Nov 21, 2016 07:00 AM EST By Patrick J, UniversityHerald Reporter

The hotly debated "The Grand Tour" premiered its first episode on Amazon Prime Video last Friday, Nov. 18. The show's hosts, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are back with the same questionable humor and aversion to political correctness.

The controversial appeal that made BBC's "Top Gear" the most viewed reality show remains. The trio's first words in the "The Grand Tour" opening alluded to their bad-boy personas with wise-cracks aimed at each other and the "negativity" surrounding them.

The hosts left the BBC following the company deciding not to renew Clarkson's contract. The Brit, on numerous occasions, crossed the broadcasters which led to them parting ways.

The trio were reunited under Amazon funding the new endeavour. The Independent reported each episode costing a whopping £4 million ($4.9 million).

"The Grand Tour" changed a few things previously found in "Top Gear." The show's hosts and guests will be racing on a new track shaped like the Ebola virus, aptly named the Eboladrome. The Stig was replaced with The American, a former NASCAR driver "who believes motors without eight cylinders is communist."

The familiar chauvinistic jokes are still there, now adding hidden quips about the BBC. Although the British corporation was never named, it was evident reading between the lines and Clarkson commenting that he wasn't fired.

Followers wait to see if "The Grand Tour" will eventually shake-off "Top Gear's" ghost being tagged as "the Return of Top Gear". The first episode did feature new elements, but they were unsurprisingly similar to the old segments.

On the other hand, the new show has surpassed "Top Gear" with the latter's ratings failing. Variety reported comments hinting "Top Gear" pales in comparison without the trio at the original's helm.

Critics gave the new car show mixed reviews with some applauding the trio's return and some questioning the show's new segments and format. There were even a few that went as far as focusing Clarkson discussing his previous misgivings and fiascos.

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