D1GP on SPEED TV (Short Review)

[Bebop]

Did anyone watch it today. I thought it was a decent show, here are some low and high points from my perspective.

Pros:
1 hour long
Got the whole top 16 in 30 mins
Good D1ish camera angles

Cons:

Commentating was the worst I have heard in a while. It was like the guy didn't get the proper translation of the event. His emotions sound really force, at one point he just yelled out DAMN. And there was too much basic drifting lingo if you could call it.

Terms "line" "speed" and "angle" shouldn't be used that much, especially if you put a "killer" or "crazy" before them every single time. Please get a guy who genuinely likes this sport, I question if this fellow has ever been to a drift event.

The precursor with Americans coming to japan background was a bit too much. 30 minutes of the show was dedicated too that, and throughout the whole thing they kept reflecting back to the American drivers as if they are that relevant. I would like to see much more drifting content in a 1 hour show.

It might seem like I didn't like the show, but honestly it was decent... better then what I thought it would be. Just have to put my dislikes in detail to truly get my point across. I will watch the next episode.

[Bebop]

The episode is being replayed right now!

[Piner]

Yeah I don't get speed in south korea so i'll just have to sit here wait for more reviews

[Bebop]

But you got South Korean girls in South Korea

Eff drifting, do work!

[Slapshotnerd]

Watching it on my TiVo... First of all, I'm AMAZED that this show actually aired after all the failures of D1GP here in the US over the past 4 years (abbreviated
'07 season, canceled '08 season, '09 season that failed to meet expectations for many including no TV show that was previously published, and the failed attempt at a 2010 season).

Visually, the footage and graphics are good quality, but the angles and height of the cameras make it hard to see exactly how close the cars are getting to the clipping points, especially during qualifying when it counts most. The super slow-mo is visually stimulating, but I think it's used as a gimmick, not to explain a point. Again, this is a problem with camera placement.

The voiceover guy just makes the show unwatchable, he's trying WAYYY too hard! At first I thought he sounded a bit like the Iron Chef announcer, but not in a good way. I had to mute him after the first few tandem battles because he was just irritating me. They really need a 2nd announcer to play off of, and the announcer's fake enthusiasm needs to be ditched. The car sounds aren't very well synched to the video, there are times where you can tell that the audio is of a car speeding off, but visually they are slowing down.

I like how much of the footage they used for the first Hubinette montage is from the FD demo in Hollywood... wonder if they got approval for that?

Overally, the quality of the production is good, you can tell that the production team knows how to produce a visually stimulating product, but it's clear that they are trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator, not a drifting fan. I'm glad I TiVo'd it so that I could skip through most of it, and I watched most of it on mute.

[my 1 88 u]

what the hell! Why am I finding about this a day late? What kind of promo was this given? When are reruns? I want to see the Tokyo event.

http://www.d1gp.com/latest/speed-and...ix-event-dates

SPEED broadcast schedule (all time ET; subject to change):

Tokyo Sat, Sep 4 6:30pm
Oita Sun, Sep 12 6pm
Fuji Sat, Sep 18 6pm
Okayama Sun, Sep 26 6pm
Tokachi Sun, Oct 3 6pm
Ebisu Sat, Oct 9 5pm
Ebisu 2 Sun, Oct 17 6pm
Texas Sat, Oct 23 5pm
Texas 2 Sun, Oct 31 2pm
Atlanta Sat, Nov 7 4pm
Fuji Exhibition Sat, Nov 13 6pm
Miami Sat, Nov 20 6pm
Fuji Sun, Dec 5 5pm
Wrapup Sun, Dec 5 6pm
Irwindale Sun, Dec 12 6pm

[Justin Banner]

Loved the footage. Hated the announcer. He's forcing his emotions and the "DAMN" comment was stupid. I think Dan Woods could have done a better job.

[Jonny Fonseca]

Reruns on the east coast??? Can i watch it on o demand with comcast? Or itunes?

