American Chopper Cancelled

[SuperHans]

From Hell for Leather:

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2010/02/american-chopper-cancelled.html

The good name of American motorcycling will no longer be sullied by the Teutels' homoerotic father/son catfighting and novelty t-shirt promotion, TLC has cancelled American Chopper. Orange County Choppers and its shaved apes have been plaguing television screens since 2003, but lately the financial success the show inexplicably brought its protagonists has led to a bitter feud with Paul Teutul Sr suing Paul Teutul Jr for control of the company. It's believed that this lawsuit led to the show's cancellation. Hallelujah.

[mxvet57]

So much for disfunctional television

[LoVel]

One down 7 million more worthless POS reality shows to go.  Yeah for a move in the right direction.  

I would rather live life than watch it on TV.  

[desert_rider]

I'm really surprised it lasted this long.

[bubba zanetti]

Watched about 20 min of an episode .... once. It was painful.

[mxvet57]

I'm really surprised it lasted this long.

don't worry, it will live for years on reruns.

[sammyseaman]

One down 7 million more worthless POS reality shows to go.  Yeah for a move in the right direction.  

I would rather live life than watch it on TV.  

I hate tv but I really hate reality tv  

[bomber]

If the lawsuit really did bring the cancellation about, the irony and justness of that fact is freakin wonderful . . . . . .

If you've ever seen one of their bikes in person, you know that some "builders" think of superglue as an appropriate motorcycle building tool.

This is sad for the innocents that work in their shop, though . . . .

[kendenton]

If the lawsuit really did bring the cancellation about, the irony and justness of that fact is freakin wonderful . . . . . .

If you've ever seen one of their bikes in person, you know that some "builders" think of superglue as an appropriate motorcycle building tool.

This is sad for the innocents that work in their shop, though . . . .

You mean like for independent contracters who worked on the Death Star?

[apriliadreamer]

One down 7 million more worthless POS reality shows to go.  Yeah for a move in the right direction.  

 

[desert_rider]

You mean like for independent contracters who worked on the Death Star?

 

[bomber]

Actually, yeah -- and anyone else who just had their income yanked out from under them by this move --

[MIDSKIER]

I would think anyone into motorcycles may have liked this show @ least @ one time
the interviews with the customers, the earlier painters, etc
the banter between father and son , killed it. along with common garage construction
and common tools.......I have a better setup in my garage (minus the cnc & waterjet)
the BS won't be missed

[SilverHound]

I'm really surprised it lasted this long.

Yeah me too but then again Dawg the Bounty Hunter is still polluting the airwaves so I should really stop overestimating the tastes of the viewing public.

[roadthing]

It's looong overdue!

[marcusorelius]

There goes the gravy train. The co will be bankrupt within 2 years. And my oh my how money can ruin people. To see Sr. cry over his dog NOT havin cancer & being a creep to his own sons, Nice.

[jeepinbanditrider]

It was ok for entertainment seeing them make asses of themselves

I live reality everyday when I click on the tube or play video games I want to get away from the daily grind not see someone else's grind lol.

[SuperHans]

I thought more of you would be upset by this news.

[mxvet57]

I thought more of you would be upset by this news.

Did we disappoint you?  

[nferr]

I hated it from day one. I think I watched maybe 30 minutes combined over all it's years. Good riddance.

[lizard]

It was ok for entertainment seeing them make asses of themselves

I live reality everyday when I click on the tube or play video games I want to get away from the daily grind not see someone else's grind lol.

2 or 3 days a year it's nice to know that other people's lives suck more!!!

Please, don't lump me into the...my wife gained a pound and I'm suicidal group! I do have the Kitchen of Chaos and the BACON threads to save me...

[Rude_Rydah]

Sweet Christ, I did not know that show was still on!

Anyone see the time they crafted a drag bike.  The dumb bastards were fully inclined to cut a notch out of the top tube because the motor would not fit in the frame!

First time I saw the show Jr was making a jet fighter inspired bike, I thought it was cool.  When they started putting carburetors that looked like fire hydrants on bikes, I realized that the ship was a little off its course!

