'Top Gear' Host Jeremy Clarkson Dropped by BBC After 'Fracas'

[joeybee12]

LONDON — The BBC said Wednesday it will not be renewing the contract of "Top Gear" host Jeremy Clarkson following an altercation between the popular presenter and a producer.

Clarkson was suspended earlier this month after he was accused of punching producer Oisin Tymon — the latest in a long line of controversies involving the host.

The BBC said Wednesday it had decided not to renew Clarkson's contract after "very careful consideration of the facts."

"It is not a decision I have taken lightly," BBC director general Tony Hall said in a statement, adding that he "could not condone" what happened.

http://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/top-gear-host-jeremy-clarkson-sacked-bbc-after-fracas-n329881

[edhopper]

1. I guess

the irascible, curmudgeon thing isn't an act.

[joeybee12]

3. Apparently...

The "fracas" must have been pretty bad for them to fire him.

[sir pball]

4. It doesn't actually seem so...the victim didn't even file the report.

Clarkson apparently turned himself in feeling it would be the right thing to do, even though it would have likely blown over otherwise. I think a combination of his recent troubles plus elements at the BBC already wanting him out just came together; while I'm not surprised they dropped him I'd have been equally nonplussed if they made him take anger management rehab. Ah well, the three of them will be on Sky/Fox soon enough.

[joeybee12]

5. Well, I bet more about this comes out...

He was a big deal over there and I'm sure the tabloids will cover this endlessly!

[sir pball]

9. Oh, I'm sure it's going to be quite lurid for a while!

I definitely suspect something more was going on behind the scenes - as I said, given the prima facie facts of Oisin seemingly willing to let it lie and the immense value of Jezza to the TG brand, there were forces greater than the visible ones here.

Not to mention the "anonymous" BBC source comparing the situation to the Saville incident...if the Corporation is really going to tighten up on misbehavior, whoever spilled *that* gem needs a very public reprimand!

[joeybee12]

10. Yeah, Saville was horrific beyond words...

That comparison is way over the top

[sir pball]

13. How that gets handled should be telling.

While it certainly doesn't rise to the level of what Clarkson did, it's also hardly an innocuous, passing remark. If somebody isn't called to task over it, it's not going to be good optics for the Beeb.

[T_i_B]

19. British tabloids already are covering this endlessly

To the extent that genuine news is being swept under the carpet.

[Travis_0004]

2. Its the end of an era

Clarkson has been there since 88. Without him I imagine the show will never be the same.

It was my favorite show on television and will be missed.

[sir pball]

6. I like to think of it as the beginning of a new one.

The Short One and The Slow One won't renew their contracts either, so the brand is essentially dead to the BBC. While I'm sure all three of them will be on a fantastic new show soon enough, I wouldn't be overly shocked if Sky, with the essentially infinite backing of Fox, buys not only the Musketeers but the entire brand, lock stock and barrel. Given the budget ol' Rupert could throw at that show it could be better than it's ever been!

[LordGlenconner]

7. Clarkson is a guilty pleasure

By all accounts he's someone I should despise, but for some reason, I just find him so enjoyable to watch even though I disagree with him on a myriad of issues.

There has been some discussion that Netflix may provide him and May and Hammond with a show of their own.

[backscatter712]

16. I'll admit it too. He's a jackass, but an entertaining one.

He has said some incredibly douchey things on the show, but some of those things made me laugh.

Nevertheless, punching a producer because he's pitching a fit over lunch is out of line, and this isn't the first time he's been called to the carpet for nasty behavior.

Looks like this was the straw that broke the camel's back, and his employers have finally had enough, so they pinkslipped his ass.

[hifiguy]

18. Always heard he was a hard-right Thatcherite jackass IRL

though he was funnier than hell on TG.

[Xithras]

8. I doubt Clarkson will be unemployed long.

Top Gear was around long before Clarkson, May, and Hamster took it over, and it will be around long after they're gone. What the three of them did, however, was transform a boring British car show into the most widely watched television series on the planet. That transformation had nothing to do with cars, and everything to do with their personalities and interactions with each other.

Earlier today, James May made a statement that the three of them were a package deal, and that May and Hammond's contracts are up next month anyway. It's my guess that we're about to see a massive bidding war break out as every major broadcast company on the planet starts fighting for the three of them. Even Amazon and Netflix have already been mentioned as possible contenders (both have been trying to find breakout hits for their streaming video services for a while now).