[Justin Banner]

I caught the 12am re-run last night, so maybe late tonight, unless they run NASCAR Victory Lane very late (big possibility from the looks of it, those cars look mean tonight).

[slideways2004]

Originally Posted by blaze1

It might seem like I didn't like the show, but honestly it was decent... better then what I thought it would be.

I beleive that you didnt like the show. You think it was decent because you love drifting and saw some of the cars and action that we all love. Imagine if option video or something similar was being aired, then would you like this show? Not trying to start something weird, but this is how I feel.

I think this show needs to be watched in mute like Slapshotnerd said.

[Bebop]

Originally Posted by slideways2004

I beleive that you didnt like the show. You think it was decent because you love drifting and saw some of the cars and action that we all love. Imagine if option video or something similar was being aired, then would you like this show? Not trying to start something weird, but this is how I feel.

I think this show needs to be watched in mute like Slapshotnerd said.

Your partially right,

But like I said in another thread, I haven't seen good drifting on TV since like 2007 and minus the commentary and the USvsJP backdrop, I think it came close to that quality.

And seriously, we all love (or loved) Option... but if you took option and threw it on TV with just subtitles would anyone other then us hardcore fans watch it?

Now that's a legit question not a statement, I really do wonder if the broader American audience has enough patience too watch such a production.

Then again America did watch Iron Sheff for many years in all its dubbed glory! Gives me a little hope I guess, but would speed give up a 2 hours time slot for that?

They didn't shove TNA in my face like NOPI, but it also didn't put me to sleep like Rolex series. So yeah, like this show I'm in the middle.

I rather watch a show on mute then not want to watch it at all.

[Bebop]

Reminder

D1 today 3pm pacific 6pm eastern

[Jonny Fonseca]

Well I'm finally watching it and I have initiated MUTE MODE!!! I think thats the same comentator from monster garage lol

[Bebop]

DAMN!

LOL, this commentator is something else... but as watching the credits, I think he is Japanese. He had a Japanese last name, if he speaks Japanese he should be a shame of himself lol.

As far as this episode goes, another decent one from these guys.

[my 1 88 u]

Awesome footage. The announcer has a super annoying voice but was spot on.

Can some one explain to me why Saito lost?

[Jonny Fonseca]

Originally Posted by blaze1

DAMN!

LOL, this commentator is something else... but as watching the credits, I think he is Japanese. He had a Japanese last name, if he speaks Japanese he should be a shame of himself lol.

As far as this episode goes, another decent one from these guys.

lol I took a shot of tequila everytime he said DAMN! lol Just like when I watch Formula D live i take a shot everytime Jared says Oh Doctor lol

[Justin Banner]

Originally Posted by Jonny Fonseca

Well I'm finally watching it and I have initiated MUTE MODE!!! I think thats the same comentator from monster garage lol

No, that would be this man:



Brett "Big Schwag" Wagner, host of Pass Time, radio host (if I remember right), Monster Garage, and many movies.

[my 1 88 u]

Why isn't D1 shot in HD?

[Bebop]

Originally Posted by my 1 88 u

Why isn't D1 shot in HD?

Because they got most of there footage second hand from D1 japan... i do not think video option has HD available.

[Jonny Fonseca]

Well I left a comment on speeds site for D1s show ... I doubt they'll actually respond to my question in regards to the comentator lol and I also asked if theres going to be re-runs.

Anyone here know if theres going to be a re-run for todays show?

[SSmith]

Actually, the show was very good. Not as good as watching Option DVD but it's better than nothing.

[Suede Mr. Flash]

D1, oh D1, when will you learn? The best drift program on the planet yet everything that lands on our shores seem to get watered down into oblivion.

I don't know how many episodes have aired here other than the Autopolis one but I agree with most everything stated here. Camera was good as per usual Sunpros standards although the circuit itself didn't seem to offer some of the more dramatic camera positions that the Sunpros guys are famous for.

