Looks like the choppers are shutting down. TMZ is reporting that the American Chopper TV show has been cancelled after six years on the air. of the cancellation, TV critic Aaron Barnhart noted, “TLC wrecks another family.”
The end of the reality show isn’t a total surprise. In the season six premiere of American Chopper, it was shown that Paul Teutul Sr. and his son, Paul Jr., had a big fight over Paul Jr.’s contract and he was terminated. The son later returned but the problems erupted again and he left once more.
In December 2009, Paul Sr. took legal action against his son over ownership of their family business, Orange County Choppers. The custom motorcycle manufacturer is based in Orange County, New York and was co-founded by the father and son.
Paul Sr. contends they had a deal that he could purchase his son’s stock options in the company but Paul Jr. apparently doesn’t want to give them up. Paul Sr. is suing for $1 million in damages and hopes that the judge will order Paul Jr. to sell his stocks.
Of the show, a TLC representative put a positive slant on the cancellation. The rep said, “The Teutuls will always be a part of the Discovery family and we congratulate them on a tremendously successful series run.”
The last episode of American Chopper will air on February 11th at 9pm on TLC.
What do you think? Are you sorry to see American Chopper end or is it long overdue?
Image courtesy TLC.
Paul Sr. seems to create a lot more problems than he solves – his behavior is not that of someone who has embraced sobriety but who has simply managed to stop drinking without dealing with the underlying issues. He will eventually run the business into the ground if he has not already.
I feel bad that the show is over.sr made the show along with rick and the great bikes.wish tlc said ok no paul jr great the show go,s on but no tlc sucks no bye to fans whats next for the shop just over f777 the fans .scott
Overall, the best bikes were the ones built by Paul Jr. and Vinnie. Senior just doesn’t have the creativity, training, or expertise of Paul Jr.
Danny, the 3rd son, seems to have done alright away from his father and I imagine Paul Jr. will also. Right now, I think it would be hard to find anyone feeling sorry for Paul Sr. He’s a buffoon and about as a good a bike builder as Barney Fife was at being a law enforcement officer.
I feel bad that the show is over. Watching this past season it was wrong of Paul Sr., to
talk trash about his sons on the show. Apparently, Paul Sr. has issues with other
members of his family. I believe he has a third son he doesn’ t get along with and who
wants nothing to do with his dad. I hope Paul Jr. and Mikey get their own show and
come back.
Just for the record. Lot’s of money and shiny parts do not make a chopper.
Paul JR has ALL my respect…….He has put up with a raging Bully long enough….I realize., Jr. is torn as a son, who SHOULD love his Father and give his father the respect due…However……Paul Sr is a BULLY and needs to have his ass kicked all over that show….SR Needs to be publicly humiliated like he did to his Son’s……maybe then…. he…( Paul Sr) would know how it feels to have a bigger, stronger, more violent, human being in HIS face. Senior is basically a COWARD and can’t stand that his son , Paul Junior is SMARTER, YOUNGER and has… Read more »
I had some good times watching there show when they first got started back when ever .
I hate to see the show end but times has passed . Now its small people saving pit bulls, and people making big cakes. They had a good run and I enjoyed the show.
I don’t think Jason had a clue or cared if Jr or Mikey left. I feel most sorry for Rick Christian and Mike. they always seemed to hate the fighting and wanted things to get better. I would say, with out fail Rick worked his ass off and was by far the most proffesional worker on the show. but he never made waves! I will miss him most of all. Sr., get your head out of your ass. Blood is thinker than water. Without the big bucks coming in do you really think the Jim “JQ” Quinn (Engineer) Steve Moreau… Read more »
As sad as it may be that the show is canceled, its a good thing. The show was not the same since Vincent DiMartino left. They say Vincent DiMartino and Cody Connelly left for undisclosed reasons. More than likely he asked for a share of the business and they basically said go “F” your self. You would leave too. I think in the following years Sr. listened to the wrong people, such as Jim “JQ” Quinn (Engineer) Steve Moreau (General Manager) and Ron Salsbury. I think they hated Jr and Mikey making so much money that they put the bug… Read more »
I agree with the notion that a major portion of the riffs that had happened was the doing of the so called ‘four horsemen’ pact. Greed took over.
