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American Chopper
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Published: November 3, 2006
Is this what Allen Funt had in mind when he first aired “Candid Camera” in 1949? Funt's show, where a hidden camera documents ordinary peoples' reactions to pranks, is thought to be among the first in a murky line of television programming centered around some aspect of reality. Funt inspired a long line of television programming climaxing into the reality television craze of today's networks.
“American Chopper,” the Discovery Channel's addition to the burgeoning reality TV lineup, documents the behind-the-scenes work of the father-son duo of Paul Teutul, Sr. and Paul Teutul, Jr. Together, the Teutuls own and operate Orange County Choppers (OCC), a custom motorcycle company-based in Montgomery, N.Y., a small town north of New York City. Their staff puts out some of the highest quality, respected custom motorcycles anywhere, highlighted by their most famous creation, the Black Widow Spider Bike.
Paul Sr. began OCC as an offshoot of a previously successful steel fabrication shop, Orange County Ironworks, a shop still in existence today and run by another son of Paul's, Daniel. In 1999, OCC became an officially licensed business; later that year, at the Daytona Biketoberfest, Paul Sr. began his rapid ascension to stardom with the introduction of his first famous bike, True Blue.
“American Chopper” holds a threefold appeal. One, it highlights the explosive arguments between father and son as they work on each bike. The show combines the fiery business savvy of Paul Sr. with the calm design ingenuity of Paul Jr. – a combination ripe for explosion. Whether they are fighting over Junior's deliberate pacing or lax work ethic, design elements of the bike, cleanliness of the shop itself, deadlines or nearly any other topic imaginable, viewers can count on entertaining verbal exchanges between father and son during every episode.
Two, “American Chopper” presents a success story that stars blue-collared, manual laborers whose relentless work has helped them rise to the top of their field and become pinnacles of television stardom; they have earned everything they have been given. The cast on “American Chopper” does not play down this aspect of their background; many episodes incorporate blue-collared leisure activities such as pheasant hunting, bass fishing and cutting out of work to go bowling.
Thirdly, having risen from the ranks of an individually-owned iron company, OCC itself represents a triumph for small businesses everywhere. Their renowned product, skillful design, top-notch crew and popular television show all stand as monuments of success for the small iron company.
“American Chopper” still airs new episodes, now is in its fourth year since its premier in March 2003. Airing Monday at 9 p.m. on the Discovery Channel, “American Chopper” continues to document the drama at OCC battling both deadlines and conflicting personalities within the company. Viewers have greatly taken to this latest slice of reality television; its popularity even inspired two video games.
And not even Allen Funt can say he had a video game named after him.
Sources:
Discovery Channel :: American Chopper: About OCC. Discovery Channel online. 2006. 02 November 2006. <http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/amchopper/ab out/about.html.>
Reality television. Wikipedia online encyclopedia. 31 October 2006. 02 November 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_televisio n#Origins_of_reality_television.>
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“American Chopper,” the Discovery Channel's addition to the burgeoning reality TV lineup, documents the behind-the-scenes work of the father-son duo of Paul Teutul, Sr. and Paul Teutul, Jr. Together, the Teutuls own and operate Orange County Choppers (OCC), a custom motorcycle company-based in Montgomery, N.Y., a small town north of New York City. Their staff puts out some of the highest quality, respected custom motorcycles anywhere, highlighted by their most famous creation, the Black Widow Spider Bike.
Paul Sr. began OCC as an offshoot of a previously successful steel fabrication shop, Orange County Ironworks, a shop still in existence today and run by another son of Paul's, Daniel. In 1999, OCC became an officially licensed business; later that year, at the Daytona Biketoberfest, Paul Sr. began his rapid ascension to stardom with the introduction of his first famous bike, True Blue.
“American Chopper” holds a threefold appeal. One, it highlights the explosive arguments between father and son as they work on each bike. The show combines the fiery business savvy of Paul Sr. with the calm design ingenuity of Paul Jr. – a combination ripe for explosion. Whether they are fighting over Junior's deliberate pacing or lax work ethic, design elements of the bike, cleanliness of the shop itself, deadlines or nearly any other topic imaginable, viewers can count on entertaining verbal exchanges between father and son during every episode.
Two, “American Chopper” presents a success story that stars blue-collared, manual laborers whose relentless work has helped them rise to the top of their field and become pinnacles of television stardom; they have earned everything they have been given. The cast on “American Chopper” does not play down this aspect of their background; many episodes incorporate blue-collared leisure activities such as pheasant hunting, bass fishing and cutting out of work to go bowling.
Thirdly, having risen from the ranks of an individually-owned iron company, OCC itself represents a triumph for small businesses everywhere. Their renowned product, skillful design, top-notch crew and popular television show all stand as monuments of success for the small iron company.
“American Chopper” still airs new episodes, now is in its fourth year since its premier in March 2003. Airing Monday at 9 p.m. on the Discovery Channel, “American Chopper” continues to document the drama at OCC battling both deadlines and conflicting personalities within the company. Viewers have greatly taken to this latest slice of reality television; its popularity even inspired two video games.
And not even Allen Funt can say he had a video game named after him.
Sources:
Discovery Channel :: American Chopper: About OCC. Discovery Channel online. 2006. 02 November 2006. <http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/amchopper/ab out/about.html.>
Reality television. Wikipedia online encyclopedia. 31 October 2006. 02 November 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_televisio n#Origins_of_reality_television.>