[Spanky]

I still can't believe what those bikes sold for. Some people have a ton o money to blow.

[twotrackhero]

reality TV does strange things to people that star in those programs. some of them actually think they have some magical talent to act, rather than they are a complete idiot that you can't believe is actually on your TV.

[mugwump58]

Well the down side to not having a TV is watching the Super Bowl on a feed out of the UK and missing the commercials, the rest, not so much.

Although I will say that while pulling security for the RNC at the rail yards near NYC they had a bunch of the guys in for a tour, the stars weren't there though. I was told that the guys in the shop were pretty cool. I didn't go as most folks thought sleep was more important.

[Sputnik]

the OCC Christmas bike pretty much says it all.....gauche or what!!!!
http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://imcdb.org/images/069/307.jpg&imgrefurl=http://imcdb.org/vehicle_69307-Orange-County-Choppers-Christmas-Bike.html&usg=__xAh8RqMGTY01D3KTklV6NCFa6Jk=&h=405&w=719&sz=70&hl=en&start=7&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=3PIQhwewVLiebM:&tbnh=79&tbnw=140&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dorange%2Bcounty%2Bchoppers%2Bchristmas%2Bbike%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3DLXf%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

[desert_rider]

Anyone see the time they crafted a drag bike.  The dumb bastards were fully inclined to cut a notch out of the top tube because the motor would not fit in the frame!

It's not like the bike is going to be raced.  Shee-it, how many of those theme bikes ever get ridden.

First time I saw the show Jr was making a jet fighter inspired bike, I thought it was cool.  When they started putting carburetors that looked like fire hydrants on bikes, I realized that the ship was a little off its course!

I saw that one!  I thought that carb was some trick stuff/art.  But, of course, they had an outside company make it.  

[Rude_Rydah]

I think Ricky Gadson and the fellahs made a few passes on it, AFTER a drag bike builder came in and explained that you probably ought not notch out the top tube on an XXX horse power drag bike.

http://www.dragbike.com/dbnews/anmviewer.asp?a=1157&print=yes0

8.80 - 162 mph  Serious enough business to not want to compromise a frame.

Fixt...

[desert_rider]

Rude - linkie no workie.

[Mark Milanowski]

I liked the show.

I liked the banter. I thought the strife was put on for the show. They had some major success and made more money in a short amount of time than many will make in 3 lifetimes. They appeared to be putting that money back into the business.

My favorite show was the Cody bike. I even have a die cast of that one. Not an over the top chopper just a nice bobber.

I guess they just were not getting along.

[Blunder]

After what they did to that Ducati they should be canceled.  

I watched from time to time. Sometimes it funny and other times I thought they had some really stupid ideers. I always thought the other guys in the shop, the ones who did all the actual work, were more interesting anyways.

Vinnie and Cody have started their own shop building choppers and they'll have their own show, too.

http://www.vforcecustoms.com/

[Orson]

I can't believe you guys waste time on this crap, when Jon & Kate Gosslin is where the real drama is.

Won't someone think of the children???

BTW, I like her new hairstyle  

[Kootenanny]

the banter between father and son , killed it.

Actually, the "banter" between Sr. and Jr. is what made the show.  It was never about building choppers...  The bulk of the audience wouldn't know a clutch lever from a swizzle stick.  Nobody watched the show because of the bikes...they watched because they wanted to see another blow-up.  C'mon...

[KodiakRS]

I would like to know what the mileage total was for all of their project bikes combined.  Something tells me it was <1,000.  

[Black Ice]

If you've ever seen one of their bikes in person, you know that some "builders" think of superglue as an appropriate motorcycle building tool.

This is why OCC is unworthy to breathe Jesse James' air.

[JamesG]

I thought it had been cancelled years ago...

[Mr.Black]

I liked Mikey. He just stumbled through bumping into shit collecting a paycheck. Go Mikey!

Of all the HD inspired shows, the only one Ive seen produce a $ worthy machine was Jesse James' show. I cant remember the name shows but watching him "craft" stuff as opposed to waiting for the parts guy to show and spin some nuts and bolts was a better product. Not as entertaining as the nipple heads at OCC but more interesting.

