"I might note, however, that the American South is very conservative in a way not easily understood by American northerners or Brits."

So what? Bigots are bigots full stop - that's what the Top Gear boys were trying to prove, though how bloody obvious it needs to be I don't know. Hitler was not easily understood by anyone with an ounce of decency. As for "Man Love", that's not what it means over here so that's just a cultural difference; I suspect the makers of the programme would be horrified if it had other connotations - perhaps you should email them about it.

"When one introduces someone that we in the US may never have heard of by saying: "The most popular motoring TV show in the UK", it lends credence to the idea that this is the writer's view. Sorry."

Apology accepted. The most popular newspaper here is The Sun, which is a godawful rag that would probably go down well with them good ole boys in the south (the white ones, anyway).

I didn't mean offence Ebbie, so once more I apologise if I caused any. However, your comments about the North were equally ill-considered.