Category: TV Author : Duncan Riley Posted: April 9, 2009
Tags : american chopper, occ, orange county choppers, paul teutul jr, paul teutul jr fired, paul teutul sr
Paul Teutul Jr., Paul Sr. and Mikey have been entertaining American Chopper fans for going on 7 seasons now and just when you think the fights and arguments couldn’t get any worse without someone getting killed, a more volatile argument breaks out.
Paul Sr, threatens to fire Paul Jr., at least once or more every season, but paulie always strolls back into the shop with his coffee and his tail between his legs. But this season, according to statements made during an interview with Paul Teutul Sr. in the New York post, Paulie may have been late for work once too often.
“Don’t forget, it’s been seven years together, doing 26 shows a year,” says Paul Sr. “After a period of time, if things don’t change they just accumulate and that’s basically what happened. But I think people recognize what’s going on — and the fact that Paulie’s lazy.”
Now if you’ve been watching American Chopper as long as I have, you’ll know that Paul Sr. has said things like this before. It’s reality TV and what would the show be without Paulie? Just another show about building bikes?
At any rate, here’s a quick video of Paul Teutul Jr. and one of their most recent squabbles [Warning: NSFW]
Apr 9, 2009
Honestly? I hope Paulie starts his own show. I'd watch that. I haven't watched in years because, well, all they do is fight and churn out the occasional decent bike. Paulie's created some real works of art of the years. I hope he goes off and does his own thing and (maybe) finds some peace and happiness.
Apr 10, 2009
Paul senior needs Paul junior to make OCC what it is. Senior does make a nice bike, but Paul junior is the future of OCC. Paul junior is walking away from a major opportunity if he doesn't fight for his place at OCC. Maybe it's time to make junior an equal partner. If junior actually leaves OCC, there is no way the tv show can live up to it's reputation. The senior and junior arguments are the some of the most entertaining segments of the show. Mikey is just too much of a big friendly goof to take Paulie's place, but on second thought, Mikey could run the shop in his own way. Ahh, what the heck, C'mon Mikey, step up to the plate buddy, it's your time to shine. Besides, you guys would be about one hundredth as popular and successful as you are without the tv show. Big new glass building, clothing line, international bike stores, now talking about chain restaurants….kind of a sell-out but who can blame you for going for all that cash!! So, will junior actually be off the show, out of OCC??? Guess there's only room for one bull in the pen. Bottom line, junior has worked his butt off making bikes that turned OCC into what it is today, while his goofy brother just basically shows up and does very little, but it is Mikey who will inherit the business and all the fame, glory, and riches. Go figure.
Apr 10, 2009
The show lost it's major appeal since Vinnie and Cody left. If Jr. is gone, the show is dead. What I liked about OCC is that the company was built on dreams with family and friends. Now it's just another corporate piece of crap with no imaginations whatsoever.
Apr 10, 2009
Wow, that was some bad acting, are they that desperate for ratings?
I love the bikes and the show, but those were rehearsed tantrums.
Apr 10, 2009
That was all B.S. they are putting on a act. As far as I'm concerned their show can fail.
Apr 12, 2009
the producers must have put them up to it.. no doubt they are hurting for ratings. i mean its the same thing every episode and they needed to do something over the top dramatic to bring attention back to american chopper. i bet paulies back in an episode or two
Apr 13, 2009
Who cares?? At Daytona no-one was at their display-Everyone was at Destination Daytona getting a picture with Vinny. Might as well watch WWF.
Apr 14, 2009
These guys are trying for Oscar nominations! I mean why even try this stunt? Next week it will be all slaps on backs and hugs all round. Next week it will be tantrums again…..This show has gone from informative to entertaining to embarassing.
Apr 15, 2009
The show will fail without jr.there already having problems without vinnie and cody. without paulie it wont be american chopperwithout the crew it will be pauls cycleworks.
Apr 15, 2009
These two need to grow up.
Apr 15, 2009
I work at OCC in Newburgh,NY as part of the fab crew and yes Paul Tuetul Jr. Was Let go by the company for undisclosed reasons in Late 2008.
It had nothing to do with the television series American Chopper or the producers of the show.
