October 24. 2011
The problems in the Teutul family were always serious, but from a viewer’s point of view, they were fun. No matter who was at fault, most people tuned in to see the fights and the screaming. Now that the fighting has ended and the war has become a cold war of silence, the show is not as much fun to watch. It has become more serious, less fun, a lot more sad, and a bit pathetic. While the characters are the same, the fun is gone from the show in most respects.
This week is promoted as another one where Mikey tries to get Senior to go along with a lot of rules, conditions, and restrictions before meeting with him. As I’ve said before, I am on Senior’s side. He has reached out, he has seen a therapist, he did everything Mikey asked but Mikey always made up another excuse not to see him. Mikey needs to man up. He is totally unable to live in the real world and one day when there is no show and no brother to pick him up, reality is going to slap him in the face. He has a rude awakening coming.
Anyone ever watch the Chopper Aftershow? I never bothered.
This week, PJD continues the DeKalb corn bike and OCC starts a build for U.S. Biker Law. It is a web site of lawyers that specialize in motorcycle cases and they want to commission a 9/11 bike from OCC. You might remember, I showed you PJD’s 9/11 bike right here. OK, PJD and OCC both do trikes, both do builds for corn companies, and both do 9/11 bikes. Coincidence?
No.
And I had a laugh when Senior showed up at the firehouse with the Fire Bike that Paulie designed.
Mikey visits, yet again, a therapist and what does he want? He wants things for his father to do. Not any help for him, but for Senior. Mikey keeps trying to get his father to change instead of trying to learn how to get past it and help himself. I am losing respect for him by the second, and I didn’t have much to begin with.
And what kind of therapist is this guy? You can’t diagnose a man sight unseen. He should ethically not be involved. And he said that Mikey was “well” and “has tremendous strength.” Where, his stomach? He is a mass of denial with no coping skills. Anyway, the doctor agrees to do a three-way therapy session with Mikey and Senior over the phone. I’m sure his medical degree is printed in crayon.
Senior, wisely, says no. Hey, he already did that! Remember, Mikey? No matter how much Mikey says he doesn’t want to talk about the past, he keeps bringing up the past. Senior never has. Mikey is still running from it.
Senior tells Mikey he wants to talk face to face, no more texting. But Mikey likes texting. It is safe. He can tell his father what he wants without talking to him, without hearing him, without seeing him, without dealing with him in any but the most impersonal way. It is cowardly.
Senior thought back to the old times with Mikey and (he’s not a good actor so this was real) got a little choked up at how much he missed his son. He called Mikey to set up a meet and only got the voice mail. Was Mikey screening? I wouldn’t put it past him.
Oh, wait, after the commercial break we see that Mikey was screening. Coward. And he called that a small step forward because they were “communicating, at least.” Well, no, not really. Senior was trying to communicate, Mikey was avoiding it. I swear, I am a better therapist than the hack Mikey went to. But probably so are you. And your dog.
At ten minutes after nine, we see the new lunatic, Jason Pohl, helping to lift the bike onto the lift. No hard feelings after last week, I guess. And again, Jason’s design has nothing to do with reality. He blames the client, but as Senior and Mike told him, it comes down to geometry. As usual, he knows nothing about bikes. Get rid of that guy! And now this is Mike’s week to get pissed at Jason because Jason was acting like Mr. Know It All. And worse, he ran his mouth in the shop and Jason got pissed at Mike!
“He better learn this ain’t Jason County Choppers.”- Mike
“Jason’s getting touchy about his designs.”- Jim
“There’s always an issue in the 2D to 3D transition.” -Rick, on the problems of turning a flat picture into a three-dimensional bike.
Time to fire this guy, Senior, before you give him 20% of the company too.
The bike has an odd, three-piece split tank with strange (but pretty cool) mounts. I just wonder what made it a 9/11 firemen tribute? It had nothing in the design to relate to it. That must be why the Fire Bike got so much screen time this week.
As for the PJD DeKalb bike, as usual it is Nub’s paint that is making it really work. It looks old-fashioned, with faux-wood paint and dark a green tractor colored frame. There is a real 1950’s vibe to it. Plus it runs on corn ethanol. When Paulie took it out on the street and I got a good look at it, I really liked it. Nice job.
Next Week, American Chopper takes a break for Halloween.
Top Ten Bikes
Senior and Junior reveal their all-time favorite bikes including OCC’s St. Jude bike, PJD’s first ever client build for Geico and a shared favorite between father and son.
