'American Chopper' Runs Out Of Gas

By Jo Piazza Posted Feb 9th 2010 03:06PM

It all began with a father, his sons and a love of choppers (custom-designed motorcycles). Now, after six seasons, TLC is closing shop on the much beloved 'American Chopper,' the reality show that chronicled the real-life drama of Paul Teutul Sr. and his sons, Paul Jr. and Mikey, as they built bikes and a business.

No one knows the toll a reality television show takes on a family better than TLC, which watched as the marriage of Jon and Kate Gosselin disintegrated before their cameras last year. It's been tough going for the family behind 'Orange County Choppers,' which means maybe it was time to end the show. America only has so much of an appetite for family drama before it starts to get uncomfortable.

Fights have always been common on the show, which the Teutul's love to say is the only real reality show out there. Constant sparring is just what happens when you throw a father and his sons together in a testosterone-driven business. Most of the tiffs were something you might have even seen on 'Sanford & Son,' if Sanford and Lamont had been rough and tumble, tattoo-covered mechanics and Lamont had called Sanford something a little stronger than "old fool" and thrown furniture at walls.

Teutul Sr. has never been shy about his short fuse. The Vietnam War vet has busted through enough walls during the show's run to keep the local Home Depot swimming in cash. While unreliable vendors usually absorb the brunt of his anger, the boys often get a lot of it too. That was all part of the show. The fights have long been used in promos and sold off to various vendors for their own promotional purposes.

But last Spring, things got really ugly in front of the cameras as the family reached a breaking point over who was responsible for the shop's success. Junior screamed, "If I wasn't involved this place would go to sh-t!" right before he threw a chair at the wall and stormed out. An incensed Pops took his rage out on a defenseless trash can.

Soon after the blow-up, Junior bailed on the business to start his own design firm. Always the middleman and provider of comic relief, Mikey pushed for reconciliation, but the two hard heads weren't having it.

"I'm still getting stepped on, and I need to make a separation," Senior told the New York Daily News last October. "My health was starting to deteriorate."

Mikey and Junior now work outside of Orange County, though they are still filmed by TLC cameras.

In December, Pops sued Junior for $1 million in stock options he claimed his son had promised he could purchase, according to TMZ. Senior isn't a stranger to lawsuits. In the last six years, former cast members and former employees have named him in various lawsuits.

Sporadic family fighting is one thing, but when it comes to a severe breach in the family unit, American television viewers start to withdraw. Discovery and TLC have made the right choice to end things now before they get any uglier.

In the final episode, which airs Thursday, Junior plans on making a "truly life-changing announcement," according to the TLC Web site. We have a sneaking suspicion it has to do with his girlfriend, Rachel Biester, and hope for the sake of the family that a reconciliation will be in the works once the cameras fade away.

Tags: american chopper, tlc, tlc reality show

Comments

(30)

Friday 12 February

By randy

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YA, WHERE THE HELLIS VINNIE, IS HE ONE OLF THE EX-EMPLOYE WHO SUED THEM?? WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. VINNIE WAS THE BEST GUY ON THE SHOW.

By JoserJimenez

This show proved one thing, and one thing only....
WHITE TRASH CAN MAKE IT IN AMERICA, because there is plenty of white trash to support them as evidenced by this show and NASCAR.

By Gary

I watch all the episodes and it's pretty sad when a tear is shed when Sr. thought his ugly dog had cancer, but never remorse over losing absolutely all his sons. I love my dog with all my heart, but would never put my dog before my immediate family.

By JJ

Good bye and good riddance.

Monday 22 February

By Plimpton P Jiggler

This is a great show and continues to be a great show. All art is made at a cost and often is a painfull experience. These are all great characters. They are all flawed but thats what makes the show great. Its fun to see what fame and fortune does to otherwise average slugs. Get Dr. Drew and Dr. Phil in there and mix it up.
The "Shrunken Heads Bike" ... I can see it now. Do anything but dont cancel this show. It Rocks!

Saturday 06 March

By steve

I find Sueing a family member shameful to say the least.It just shows what you're really made of.If you're only in it for the money then you should'nt take on partners that you don't really need. or do you?

Sunday 14 February

By Steve H.

A friend of mine stopped by the old OCC on his way to NH in the early days of the show, when the guys talked with people and posed for photos. His impression was that all the bluster was "just for the show". Six years later, they're surrounded by accountants, bodyguards, and blood-sucking lawyers, suing each other into oblivion. I don't envy the price of their fame and fortune. By the way, does anyone remember OCC actually building an engine? a transmission? a carburator? It seems to me that everything mechanical came readymade from a box, like a kid's new Christmas bicycle...some assembly required....

By salvagedcycle

If I were senior, I would have started selling everything YESTERDAY, You got to know when to fold them.
This show is over, sell the brand, sell the neat machines, sell the building, because when you sold out your own blood, the DEAL was done. take your losses and move on. in 10 years, they will sing old country music songe about "remember when?" in a way its depressing, as i think about turning off my television all together, FOR GOOD, the best entertainment i can think of for myself is to "Build my own Dreams" Instead of watching someone else destroy their own..

Tuesday 24 August

By patti bailey

i am happy to hear paul jr is married now the sad part is that family is the only thing that matters paul sr will eventually regret not attending his sons wedding. maybe not today or in near future but he will regret it one day money is not family and will never take the place of grand kids and respect for each other which they have lost, shame on them, i have been watching the show from day one and sad to see it break a family in half

By Shane

If only they were Pawn Stars...

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