Thread: Another one bites the dust

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The enthusiast world just lost another great show. After Top Gear and The Grand Tour, MotorTrend’s Roadkill has reached the end of the road.

Mike Finnegan, one of the two Roadkill hosts, resurrected a two-year-old Reddit thread to announce the show’s end.

“I just learned that it’s over. After the end of season 13, which we just finished filming a few weeks ago, there will be no new episodes of RK filmed. The MotorTrend production company is shutting down. No specific reason was given to me for its demise. We had an excellent run and I’m proud of what the team accomplished, but this does seem to be the end of RK. I’m unsure who owns the RK IP or who to ask why it ended.”

The above was copied from MSN, and I'll miss this one to be sure. The guys are my age (a bit younger) and their antics have by and large have just "fit" my style and attitude. This one makes me sad.

I'm sorry to see RK go, too. Some of their antics got a bit old for me, like burnouts to an extreme just for the smoke, but all in all the Freiburger/Finnegan team were entertaining, as were Freiburger & Dulcich. Finnegan & the two bozos on Faster with Finnegan, not so much.

Might be wrong but I understand that some/several of these type of shows (or at least the "talent") have/are moving to other platforms like You tube and other platform where they can be monetized.


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Originally Posted by rspears

I'm sorry to see RK go, too. Some of their antics got a bit old for me, like burnouts to an extreme just for the smoke, but all in all the Freiburger/Finnegan team were entertaining, as were Freiburger & Dulcich. Finnegan & the two bozos on Faster with Finnegan, not so much.

I agree with you on all the above. The Faster with Finnegan was always a stretch for me. I think there was one episode that I enjoyed, the one with the Fairmont gone Nascar. The others I may have watched but they couldn't hold my interest.

Originally Posted by Mike P

Might be wrong but I understand that some/several of these type of shows (or at least the "talent") have/are moving to other platforms like You tube and other platform where they can be monetized.
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That's actually where Road Kill started! on youtube and they were "picked up" by Motor Trend which needed content since they took over the gearhead channels on cable. It seems the "Hot Rod" brand was the first to go a year or so ago. Tony D'Angelo (from the Hot Rod shows on MT) moved to youtube after their demise. I guess that was a year ago... I know all the Road Kill shows are on YT.

Originally Posted by 34_40

That's actually where Road Kill started! on youtube and they were "picked up" by Motor Trend which needed content since they took over the gearhead channels on cable. It seems the "Hot Rod" brand was the first to go a year or so ago. Tony D'Angelo (from the Hot Rod shows on MT) moved to youtube after their demise. I guess that was a year ago... I know all the Road Kill shows are on YT.

My understanding is that Motor Trend Productions has been de-funded and is shut down, and that Finnegan broke the story before they were ready for it to go public. Wondering if this means the end of not only Roadkill but over time, other automotive shows like Street Outlaws, Iron Resurrection, Engine Masters, Graveyard Cars, Garage Squad, FantomWorks, Wheeler Dealers, Bitchin Rides and the list goes on, and on, and on.... I don't know how many have YouTube channels, but for sure Freiburger & Finnegan do, and Roadkill episodes can be seen there. Here's a link that supposedly lists every MotorTrend show that's airing over the next two weeks - https://www.tvinsider.com/network/motortrend/schedule/

Many of these shows could hook up with other streaming services, but it's looking like a big shakeup for auto shows under the MotorTrend Productions banner.

I caught a video from Joe Z. ( from "Garage Squad" fame) he was explaining how Warner Bros. bought the parent co. of Motor Trend and they really don't have any desire to be in car shows. So he thinks MT will go into re-run mode for a couple years while they complete their contracts, he mentioned 2 shows that were already underway and under contract. So once those finish they'll go away as well as ??? who knows? He also mentioned that he and some of the other hosts had already started their own streaming service and it's all car guys. They charge 10 dollars a month but (I guess essentially) all the favorites are there and since it's not commercial driven the "drama BS" is not there. He was saying also more changes are coming but who knows what the future really holds imho! Myself, I'm way too cheap to pay 10 bucks a month to view anything! I'd rather spend that 120 bucks and buy a new tool! I can just watch a youtube video when I am ready (essentially for free) still gotta pay for the ISP but oh well. LOL

From Facebook., copied & pasted here.

Alex Taylor Racing · Follow
November 18 at 12:56 PM ·
MotorTrend rumors like crazy! Yes. I’ve seen them. 😜 I thought do I say something? Do I not? But everyone else has so I thought I might join in - with a little bit of a different take than what you’ve probably seen. I’m typing this as I sit in the Dallas Airport waiting on my flight to Santa Ana so we can finish shooting our season of HOT ROD Garage this week. While part of MotorTrend may be “going away” there’s still another part of MotorTrend (events, print, etc.) that still exists. There’s are still new seasons of shows coming out soon. I can’t speak to exactly what the future of MT will be, BUT if you love the shows stick around. Don’t cancel subscriptions. We’re all coming back on (something a lot forgot to mention). I can tell you Lucky and I have a great crew and we’ve busted butt this season with some awesome projects. We got a Hot Wheels this season. We made a public event and we sold it out. We have 13 new episodes ready to head your way. None of this is a dis. But a thank you for everyone who has made my last 3 years with MT great, a thanks to our crew, and a thanks to all of you for watching. Stick around a while longer - you won’t be disappointed 🙂 Here’s to the future! Soo many good things to come and in the works already. And in the mean time - check out my YouTube Riding with Alex Taylor! You can stay up to date with all of the projects and events that 2025 will bring. Link in bio. 🔗
For clarification: what you’re seeing is true about MT Studio closing and shows being cancelled. BUT we will still have new episodes coming out that are already shot. Hope that helps clear things up 😄

I too caught one of the Joe Z. video clips, where he said that the Warner Bros takeover happened over a year ago, and that their lack of interest in car guy shows has been known for a long time. Finnegan just chose to go vocal, and it fed the rumor mill. Lots of sour grapes about how the whole TV and Streaming industry is run, with Warner Bros and the like making millions, and shortchanging everyone like Joe Z. Wah, Wah, Wah....

Lots of changes, lots of reruns, and having to hunt through tons of streaming options to find what we want to see. The more things change, the more they stay the same...

Dave Kindig just posted on Facebook that Bitchin' Rides will end with Season 11, but says they won't be gone, stay tuned for more info later.

Originally Posted by rspears

I too caught one of the Joe Z. video clips, where he said that the Warner Bros takeover happened over a year ago, and that their lack of interest in car guy shows has been known for a long time. Finnegan just chose to go vocal, and it fed the rumor mill. Lots of sour grapes about how the whole TV and Streaming industry is run, with Warner Bros and the like making millions, and shortchanging everyone like Joe Z. Wah, Wah, Wah....

Lots of changes, lots of reruns, and having to hunt through tons of streaming options to find what we want to see. The more things change, the more they stay the same...

Originally Posted by rspears

Dave Kindig just posted on Facebook that Bitchin' Rides will end with Season 11, but says they won't be gone, stay tuned for more info later.

Well. from what I've seen and experienced, Joe Z. is correct in that, that big corporation is only out for themselves. Squeeze the little guy and keep anything of any value. "They" won't be doing us any favors... Kindig? while I liked a lot of their output, and they have / had many really talented people, they just aren't for me. And maybe it's just TV?? That shop foreman is just so annoying.