formula Drift Pro Drift Champion. His varied race experience includes open wheel competition, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb (2002 - 2004), five Ice Racing championships and the 2005 PGT Rally Championship. He also holds class lap records at numerous U.S. road courses in Time Attack. In addition, Foust also hosted “Supercars Exposed” for the SPEED channel. Foust’s car of choice is a tricked-out M3.

Eric Stromer
Eric Stromer, host of the HGTV show "Over Your Head," started life in construction and remodeling houses after a short acting career as a soap opera hunk was abruptly ended by a Styrofoam boulder on the set of “Santa Barbara.” For 20 years he ran a successful building company before becoming the face of HGTV’s hit show. He’s a regular on Adam Carolla’s nationally-syndicated radio show giving out construction advice, and also appears on TLC’s “Clean Sweep,” NBC’s “Three Wishes” and is a special correspondent for “The Insider.” Stromer prefers his Camry hybrid. Autospies

Alex Roy of Team Polizei has been doing some digging into just what the hell is happening with Top Gear USA. It's on, it's not, the hosts have been cast, now some have been fired. All we know is that it's damn confusing and nobody will say for sure what the future of the show really is.

Thankfully, Alex has been keeping track of all this, so here is the blow-by-blow of what's happened to date and what he thinks is looming shortly:

JAN: NBC orders pilot for US Top Gear. Jay Leno & Jerry Seinfeld rumored to host. American fans of UK Top Gear complain.
FEB: Adam Carolla announces he will host US Top Gear. American fans of UK Top Gear complain.
MAR: Jay Leno writes "I hope we don’t ruin it." American fans of UK Top Gear concur…and complain. Pulitzer Prize-winning automotive journalist Dan Neil joins the cast.
APR: Drifting champion Tanner Foust joins the cast. Dan Neil fired. Rumors say top NBC brass responsible. Neil confirms worst fears of American fans of UK Top Gear. Adam Carolla driving video emerges. American fans of UK Top Gear complain.
MAY: NBC Exec says "it’s in trouble" - off the record, of course. Screen tests continue. Pilot shoot delayed. Non-appearance on NBC’s fall lineup sparks cancellation rumors. American fans of UK Top Gear rejoice.

So NOW here’s his list of possible news coming sometime today, or not:
The pilot will be delayed and released mid-season.
The show is cancelled.
The show is being "tweaked" due to…er…NBC brass hating everything about it, or being confused, or both.
The third host will be:
a) A certain Team Polizei co-pilot who may or may not have been announced as a co-pilot…yet. Maybe.
b) A certain writer, possibly foreign, who currently writes for a certain American car magazine that doesn’t suck, yet who doesn’t need (or necessarily want) the job.
c) A certain TV personality from a well-known automotive show that may or may not be called "Beastly Carriage House", and who once participated in the Gumball 3000 and married a now-retired-yet-once-well-known porn access. He might have divorced her…not that I dug that deep and found out, of course.
d) A TV actor whose first name is Chris, whose suitability for Top Gear USA must be based on information far, far beyond the web, and who played a character who may or may not have been named something like "Nutty Cornea’d Murderer" on a popular TV show. Maybe.
e) Some other f****** guy about whom no one can tell me anything useful.

Apparently Herr Roy is in possession of a ton more information but is not releasing it at this time. Is any of this to be believed? Who knows. But where the fate of anything Top Gear-related is involved, the public wants to know!! Team Polizei

LA Times auto columnist and Pulizter Prize-winning journalist Dan Neil has confirmed that he is one of the hosts of the new "Top Gear USA". He will be joined by comedian Adam Carolla - presumably as soon as he gets voted off 'Dancing with the Stars' - and a third host, yet to be divulged.

Shooting of the pilot is slated for this summer in and around LA. High octane tests and ridiculous pranks will be filmed along with everybody's favorite, the celebrity hot lap. In keeping with the 'econo-box' feel of the UK edition, "Top Gear USA" is to employ the massive amounts of horsepower on tap in the...Chevrolet Aveo.

Let's hope all the witty banter, sarcastic commentary and generally-high levels of mirth will not be lost along with the English accents. And, more importantly, who is to be The Stig?