History Magazine / MotorWeek

''Motor Week'' (stylized as a single word: '''''[=MotorWeek=]''''') is a long-lived American TV automotive magazine series produced by Maryland Public Television and featured on various Creator/{{PBS}} affiliates nationally since 1981. Billing itself as "Television's Original Automotive Magazine", it is basically formatted as [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a car magazine for television]]. Accordingly, the show features automotive news segments, mini-reviews (the "Car Keys" segments are a brief introduction to the features of a recently introduced model that might receive a more in-depth review in the future; the "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Long-Term Updates]]" are updates on how well a car has held up ''after'' the review and many miles of use), a [=DIY=] repair segment called Your Drive and most recently a news segment on how automotive technology is catching up with municipal and federal "green" initiatives. It can be considered a TransAtlanticEquivalent to ''Series/TopGearUK'', at least in its original pre-reboot form when it had a more serious and educational tone. Recently, their reviews and conclusions have been criticized for being "soft" and non-objective in their criticism.

''[[Creator/GawkerMedia Jalopnik]]'' holds a regular introspective feature on the magazine, mostly focusing on the earlier years but looking back at recent episodes as well.

Compare to ''Series/TopGearUK'', ''Magazine/CarAndDriver'' and ''MotorTrend'' (the latter two now mostly known for its Dead Tree-print products but also having both short-lived television series on [=TNN=][=/=]Creator/SpikeTV and now on Website/YouTube).

''Motor Week'' (stylized as a single word: '''''[=MotorWeek=]''''') is a long-lived American TV automotive magazine series produced by Maryland Public Television and featured on various Creator/{{PBS}} affiliates nationally since 1981. Billing itself as [[AluminumChristmasTrees "Television's Original Automotive Magazine"]], it is basically formatted as [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a car magazine for television]]. Accordingly, the show features automotive news segments, mini-reviews (the "Car Keys" segments are a brief introduction to the features of a recently introduced model that might receive a more in-depth review in the future; the "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Long-Term Updates]]" are updates on how well a car has held up ''after'' the review and many miles of use), a [=DIY=] repair segment called Your Drive and most recently a news segment on how automotive technology is catching up with municipal and federal "green" initiatives. It can be considered a TransAtlanticEquivalent to ''Series/TopGearUK'', at least in its original pre-reboot form when it had a more serious and educational tone. Recently, their reviews and conclusions have been criticized for being "soft" and non-objective in their criticism.

* AluminumChristmasTrees: ''[=MotorWeek=]'' bills itself as "Television's (Original) Automotive Magazine", though this isn't exactly accurate since it is pretty much an Americanized version of ''Series/TopGearUK'', which started airing four years prior. In fairness, ''[=MotorWeek=]'' added the word "original" to the slogan in response to ''Motor Trend'' and ''Car And Driver'' launching short-lived copycat programs in the late 1990s; but, from a purely American perspective, the slogan does make sense as the country's longest running program of its kind.

''Motor Week'' (stylized as a single word: '''''[=MotorWeek=]''''') is a long-lived American TV automotive magazine series produced by Maryland Public Television and featured on various Creator/{{PBS}} affiliates nationally since 1981. Billing itself as [[AluminumChristmasTrees "Television's Original Automotive Magazine"]], it is basically formatted as [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a car magazine for television]]. Accordingly, the show features automotive news segments, mini-reviews (the "Car Keys" segments are a brief introduction to the features of a recently introduced model that might receive a more in-depth review in the future; the "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Long-Term Updates]]" are updates on how well a car has held up ''after'' the review and many miles of use), a [=DIY=] repair segment called "Goss' Garage" (hosted by Pat Goss, who died on March 19, 2022) and most recently a news segment on how automotive technology is catching up with municipal and federal "green" initiatives. It can be considered a TransAtlanticEquivalent to ''Series/TopGearUK'', at least in its original pre-reboot form when it had a more serious and educational tone. Recently, their reviews and conclusions have been criticized for being "soft" and non-objective in their criticism.

* AndNowForSomethingCompletelyDifferent: Craig Singhaus' "The High Road" and "Roadside America" solo segments pretty much served as this in every episode.

''Motor Week'' (stylized as a single word: '''''[=MotorWeek=]''''') is a long-lived American TV automotive magazine series produced by Maryland Public Television and featured on various Creator/{{PBS}} affiliates nationally since 1981. Billing itself as [[AluminumChristmasTrees "Television's Original Automotive Magazine"]], it is basically formatted as [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a car magazine for television]]. Accordingly, the show features automotive news segments, mini-reviews (the "Car Keys" segments are a brief introduction to the features of a recently introduced model that might receive a more in-depth review in the future; the "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Long-Term Updates]]" are updates on how well a car has held up ''after'' the review and many miles of use), a [=DIY=] repair segment called "Goss' Garage" (hosted by Pat Goss) and most recently a news segment on how automotive technology is catching up with municipal and federal "green" initiatives. It can be considered a TransAtlanticEquivalent to ''Series/TopGearUK'', at least in its original pre-reboot form when it had a more serious and educational tone. Recently, their reviews and conclusions have been criticized for being "soft" and non-objective in their criticism.

* EarlyBirdCameo: Craig Singhaus and Lisa Barrow can be spotted as nameless test drivers in the early seasons before they became feature reporters in the late 1980s.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: During the show's first six seasons in the 1980s, the show had more of a typical "newscast" look with an indoor studio and newsdesk-style presenting. By the start of season 7 in 1987, the show is now presented outdoors with John Davis walking among various cars (used to be the ones actually reviewed in the show, now seemingly random leaning towards high-end, high-performance luxury models).

