‘Top Gear’ returns to BBC America
Rev your engines: There’s nothing like hitting the open road in the summer, whether you drive a beat-up pickup or a top-of-the-line luxury car.An iconic TV series featuring some of the world’s most exciting cars is about to return to the airwaves for Season 27.
New hosts Paddy McGuinness (“Take Me Out”) and Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff (“Cannonball”) join automotive journalist Chris Harris for some high-octane fun in the season premiere of “Top Gear,” airing Sunday, July 14, on BBC America.The debut kicks off the 27th season of the popular British series, which has employed an impressive roster of hosts over the years.
Car enthusiasts and industry experts give viewers a close-up look at luxury cars and other vehicles in the long-running series. Heralded for its visual style and presentation, the show also includes motoring-based challenges, races, special celebrity guest stars and more. It’s been phenomenally successful around the world, spawning several international versions, and was voted the best program of the decade in a Channel 4-commissioned survey.
McGuinness and Flintoff joined the program after it was announced that hosts Matt LeBlanc (“Friends”) and Rory Reid (“Gadget Geeks”) wouldn’t be returning to the show for Season 27. A prominent U.K. television presenter and comedian, McGuinness has had some similar experience as the host of “Stars in Their Cars.” Flintoff rose to fame as a professional cricket player before turning to a career in television, and he’s famous for once purchasing a Lamborghini he couldn’t fit into, making him an interesting choice for “Top Gear.”
The new trio has been well received across the pond, where Season 27 premiered in June.The season opener finds Harris, Flint off and Mc Guinness in Ethiopia, where they relive their first car experiences. After being tasked with buying fine examples of their own first cars, they must drive them to the Danakil Depression — the hottest year-round place on Earth. Also, Chris hits the track to put the McLaren 600LT and the Ferrari 488 Pista to the test.
Careful what you wish for: Aspiring actors and musicians may dream of hitting the big time, but stars have shown us time and time again that being famous isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The glitz and glamour of Hollywood may look tempting, but fame has a dark side.
Entertainment journalists reveal that the road to stardom isn’t always paved with gold as they profile celebrities in “The Price of Fame,” which returns Sunday, July 14, on Reelz.The show goes behind the scenes to examine shocking stories of turbulent family drama, substance abuse, outlandish spending habits and much more.
In the first of back-to-back new episodes, “The Price of Fame” takes a look at the fascinating life of blond bombshell Heather Locklear, who got her big break as Sammy Jo Carrington in the hit ‘80s prime-time soap opera “Dynasty.” She received four consecutive Golden Globe nominations for her role as Amanda Woodward in “Melrose Place,” and is also known to TV viewers for work in “T.J. Hooker,” “Spin City” and “Franklin & Bash.” Her film credits include “Firestarter” (1984), “Money Talks” (1997) and “The Perfect Man” (2005). However, according to “The Price of Fame,” she has struggled with depression, anxiety and substance abuse.
“The Price of Fame” also takes a look at the downward spiral of the child cast of the comedy “Diff’rent Strokes. ”While the Drummond family may have been beloved for their prime-time antics, the stars of the show ended up falling from grace in the years that followed. Gary Coleman charmed audiences as young Arnold Jackson, but he struggled financially and declared bankruptcy in the 1990s before dying from a subdural hematoma at the age of 42.Todd Bridges, who played Arnold’s older brother Willis, battled a crack cocaine addiction in his 20s, though he’s since rebuilt his career with roles in “Everybody Hates Chris” and “The Young and the Restless. ”Their onscreen sister, Kimberly, was portrayed by Dana Plato, who had run-ins with the law later in life, and died of an overdose of prescription drugs in 1999.
For these, and other cautionary tales of Hollywood gone wrong, tune in to “The Price of Fame,” which returns Sunday, July 14, on Reelz.
Stars set sail: If life on the high seas appeals to you, but you don’t have the budget for a five-star cruise, Lil’ Kim has your back. She and her friends are about to take the vacation of a lifetime, and she’s invited TV viewers to tag along.
Fans can live vicariously through Lil’ Kim and her friends as they set sail in “Girls Cruise,” premiering Monday, July 15, on VH1. Her traveling companions include singers Mya and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, comedians B. Simone and Pretty Vee of “Wild ‘N Out” fame, actress Tiffany Panhilason (“Two and a Half Men”) and entrepreneur Char Defrancesco, the only male member of the crew.
As they sail around the Caribbean, they’ll visit Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, having plenty of adventures along the way. There may even be some spicy romances and emotional breakthroughs as the friends let their hair down and enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Find out what it’s really like to vacation celebrity style in “Girls Cruise,” premiering Monday, July 15, on VH1.