I don’t really hate OCC, do I?

[waizen]

What do you consider "the beginning"? WCC has only ever done 3 TV specials, and all three of them were good in my opinion. They did dip a bit into the Hollywood thing with Shaq's bike and Kid Rock, but even then the second one was a lot more about building a bike than anything else and the third was an attempt at laying out the whole biker lifestyle splitting the show in half between building a bike and riding it. I did have one issue with that one when they were talking about being in the desert and enjoying the solitude and all that, but you know just off camera there are all kinds of support crew, equipment and vehicles.

Monster Garage is a whole different animal that I think even Jessie James had a hard time taking seriously before long. I figure that's why they'd every once in a while get serious and do something like the old school hot rod or the bike. I even own one of the books (How to Weld Damn near Anything) and I was very resistant to that and even felt a little embarrassed buying it, but despite how fluffy and cheesy it looks... it's a really good and thorough book despite itself.

Really though, if Discovery Channel showed up at my door and told me they'd give me a bunch of money to build trikes out of semi trucks, drift cars, mid engined hot rod hummers and whatever else I could think of I'd sign up in a hurry. I have a feeling that Jessie James has said no to more offers than he has said yes to.

I didn't put 2 and 2 together about WCC only having 3 specials; I kinda (wrongly) grouped all his stuff together.

Maybe by his 'early stuff,' I actually mean WCC, especially the first one(s) where he's shown with his original wife (?) and all the problems they're having. I had a sense that he was still struggling with building up his business, as well as his personal problems, in a real way.

I also agree with the dessert scene you talk about. I kept thinking, "Cripes, there's way too much love in that room between Jesse and Kid...get a room, will ya?" I changed the channel after that.

To me, his whole television career seemed to try to take him from hard-working (yes, I know he still works hard), blue-collar, bad-boy, mind-of-his-own, wrong-side-of-the-tracks builder... to Hollywood boy, living the Hollywood dream, I-am-married-to-Sandra-Bullock guy.

But, despite all this, I do believe Jesse is still Jesse, as opposed to the OCC guys still being the same now as in the beginning. I don't believe that, deep down, he has changed. I do see the on-air stuff actually changing around him.

I don't know, maybe it's the body language, but I always get the sense that he seems amused by his own shows. Doesn't seem to take any of them too seriously. As in, "if it all goes away...well...I can still weld."

Like you said, with him having a hard time taking Monster Garage seriously. Unlike the OCC crew, who let the show dictate them, because their fortunes depend on it. Did I just make sense?

[earwig]

I like the show. To someone who knows nothing about building a bike I guess you can learn a little if you pay attention. I dunno... I say take the show for what it is, entertainment. Who cares if their bikes are crap and their show is scripted. No one is being forced to buy their bikes or watch the show

[NewGuy]

I'm still not sure what to think about West Coast Choppers.

I'm not conflicted at all about West Coast Choppers and Jesse James. I've got no use for anyone that kisses the bottoms of organized crime figures, specifically the Hells Angels.

[scott s]

It's a soap opera for men. Sit back and enjoy it!
That said, I've read LOTS of stuff anout the "quality" of the bikes...popcorn welds, etc. They're not so much builders as they are assemblers. The buy frames, handle bars, rims, engines, etc.
Still, I'm just a hobby-ist that can't even weld, but.......

[Mustang]

I guess OCC are adding to thier line of bikes available at their dealer network next year....up to six or seven models now???

[blackcloud]

.... and around here, it's shown on "The Learning Channel" to boot. Never figured out what I'm supposed to be learning from OCC...

In a not-so-long-ago previous life, I used to help produce television shows (and commercials and infomercials). What I learned is that most of the television shows we watch, especially in cable, are really just long commercials. Products are hawked within them all the time. Some are just more blatant than others. And, yes, those products' companies do pay to be included in the show.