* FollowTheLeader: In the late 1990s ''Car and Driver'' and ''Motor Trend'' magazines launched short-lived TV shows that were copies of ''[=MotorWeek=]''; hence the addition of the word "Original" in their slogan "Television's Automotive Magazine" as aformentioned in the Aluminum Christmas Trees entry above.

* Flanderization:
** The car reviews were more thorough in earlier episodes, with even a specific list of "hits" and "misses". In recent years, ''[=MotorWeek=]'' has been criticized for being too non-objective in their car reviews.
** Similarly, the ''Goss' Garage'' segments used to be more in-depth and for a while revolved around Goss giving advice to viewers who would write in with their car problems in a manner similar to ''Radio/CarTalk'', while today they revolve around general car care advice and how not to get scammed by a shop. In fairness, when ''Goss' Garage'' premiered it was common for laymen to work on their own cars, a practice that has faded over time as cars came to require less maintenance and have generally become too advanced for most people to service themselves. Now that a scan tool is required to diagnose most problems, Goss would wind up answering most letters with "Take it to a professional."

* AluminumChristmasTrees: ''[=MotorWeek=]'' bills itself as "Television's (Original) Automotive Magazine", though this isn't exactly accurate since it is pretty much an Americanized version of ''Series/TopGearUK'', which started airing four years prior. In fairness, ''[=MotorWeek=]'' added the word "original" to the slogan in response to ''Motor Trend'' and ''Car And Driver'' launching short-lived copycat programs in the late 1990s; but, from a purely American perspective, the slogan does make sense.

** "Hello, and welcome to [=MotorWeek=]! We're glad to have you with us!" (Recent shows, however, have John Davis introducing it with "Hi, I'm John Davis, and this is [=MotorWeek=]!")

* AluminumChristmasTrees: ''[=MotorWeek=]'' bills itself as "Television's (Original) Automotive Magazine", though this isn't exactly accurate since it is pretty much an Americanized version of ''Series/TopGearUK'', which started airing four years prior. In fairness, ''[=MotorWeek=]'' added the word "original" to the slogan in response to ''Motor Trend'' and ''Car And Driver'' launching short-lived copycat programs in the late 1990s.

** Similarly, the ''Goss' Garage'' segments used to be more in-depth and for a while revolved around Goss giving advice to viewers who would write in with their car problems in a manner similar to ''CarTalk'', while today they revolve around general car care advice and how not to get scammed by a shop. In fairness, when ''Goss' Garage'' premiered it was common for laymen to work on their own cars, a practice that has faded over time as cars came to require less maintenance and have generally become too advanced for most people to service themselves. Now that a scan tool is required to diagnose most problems, Goss would wind up answering most letters with "Take it to a professional."

''Motor Week'' (stylized as a single word: '''''[=MotorWeek=]''''') is a long-lived American TV automotive magazine series produced by Maryland Public Television and featured on various Creator/{{PBS}} affiliates nationally since 1981. Billing itself as [[AluminumChristmasTrees "Televisions original automotive magazine"]], it is basically formatted as [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a car magazine for television]]. Accordingly, the show features automotive news segments, mini-reviews (the "Car Keys" segments are a brief introduction to the features of a recently introduced model that might receive a more in-depth review in the future; the "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Long-Term Updates]]" are updates on how well a car has held up ''after'' the review and many miles of use), a [=DIY=] repair segment called "Goss' Garage" (hosted by Pat Goss) and most recently a news segment on how automotive technology is catching up with municipal and federal "green" initiatives. It can be considered a TransAtlanticEquivalent to ''Series/TopGearUK'', at least in its original pre-reboot form when it had a more serious and educational tone. Recently, their reviews and conclusions have been criticized for being "soft" and non-objective in their criticism.

** "Come drive with us! Next!"

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: During the show's first seven seasons in the 1980s, the show had more of a typical "newscast" look with an indoor studio and newsdesk-style presenting. Starting in 1987, the show is now presented outdoors with John Davis walking among various cars (used to be the ones actually reviewed in the show, now seemingly random leaning towards high-end, high-performance luxury models).

* FollowTheLeader: In the late 1990s ''Car and Driver'' and ''Motor Trend'' magazines launched short-lived tv shows that were copies of ''[=MotorWeek=]''; hence the addition of the word "Original" in their slogan "Television's Automotive Magazine" as aformentioned in the Aluminum Christmas Trees entry above.

** "Hello, and welcome to [=MotorWeek=]! We're glad to have you with us!"

* AluminumChristmasTrees: ''[=MotorWeek=]'' bills itself as "Television's Original Automotive Magazine", though this isn't exactly accurate since it is pretty much an Americanized version of ''Series/TopGearUK'', which started airing four years prior. In fairness, ''[=MotorWeek=]'' adopted that slogan in response to ''Motor Trend'' and ''Car And Driver'' launching short-lived copycat programs in the late 1990s.

* FollowTheLeader: In the late 1990s ''Car and Driver'' and ''Motor Trend'' magazines launched short-lived tv shows that were copies of ''[=MotorWeek=]''; hence the use of the slogan "Television's Original Automotive Magazine" as aformentioned in the Aluminum Christmas Trees entry above.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: During the show's first few seasons in the late 1980s the show had more of a typical "newscast" look with an indoor studio and newsdesk-style presenting. Starting in the early 1990s the show is now presented outdoors with John Davis walking among various cars (used to be the ones actually reviewed in the show, now seemingly random leaning towards high-end, high-performance luxury models).

* FollowTheLeader: In the late 1990s ''Car and Driver'' and ''Motor Trend'' magazines launched short-lived tv shows that were copies of ''[=MotorWeek=]''.

* AnnualTitle: For a while in the late '80s/early '90s. Since the new fall TV season coincided with the car industry's new model year, ''[=MotorWeek=] '89'' first aired in 1988 and covered 1989-model cars (for example).