Enjoy your show recaps. Thanks.
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Thank you!
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War is still going on though
Well they still take shots at each other but more so from Sr. Group. With the killing of Jr. in effigy on the cycle and other things and the bad mouthing shots, it hasn’t ended I think just taken a different course. I see Jr. retorts of a more mental, matter of fact, here is how I see it type of approach. I see no silence nor hear it yet, but it is at a much lower pitch, and it may have been transferred to the Fool Jason and there is other pent up tension in others basically all on Sr. side of things, but I see a real big blow up coming in the near future in Sr’s home court. I see an immovable object meeting a irresistible force head on. And that is the simple TRUTH. Sr. ego can’t stay stable when he is losing all the time and with Jrs success and the viewers opinions must be hitting his ego pretty hard. You can bet Sr. is reading the blogs looking for something to shore up his ego, if not putting some out anonymously under other names. I really wouldn’t put it past his ego. Sr. has become a legend in his own mind. I really think that Jason the Fool is getting messed up in the head by the blogs also and his losing the various contests he has taken very personally. He is trying to throw his weight around like he is someone of importance following in Sr’s footsteps I presume. I see Sr’s group as more of a sinking boat and if certain things go well in the next week or so I may have more to do with Jr’s success in the future than anyone can believe at this time. I like him, I like his work and I would like nothing better to help me pass up his old poor excuse of a dad like he is going backwards, WHICH HE IS.
I love all the stuff on this blog, well most of it anyway. LOL
Michael W.
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I doubt Senior reads any blogs but I bet Jason trolls the net looking for people talking about him.
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Never underestimate the power of an ego, especially a paranoid one that is delusional.
I am pretty sure he is insecure and is looking for things on the internet but if not him personally he is having someone do it for him. He is one sick individual.
Michael W.
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The reason I don’t hink he reads blogs is that I don’t think he is capable of, or has the patience for, surfing the internet.
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Well, from personal experience, since I am in the computer industry and deal with people just like Sr. every day, he is capable and is probably having roid rages while doing it also.
He may not do it long but he is doing it, would bet money on it. Curiosity killed the cat and his ego is curious about what is being said about him and for that reason he will do it. Under normal conditions I don’t think he would but his ego has suffered some great damages of late due to the build off etc. He also is a control freak and micro manages everything, I see him do it all the time.
M. Wayne
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Couple other things I am noticing that I have no doubt the show producers are behind..
1) Notice how Jason is “suddenly” exploding in each episode and his “explosions” are now part of the promos for the show? Me thinks that show producers caught on that most people DVR the show and were fast fowarding thru all of the OCC scenes, only watching the PJD scenes
2) Could it be any more obvious how Senior is try to look sympathetic to the audience now? He claims he has changes in last two years? Really? Maybe physically but he’s still a bully — whatever!
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1) Is there any reality here? Very little.
2) The only thing I give credit to Senior for is being on the right side on the Mikey issue. Doesn’t mean I have any sympathy though.
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Yep, ratings for these shows are broken up into minute-by-minute and I can gurantee that the show suffered most during the OCC “builds”. There is no question they need to “spice things up”.
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I do not watch the show for the OCD parts. I watch it for the JR. parts only. And now we are going to be part of the whole thing. I have watched enough to know that Jr. is the man for us and our company.
And I agree that IF they dropped the OCD parts the show would do even better…. I will have to see what I can do about that someday soon.
Keep it up guys I like the chat on here.
M. Wayne
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Jr 9/11 bike build…regarding your photos: https://www.911memorial.org/catalog/paul-jr-designs-wtc-motorcycle-raffle.html
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I don’t know why they are taking off for Halloween, Sr. makes for a pretty good Ogre and you have Jason that plays the Kings Fool, then you have all the snakes in the grass and vampires that tried to suck Jr. dry. Sounds like Halloween to me.
Michael W.
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I’m tryiing to find out how many episodes are left and it looks like they’ve already aired as many shows as last season, so if new episodes return they will be the last few of the season. I understand why they are rerunning the Caddy shows. Those get more searches than any other shows.
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The irony in Sr’s temperamental change in the last 2 years is that while he may put up with a lot of BS at the shop (i.e. Jason’s explosion and attitude), he still talks smack about his own kids. In fact, after Jason threw the bike off the lift, Sr said that was something Mikey would do. Sr hasn’t changed; he still ridicules Jr (and Mikey) whenever the opportunity presents itself.
