TiVo Community Forums Archives - American Chopper -- Santa Claus bike

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American Chopper -- Santa Claus bike
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Posted by: jsmeeker

After watching this episode (Discovery has aired it numerous times recently), I think the producers need to show a lot more of Mikey. Good stuff. He's a goof ball, and he totally cracks up Paul Sr. So unlike his brother.

Posted by: Crrink

The tree topper was hilarious!

Posted by: Frylock

The tree topper was great. But Mikey is a complete and utter moron. He's amusing, but I don't think he does any actual work.

Posted by: Fist of Death

I'm just about certain that Mikey is unemployable. If it wasn't for family charity, he'd be down at the soup kitchen lapping it up. Sure he's good for a laugh from time to time. He even manages to take out the trash once in a while. However, Rudy does 4X the work of this clown, probably gets paid less, and definately works fewer hours.

Paul and Paul - time for the charity to end; fire the bum. Tough love. Make him stand on his own two feet - he'll be better off in the long run for it.

F.O.D.

Posted by: jsmeeker

quote:
Originally posted by Fist of Death
I'm just about certain that Mikey is unemployable. If it wasn't for family charity, he'd be down at the soup kitchen lapping it up. Sure he's good for a laugh from time to time. He even manages to take out the trash once in a while. However, Rudy does 4X the work of this clown, probably gets paid less, and definately works fewer hours.

Paul and Paul - time for the charity to end; fire the bum. Tough love. Make him stand on his own two feet - he'll be better off in the long run for it.

F.O.D.

He is good for a laugh.. That is what I get a kick out of. I just love watching him goof off and then see Paul Sr. laugh about it.. When Paul Jr. works hard and "gets behind", Paul Sr yells.. It's all so interesting how that works.

Posted by: ScottE22

quote:
Originally posted by jsmeeker
He is good for a laugh.. That is what I get a kick out of. I just love watching him goof off and then see Paul Sr. laugh about it.. When Paul Jr. works hard and "gets behind", Paul Sr yells.. It's all so interesting how that works.

As any big brother knows, the younger ones get away with everything!!

Seriously - I think Mikey totally plays to the camera. Even stealing lines from National Lampoon's Xmas Vacation as he was cutting down the "tree." "Lotta sap here. Lotsa sap!"

Having said that - Senior's reaction to the tree-topper killed me. It's as if he can't stay mad at that kid!

Great show! When do the new ones start??

Posted by: mp2526

quote:
Originally posted by ScottE22

Great show! When do the new ones start??

I believe on the 12th

Posted by: mp2526

quote:
Originally posted by jsmeeker
He is good for a laugh.. That is what I get a kick out of. I just love watching him goof off and then see Paul Sr. laugh about it.. When Paul Jr. works hard and "gets behind", Paul Sr yells.. It's all so interesting how that works.

Yeah, but you have to admit Paul Jr has a huge ego and I get the feeling that he has a bit of "I'm holier than thou" attitude when it comes to performing the same duties the other employees are supposed to do, like clean up and what not. That's what pisses Paul Sr off.

Mikey knows he's a slacker, Paul Sr knows Mikey is a slacker, but he's not full of himself and is self effacing which makes him funny. I also think Mikey plays it up an extra bit for the cameras.

Posted by: Crrink

Yes, but why does Mikey's facial hair change a minimum of three times during each episode???
:)

Posted by: chuckgmr2

I love this show, I think it's one of the better done "reality shows" I think the father, son chemistry is great, plus I'm a motorhead I like bikes and cars and shows about them...

that being said...

<rant>

Has anyone else noticed that these guys build the same bike every single damn episode?

The definition of a "Chopper" was a motorcycle that was "chopped" up and put back together to no where near resemble it's original stock counterpart. However these guys start with an identical shaped frame, identical size wheels/tires, and identical harley v-twin every single time.... all the bikes have the same long front forks, the same low wide seat, the same half inch rubber clearance rounded rear fender. The only thing they ever "customize" on this show are subtle differences in the shape of the gas tank, the handle bars, the fenders, and then whatever kind of gawdy chrome accessories they decide to weld on. Don't get me wrong, most of the finished products look pretty nice and I'm not even a cruiser kinda guy... but seriously, how about a little variety in these so called "choppers"... the nicest thing about them 90% of the time is the paintjob, and that guy probably doesn't even get royalties from the show, he's an outside vendor.

</rant>

that is all... great show, keep it up Discovery!