As I mentioned before, one of the most obvious of these is the Overhaulin show. Besides the fact that it's basically an infomercial for Foose, they will constantly make sure you see product names throughout the show. I wouldn't mind if it served a purpose other than to sell us product, but it's just way too in-my-face.

No doubt my rant had something to do with the fact that television once played a big part of my career. Watching all this process really bugs me.

As for TLC and the Discovery Channel...well, they found a real cash cow with these reality shows. They're not the only ones...just look at Speed TV and all the Outdoor Channels, etc.

I'm still not sure what to think about West Coast Choppers. Was pretty cool in the beginning, but Jesse James has since gone way to 'Hollywood,' for my taste. (I'll stop my ranting here)

I work for A&E this is so true

[crazypj]

I don't know how long the show has been running in total but I haven't been able to watch it for nearly 3 yrs, I have tried but about 1~2 minutes is as much as I can manage
Its not funny, its pretty pathetic.
Must be some really sad characters out here if they think they can learn anything from it.
Even as entertainment its sucked for years
PJ

[earwig]

It's a soap opera for men. Sit back and enjoy it!
That said, I've read LOTS of stuff anout the "quality" of the bikes...popcorn welds, etc. They're not so much builders as they are assemblers. The buy frames, handle bars, rims, engines, etc.
Still, I'm just a hobby-ist that can't even weld, but.......

I don't think this is true... i saw 3 episodes where they made frames, and they pretty much make the wheels, bars, fenders, light housings, pegs etc in every episode.

[dean owens]

It's a soap opera for men. Sit back and enjoy it!
That said, I've read LOTS of stuff anout the "quality" of the bikes...popcorn welds, etc. They're not so much builders as they are assemblers. The buy frames, handle bars, rims, engines, etc.
Still, I'm just a hobby-ist that can't even weld, but.......

I don't think this is true... i saw 3 episodes where they made frames, and they pretty much make the wheels, bars, fenders, light housings, pegs etc in every episode.

yeah, i like the show and did learn some things about bikes. not that i can go out and build one...

the show isn't always my cup of tea. and i think a lot of people might be turned off by it. but when you watch it for what it is rather than wishing it was something else, it's not so bad.

i also think we have a culture in america (at least) that likes the underdog and hates the one who succeeds (unless of course it's themselves). personally it wears me out. why can't we just say, not for me but i'm happy for their success? people have to trash them and their product while never having seen one up close or ridden one.

has anyone who trashes their bikes has not dependable or a death trap ever actually ridden one?

and they do a lot of stuff one their own. yeah, they don't build the motors in house... shame on them. and they don't melt down the metal and pour the molds for tubes they later turn into frames... how dare they call themselves builders.

i think if their bikes were as bad as everyone likes to say they are, they would be out of business. either no one would buy from them because word would get around or they would get shut down by being sued for having such faulty unsafe equipment.

[waizen]

...i think if their bikes were as bad as everyone likes to say they are, they would be out of business. either no one would buy from them because word would get around or they would get shut down by being sued for having such faulty unsafe equipment.

You're right about them not building some of their own components. No company, big or small builds everything. That's a given. And, yes, they are doing more in-house.

However, I have heard that they do create an inferior product. And, not just from this thread. That's just hearsay, though...I've never owned or worked on any of their bikes.

The point I'm making is that they didn't get famous or big because of the quality of their product...it was because they have a national television show. Almost anyone can succeed with that kind of constant weekly exposure. Imagine getting a weekly, hour-long commercial on national TV each and every week...not only for free, but I would guess they get compensated for that, too. In addition, there's the other stuff they do to keep their faces/products in the public eye...public appearances and stuff. Even the toys, clothing and other paraphernalia they sell in retail stores, etc. provide, not only extra income, but advertising.

Believe me...even my nine-year-old's lemonade stand could become a household name with that kind of advertising.

I wonder how long they would last on the merit of their product alone if the show went off the air.

And, I wonder how many of their current customers would buy from them again.