While Sr may not rage as he used to, this is only because the objects of his rage are no longer around. Not to mention that employees like Rick have set boundaries for Sr; he knows that any misplaced ridicule could result in more defections, which would greatly impact OCC business.
Sr may think he’s improving his public persona, but most people can see through the charade. For some reason his deep-seeded anger and jealousy for Jr just can’t be hidden. Call me cynical but even his new tolerance, especially for the antics of his surrogate son (Jason) just seem like backhanded ways of spiting Paulie. Sr can’t change.
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Great analysis. I think you hit it on the head.
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HE MUST BE CAREFUL NOW
He is afraid Rick with leave for sure, Rick has given him a warning in more ways than one. most of his pack are incompetent idiots with not even one brain between them, and the Fool isn’t going to build any of his great drawings. Things would fall apart really quick if he goes on a stupid rampage, but I do think he would be better WITHOUT the FOOL drawer, he sure couldn’t do any worse than he is right now with someone else.
M Wayne
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I saw that incident about the Fool and the bike, and Sr. wasn’t upset, he wasn’t even surprised. I still say that was rigged to make Sr. look like he is a nicer more in control guy, yeah right. He was more upset when the placed wasn’t cleaned up properly than he was with a very expensive bike (???) being thrown off the stand. I just don’t buy it, Senior has sent people home for less, let us get real if anything was ever faked on this show that was, end of story.
Michael W.
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I agree Michael but one thing is missng in Sr nowadays and it can’t be overlooked…’roid rage. He is still a lunatic but the steroids use to bring his rage to a whole new level.
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Well yes the ROID rage is gone but not forever, I do believe Sr. is on medication, and I bet it is due to the show warning him about several possible consequences if he doesn’t tone down things.
Anyway meetings have been going well the past couple of days regarding my plans ordering custom bikes from Jr. It is not ONE bike anymore, we are talking 4 a month every month with 1 for charity every month unless they can’t do it. If I have my way I will put Jr. way past his father and very quickly.
I am no joking people, I am going to have to travel up there to see Jr. soon and see if we can do some kind of contract regarding this.
I really like Jr and his designs and I want to be able to tell Sr. to take his idears along with his DRAWER and toss them both in the garbage where they belong.
This is a case where one man IS GOING to make a difference in this fight.
We also plan on being the shows SOLE sponsor but we are going to give Jr. the basic ideas of what we want THE THEME on each bike and let him run with that. We are not worried in the slightest about the quality we will get.
When I am in someone’s corner they CANNOT lose. Believe me if you want or not, but you will eventually see I am not joking about my plans.
M. Wayne
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I know nothing of the reality of Paul Sr. and his kids… but I tend to believe that Mikey’s fear is one stemming from years of emotional abuse. Not that Paul Sr. is a child beater, but I suspect his admitted substance abuse led him to lash out and say things to his boys that no father should say. Such that Mikey wants an apology for. Suing one’s son, and then keeping him out of the only industry he knows for a year took it’s toll on mikey, even if it wasn’t him dealing with it.
They keep talking about “the past” and I assume it’s all stuff WAY TOO HEAVY for the show to be dealing with. In the mean time, I continue to laugh at Pohl, and how disconnected he is from the process. As an artist myself, If I were to be working at OCC, I would spend every waking moment trying to learn the craft outside my design studio… because that kind of knowledge would really assist in creating a better final product.
In the mean time, OCC will continue to make the same old shit week in and week out.
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Very Astute Comment
I agree with you amost100%, but yelling and screaming at young kids while they are in development is just as bad as beating them if not worse. A lot of talk is going on about how Sr. mistreats Jr. but demeaning Mikey or relegating him to just the class clown or comedy relief is just as bad. For children to properly develop they need support and reassurance, while their self worth and self image should move into a positive arena. But I think all of them (including others not in the show) have suffered sever damage and some of them have been able to overcome it while others (like Mikey) are still struggling to pull themselves out of the quagmire their father has created for them. How he can say he loves his children is beyond my comprehension. He should be talking about leaving his children a legacy but all he really cares about is keeping it all his.
Love is not NEEDING to say you are sorry. And there is a big difference in being sorry or BEING A SORRY PERSON, and I think we all feel Sr. is the latter.
Michael W.
