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CNN Larry King Live
Encore: "American Chopper" Crew
Aired June 13, 2009 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LARRY KING, HOST: Tonight, the guys from "American Chopper." They build bikes for Jay Leno, Sarah Palin and Jon & Kate. They battle with each other, almost coming to blows.
(VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Dad's temper and addictions to almost everything could have killed him, destroyed the family. But the Teutuls have survived and thrived. Paul, Sr., Paul, Jr. and Mikey are here for the hour, taking your calls.
Next on LARRY KING LIVE.
Good evening.
Something very special for you tonight. They've built bikes for just about everyone. So, for a moment, let's go inside the world of "American Chopper." And we'll start with this exclusive tour of OCC headquarters with Paul, Sr.
Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL TEUTUL, SR., FOUNDER, ORANGE COUNTY CHOPPERS: Hey, Larry.
How you doing?
This is our new world headquarters. We've been here for about a year now. I'm going to take you through the whole shop step by step. We build bikes here. And hopefully when we're all done here, you'll know how to build a bike.
This is our man Jason over here. He's our designer. There's something wrong with him, but that's why he works here.
We fabricate everything here. We make the wheels. Everything that you see is done here.
This is basically where we -- we fabricate everything from soup to nuts. Whatever you can imagine, we can fabricate it. Now, this is a water jet which will cut through nine inches of solid steel with water. I could take a picture of Larry's face, put it in there and it'll come out identical.
Jim runs the whole shop here. He has a degree in engineering to make sure that we don't screw up. So we do bikes for a lot of celebrities and, actually, people all around the world. But this is where it begins over here. This basically is the beginning of a bike being fabricated, but it starts with a raw frame. And then everything else gets mocked up, welded and all put together.
Larry, this is where we prep everything before it gets painted. This is the guy that does all the graphics. So everything, after it's painted, he does all of the art work. He's an artist.
This is one of the bikes that we're building for a sheikh in Dubai. If you look at the fabrication in this, it's totally extreme.
I think you got the magical mystery tour here. When I come up there to see you, I'm expecting you to build a bike.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Well, Paul Teutul, Sr. is here. He's the founder of Orange County Choppers. Paul and his businesses are the focus of the hit TV show, "American Chopper," Thursday nights on TLC. He's the author of a new book "The Ride of A
Lifetime." I have it right here. And so is its author.
Thanks for coming.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Can you build a bike?
KING: Build a bike?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes.
KING: I'm a Jew. I don't ride bikes.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: I'll own the store.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: No, I'm only kidding.
No, I'm only kidding.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: You'll run the store, right?
KING: Many Jewish people rides motorcycles.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes.
KING: I have family that rides motorcycles.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: But not you, right?
KING: But why do you? What got you into it?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: You know what, if -- probably in the early '70s, I had a partner when I first started in the steel business, because that was my first business. I did that for 28 years.
But my first partner was a real -- a real motorcycle guy. And back then, you really didn't have like after market parts like they have today. So you had to do everything yourself. You know, you had to stretch your frame. You had to make everything you had to do by hand. And we had a welding shop and so we were able to do that stuff.
KING: Why didn't you just buy a motorcycle and ride it?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: There's no fun in that. You know, then you're like everybody else.
You don't want to be like everybody else, do you?
KING: I guess not.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: No.
KING: So you always wanted to build them?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Well, I won't -- I probably started in my early 20s. Yes, in my early 20s I started doing it. But once -- you know, once I did it, that was it. Then it was -- it was just from there on...
KING: And the word chopper I associate with helicopter.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes, a lot of people do.
KING: Most people do.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes.
KING: Why is it called chopper?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Chopper like originated from, you know, back in the day, actually when the Hells Angels first started. Chopper means like you take a stock bike and you start cutting it apart. Like if you want to stretch a frame or, you know, whatever you want to do to customize your bike, they consider that chop -- and fenders or whatever, you know.
KING: Before we go back a little, what about the motorcycle do you like?
What took you to -- why motorcycles?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: I don't know. It's just a fascinating thing. You know, it's -- you know, when you're on a bike, it's like, you know, you're -- you get away from all the hustle and bustle. And it's just the whole freedom -- you know, the feeling of freedom, you know? KING: Rather than race motor cars?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes. And I'm into cars, too. I've done a lot of drag racing. A bike is totally different. You're out in the open. There's nothing around you. You can just, you know...