Money does not do this to families. There are millions of families in the world who have money and stay together. For a family to break apart there have to be other things and in the case of the Teutels, these factors were plainly evident. It doesn’t take too much guessing to put the pieces of the puzzle together. An alcoholic father, likely a spouse abuser. He has a series of emotional issues. He is estranged from all his children. Some people thought those issues were contrived for television drama. However, the lawsuit proves beyond any reasonable doubt that the… Read more »
I’ve been an avid fan of the show since the beginning and got a kick out of the whole crew, hated to see them split but that’s what money does to families. Hope they get it together and come back bigger and stronger( not literally). One without the other will not make it IMHO. I wish good luck to them all and really hop Vinnie reunites with the Teutuls as he made the show IMO. He and Jr. were the only two with innovative ideas. Just my .02 worth.
Don’t get your hopes too high. 😉 Vinnie and Cody Conelly both quit over at OCC and opened up their own bike-shop called V-Force Customs. I can’t say that im sorry to hear that this shows been cancelled. When i first saw that show on discovery channel, i really loved it. The people were working in a small shop, there were some fights between Paul jr. and Sr. but overall it was about building bikes. That changed at some point … where it was more about Pohl doing his monkey business, or the Teutuls in Africa, in Australia, … ,… Read more »
The moment Paul Jr. and Mikey were winged away from the show it was pretty obvious that their T.V. show was doomed. Paul Sr. seem to take a stance of removing all distractions from him and got TLC just to focus on him. Outside of Mikey and Paul Jr. show had no marketing appeal. Mikey and Paul Jr. is what attracted the new generation or baby boomer market to the show. In many cases, corporations seem to strain at the idea of just dealing with Paul Sr. and were forced to be publicly humiliated by associating themselves with OCC. We… Read more »
I think the finally was crap on the part of tlc and occ. They finished a bike and presented it and that was it, no thanks to the fans or look back at the companies past. Tlc sucks
I agree, what a lame way to end the show. I loved this series, watched everyone of them. I think TLC could have done a better job of ending the series or maybe it was a legal thing that they had to end it that way???
Well…ive been watch the whole 7 season of this show and really hated to see mikey And paul jr leave the compnay ,,and really hated to see vinny leave too…i cant not imagine father & son cant get alone,,theys had it going on ..i know paul sr think he can make it without his son but in long run it will hurt cause company will go down …..will missed the show and good luck !!!!!!
I’m glad they are gone. The show should of been cancled years ago. A blind midget with a missing hand can build better bikes than these fools. It’s all about the money. If it wasn’t then why is Sr. sueing Jr. for $1 million. Yea they had arguements, but who doesn’t? People will make excuses why the show was cancled, but the reason was because the show became predictable,and the family broke apart and the ratings fell. I predict Sr. will have a drug and alcohol relaps. Jr.s new buisness will fail on so will his ingagement if not his… Read more »
Wow – who pee’d in your wheeties?
Hay Bob I like cocoa puffs not wheeties. It’s shows like these that make them taste like some one pee’d in my cocoa puffs. The blind midget told me the next time you see these fools on tv is when they go on Maury. The show would be about a secret that had to be told. Sr. will tell Jr. and Mikey that he is selling OCC and will keep all the money. Jr. will tell Sr. that he had a one night stand with Sr.’s wife. Sr.’s wife will admit to the cheating and tell both of them she… Read more »
Well, you sure seem to know a lot about a show you don’t like. Plus, what do you care if they make it or not. You already said you don’t like the show. Do you have nothing better to do with your time other than look up things about shows you don’t like so you can bad mouth them? Seems like you’re jealous. Gotta complain on the web because it is the only place you can be heard because nobody likes you…? I bet you like the attention you are getting from writing stupid things online. How pathetic.