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I also agree with Marc. Sr is a sad excuse for a human, let alone a father. I can’t even watch these reruns without seething over his hypocrisy and hatred. I just watched a couple episodes from a few months back where Sr says that since Jr has left, the tension in the shop is so much better. Can this guy be more wrong about more things. In the last few weeks alone I have seen more “tension” between employees than I have in several years of taping (not including Sr/Jrs personal grudge match). In fact, I can’t recall the kind of animosity I’m seeing between the design team (Sr and his new surrogate son), and the builders. Putting aside Jason’s blowout and Rick’s reaction to Sr’s off-handed remarks, it appears that a lot more tension exists now than has ever existed.
I don’t know the technical term, but the sideline interviews with individual employees has each taking shots at the other. Rick exclaiming, no wonder Sr gets sued all the time…and questioning the cut-and-paste builds from someone who knows nothing about motorcycles (Jason). Jim Quinn speaking off-camera about Jason’s thin-skin over criticism of his designs and even Mike bumping heads with Jason. There appears to be lines in the sand being drawn…and the line is dividing between these same two groups. This division appears to be fomenting resentment as Jason not only appears to be taking on the role of surrogate son, but also surrogate owner and boss. I think because Sr more or less laughed off Jason’s tantrum and didn’t levy any punishment also feeds this resentment. Other employees have been punished or threatened for far less yet the best Sr could come up with was…he needs to cool down without me around, then later “asking” Jason if he was going to be apart of the build.
After years of watching Sr tear down Jr for the most trivial of offenses, these guys have got to wonder how and why Pohl can get away with such an act of disrespect towards them, Sr and their work. You’d also think that Pohl, who is often the most disrespectful of Jr…always lapping up Sr’s criticism of him, would show the most sympathy for him. It only took Jason one mild criticism of his design choice over a frame to explode, while Jr has endured over a decade of criticism…and ridicule. This not only exposes Jason as the thin-skinned premodona he is, but also makes you wonder just how long he can survive at OCC without the constant pampering by Sr. When you think about this, Sr is putting himself in a precarious situation that could have some serious consequences.
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Hello,
Well I have stated and still think the whole scene with the bike being pulled off the lift was contrived by Sr. and the show directors in trying to repair his image, with that being said I agree with you that IF the rest didn’t know it was contrived it has set the scene for some big problems for Sr. group. I also see a lot of unrest and unhappiness in his shop with is not good at all.
Beyond that I have had some great news the past couple of days about me getting NOT just one bike done by Sr. but what would you think of 4 a month EVERY MONTH? with maybe one for charity thrown in IF they can do it. If I have my way I will make an offer to RICK that he won’t be able to refuse. I want him working with Jr on all my bikes.
I will post more regarding that soon, but I am NOT joking people I plan on making a difference in the whole makeup of the show and I will put Sr. in his place once and for all and allow Jr. to blow past him like he is standing still!
M. Wayne
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YOU SAID SR UP THERE I HOPE IT WAS A MISTAKE .. SR HAS PROBLEMS AND GUILT FROM THE PAST THATS WHY HE WONT MEET WITH MIKEY AND THE THEROPIST.. I DO THE SAMR WITH THE SHOWS FAST FORWARD ALL THE SR CRAP AND WATCH JR SHOP.. WONDERING HOW MUCH JR GOT OUT OF THE OLD BASTARD FOR HIS 20% I HAVENT SEEN A BIKE YET THAT SR HAS REALLY WORKED ON SINCE THE SPLIT IT CRACKS ME UP THEY HAVE TO BE CLOSE TO BANKRUPT WITHOUT ALL OF JR IDEAS AND DESIGHNS….ILL BE GLAD TO SEE HIM FOLD!!!….”MEAT”
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Senior won’t meet with Mikey? Remember the show where they agreed to meet in restaurant? Senior was there, Mikey wasn’t. Senior went to Mikey’s “art” gallery to see him. The therapist is a joke. What reputable therapist would agree to do phone therapy with a man he doesn’t know? And Senior did meet with the therapist last season. Be clear, it is Mikey who is making up excuses not to see his father.
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TRUE very true, but I think he is WISE NOT TO MEET WITH HIM.
Trust is a hard thing….A hard thing to lose, and ever harder to get back once it is lost.
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You can believe this or not, but I have a plan to put Sr. out of business or make him look so bad he will want to be out of business.
Sr. is just a poor excuse for anything, businessman, father, human being etc.
Michael w.
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