I can see why they have a lot of the "drifting 101" stuff in there. It IS on Speed after all. The show needs to try to appeal to seasoned drift fans and noobs alike. The more people who take an interest in drifting, the better it is for the sport on a whole so showing some basics in the show makes sense since it will reach a lot of people new to the sport. Think of the difference between Formula 1 broadcasts on Speed and Fox. The Fox broadcasts include recaps of all the basic rules and competition formats because the Fox audience will often include a lot of noobs to F1. Irritating for the seasoned fans but a necessity at the end of the day.

The graphics were pretty good. For anyone who has done any video editing, you know how much time all the graphics take to produce and they didn't seem to skimp much here. Just enough to provide clarity so you know what is going on, without too much to confuse the noobs.

Commentary was pretty bad. I agree that it takes more than one good voice to make this work, whether live or on TV. But whether it's one or more, the "voice" needs to be more exciting to reflect the energy of the event.

The traditional pitwalk with one of the "usual suspects" would have been a better use of SOME of the time spent on the U.S. guys and the URAS tour.

But the thing that really seemed to be missing more than anything, the thing that makes D1 what it is, is showing more antics from the judges. At live D1 events, and in Option vids, the judges are as much or more a part of the production as anything or anyone else there. But in this TV show, they were really downplayed, which I thought was a huge mistake. The experience and showmanship of D1's judges are about the only thing that set the series apart from everything else and putting them in the background made no sense to me.

Suede...out.

[INFO]

Originally Posted by Suede Mr. Flash

D1, oh D1, when will you learn? The best drift program on the planet yet everything that lands on our shores seem to get watered down into oblivion.

I don't know how many episodes have aired here other than the Autopolis one but I agree with most everything stated here. Camera was good as per usual Sunpros standards although the circuit itself didn't seem to offer some of the more dramatic camera positions that the Sunpros guys are famous for.

I can see why they have a lot of the "drifting 101" stuff in there. It IS on Speed after all. The show needs to try to appeal to seasoned drift fans and noobs alike. The more people who take an interest in drifting, the better it is for the sport on a whole so showing some basics in the show makes sense since it will reach a lot of people new to the sport. Think of the difference between Formula 1 broadcasts on Speed and Fox. The Fox broadcasts include recaps of all the basic rules and competition formats because the Fox audience will often include a lot of noobs to F1. Irritating for the seasoned fans but a necessity at the end of the day.

The graphics were pretty good. For anyone who has done any video editing, you know how much time all the graphics take to produce and they didn't seem to skimp much here. Just enough to provide clarity so you know what is going on, without too much to confuse the noobs.

Commentary was pretty bad. I agree that it takes more than one good voice to make this work, whether live or on TV. But whether it's one or more, the "voice" needs to be more exciting to reflect the energy of the event.

The traditional pitwalk with one of the "usual suspects" would have been a better use of SOME of the time spent on the U.S. guys and the URAS tour.

But the thing that really seemed to be missing more than anything, the thing that makes D1 what it is, is showing more antics from the judges. At live D1 events, and in Option vids, the judges are as much or more a part of the production as anything or anyone else there. But in this TV show, they were really downplayed, which I thought was a huge mistake. The experience and showmanship of D1's judges are about the only thing that set the series apart from everything else and putting them in the background made no sense to me.

Suede...out.

thanks for taking the time to write a constructive review; it is now on the homepage

[Gibbs]

i watched it and i have to say besides the annoucer its not bad but the whole forest wang comment was kinda uncalled for didnt like that to much but action was hot!!

[Bebop]

Originally Posted by Ae86Lover27

but the whole forest wang comment was kinda uncalled for didnt like that to much

I agree... what was up with that comment!?!?!

Either something happened between them behind closed doors, or D1 just trying to show superiority. Regardless, stupid comment to make.... grounds for defamation.