KING: Do you have a mountain bike?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: I don't. I don't.
KING: That doesn't attract you?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: I never really got into a dirt bike or anything like that.
KING: No.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: No.
KING: What about piloting a plane?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: I've never piloted a plane and I probably don't ever want to pilot a plane.
KING: Wouldn't that be the most freedom?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: And neither would most people.
KING: Wouldn't that be the most freedom, to get up in a little one engine?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: I don't know. Yes, I guess it would -- yes, I guess it would, you know, being up there like a bird checking out the country.
KING: Own the country.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes.
KING: Yes.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: That would probably be pretty cool, yes.
KING: OK. In your book, you write that your whole childhood basically set you up to be dead or in prison.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes.
KING: So how come you're here?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: I guess just determination, you know. I think that was -- I think that's what possessed me to -- you know, people thought I was going to be a failure. And, you know, my parents told me that, school told me that, everybody. And I think that -- that's what, you know, I set out to prove everybody wrong. And that was the beginning of my mission, you know. And then basically, you know, I decided at an early age that I didn't want -- you know, I'd work for people, but I decided that's not what I want to do.
So I actually bought an old pickup truck from my father and another guy actually was going to jail and I bought a welder. And I just basically had a truck and a welder, no money, no nothing. And I just went around knocking on people's doors and welding hot rod exhaust systems -- I would -- farms equipment and stuff like that and go on from there.
KING: Did you get into trouble, too?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: I got in a lot of trouble, yes.
KING: Like?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Like you name it.
KING: Did you ever go to jail?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: I did.
KING: For?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes. Not for a long period of time. But, you know, DWI.
KING: What was the worst thing...
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Fighting.
KING: ...the worst thing you did?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Like that type of stuff you know.
KING: What is the worst thing you've done?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: What's the worst thing I did?
KING: Well. All right, what might have happened that could have curtailed this whole thing and we might have not known Paul Teutul?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: You're losing me here.
KING: I mean did you do something in your life that one more extension of that and we wouldn't have known you?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: As far as not being here?
KING: Yes.
Did you ever come close to like really...
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Dying?
KING: Yes.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes. Plenty of time. I mean I've been in -- I totaled 15 cars. I've been in four motorcycle accidents. I think, though, the closest thing was, you know, I had a drug and alcohol -- an alcohol and drug addiction problem really -- really bad. And I think that there became a point where I knew I was deteriorating and I had to make that choice.
And believe it or not, I chose to die, because I knew -- you know, I was so bound by drugs and alcohol...
KING: You chose to die?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes, I did, because I mean I didn't think I could -- I didn't think I could do it.
KING: So what did you do to accomplish that?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: You know what, I was supposed to go into a -- I was supposed to go into a rehab and I -- I had a business going. And, again, going back to the part of always wanting to be successful and prove everybody wrong. So the last second I decided, you know what, I'm not going to -- I'm not going to go into rehab. But I did -- what I did do is I went into a 12 step program.
KING: Oh.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: And I found out that...
KING: That worked?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Well, yes, because I -- I actually found out that that day I didn't drink. So I went a day without drinking. And then I went back and went back. And I went for nine years straight without missing a day.
KING: Do you still go?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: I don't go. No, I don't.
KING: But you don't drink?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: No, I -- I'm sober. January 7th was 24 years.
KING: If you've got a question for the cop -- or the chopper crew, go to CNN.com/larryking now and ask it.
Why is Paul called the Martha Stewart on a bicycle?
Stick around and find out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: This is a phenomenon, "The American Chopper" is. The founder is Paul Teutul, Sr. The rest of the crew will be here momentarily. And this is quite a story.
How -- abusing alcohol and drugs, how did that affect the family?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Well, it always has an effect on the family. You know, fortunately, when I did stop -- because I had four children. The oldest was 10, which was Paulie. So it, you know, I think that it still -- it definitely still has a big effect on -- on the whole family. And I think that continues, you know and even...
KING: Now?
