The premise involves three hosts, professional driver Tanner Foust, actor Adam Ferrara (Rescue Me), and automotive analyst Rutledge Wood, discussing and reviewing cars. But, much more than that, it often sees the trio coming up with a lot of unique scenarios to test and challenge different cars as well as the people driving them. For example, seeing who can find the best car with a $1000 budget. Or racing a Dodge Viper through a track while being chased … by a military helicopter. Did I mention it has missiles? Or my personal favorite, finding the best pickup truck  for under $3000 and pushing its limits in the Alaskan wilderness.  There are also weekly celebrity guests, such as Buzz Aldrin and Dominic Monaghan, who each perform test runs in a Suzuki SS4 in the Big Star, Small Car segment and their mystery driver, the Stig, that also performs test runs on vehicles discussed throughout the show.

During the challenges, the cinematography is pretty amazing. The colors really pop and makes the cars look extremely sexy, even if it’s a 1984 Nissan. The show travels to a number of cool locations throughout the US, and the geography looks gorgeous everywhere they go. I wish I had seen this on Blu-ray because it looks fantastic on normal DVD. The sound production is also very well done and makes me wish I had a sound system that could take advantage of all of those rumbling engines.

The show’s hosts are quite good. The chemistry doesn’t always feel completely natural and is a bit forced at times, but there are times when they seem to be having a great deal of fun, and as the show goes on they seem to gel better as a team. In fact, their constant sparring at each other becomes fun to watch the further you get into the series. Seeing them all get drunk while doing a prohibition run – and discovering how flammable moonshine is at the same time – was pretty awesome.

The ten Season 1 episodes are spread over three DVDs. Episodes on the DVD menu are broken up and labeled by segment which allows you to easily see what is on an episode and jump to the section you want to see. There are also some additional special features. There are a handful of Webisodes, about 15 min in length total, that have a good mix of outtakes and on-set shenanigans. There are also about another 30 minutes of segments called Poolside Chats which has the hosts covering a number of random topics off the top of their heads.

Overall, I really enjoyed the Season 1 set. If you’d like to get your hands on your very own copy of the DVDs, check out their official site for details. I won’t be rethinking my stance on reality TV but I will be looking out for Season 2 of Top Gear. Speaking of which, Season 2 kicked off on July 24 on the History channel in the US and airs Sundays at 10pm. You can even catch full episodes on the History channel website – even in Canada!

Photos Courtesy of BBC

I have to admit, I wasn’t on board with Eleven. I still wasn’t over Ten – David Tennant’s version of The Doctor was an extremely tough act to follow – and when I attempted to watch any of the Matt Smith episodes, I’d just end up disappointed and frustrated. I was torn, because I really liked Matt Smith and Karen Gillan in all of the interviews I saw with them, but their characters annoyed me to no end!

Fast forward to present day and the DVD release of Doctor Who: Series 6, Part 1. I watched the episodes, and have to admit I enjoyed them. My main issue with the start of Smith’s run as The Doctor was the stories were a bit too childish for me. I preferred the darker, intense episodes with both Nine and Ten, so the 2-part Series 6 opener was right up my alley with its elements of mystery and suspense, and I was pleased to see the characters have become more endearing rather than annoying. The Silence, the alien threat that The Doctor was up against in “The Impossible Astronaut” and “Day of the Moon” were Ood-level creepy. I’d even be as bold to say they’re almost as creepy as The Gentlemen in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Incorporating Area 51, the Nixon administration and the US space program were really neat touches to the story as well.

There are two “Monster Files”, one on each disc, which feature The Silence and The Gangers. You get a really good behind the scenes look on what went into creating each creature, and learn more about what they are, and the threat that they pose. The Silence are basically parasites that have always been around that can use humans to their will, planting thoughts in people’s minds. It’s an interesting take on the idea of deja vu because when you see them, they immediately wipe your mind so you don’t remember them. I don’t want to give too much away, but you get to see what work of art inspired The Silence, and what went into creating the prosthetics and SFX makeup to bring these aliens to life. The Gangers, short for Doppelgangers, appear in “The Rebel Flesh”, and are they ever a unique looking creature. Several sets of prosthetics had to be created for each actor playing one of The Gangers, and this Monster File gives you a real appreciation of the level of work that’s required for the effects makeup intensive episodes.

I may go back to Series 5 at some point, but for now, these DVDs have actually convinced me to watch the second half of this series, which starts at the end of August. I’d say if you weren’t impressed with Series 5, at least give the Series 6 opener a chance. You might be surprised. This DVD set is a good refresher for those who have already seen the episodes, or the perfect way to catch up in time for the new episodes.