[X1rider]

I am glad to see this swill gone. As a fabricator/welder, I watched with interest-once. The second show I think, after a friend told me about it.

What a bunch of clowns Sr. and Jr. are. When they gave Jay Leno a pseudo replica of a Brough Superior, he more or less shrugged and got rid of it!

I feel bad for the skilled and talented people that actually did the work shaping, forming and painting parts. Doing that type of art work requires great skill. Maybe they can move on to greener pastures.

Kudos to Vinnie and Cody for bailing when they did. Good luck to them.

The big time store bought custom bike era though, well it is pretty much over I think. The mechanical motor deity they worship is in bad shape; maybe the after(life?)market will keep them on chugging along to the next show!

[SuperHans]

I can't believe you guys waste time on this crap, when Jon & Kate Gosslin is where the real drama is.

Won't someone think of the children???

BTW, I like her new hairstyle  

I had a court date the same day those two idiots had divorce hearing in Montgomery County, PA. I couldn't find a parking spot because of all the news vehicles packing the street and ended up getting a parking ticket.

John & Kate suck.

[DosEquis00]

I had a court date the same day those two idiots had divorce hearing in Montgomery County, PA. I couldn't find a parking spot because of all the news vehicles packing the street and ended up getting a parking ticket.

Are you sure they were there for John & Kate and not you? I remember seeing your court case on the cover of the Pottstown Mercury.

[phoenix]

I hate tv but I really hate reality tv  

watch an episode of Nitro Circus.  

Yeah, I watched American Chopper for the first season or 2. Don't know why. The drama and BS was awful. The bikes were sucky. Its kinda funny when I see one of their bikes pop up in a local craigslist ad and it just sits there with a huge asking price. Good luck with that.

While watching some other show, I noticed in a commercial that there's a third Teutel son that is almost never on the show. Seems he had a major falling out with dad years ago. Cool.

[tor]

I really didn't care much for the show either. Watched it a couple of times. A bunch of obnoxious guys that thought the world of themselves, if you ask me.

[Hickey]

It seems like the majority of the shows on that whole network are based on the American Chopper format of filming people who have some kind of unusual job/life while those people argue.  Good Riddance to American Chopper.  One down and about 20 to go.

[SuperHans]

Are you sure they were there for John & Kate and not you? I remember seeing your court case on the cover of the Pottstown Mercury.

It wasn't me. I was framed.

[SuperHans]

watch an episode of Nitro Circus.  

That is a pretty good show although it reminds me of Jackass

While watching some other show, I noticed in a commercial that there's a third Teutel son that is almost never on the show. Seems he had a major falling out with dad years ago. Cool.

I believe he runs the metal fabrication business they started with. I believe they branched out to motorcycles from that business.

[jeepinbanditrider]

watch an episode of Nitro Circus.  

That show is awesome I've got the DVR set to record all of them

I don't really see that as a reality show.  I've never noticed any drama it's just guys (and a gal lol) out doing what most of us could only dream of and they do it on a seemingly daily basis.  I mean Pastrana retired at what 28??  I mean damn.

Oh and Jolene Van Vught  

http://jolenevanvugt.com/gallery.html

[kendenton]

They did make for one hysterical commercial though.

[McHack]

Kudos to Vinnie and Cody for bailing when they did. Good luck to them.

The big time store bought custom bike era though, well it is pretty much over I think. The mechanical motor deity they worship is in bad shape; maybe the after(life?)market will keep them on chugging along to the next show!

--  Vinny was the only reason I ever watched show.   Heads down kinda guy who just gets things done.

--  One can only hope these morons have killed the genre,   good riddance.   Like Hair Metal...  Buh Bye!

[Kootenanny]

They did make for one hysterical commercial though.

OK, that's funny!  I'd never seen that one...

[Prozac]

I knew a lot of people that really liked that show and a few that went and visited the shop.  Personally, I thought that most of their bikes were gaudy and they thought the were something special  .  I agree with one of the other posts, they will be closed by the end of the year.

[Bogie]

Haters... Everyone knows that these shows have no social redeeming value whatsoever. You're just expecting way too much from them. These are shows you put on while doing something else, like background noise, while changing your oil...or lubing your chain etc...