Financially, getting fired from the BBC could end up being the best thing that ever happened to Clarkson.

[alarimer]

11. He had it coming.

He punched a guy over food. He went to the hospital, although it was not a serious injury. But there was at least 30 minutes of abusive language as well. Letting this go would have been a huge mistake.

Good riddance. He's a clown and a dinosaur. I only watched it for the other two.

It's too bad, though, that they couldn't have finished the series while the investigation was going on. That may have been an error.

[mr blur]

12. He's a racist, xenophobic, misogynistic, homophobic, ignorant, right-wing, loud-mouthed bigot,

Good riddance to this oaf and his dumb driving rubbish.

[sir pball]

15. Oh, he'll be back on the air very shortly, and likely for more money..

Bottom line, he's one of the world's most popular presenters. Look for a major (e.g. bigger than the BBC) channel to scoop him (and Hammond & May) up in the next few months, if not weeks. This "fracas" is going to make him even more popular and put a serious dent in the BBC's bottom line. And you'll still be free not to watch.

[Major Nikon]

21. That's very true

Faux is living proof that there's always a lowest common denominator willing to hire shitstains nobody else wants and pay them considerable sums.

[sir pball]

22. I'd bet more than "nobody" wants Clarkson.

Up till now all his trouble has been more controversial than outright unacceptable, always drives ratings. That and your presumed feeling on him aside, he's quite popular with a significant chunk of the population, well more than enough to offset the other half that despises him (he does seem to be pretty polarizing). I suspect a major bidding war is imminent..

[Major Nikon]

23. I don't have much of an opinion of him either way

If I were to strike a subordinate for no good reason, I'm pretty sure I'd be canned as well so I don't have any sympathy for him. I certainly wouldn't hire him for any job knowing his background. That being said I'm not a celebrity who can behave badly and still count on landing on both feet. The only thing that seems to matter in that world is how many people you can get to pay attention to you, which is probably a good reason why I'm not in that business.

[sir pball]

24. You're right about that

He's far from the first celebrity to get violent and not end their career - look at Russell Crowe and Sean Penn. At least he doesn't seem to be chronically punchy, he's always seemed to be more of a verbal buffoon. Regardless, his following is probably going to insure there'll be plenty of networks willing to take the risk.

Apologies for assuming, I thought you were using "shitstain" in a specific sense.

[Savannahmann]

14. I've watched every episode of every season available.

Netflix has the early seasons starting with Season two. I've watched them all, almost all of them twice. It's the chemistry of the three guys who make the show work. Clarkson was the idiot you loved to watch, and dislike, and some even secretly enjoy like a naughty pleasure.

However, Clarkson was one of those people that you just knew without having ever met him, you couldn't stand him for long. He was too egocentric, too opinionated, and too loud to be a really good friend. A road trip with him would only work if you were in another car where you didn't have to listen to him every minute of the day.

But the show worked. The show worked because the three guys were lovers of cars, and had such different ideals, and as such liked and disliked each other all the time. But Clarkson's personality was well known, and was so brash, so obnoxious that it had become a running joke in the British Isles.

Hope you enjoyed Clarkson Island. The largest collection of Clarkson's, in the world.

[LadyHawkAZ]

17. It's a shame he feels the need to be such an ass

Top Gear is (was?) a really fun, enjoyable show.

One jerk's gotta ruin it for everyone.

[T_i_B]

20. BBC confident it can find a new prick

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-entertainment/bbc-confident-it-can-find-a-new-prick-2015032696705

THE BBC has confirmed that Top Gear will continue without Jeremy Clarkson as Britain is awash with boorish oafs.

Director general Tony Hall said the show’s format was guaranteed as he could just walk into a sports bar and ask if anyone wanted to be on television.

Hall added: “There was nothing miraculous about Top Gear’s success. Clarkson and the audience are entirely interchangeable.

“Indeed, I would like to thank Jeremy for helping a generation of pricks refine and perfect their utter dickishness.”

[joeybee12]

26. Perfect!

[Blue_Tires]

25. Sad...He's helped draw millions of viewers to the BBC over the years

But I guess at some point you just run out of second chances...