Seinfeld or Leno to host American Top Gear?

Leno all the way. or all three with Leno the lead.

I've seen Leno on multiple car shows and he is definitely a car nut. I love the fact he appreciates the history of vehicles, not just a pure "mechanical" sort of person.

I like Seinfeld, Leno, and Letterman, but somehow they don't fit for me. In the few times that I've seen Jay in his garage on TV, and he just seemed a bit bored describing his cars. His lively Tonight Show host persona didn't carry over. The BBC show is edgy and clever, and I don't get that impression from Jay. Letterman's style is the perhaps the most edgy of the three.
  
The new show needs to avoid being conservative and mainstream like most of NBC's shows. I hope NBC allows the host (whomever it is) to criticize the cars accurately, rather than placate the sponsor's. If you saw NBC's coverage of the Detroit Auto Show, you'll know how dry and old-fashioned it was.
  
In the end, we'll probably get a B-list celebrity. Bob Saget, Howie Mandel? Someone from the "Celebrity" Apprentice?

I don't think David Letterman would be that fun to watch. I don't know about Jerry Seinfeld, too.
 
I know Jay Leno would be entertaining to watch! :o)
 
Both Jay and Jerry are left-handed like me (you can also add Ayrton Senna, Al Unser, Jr., Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Sebastian Loeb, and Inside Line's Chief Road Test Editor, Chris Walton, to the elite list). I think Tim Allen, another southpaw, would be great as well!

Me too! I'm also a lefty! So can I apply for the job too? :)
 
Tim Allen would also be a good choice.

Tim Allen is too musclecar-ish. Not a good fit for a British program.
 
Letterman? Too NASCAR-ish.
 
Seinfeld may be the most euro-leaning of the names mentioned.
 
But for me it would be Leno by a landslide. He has the most knowledge of cars, the best collection, the most experience. That plus he's very spontaneous.
 
I would not miss one episode.

It won't be a British program. That's the whole point—to Americanize it. Letterman is mostly into Indy cars, if I'm not mistaken.

How about Bill Cosby? He was a car guy years ago and is always entertaining to listen to.
 
Really what they need is 3 very different guys with strong opinions but still get along.
 
Anyone know any race drivers that are real characters?

I'm a little disappointed in this direction, but if they're going to do it this way my pick is Leno. I'd love to see Tim Allen too. If you're gonna Americanize a car show, he's the man to do it. Lefties of the world UNITE! I do hope they get a good team with different tastes and personalities.

What is the name of that Hollywood-TV show actor "Coach". He drove race cars too. They need somebody with no leaning to any brand.

Craig T. Nelson

The episode of Coach when Coach went to Jim Russell Racing school (if I remember correctly) was one of my favorite sitcom episodes of all-time! Rick Mears and Bobby Unser were guest stars in that episode. I mentioned it to Rick a few years ago when I had a quick chat with him in the paddock at California Speedway. He said he had a lot of fun doing that episode! =Þ

Letterman will never be considered - his departure from NBC several years ago was less than amorous.
  
I agree with the previous posters that Leno would be the all around best for the job. I've run into him at a few events and his enthusiasm is only surpassed by his knowledge. He can go from discussing the suspension design of a Porsche Carrera GT to the firing order of a Duesenberg 8 without missing a beat.
  
Tim Allen would definitely be entertaining, but he's a distant second to Leno as far as I'm concerned.

Not to boast, but I'm glad I posted the other week on this issue when it was first announced and said that Leno and Allen should be hosts. You can all thank me when the ratings go thru the roof :-D

LENO!!! C'mon! Tim Allen would be okay too but seriously: Leno all the way!!!

the only reason "the best known car guys" are these guys is because they are rich and famous. i doubt they would be as well known if they were not. few gearheads ever get public recognition for being a gearhead. no one can touch the current top gear team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May.
 
in all the years Leno has hosted the tonight show, I don't think I have laughed as hard as in one episode of Top Gear. Seinfeld the stand up comedian is not that funny. Seinfeld the show, on the other hand, IS laugh out loud funny.
 
As for their car bias, Jerry's love for Porsche's is fine because I know he actually races them too. Leno is the potential problem as he is more a collector of rare cars that he enjoys cruising or just looking at, rather than racing.
 
Anyways, it doesn't really matter what their credentials are. Its all about chemistry and personality. If you look at the Top Gear dream team, you have a rude opinionated guy, a TV/ radio personality, and a boring automotive journalist. None of which can use a wrench with any proficiency.

The BBC now says the celebrity angle comment about the US show was "mis-informed."

Why don't they just raid the commenting cast from VH1s "I love the 90's"
B through H list celebrities have nothing to lose.

Leno would kill the show. He's a butt-kissing clown. I'd be willing to Tivo Seinfeld or Letterman though.
 
FWIW, Seinfeld just had a huge hit in 2007 with his Bee Movie. He's not looking for gigs, that's for sure.

Maybe Jason Priestly? It's not like he's expensive and he's also a bonafide car guy (hell he practically died in a wreck racing!).

I think race car drivers Tommy Kendall or Randy Pobst would be good, too.