D1GP on SPEED TV (Short Review)

[Gibbs]

i cant wait for the ebisu episode

[Bebop]

What does D1GP do so right with their cinematography that Formula D just doesn't get?

I feel you man

All I gotta say is FDs exterior mounted car cams, and birds eye cams do not amuse me one bit.

D1 gives the viewer the realistic best seat in the house.

Instant replay doesn't hurt either... was it me or did they not show a replay of the Gardella car going into the wall on today's episode?

[my 1 88 u]

What does D1GP do so right with their cinematography that Formula D just doesn't get?

[Bebop]

Just finished watching D1GP on Speed

Pretty cool episode, couple of calls I didn't like but cant remember too much in detail to discuss. One thing I did noticed and liked was after the Kawabata vs Imamura run they actually got a D1 official on grid to talk to the drivers about what exactly happened and relayed it too the judges. They both told the honest truth and Immamura was given the win and they both agreed about the decision. Never will happen in America but it was just nice to see.

And I also got some info on the announcer

Cyrus Nozomu Sethna


Looks like he is a narrator/translator/actor from the UK. Pretty sure he is not much of a car guy, so I will cut him some slack. And as I said before, I think its the same guy from the option international DVDs.

[Jonny Fonseca]

Sucks theres no re-runs! I forgot to record it!

I guess you can say FD is one up on that haha! Atleast they have re-runs!

[Bebop]

I own alot of option international DVDs, and I'm 75% sure its the same narrator. If this is true, I'm willing to cut the announcer a little bit of slack because on option DVDs some dialogue is narrated but when it comes down to the action its most subtitled from the judges.

Meaning this guy has never done color commentary for D1GP. If they do come back next year I hope they sighn on Toshi Hayama or even Antonio Alvendia, even though he does not speak Japanese I think with a little coaching he could be a good announcer.

As far as this episode goes it went pretty good (Favorite so far). I like the Manabu Orido back story, hes a cool Japanese driver who can be marketed to the American audience. For a second I wanted to know where Paul Vlasblom and the other European guy came from, but on second thought I was like nevermind lol. Fuji is my favorite modern D1 course and the action was great. Its a real breath of fresh air to see all the different chassis for a change.

[my 1 88 u]

The announcer is just horrible horrible. I could tolerate him last round but this one is unlistenable. Forget just firing him. Fire the guy who hired the guy that hired him.

I hope he's reading this and has the balls to post in here like J-Rod. He could at least pretend to give a #@%$ about drifting.

[Bebop]

3PM pacific on speed today!

[Justin Banner]

Oh, ok. I didn't hear about that.

[Gibbs]

he was just saying that forrest wang had a falling out and was to pressure to stay there so they got pat maurdaunt instead i just feel that was something that didnt need to be said... and should of kept it to themselves on that one

[Justin Banner]

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.

I missed that one, though I was trying to tune out the announcer. What did he comment?

[Bebop]

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.

[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!!

[INFO]

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

[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.