Posted by: Frylock

I think that they are building the choppers the way they are because that is their marketplace... Building custom looking bikes. For them, it's not so much about building different shapes as building different themes.

It also could just be that they tend to focus on the theme bikes Paul Jr. builds, and the other guys work on different things and they just don't show that.

Watch the first few episodes and current ones. You'll notice that outside of Paul and Paul and Cody, lots of changeover in people.

Posted by: mp2526

quote:
Originally posted by Frylock

It also could just be that they tend to focus on the theme bikes Paul Jr. builds, and the other guys work on different things and they just don't show that.

Watch the first few episodes and current ones. You'll notice that outside of Paul and Paul and Cody, lots of changeover in people.

If you look on their company website, the only theme bikes they have up there are ones Paul Jr designed. I'm fairly certain, with his ego, he is the only one that does their theme bikes, with the few exceptions shown on the series.

I think the other employees pretty much focus on their other lines of bikes with Vinnie helping out on both sides.

I don't think they have too much changeover in employees. They have added a few probably to help with the influx of new bike sales due to the popularity of the show. You just don't see them alot, because other than the x-mas show and the original pilot show, they don't focus on the employees.

Posted by: jkindley

quote:

Watch the first few episodes and current ones. You'll notice that outside of Paul and Paul and Cody, lots of changeover in people. [/B]

I was rewatching the first episode a couple of days ago and noticed that there was a guy who seamed like the Main Builder guy, who had as much input as Paul & Paul. I haven't seen him since. I guess paul jr 's ego couldn't handle another builder who was on his level.
I like Vinny, but I doubt he wipes his butt without permission from Paul jr.

Jim

Posted by: mp2526

quote:
Originally posted by Fist of Death
I'm just about certain that Mikey is unemployable. If it wasn't for family charity, he'd be down at the soup kitchen lapping it up.

According to their website, Paul Sr was encoaraged by the producer to bring Mikey on board, so I would bet that alot of his goofing around is for the cameras. He did work at the ironwork shop off and on from the age of 12 to 20, just from what I have seen of the brother that runs the ironworks shop on the series, I bet he wouldn't have put up with Mikey not doing any work while working for him.

Granted when he was on his own, he had something like 6 jobs in 5 months, but alot of people go through that trying to find their place in life.

Posted by: Fist of Death

Paul Sr. and Cody's old school chopper was an interesting departure. Paul Jr. didn't have a role in the building of this bike and, I think, it turned out great.

So, here's the $64 question; how much of the ranting and arguing is "real" and how much of it is "playing for the camera"? My wife says it's mostly fake - I disagree.

I'd like to see the OC gang try something different for a change. Like this:

- A Guzzi-powered bike (love that sound)
- A "real" old-school bike like Indian Larry built for the bike build-off competition.
- Something really unusual (2 WD, offroad bike, etc.)

After watching that other series of bike building competitions on Discovery, I have a real respect for guys like the aforementioned Indian Larry. This guy's got some incredible vision and skills to transform that vision into a reality. He's a freakin' magician!

As said above, I think OCC's "formula" is to build basically the same bike and customize the "bits." I hope they freshen up the formula for the new season - it would get old to watch three seasons of building the same bike - no matter how much I love watching the personalities at work.

F.O.D.

Posted by: mp2526

quote:
Originally posted by jkindley
I was rewatching the first episode a couple of days ago and noticed that there was a guy who seamed like the Main Builder guy, who had as much input as Paul & Paul. I haven't seen him since. I guess paul jr 's ego couldn't handle another builder who was on his level.

I was watching all the reruns as well, and I thought that was the same guy who got onto Mikey for wearing sandles in the shop when he was working on his blues bike. I'm not absolutly certain, but I got the impression he ran the regular line of bikes side of the business.

Posted by: mp2526

quote:
Originally posted by Fist of Death

So, here's the $64 question; how much of the ranting and arguing is "real" and how much of it is "playing for the camera"? My wife says it's mostly fake - I disagree.

I don't think its fake, I bet Paul Sr's got some high blood pressure.

Posted by: Unbeliever

quote:
Originally posted by Fist of Death

So, here's the $64 question; how much of the ranting and arguing is "real" and how much of it is "playing for the camera"? My wife says it's mostly fake - I disagree.

No, the real $64 question is "How much of the time spent arguing is creative editing?" The non-building segments and Mikey's comments lead me to believe that they actually get along quite well, with Paulie being the favorite.

--Carlos V.