[desertxxrider]

At least when this one craps out you can BBQ.

[RodeRash]

They did teach the Discovery Channel (and many other networks) a big lesson.    When the Teutels signed to do the series, they retained all merchandising rights. OCC made a fortune, and the Discovery Channel lost out.

That never happened again.

[zer0netgain]

This is sad for the innocents that work in their shop, though . . . .

There are no "innocents."

Anyone too stupid to recognize the show for the impending train wreck that it was should have been finding their exit strategy in the first season.

[3Bird]

To bad I was looking forward to watching it circle the drain.  I am amazed at the money those guys made, talk about being in the right place at the right time that is the definition of dumb f***ing luck.  Sr. has to be the king of douches, the guy had no problem throwing his sons under the bus to get a bigger slice of the pie for himself.  Maybe karma will kick in and he will die broke and lonely.

Has anyone ever been to the Ducati shop they have there?

[Z50a]

Every time I hear about / see a company show up as a customer, that takes them down a notch (in my book).
It was cool when you could see a tour of some of the customer facilities........., then you would see the monkeys playing like a bunch of morons.
Painful to watch....., also lowered my opinion Ducati Corporate  

[HanksXXX]

You Ducati guys can smugly go back to sipping your Grappa...

OCC and Ducati NA have parted ways...

...but, don't count out the TV show just yet...

In Hollywood, making money always triumphs over good taste.

Hank

[mxvet57]

will this make it to page 4

[Corwin]

No

[mugwump58]

What makes you so certain?

[mustang28027]

Is this page 4?

 I dont think OCC will go under. Paul Sr looks  like an idiot, but I think he has invested wisely and will keep  the shop going. What bothers me is  how he treated his sons. Jr might make it... but he needs to get back to  building bikes. He has no  formal education to do other design work. And  Mikey... well he just seems like a waste of DNA. Hope he can find something to do to make a living... he did seems to sweep floors well.

[jeepinbanditrider]

Is this page 4?

 I dont think OCC will go under. Paul Sr looks  like an idiot, but I think he has invested wisely and will keep  the shop going. What bothers me is  how he treated his sons. Jr might make it... but he needs to get back to  building bikes. He has no  formal education to do other design work. And  Mikey... well he just seems like a waste of DNA. Hope he can find something to do to make a living... he did seems to sweep floors well.

He had money before the shop started.  He has another company that builds gates or something like that.  Even if the shop were to somehow go under they'd be ok.

[LoVel]

How I long for the days of 3 networks where shit like this wouldn't make it on TV.  

Okay maybe just ESPN

and SPEED

well I kinda like Golf also

ah hell, forget it.  

[Bogie]

If OCC's gone,,,where's the inovation, that entrepreneurial spirit,,,,

[Kootenanny]

Is this page 4?

And  Mikey... well he just seems like a waste of DNA. Hope he can find something to do to make a living... he did seems to sweep floors well.

Yes, welcome to Page 4!

And Mikey...is probably the smartest one of the lot of 'em, he knows how to play to the camera...he's the one that we'll probably see showing up on television somewhere else in the future (not saying that's good, just saying it'll likely happen).  

[PVS]

The thing I guess I don't understand is that there were some pretty interesting bike buiding shows and yet the Teutels are the ones on the longest.  They used to run a show from Exile choppers where they would get guys off the street to design and build a bike to show quality in 30 days.  If they could do it, they kept the bike.  I really like that show and it was one of the first to go.  I guess there was just too much bike building for the average viewer.

[Kootenanny]

...I guess there was just too much bike building for the average viewer.

You got it!  Ya gotta remember, the vast majority of the audience for these shows are NOT riders; they're not interested in the actual details of building a bike, they're interested in "drama," and the bikes are just kind of a nice backdrop (keep in mind, a lot of the audience actually likes the Teutel's bikes...).

[Warhammer]

I've looked all over the house, but I seem to be fresh out of givadamn! Good riddance to the Teutels and their "reality" crappy show.

