Top Gear USA, the History Channel’s version of the long-running BBC automotive show, has been cancelled. Co-host Rutledge Wood announced in posts on Facebook and Instagram on Sunday night that the episode set to run on June 28th will be the last to air on the History Channel.
I’m very sad to say, but Tuesday night’s #TopGear on HISTORY is the last TG US that we have shot for you. I’m not saying Top Gear on HISTORYis done, but it’s done for the immediate future on @History .
I remember the day that I got the phone call to ask if I’d be interested in talking to one of the producers about possibly being one of the hosts of the US’s version of the world’s most iconic car show. It’s been an amazing ride for sure, and although I don’t think the show is done, it appears that it’s done with our friends at History, and we’re incredibly grateful for being a part of the A&E Networks family.
I have had so much fun with Tanner Foust and Adam Ferrara they really are like brothers to me. We’ve traveled this amazing country and to some of the coolest places on earth together, and even in the hardest moments, it’s been a total dream come true.
The three of us will stick together and hope to bring you much more Top Gear USA, albeit it somewhere else it appears.
To the FANS- we cannot say enough how much we truly appreciate each and every one of you. You have always been there for us in great numbers, and we really do love you all. You are the reason shows like ours exist, and you’re also the reason we’ve been so lucky to do this show for so long together. We never dreamed how many families would sit and watch our show and laugh together. We never knew how many couples would sit and watch three goofballs go out and try to make each other laugh. And yet, you all watched…and you told other people and shared in the joy.
To everyone who worked on TGUS- thank you. For everything. You’re our family and you’re the reason we got to do this for so many years together.
So here’s a toast to all of you out there. I hope you’ll watch Tuesday night and enjoy the last show we made for you. We took a trip of a lifetime down to Cuba and drove classic American cars from the 50’s down there, and I can tell you it’s one of the coolest things we have ever done together.
Cheers and lots of love, Rutledge
Top Gear USA had an uphill battle when it first hit the air. The show had to compete against the years-long popularity of the original BBC version starring Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. In the first season, the US version didn’t have the polished production and unfakeable charm of the long-running British hosting trio.
But US hosts Rutledge Wood, Adam Ferrara, and Tanner Foust thankfully stuck with it. And as the trio worked together, they defined a Top Gear that could stand on its own, with enough unique features and local flavour to distinguish it from the British show it was named and modelled after. And as BBC Top Gear imploded in the wake of Clarkson’s firing, the History Channel version offered US viewers a distinct and sincerely enjoyable alternative.
Of course, having a US variant of the show only became more important when the BBC put the original Top Gear in for a full post-Clarkson revamp. While the BBC’s new six-member Top Gear team tries to figure each other out, having Wood, Ferrara and Foust as the well-oiled US team was welcome and refreshing.
It’s unclear what happens next. As Wood points out in his Facebook post, it seems like the History network has severed its ties with the program. Perhaps a different network, either on cable TV or online streaming, is interested in continuing with the show. We’ll just have to wait and see.
5 comments
Wait. I thought TGUS was cancelled years ago.
From memory I think it was cancelled before, but they brought it back. The same could easily happen again, except History won’t be involved.
To be honest, these 3 guys are better than Chris Evans.
Agree with that one… at least Tanner was good driver…
other 2 were just boring muppets… nearly as bad as gingerman Evans was…
Simple solution: TGUS to become TGUK?