Paul Jr. Will still remain a small part of the television series although not working for OCC anymore.
Apr 15, 2009
I'm sure their not going to have a meeting with the shop to let everyone know what their doing. This is about ratings.
Apr 15, 2009
…ever see a motorcycle jump a shark?
Apr 15, 2009
The show will be boring as Hell without Jr. everyone else is too scared to speak their minds around Senior. If it looks like crap Jr will let you know it looks like crap; which is why he is so important to the show and the company. Not to mention he's a pretty insightful fabricator with skills.
Apr 15, 2009
if he really got fired . why didn't he take all of his tools. the one thats 6 ft. x 6 ft. and weighs 1 ton but when someone came over with it. it was just a little one . maybe 3 ft. high and 2ft. wide. you know he had every tool known to man. they don't hang all them banners around the shop for nothing. each and everyone there gets free stuff
Apr 16, 2009
I'm a huge fan of the show. I saw the episode where Paulie got fired. Don't know if it's true or not, but, what I do know is that Sr. is starting to look very frail, not his usual robust self. I think it may be time for Sr. and Jr. to part ways businesswise. As for family, hey, family is family. Paulie would do great out on his own, he's an incredible chopper designer/builder. Talent like that is bound to succeed. Not only that, he would then know what Sr. is talking about in regards to running a business. If he goes out on his own, he'll soon find out that he'll be needing to start at 6AM, not 7:45 AM. It may be good for all involved, who knows? But Sr. definitely needs to take a break. I thought his veins were going to pop out of his friggin' temples on that episode. Anger and stress like that can only result in one of two things ….. a major stroke, or a heart attack. It looks to me like he's well on his way. Too bad. There's way more important things in life than worrying about stuff like that. Take a holiday with your old lady Sr. and forget everything for a while. It'll do you a world of good. Don't worry about Paulie. He's old enough that he should be out on his own anyway. That's how life works. The love between you two is very evident, and that won't change. And this stress is affecting Mikey too. And the whole shop also from the looks of it. I know there's lots to worry about running OCC, but, if you are 6' under, you won't be worrying then. Life is short. Chill out and enjoy it. Is all this bullshit really worth it?
Apr 16, 2009
Wow, you mean Sr might have to finally get off his lazy ass and work now that Jr left? Amazing..
Apr 16, 2009
What I see is an extremely insecure overcompensating and controlling “father” who bullys everyone including his own children. He has serious control and anger issues. The problem with Paul Sr. is that no matter how immature Paulie may or may not be in his “laziness”, Paul Sr. is even more immature in his complete lack of emotional control, which repeatedly injures Paulie and Mickey to the point that neither of them can believe or respect what he says anymore. If they did, they'd have to recognize how maliciously and brutally destructive he is to their emotional lives. They are emotionally battered children who can't allow themselves to admit that their father is the source of their greatest pain. While neither of them are perfect children, they've done nothing that justifies Paul Sr's. disproportionate anger and mercilessly relentless verbal abuse.
Apr 16, 2009
Look, at the end of the day they get a good pay check, especially that no talent mike. If all is ask of you is to show up on time I have no problem with him getting his ass ripped.
Apr 16, 2009
I stopped watching after Vin left. If Paul jr leaves, I probably wouldn't bother to even flip past the channel.
Apr 16, 2009
what a couple of dipshits!!!
Apr 16, 2009
Osage ……. I hear you.
