August 13, 2010
The rebranded American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior premiered tonight and it began the way the last season ended, with two gorillas butting heads.
Remember the old American Tourister where commercial a gorilla tossed some suitcases around his cage to test their strength? Junior and Senior both tried to outdo the other with their uncanny impressions.
So the season began with the Battle of the lunkheads in full swing. Paulie, having failed at starting a company based on, well, pretty much nothing, decided that at least he knew something about motorcycles and bought a shop right next to the old OCC shop. I’m sure that it was just a pure coincidence, with a big push I’m sure from the TLC American Chopper producers.
How bad is Junior’s business sense? His first contract was to create a Bernie Madoff bike. And that was after Madoff was jailed!
Of course, there was still the hope of reconcilliation, hope in the lumpy shape of Mikey Teutul. Mikey went on a radio show to promote a charity, when the host called Paul jr. and suddenly, a “surprise” call- Senior was on the line!
Senior growled about contracts, Junior whined about Senior., they both called each other names, and suddenly the host decided that maybe Lovelines wasn’t the best place for this and hung up on all of them.
Senior claims he still loves his son. It is really hard to tell, as his form of “tough love” goes way beyond, almost to “evil love.” He wastes no time badmouthing his son to everyone in the shop, everyone at home, and all the people he sees in his fevered steroid induced dreams. Of course Junior is no better. In one strange exchange, Senior called Junior “a fish eating chump from Gilligan’s Island.” Junior retaliated by calling his father “a sad, sack-ass fruit booty.” Why did they steal lines from 1990’s WCW wrestler Stevie Ray? Your guess is a good as mine, but google that for a laugh.
Anyway, the battle lines were drawn. On Senior’s side are a bunch of guys who Senior hasn’t yet alienated, but just give it some time, including a guy called Jason who I’m pretty sure is just a shaved immature orangutan. He also has so many machines and computers to do the work that when SkyNet comes online, it’ll be from OCC.
On Junior’s side are a bunch of mismatched folding chairs and an empty barn.
But just when things looked bleak- that is, when it looked like Paulie would have to do some work, the Prodigal Vinnie returned. Vinnie was the guy who did all the work back at OCC. Eventually he got sick of all the crap that went along with working there, like having Senior’s dog slobber on the parts, and he quit to start his own shop. He must have done very well as he has risen all the way to the bottom of Paul Jr.’s pathetic startup.
All that was left for Paulie was a name, a name that symbolized his independance, that showed he was standing on his own two feet.
REJECTED NAMES FOR PAUL JUNIOR’S BUSINESS
- American Chopper Junior
- Not OCC
- Paul Junior’s Kick Ass Bikes
- Little OCC
- I Hate My Dad
Around this time TLC remembered that this show is supposed to be about building bikes so Senior set out to build one for a company called Domani, a company that does, as Senior eloquently put it, “what they do.”
The OCC crew went back to their shop and, instead of inserting footage of the guys building a bike, TLC screwed up and inserted old A-Team footage of the guys converting a bulldozer into a tank.
The bike turned out pretty lousy. First, it was painted in neon colors and patterns that were last seen on R+B singers in 1984. Second, the wheel rims were covered in strange lines not unlike the Nazca lines of South America, with some sort of Mayan prophecy embedded in the pattern. Last, in order to ride it, you had to be hunched over the gas tank, looking like Quasimodo.
However, the bike’s best moment was at the premiere, when Senior got off and it nearly fell over.
But really, no one tunes in for the bikes anymore, and soon it was back to the battle. Senior, under the pretext of “test riding the bike,” rode past Junior’s new shop three or four times, eventually getting off and glowering at the shop. James Bond he ain’t.
Paulie, seeing his father, stood around and didn’t talk to him. In the show’s most surreal moment, one camera caught Senior talking to his camera crew while in the background Paulie was talking to his camera crew. It was like a sad divorced couple.
I just wonder which camera crew got the better end of the deal- covering Senior and his hair-trigger temper, or covering Paulie with his mind-numbing sloth?
The camera crews on Deadliest Catch have the real possibility of dying at sea. I’m sure the American Chopper camera crews envy them.
Mr. Blog's Tepid Ride 
I watched this show and it was depressing. Paul Sr. has some serious mental problems. He seems so completely wrapped up in his own ego and celebrity, he’s okay with sacrificing his own son. There appears to be not enough glory in the world for him to share with anyone else. Jr. is a son he should be proud of. Jr. is a truly gifted designer who’s ideas have made OCC a world class brand, and Paul Sr. insists it’s all his own doing. Even with the split, any normal father would be celebrating his son’s attempt at independence and want the best for him. But no, Sr. overtly mocks his son’s efforts in front of the whole world. I wish Jr. well and every criticism Sr. has about his son, well, he only has himself to blame.
