AMERICAN CHOPPER's done.

[gastrof]

I read on my ISP's news page this morning that 'the final episode airs Thursday'.

From other things I've heard, "Thursday" was last night, not next week.

Bye bye OCC. Hope "Pop" and his boys patch things up before someone croaks.

On the other hand, I've also read that Vinnie and Cody (who left OCC some time ago) will have a show on some little-known channel on Feb. 14th. Think it's called "Throttle Junkies". Don't know if it's a one shot or the first of a series.

 

[Brent]

Senior killed it, plain and simple. The way he treats his boys lately is utterly unacceptable. It is also clear the "four horseman" have their own agenda for OCC.

 

[TheSeeker]

I've never really watched the show but from what I've seen I'm surprised Senior hasn't had a stroke by now.

 

[Warp Coil]

The show lingered on far longer than it should have. Once Discovery decided to drop all of the "monster" (read: Monster Garage, Monster House, etc.) and "chopper" type shows (read: American Chopper, American Hot Rod) from their lineup, the series should have just ended. I didn't really see the longevity in a show like that. But sister network TLC snatched the series up and began to air the series. Considering TLC's focus over the past couple of years on female-targeted programming, American Chopper just didn't fit with the rest of the network's lineup.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

What I don't understand is who would buy a chopper from OCC that wasn't designed by Junior, I know I wouldn't.

 

[Davros]

They had a good run.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I didn't even know it was still in first run anymore.

I loved it most of the time. I always wondered how "real" some of the arguments were, but fun nonetheless.

I loved the Tuetuls' cameo appearance on the My Name Is Earl episode "Stole A Motorcycle".

 

[nx1701g]

I pretty much lost interest after the episode where they destroyed the old garage and Senior drove his SUV through it running into walls for fun.

 

[FPAlpha]

Stopped several seasons ago but i watch an episode from time to time.

So it came as a big surprise when i read some articles about what happened in between.. letting Vinnie go with the comment of "he's replaceable" and worst of it firing Jr. and suing him for ownership of OCC.

That family is quickly unravelling because of the show i believe.. it brought them fame and a ton of money but apparently they are paying with their family life.

Father and son are very much like my dad and me.. my dad has an equally hot temper and curses a lot when i work and i can't work under such circumstances. I'm also a bit laid back but i know when i have to speed up and above all i don't need someone telling me how to do my stuff and watch me every step.

Good luck patching their family back together.. maybe they can do it after they step out of the spotlight and cool down a bit.

 

[J.T.B.]

I was never a big fan of the show but I have watched quite a few episodes. Personally, I think they make some of the most god-awful ugly and backward machines I can imagine, but I realize that's a style and to each his own. I do think Junior has genuine talent in that direction.

I can understand why their dysfunctionality was appealing for reality TV, but what always surprised me was that they kept a business going before the show. Or maybe their disorganized, sloppy, inefficient shop was all an act for the cameras?

--Justin

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I was never a big fan of the show but I have watched quite a few episodes. Personally, I think they make some of the most god-awful ugly and backward machines I can imagine, but I realize that's a style and to each his own. I do think Junior has genuine talent in that direction.

Yeah, I never cared much for their bikes even when I could see how much went into them.

 

[KB24]

The show got a bit silly when the bikes were all the same and hardly featured anymore. When the emphasis became about all the new and up and comping personally richy stuff it got way out of hand. Vince in his piece of crap car pulling up next to Jr's ten cars.

I agree it should have ended before going to TLC. I don't watch anything on Discovery or TLC anymore. I think all the Discovery networks have jumped their shark week and then some.

 

[23skidoo]

I didn't even know it was still in first run anymore.

Same here. The show never really appealed to me, though in a weird way it deserves a bit of respect as being somewhat of a template for Discovery's later shows like Deadliest Catch and Ice Road Truckers.

Alex

 

[C.E. Evans]

The show lingered on far longer than it should have. Once Discovery decided to drop all of the "monster" (read: Monster Garage, Monster House, etc.) and "chopper" type shows (read: American Chopper, American Hot Rod) from their lineup, the series should have just ended. I didn't really see the longevity in a show like that. But sister network TLC snatched the series up and began to air the series. Considering TLC's focus over the past couple of years on female-targeted programming, American Chopper just didn't fit with the rest of the network's lineup.

QFT.

TLC will run What Not To Wear and other similar shows to death--everyday--but confined American Chopper and other "guy shows" to Thursday nights only. They don't even bother to include it in their Video On Demand service (at least they don't in my area anyway).

I know that American Chopper is in second-run syndication on many local stations, but I think the best episodes were from when it was on Discovery Channel. Some of that, however, may have more to do with how the relationship between Senior and his sons fell apart during its TLC run. I know that from a business and professional perspective, getting rid of Pauly and Mikey might have seemed good, but I don't think OCC will be the same with them gone. If anything the repeats of the show in syndication will be a reminder of what the company used to be, IMO...