[Z50a]

And Mikey...is probably the smartest one of the lot of 'em, he knows how to play to the camera...he's the one that we'll probably see showing up on television somewhere else in the future (not saying that's good, just saying it'll likely happen).  

Mikey is the reason that the show exists !   He was in a bar, happen to meet one of the producers and started about bikes and his family.......
And the rest, as they say, is history !  

[chamade]

They needed more babes on that show, as it is, it was a brain-dead sausagefest.

[Andrew]

They needed more babes on that show, as it is, it was a brain-dead sausagefest.

OK maybe if there was an over abundance of T&A I might of watched it, but alas there was not and I did not watch
Crapy drama TV with asshats and A holes Nope needs lots of T&A to be a good TV show

[mxvet57]

Page 5?

[scarecrow]

People still watch TV? Why?

[chornbe]

Actually, yeah -- and anyone else who just had their income yanked out from under them by this move --

Meh, I guess... anyone working in that shop and for that show *had* to know it was a temporary gig. I'm surprised it lasted this long. The first season had some charm to it, but... beyond that, it was just annoying to watch.

[Blunder]

Page 5?

For a show that everyone hates? We'll get 7 pages out of it.

Despite the derision, it's obvious that people have watched the show.

[cjgauthier]

Mikey is the reason that the show exists !   He was in a bar, happen to meet one of the producers and started about bikes and his family.......
And the rest, as they say, is history !  

       Wasn't he  the one who set the bee's nest next to the shop on fire with gasoline? Yeah, that brought back a lot of memories.  It wasn't terribly compelling tv, but more of an interlude while channel surfing.  I'm sure those bikes rode excellently. How much distance is there between bars up there? I hope not too much.

[3Bird]

Wasn't going to post this but here ya go.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA0QlqNUTV8&feature=player_embedded

[JeffM]

I have to look at one of these bikes every day when I go to work. It was a great marketing move for my company, which sells to people who watch this sort of show, but as a rider I can't stand looking at the thing. It's not even very pretty or creative.

[motrhead]

Wasn't going to post this but here ya go.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA0QlqNUTV8&feature=player_embedded

 And that perfectly sums up the entire series in one 10 minute episode  

[SteveG]

I watched it the first season.  The kid they had painting (Justin?  I think?) was amazing.  Just didn't ever really care for the bikes though.

[Kootenanny]

Aaaand...Welcome to Page 5!!!

[Ken Phenix]

 Yeah the same old schtick was good for maybe 2 seasons, not 8. They devote 15 minutes to hammering out a rear fender and tank, bolt up the same old S&S motor and send the real custom work out for somebody else to do. I had little or no interest in the kind of bikes they were building anyway.

[Hardware]

Can't stand the genre of bike but I used to watch the show occasionally. In the end they got rid of anyone with any real skill (I'm thinking Vinnie, Nubb (sp?) the paint guy).  Rick was the only one left with any skill.

Paul Jr. left (not that he was skilled) and started designing grills and dog parks?  Seriously?

Mikey was just the family retard they kept around for laughs - then he started finger painting and then ended up admitting he was an alcoholic.

[Jim M.]

 Here's a great version of the show-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zChsHuiPeyk&feature=related

[rajflyboy]

 Here's a great version of the show-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zChsHuiPeyk&feature=related

Dude

Thats awesome!

[aTahmission]

Blah, all their theme bikes were so uninspired.  I'm not exactly a "chopper" kinda guy, but I can at least appreciate one when it's done correctly.  Every one was so predictable.  If they were to make a cell phone themed bike, they weld cell phones to the frame.  How anyone found this the cutting edge of artistic expression is beyond me.  Good riddance to bad rubbish, says I.

[Paco23]

Page 5?    

They will all probably wind up on the "Intervention" show.  They need it!

[aTahmission]

Haters... Everyone knows that these shows have no social redeeming value whatsoever. You're just expecting way too much from them. These are shows you put on while doing something else, like background noise, while changing your oil...or lubing your chain etc...

You have to keep those bastards lubed?  

[oldenslow]

 Here's a great version of the show-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zChsHuiPeyk&feature=related

Damn, that was funnnnny!!!