American Chopper: The Series

The Discovery Channel provides great insight to creativity and mechanical fabrication. So the hosts are Simpsons-like in their family dysfunction, but look at the wonderful creations that are assembled, the use of design tools, and imagination (how ever it is induced). Though I am not a cycle rider/owner for physical handicap reasons, the show offers a fine view of the custom fabrication shop environment that can be enjoyed by anyone with a notion of mechanical fabrication curiosity. Justice is served well by the Discovery Channel for bringing the the Teutul's obnoxious creativity in to our living rooms. Personally having a background in fabrication (auto & aircraft) it is a treat to see the Teutul family dysfunction coupled with mechanical ingenuity displayed in one hour vignettes. Ride on boys!

This show was unlike any other. I tuned in to see what it was like building a motorcycle. It was the third episode ever and I was hooked. I taped every episode since and the pattern is obvious. TLC ruined it. The essence of the show shifted from father and son and crew building kickass bikes to father and sons visiting Russell Crowe and Danica Patrick. For some reason it became the Jason Poole, Jim Quinn, and Nub show with the Teutels skeet shooting or bungee jumping or whatever the hell else TLC has them do. It has nothing to do with the show getting too popular or the business getting too big it's just this "Turbo TLC" in your face attitude that ruined it for all of us. Not to mention all the awful commercials for that retarded "Miami Ink" show which no one who can read or write would ever watch. Terrible, terrible, terrible.

P.S. I'm not taping anymore shows. Show was a ten, now a four or five.

I was a large fan of this series for the first two seasons, but then it got boring and I quit watching the show (checking in sometimes, though). Why?:

These brothers, fellow workers and their father making all kind of crazy choppers appealed to me in the beginning. The creativity was good, but not quite to my taste; a little bit to childish. Like building a Fireengine chopper... what is that all about? OK, I REALLY don't like theme bikes.

The arguments/fights in the beginning between the family and workers looked genuine (and a little fun), but it started to really look manufactured after season two.

The inside look of the real manufacturing of the bikes started to be less interesting (it seemed), and we was forced to seeing the family on different stupid trips and non-bike related things. It turned into some kind of kindergarten for adults, and less about the bikes.

Also, as the seasons goes by, the more the show lean towards pure commercial bikes. Almost every bike is created for a brand name.

American Chopper is now a one hour commercial!

Watch the first two seasons, and drop the rest, unless your really not into motorcycles, and love trivial drama, and know that you are looking on a one hour commercial.

Verdict:

7/10 for the first two seasons.

4/10 for all seasons combined.

I love "Orange County Choppers"! I was channel surfing one day and noticed Paul Sr., stopped on the channel and decided to watch it for a bit. I haven't missed a show yet. I can't tell you how much I enjoy watching the crew work together. Paul Jr. and Dad. They are the best. The bikes are beautiful, such a work of art. When I know a show is going to be on, at a time I can watch, I rush home and turn on the TV. It is like watching friends. I feel like I know them. Reality shows are not me, but this one, what can I say. It is different. I am your "PR" gal. I tell everyone about the show. The only thing left for me to do is meet Paul Sr. I have always loved bikes. Thank you again, for this great show.

Sharon Grass Valley CA

Wow! What ever happened to Discovery airing educational programming? Not only does this show contain no educational value to it what-so-ever, it actually make's me feel dumber for watching it. Hey I like motorcycles too, but why do I care about a bunch of grease monkey-drama queens who bitch at each other like middle school aged girls while they assemble over-priced yuppy bikes. It would be one thing if this show actually showed step by step how these machines are made. But no, it stoops to the lowest common denominator by showing how despicable these sell-out, coorporate blow-holes act. At least real reality television has attractive women eating rotten eggs in their underware while airing on networks not titled DISCOVERY. I expect more substance from a network that has brought me the wonderful documentaries that Discovery used to air on a regular basis.