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I think you are moro or less right about Sr. As for Jr., he is talented and he deserves praise for beating his addictions, but he is very very lazy. He also thinks a bit too highly of himself. Did he make OCC? Not without Sr. (And the opposite is true too.) Sr, I am sure, would have had a successful small business without Jr., but it was Jr.’s designs that put them over the top. Without Sr., however, Jr. would never have had any business of any sort.
Senior’s insults of his son are too much. Those two will never reconcile until Sr shuts his mouth, but his history with the rest of his family shows he is too stubborn.
Mitch, thanks for the comment!
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I found it very sad to watch a father whose apparent abusive behavior towards his sons will probably never lead to a reconciliation. False pride is so dangerous and it seems that Sr. revels and wallows in it. What positive role model has Jr had? You learn what you live and I’m surprised Sr isn’t smart enough to figure that out. We stopped watching the show last year. Seems as if TLC has hooked us back in with their sensational plot lines.
Lizzy
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Hi Lizzy.
I am with you 100 percent about Sr but I can’t let Jr off so easily. For role models he has an older brother who bought and sucessfully runs Sr’s old ironworks. Though divorced, his mother is still in his life, and there is a little-seen older sister who seems to have done well. Most of the blame for Jr’s shortcomings lie squarely with Jr.
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Great stuff as usual Mr. B!
I think those two deserve each other. And, not knowing how much of their incessant feuding is contrived, who knows the truth about their real behavior and relationship? The arguments have made them both very wealthy. That show would have ended long ago without them I think.
TLC is addicted to family drama… Remember when it used to be The Learning Channel? I miss those days.
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Jim, you hit it right on the head. How much of this (or any “reality” show) is contrived? What role do the producers play? Paulie’s new shop conveniently “hadn’t been listed yet.” By “coincidence” Sr. heard Jr. on the radio? Most shows seem heavily manipulated behind the scenes.
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I’m OBSESSED with the Tourister Commercial!…I would act like that if there were a Roast Beef Sammiche in there…Or Bacon…
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I love the American Chopper show. But I think Paul Sr. should layoff Jr. He keeps saying ugly things about him. And Jr. is not saying things about him. A parent should not talk about their kids in the way he is. Does he feel so theratened that he has to down his son. that is the only reason I can think of that he would be actiing this way. He is the one that is spying on Jr. Jr. is trying to get his life straight. So he can live!! It shouldnt matter who he has working for him. He is not going in house and taking them. He and Vinny make a good team they always have. i would never talk that way of my kids, no matter what they have done. He should be glad that he is trying to prove himself. Paulie is working hard trying to get his shop together. sr makes it out like Jr shouldnt talk tu the venders. Well OCC is his company tooo. It is just like if they were strangers and Paaulie went to these people. I dont see the big deal. There is enough for both of them ……. I wish he would just learn to let his son live his life just like Paulie is doing to his father.. Life is tooo short to hold gruges. He should take it from me who lost a son at the age of 33, smd hadnt talked to in 10 years… I truely love the show, but can not take Sr puttinh Jr down all the time…..
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Thanks Cheryl.
The mail I’ve gotten about this show is totally on Paulie’s side, and I have to (mostly) agree. Sr. is doing too much damage to his family and one day they simply won’t be there for him.
As for Paulie and Vinnie, they did work well together, but I remember too many shows where Paulie took an early lunch, came back late, and left all the work to Vinnie. They can make a go of it if Paulie really is dedicated, and I think with his fiancee pushing him, he is.
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One thing to clear up: Jr had a one year no-compete clause, that’s why he wasn’t building bikes. Also, the bigger story line isn’t contrived. Jr and Sr hold exec producer credits in the show only. It’s completely separate from the businesses.
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Thanks Jim. the no-compete clause makes sense, as there was no way Jr. was going to make money from a line of doggie toys.
You’re right, the bigger story of the OCC lawsuit is in no way connected to AC and is not contrived, it is totally real.
This show, however, means a lot to the network, and it seems clear that some things- Sr. building a bike for a sister show on the network, Paulie getting a shop “that wasn’t listed yet” and happened to be right back where OCC began, and even, I suspect, some of Paulie’s revenue stream (besides his Ecec producer salary)- are due to behind the scenes string pulling from TLC.