I saw the episode tonight and have to tell you, Sr.'s “Woodstock ” bike was absolutely stunning. Nice touch on the frilled King and Queen seat …… beautiful. Looks like Paulie's going to cave somewhat in regards to going out on his own. Familywise, maybe it's a good thing. Workwise ….. hmmm, don't know. We'll see. It'll have to be some kind of partnership contract to return from the looks of it, and I don't think Sr. will bite. I think Paulie would have more of a shot at success out on his own than V Force ….. just my opinion. Vinnie and Cody are good, but they're no Paulie for sure. Felt a bit sorry for Mikey tonight. He's caught in the middle of all this. He looks severely bummed. Having kids myself, who are Mikey's and Paulie's ages, I can relate to what Sr.'s going through. They get to that age where they are no longer kids, and you have to let go. But it's hard. But you must let them go. There's nothing wrong with that. Sr. has to take a look back to see where he was at that age, what he was going through, the relationship he had with his parents ……. maybe that will help, don't know. I saw that Paulie was getting some advice from his mother tonight ( I personally think she was wrong) and maybe Sr. should do the same. His mom seems like a smart cookie. Maybe she could shed some light on the situation, in fact I'm sure she could. A little more time away from each other may be a good thing also. That was one nasty scrap. It may take some time to blow over. Absence makes the heart grow fonder? Absolutely. Whatever happens, I hope they can agree to disagree, and carry on with life. Like I said in my last post ……. life is short. Before you know it, it's gone.
Again Sr. ……. NICE job on the Woodstock bike! An “old school” masterpiece, that coming from one who was there!
Apr 16, 2009
the show has run its course and this stunt just proves it. Yes jrs head has gotten too big but Sr should know that ppl come to OCC because they want a bike built by paulie not him. Unfortunately alot of the bikes arent even designed by him anymore, in the beginning they bikes the made were creative hand made bikes that no one else could do, now every thing is designed by jason, machined, and cut out of the flow jet.
Apr 16, 2009
If you've watched the majority of episodes since day one, you'll likely come to the conclusion that Paul Sr. has a mental defect or sickness. I do not mean that to be disrespectful or hurtful, but although in recovery for many years now, Sr. still has a typical mentality of an alcoholic; chiefly not taking responsibility for his actions and passing blame to others – it's Jr's fault.
The rants and raves, tantrums, picking a fight, etc., how many were started by Jr compared to Sr.? Thats easy, Sr. started most, if not all of them. Jr. is an artist, and key person in that company, and it seems Sr. is scared that Jr. shows him up. So what, be thankful.
A good father would want his son to do well, even better than himself. Why wouldn't you want that? It's truely bothersom that this is used this for ratings, like it's a joke (see the fake couseling commercial). What they need is real counseling. Other than that, Sr. need to chill out and make his sons equal share holders and corporate officers and stop whining about Jr. and Mikey hours and when they come and go. Like Jr. said, at the end of the day, it gets done, the end product gets delivered.
Seriously, it that all Sr. has to complain about?! Really??!
Sr. talks about how things with Jr. haven't changed since he was 15. Hey Sr. take a good look in the mirror, you haven't changed either, in fact you taught your sons to be what you most complain about, yourself! You not perfect, they arn't either.
OCC isn't nearly as cool as it once was years ago. A new cool show would be Jr and Vinnie teaming up.
Apr 17, 2009
Well, what this is really about is the clash of different generations….the ole man had and has a good work ethic…I'm sure that he is greatly disturbed by the work ethic of the current generation which is much different from his day. I can relate as I'm of his generation and recently retired because I just couldn't work with the kids coming up today….that's not to say that they are BAD….JUST DIFFERENT….so I goes one generation to another….BUT OCC will not be the same without Jr.
Apr 17, 2009
paul sr. is an idiot , the kid had all the talent and is responsible for at least 50% of their success . the old man bitching about the kid coming in a little late once in a while like he is something special compared to other employess is insane , he is something special compared to the others , its amazing he comes in as aften as he does at this point . the old man is an ungratelfu tyrant and he will regret allienating his son for the rest of his life , but he had to prove that he was the man , bordeline moron!!.
Apr 17, 2009
Anyway, just another thought: I don't know if the whole firing thing is a publicity stunt or not, but I wouldn't put it past them. Their whole claim to fame is not whether they build good or beautiful bikes or not. There are many, many builders out there that can do better…they just don't have the benefit of a weekly television show to showcase them. Without the show, large companies would stop approaching them to build bikes they don't really want or need. No reason to spend 6 figure sums for a bike, when what they're actually after is a half-hour commercial for a relatively cheap six-figure price. If the show goes away, the company dies. Period.
All the principles of the show know this. It doesn't matter how well diversified they become. No one will care about them after the show goes away. Heck, the whole custom bike mania has been on a downturn lately anyway, bad economy or not.
