Monday, October 4, 2010
American Chopper: Senior Versus Junior
People are cynical about reality TV shows and believe that much of it is faked, rehearsed and acted. I really hope that is the case with American Chopper: Senior Versus Junior. I'd like to believe that the Teutel family is hamming it up and when the cameras go away they have a laugh over a big barbecue or something. I suspect, however, that this is not the case. Who are the Teutels? I hear you ask. Even if you know anything about the motorcycle custom business you'll probably have heard of Jesse James, who famously duped Sandra Bullock (but no one else) for five years into thinking that he wasn't a Wehrmacht obssessed, narcissistic, nut job. Surprisingly Jesse James isn't the most awful man in the custom chopper biz, no, that would be Paul Teutel Senior, who is such a loud mouthed, rage filled, Freudian villain that at times I can't believe that the whole show isn't a giant put on. No one could be so transparently unpleasant and filled with such obvious self loathing. The jealousy and hatred Senior has for his own children reminds me of Daniel Day Lewis in There Will Be Blood or Lee J Cobb in Twelve Angry Men. For everyone's sake let's pray that Paul Senior is also an excellent actor.
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24 comments:
For him to be that good an actor the show would have to have really good writers...
I wonder if a study has ever been done to see if Reality Television doesn't lead people to dramatize the most outrageous aspects of their personalities.
Younger people here might be surprised to learn that the first true reality show (I think) was put on by PBS--An American Family, featuring the rather aptly named Louds. Everyone at the time was surprised at how much they were willing to reveal to outside eyes. Of course, that naive era is long since past.
John
Writers who are steeped in the Greek myths it would seem.
Seana
It is surprising. It's also surprising that no one has told Paul Senior how he comes across on TV. Doesnt he have any friends who are willing to tell truth to power?
I haven't seen the show, but he doesn't sound like the kind of guy who would have friends like that.
Living ones, I mean.
Freakin' love the 12 Angry Men nod (itself intended to be a pre-reality- show glimpse of reality, based on the screenwriter's jury service). It's one of my favorite films to teach.
I'm now suddenly dying to see Paul Tuttle crying over his wallet.
Oh course it's all real..if it's on T.v, and they claim it's true then it must be.
Seana
Its actually a pretty good show...
if you like to see beefy guys building custom choppers.
Shulla
What's amazing about 12 Angry Men is that despite it being a melodrama the acting is just so good. They really got an awful lot of talent and put it in a room there didnt they?
Glenna
I'm dubious, but this time I for all their sakes that its fake.
I really despise "reality" TV, but I used to watch American Chopper for a while. The old man did seem like a tyrant. Not sure how popular AC is now, but the last episode I watched, they were in Australia. I used to like the flunky brother, not sure who's side he is on now.
Not only was the acting amazing,but Boris Kaufman's cinematography was brilliant. Mostly, because he manages to put the audience in that stifling room to the point that, when the rain comes and windows open, we get nearly physical relief.
12 Angry Men in a discussion about TV is also interesting because it was one of the first, great made-for-TV movies.
Since then there has been a stage play version - my brother-in-law directed it at Stratford (in Canada) and he pointed out it really doesn't work without the close-ups and little bits of business the actors have to do.
Sean
Thats a bit sweeping. ALL reality TV? Even Deadliest Catch and Dirty Jobs? Even that melancholy Canadian dude in Survivor Man?
Mikey T of course sides with his brother Paul Jnr. None of Paul Senior's children will work with their father or want anything to do with him which says everything you need to know.
Shulla
Agree 100 percent. That storm was such a relief! And it meant that the Yankees game was rained out so it was a win win for everyone.
John
One thing about a play though...I always wanted to see the reaction of the prosecution:
Not Guilty?
WTF?!!! Are you kidding me? NOT guilty did you say?
Well now, I guess there is reality TV like Survivor Man and Deadliest Catch, which I can watch, but I don't really put them in the same catagory as American Idle, Dancing With The Stars, Kardashians, Jersey Shore etc..
Speaking of the Kardashian's, nothing pains me more than seeing what has become of Bruce Jenner. This guy was my hero when he won the Olympic decathalon and now he's portrayed as a complete nitwit. It is a travesty.
Sean
He's been brought low hasnt he? I mean my God, he should be off fishing or hiking or something.
Sean, I think we all think we disdain reality shows right up to the moment we get sucked into one.
Beefy guys fixing custom choppers, huh? Might be more appealing if this wasn't exactly the point where Sandra Bullock lost her way.
A few years ago the Writers Guild tried to organize the editors of reality shows as writers.
This article is an interesting look at how the editors of reality shows construct the storylines.
Interesting article, John. It sure seems like everywhere you turn, the actual people doing the work are asked to do more and more with less and less.
John, Seana,
Yes a very good piece indeed.
It saddens me too to hear Peter Jackson has got into the union busting business - if I'm reading those reports correctly.
Yeah Adrian, there's nothing like making a billion dollars to get people interested in the rights of the individual.
But who knows, maybe the reports aren't getting it right, it's been known to happen.
Can you please get that brain dead asshole Jessie James Off of the show. Honestly if he is a complete ass! I Hope he is not on the next series I would hate to miss out because of the jerk. You can quote me if you like!!
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