Photo Courtesy of BBC

We’ll have a full review of the discs for you soon, but in case you haven’t checked it out yet, here’s a look at the two-disc set that includes the first seven episodes.

In case you didn’t catch these episodes when they originally aired, or need a refresher, here’s the lowdown:

In Part 1, the Doctor, Amy and Rory find themselves in Sixties America, battling the invasion the world forgot, then journey on the high seas of 1696 aboard a pirate ship, to solve the mystery of the Siren. In a bubble universe at the very edge of reality, the Doctor meets an old friend with a new face, and in a monastery on a remote island in the near future, an industrial accident takes on a terrible human shape. And waiting for them, at the end of all this, is the battle of Demon’s Run, and the Doctor’s darkest hour. Can even the truth about River Song save the Time Lord’s soul? Only two things are certain. Silence will fall. And a good man is going to die…

Take a glimpse at some of the adventures that The Doctor, Amy and Rory embark on in this fantastic photo gallery:

To get your hands on your very own copy, visit the official site! And remember to check back soon for our review!

Images Courtesy of BBC

The iOS app will focus on 10 three-minute motion comics combined with an interactive treasure hunt. It will not only tell a parallel story, it will also give hints on Miracle Day.

According to the press release, Torchwood: Web of Lies “reveals a past day in the lives of Captain Jack Harkness and Gwen Cooper – a day they’ve both forgotten. The events of that day fuel a modern day conspiracy-laced treasure hunt, as Holly Mokri, voiced by Eliza Dushku, labors to uncover the secrets of Miracle Day.” John Barrowman and Eve Myles have lent their voices to their motion comic counterparts.

A new episode will be unlocked each week as the TV series airs; the first one will be released promotionally via iTunes, and then you can purchase the other nine inside the app in packs of three for $0.99 each, or you can choose to buy the bundle of 10 for $2.99.

Once a linkto the app becomes available in the iTunes store, we’ll be sure to share it with you!

Photo Courtesy of Starz

Luckily, some kind person posted it to Daily Motion so those of us outside the US could revel in it:

Torchwood: Miracle Day Trailer by radionovadj

My impressions based on this promo? There’s definitely a different feel from the Torchwood we’ve come to know and love. It’s a bit more sleek, stylized, and dare I say, has a much more “American” feel to it. The action factor has been upped, and its signature sexiness is almost non-existent in the clip. That being said, it does look great, and like it will be a fun ride. Motherhood seems to agree with Gwen Cooper, and hasn’t gotten in the way of her butt-kicking abilities. Captain Jack is as suave as ever. Let’s just hope that in Miracle Day‘s actual run, we get more of the rawness that has made Torchwood one of the best series out there.

What are your thoughts on the promo? Do you think that Torchwood as we know it is gone forever, or will it be able to retain its essence?

Photo Courtesy of Starz

Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman)

Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles)

Rhys Williams (Kai Owen)

Dr. Vera Juarez (Arlene Tur)

Rex Matheson (Mekhi Phifer)

Jilly Kitzinger (Lauren Ambrose)

Oswald Danes (Bill Pullman)

Esther Drummond (Alexa Havins)

Hopefully by Starz posting these photos, it means that our first video previews aren’t far behind

Bring on July 8th!!!

Photos Courtesy of Starz

Hearing that brief snippet of music at the end put the biggest smile on my face. I cannot wait for the return of Jack and Gwen, and meet some of the new characters. July 8th can’t get here soon enough for me!

Who else has started their countdown to Miracle Day?

Image Courtesy of Starz

TV Line broke the news just a short while ago, and also had the first poster for the series.

A UK start date hasn’t been announced as of yet, and still no news of a Canadian network picking it up.

*UPDATE – According to Amber Dowling of TVGuide.ca, Canadian network SPACE has picked up Torchwood: Miracle Day, but an air date hasn’t been set at this time.

Image Courtesy of Starz

In this clip, Annie … ahem … makes a new “friend”, Sasha, outside a bar:

Be sure to watch Being Human tonight at 9pm UTC on BBC3.

In this video clip, Mitchell interviews for a job with a little help from Annie:

In the first photo, George and Nina discover a teenage vampire, Adam, who has some self-control issues:

And in this one, George and Annie realize they know nothing about teenagers:

Now, there was initially some confusion following the preview clip for this episode that aired after the premiere last weekend, namely that some people thought the vampire youth was the one that Mitchell turned in S1; however, that was a completely different character, Bernie. I do think it would be interesting to revisit Bernie and his mother at some point to see how everything has worked out for them.

Being Human airs tonight at 9pm UTC on BBC3. And the web series, Becoming Human, will begin immediately following the episode.

Photos & Video Courtesy of BBC