Tops Of Top Gear: 8 Reasons We Love "The Boys"

It is no secret why "Top Gear" has been so successful. Its hosts, Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond have turned what could have been a lackluster car show into one of the funniest, most entertaining series on TV.

Long a staple of British (and now international) television, the show Top Gear has spawned legions of imitators and millions of fans. One of the most-beloved programs the BBC has ever produced, it is no secret why Top Gear has been so successful. Here are just eight reasons we love Top Gear:

1. They Emphasize Quality Over Budget

The BBC has never been a network with the reserves of American channels like NBC or Fox. This has resulted in a media culture which prizes well-written and inexpensive television shows over flash-and-bang pyrotechnics and digital effects. "Top Gear" is an excellent example of what can happen when limited budgets create exercises in creativity. To their credit, the quality has not taken a hit in the last few years, during which the show's budget grew exponentially.

2. They're Pioneers

Do you know who the first people to make it to the North Pole in a consumer vehicle were? No, not an elite team of former Olympians who had trained for years to take the journey and strove for weeks to make it through the ice fields and glacial plains. No--it was, "two middle-aged men--deeply unfit and mostly drunk" who did it. In a Toyota.

3. They're All Different

Between Clarkson, Hammond, May, and The Stig, the hosts of Top Gear represent a whole spectrum of personalities. If all of them possessed Hammond's enthusiasm, May's deadpan snark, Clarkson's biting wit, or the stoicism of The Stig, the show would stagnate. Luckily we have a colorful blend of equally eccentric personalities to keep both viewers and each other on our/their toes.

4. They're Honest About Cars

While the show could easily make millions off pumping up car company egos, the hosts are surprisingly direct in their criticism of what works and what doesn't. This ethical form of criticism makes for a trustworthy program which not only entertains but educates the drivers of the world.

5. They're Good to Their Audience

There's a reason why the audience of "Top Gear" stands with the hosts during each show--this is not an audience kept at a distance but treated as equals by the show's presenters. In other words, "Top Gear" is popular because it doesn't condescend to its viewers or pander to their tastes. It respects their judgement and input.

6. They're Down-to-Earth

In the hands of the show's presenters, technical information doesn't weigh down the sheer fun of learning. We not only find out what's under the hood of the latest sports car on the market, we watch The Stig test out the build of the car itself in high-pressure situations. The show is so entertaining that the viewer hardly realizes they've taken in pages of information by the time each episode rolls to a stop.

7. They Make Mistakes

Everyone enjoys a good, victimless car wreck--it's the whole reason NASCAR exists. Top Gear has its fair share of spectacular wrecks and embarrassing fender benders--all of which are taken in good humor. The self-deprecating manner in which the hosts play off their mistakes is often a refreshing break from their typically arrogant personalities.

8. ...a LOT of Mistakes

Alright, so some episodes of Top Gear are less informative and more destructive. And that's okay--nothing is too serious or too sacred on Top Gear, which is one of the biggest reasons everyone loves these guys.

Informational Credit to Western Truck Body Mfg