The show has had its hey day. It used to be about the dream and the dynamics of the family. Never really about the bikes. The company has become a large and seemingly unapproachable monster that has made the family very rich. The show is very commercial and a vehicle for companies and famous people to get their faces on the air (really, does Bill Murray even ride a bike?).
No ill-will to the family or the company, but maybe its time for TLC to wrap this one up and move on.
Apr 17, 2009
Unapproachable is a good word. You can't even touch them on their own website without giving out your credit card number.
Apr 21, 2009
If OCC is smart, you folks will put Sr on retirement SOON and Jr in his old position building those excellent and exciting bikes of his imagination and that so many of us love. He does it on the edge, and that WAS keeping you one step ahead of anyone else in this business. Paulie's cutting edge drive is what any and every business needs.
Sr. needs to redo a temper check and not loose his shirt over this. PAULIE, YOU GOTTA COME BACK DUDE, We miss ya to much. I would rather have you and the old man at it, than Mike whimping around trying to be funny and on everyone's good side. Ya…..I'm right….Mikey does play a good comical jester for the Sr's court.
Apr 21, 2009
I soooo agree with what you are saying….and it wouldn't hurt to bring Vinnie and Cody back too. Heck, I am thinking it might be cool to have Paul Jr, Vinnie and Cody having thier own chopper shop….
Apr 22, 2009
I think Vinnie is to smart to bring Jr. into his business, he doesn't need the headache.
Apr 27, 2009
hahaha NICE ! where's the fonz ?
C'mon peeple ! the reality to this show ended when the million dollar paychecks started getting cashed. It's all been fake since then. Yes there's prolly 10% truth to most of the sh*t that happens but it's all about ratings otherwise the cash cow will be hamburger in 2 seconds flat.
I never….. let me say that again “I NEVER” gave them credit as bike builders… Paulie & crew were bike ASSEMBLERS ! Any Tom, Dick & Harry with minimal skills can walk into a 10,000 sqft wharehouse and pull thousand dollar parts off the shelves and put them together.
Only some of the time when they really sat down and worked at it did they “BUILD” a bike. Most of the time it was just PHD bikes. Seriously I started muting the TV when the temper tantrums started. Then it got to the point where I stop'd tuning in. I don't think I've seen any of the last 2 seasons. When Vinnie bailed I was totally bummed. Vinnie seems like an extremely hard working man trying to make it for his family. He constantly got screwed over and did all the work and got none of the glory.
Paul Sr. & Paul Jr. have serious issues. Bot have the big head syndrome. You're nothing without the money & the fame. Remember that… The People are what made you. Not your perceived talents. Wise up change your ways and maybe just maybe you'll keep your success. Otherwise you're done stick a fork in it….
Who's with me ? Bring back the Biker Build Offs !!!! Those were great… I've seen enough Fire Engine bikes, Santa's sleigh bikes or Army, Navy, Tug Boat bikes…
Apr 29, 2009
I can't believe they made up.
May 11, 2009
Really. Please show some credentials
May 11, 2009
You sir are a F%*king idiot.
May 14, 2009
A little drama goes a long way with ratings.Can you imagine how much pressure there is running a business?At least they did chill out going other places having some fun.I think it was better than being
uptight working with those deadlines.
Jan 20, 2010
Personally….I have gotten bored with it because Paul Sr. needs to grow up, he was the lazy one and the trouble maker. His mouth is always running about someone and he is the main problem. I think maybe the show should shut down just like John and Kate plus 8. Who wants to hear the big fat Walrus exploding all the time? Or bring the little people in to take over their jobs??? Haha Or have the 18 and counting lady come in and have a baby on of their choppers. All is getting to be a bit silly to me.
Feb 10, 2010
I think Paul Jr. and Vinnie made the show. Paulie’s creative talents far surpass anyone else at OCC. He should not have been treated like he was. The show and the bikes are certainly not the same since Paulie is gone. Best of luck to Mikey also.
Jun 24, 2011
I would like Paul Jr to build side ar chopper for me and my brother in law so I could take him for ride before he passes on rawdogg666@live.com or 9167265404 Richard wilber.