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What I think would be great (although will never happen) is for Jr. to instigate a “hostile” work environment lawsuit against Sr. & OCC. He could get every ex-OCC and just about every current OCC employee to join in.
The proof would be every moment of Sr. and his actions throughout the years mentally abusing and threatening his employees.
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All the judge would need to do is watch the show.
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Fact or Fiction. This where this show has gone. Jr. gets fired but somehow there is a new show called Sr. vs. Jr. Same intro, same cast of people from last year.
Now if things were so bad at OCC that the old man fired Paulie, why are they back on tv together? If Sr. wants to back door Paulie then why is Paulie getting a paycheck from TLC? Vinnie, a good guy leaves with Cody to start VForce motorcycles now he’s back. Guess that flopped. Why is Nub all of a sudden “gee I don’t know if I want to do business with you”. Looked like he always got work from OCC without any problems.
Mike who’s job is to be ….a dork, spends most of the show reminding us he is a painter and a comedian.
My prediction: They will milk this out until ratings drop. Then watch the hype as the reconcile, Sr. retires, Jr. gets OCC. They got millions already, good for them but I can’ believe this legit drama.
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Other than the lawsuit, which was filed in a court, I think this show is one of the most set up shows there is. There is little reality here.
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I am not entirely sure who’s side I am on on this particular issue. It seems right to side with Paul Jr. here but I do not feel Paul Sr. is entirely to blame. It is obvious by looking and listening to the Pauls talk that they are father and son. They both have the same bull dog look, have similar catch lines, and most importantly, are as stubborn as a mule. Now we all can agree that what Sr has done was immature and a little bit too far over the line of “tough love.” I mean, who would launch an effigy of their son on a big over a tiny cliff? Sr. would. Obviously, this is uncalled for and can only damage their relationship. Also, during the episode where Sr. did this, he clearly said that he did this out of fun before the public could ridicule him. Normally this would be a bad thing. However, this is Sr. Jr. has lived his entire life with the man and it is in Sr.’s nature to pull off something like this. I’ve only know him from watching the show and I could expect this of Sr. Even though it is still uncalled for, it just like Sr. to do something like this. Even though a puppy should not pee on the carpet it still does because it is in its nature, so why should it be different for Sr. Finally, Jr. needs to stop being so stubborn like his old man. Sr. has said he would sit down and talk with Jr. countless times and has also tried with Mickey. They refuse and just ignore their father. Why would you do this? Where is the logic? I understand, Jr. is hurt by what his father is done, but distancing yourself from him is just not the way to go. Things need to be talked out, or yelled out which seems to be the way the Pauls solve things. Even with this said, I would say I side with Paul Jr. Senior needs to treat him with more respect as a son and give him what is rightfully his in the business share. Then I believe things will be patched up to where they will at least speak to each other again.
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The puppy analogy is an interesting arguement, that Paul Sr. is just being Paul Sr. But unlike a puppy, he can think about the consequences of his actions, like when you point out that he said he launched the effigy “out of fun before the public could ridicule him.” Like I’ve always said, there is plenty pof blame to go around. Why didn’t Mikey sit down with Paul Sr? Out of loyalty to Jr, which I think was misguided. I think Jr sees no valee in sitting down with his father while his father comtinues to put him down and ridicule him every chance he gets.
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“Paul Sr is an ASS WIPE “
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He sure is, but the more I see Paulie the less I think of him.
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I used to love this show, mostly for the great bikes created pre-bust up. The occasional spat created a little interest but like most bullshit, it palls after a while. This Snr vs Jnr is exactly that. Nothing really about bikes, just about a childish feud and for some reason, focus on Jason Pohl (Heir apparent) gimme a break. Now I dont watch it, its simply too boring and what a shame. Hope Vinnie and Rick (The true artisans) get together, say fuck you Teutels, and get down to non media based bike fabrication.
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I JUST WATCHED YOUR SHOW(S) AFTER A LONG BREAK. WHAT, JR. AND BOBBY ARE LEAVING JOCK TO START THEIR OWN OIL COMPANY??YOU GUYS KILL ME!!I ALWAYS KNEW YOUR SHOW ALONG WITH ALL REALITY SHOWS ARE SCRIPTED, BUT I USED TO WATCH FOR THE BIKE BUILDING AND NOT ALL THE CRAP.PLEASE DON’T INSULT OUR INTELLIGENCE.
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My god, mikey is a fucken joke. Paul jnr is the man. But come on, mikey couldn’t evem wipe his ass without his hand being held, what a FUCKEN JOKE!!!!
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