How?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Well, I just think that, you know, there's certain things that happen that, you know, it's pretty hard to erase from your mind and certain damages that are done, you know.
KING: That are still borne in them?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes, I think so. Yes. It's -- it's a terrible disease, you know, because it affects the whole family. It affects people around you. (INAUDIBLE)...
KING: Did you ride a motorcycle while drunk?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes. Yes.
KING: Isn't that a little risky?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes. Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: I would say.
How did you -- this TLC show come about?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: What happened was Discovery contacted Craig Piligian from Pilgrim Films, because they had done a motorcycle show with Jesse James on the West Coast. And they asked him to go get somebody on the East Coast to do a show.
And basically what happened was, you know, he just was going through the Web sites and he came across a picture of me. And he said, this guy looks like a motorcycle guy, let's give him a call. And that was seven years ago.
KING: And they proposed the idea to you?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes, they said...
KING: To do a reality show?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes. They said, do you want to -- well, it was supposed to be a one hour documentary. They said, do you want to do a one hour documentary?
And we said, sure. They said, well, we'll be down there in three days. So in three days he came down there. They did a documentary. They filmed the first show. And they saw that they had more than just a bike show, they had the family dynamic. And so they did another show. And that was successful.
Actually, the show that we -- the first show that we did was the highest rated show on cable TV that night.
But it was probably...
KING: How do you explain the success?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: You know, I just -- well, first...
KING: Is it the motorcycle or the family dynamic?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: It's both. It's both, because there's something at the end of the rainbow. I mean there's all this defu -- this dysfunctional stuff going on, which is pretty typical. I think that most people identify with that. But not -- everybody's in the closet with it. Here we are on national TV airing out our laundry.
KING: Yes.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: You know, so, I think people were intrigued or they didn't believe something like that was...
(LAUGHTER)
KING: Well, now you...
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: ...was actually going on, you know?
KING: Your company builds bikes for people?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes.
KING: A lot of famous people get.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes.
KING: And this is a built from the ground up bike?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes.
KING: A totally customized bike.
Does having this show help you get customers?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Of course.
KING: So that's how they find you?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes.
KING: Now, why would someone, say, want -- what -- a really good custom built bike costs how much?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: $150,000.
KING: What does a great Harley Davidson cost?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Probably about $35,000.
KING: Is yours that much better than it?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: I think the difference is it's personal. You know, any -- any Harley Davidson, even the one that's $35,000, there's thousands of them made. So you could be riding that bike down the road and look next to you and it'd be the same bike, you know. Whereas if when you buy a custom bike, it's one-of-a-kind.
KING: How long do they take to build?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: It takes anywhere from -- like on the show, we get about three weeks to do a complete bike. maybe a little bit more. But that's it.
KING: And you build it to the person -- their height, their weight, their specifications, what they want?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: We do their specifications. What we do is they come in, they sit with Jason Pohl and they give -- or we'll go there and do an R & D, look at their facility, see what they want to incorporate in the bike, then go back to the shop. We'll do it in a form where you can actually see the bike, send it to them. And then if they approve it, then we start fabricating it.
KING: Lots more to come.
By the way, on Friday night, June 19th in Las Vegas, at Steve Wynn's Encore Hotel, I'm going to be doing an hour of comedy. It's the other side of Larry King. You might be a little surprised. Shawn, my wife, will open the show for us.
And if you're coming into Vegas or are planning any trip into Vegas, just call or contact on the Web site EncoreLasVegas.com and make reservations. We'll have a lot of fun.
Paul's temper is on display every now and then. We'll see one of his classic meltdowns next.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: As fans of "American Chopper" know, Paul, Sr. and his son Paul, Jr. have butted heads a whole bunch of times.
Here's the blowup of all blowups from earlier this season. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, COURTESY DISCOVERY TV)
PAUL TEUTUL, JR., STAR, "AMERICAN CHOPPER": Ten years. This is the kind of stuff we've been dealing with for 10 years.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes.
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: We're partners in this (EXPLETIVE LANGUAGE) thing.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Partners (EXPLETIVE LANGUAGE) (INAUDIBLE).
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: If you weren't involved here, let me tell you something...
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Listen, I...
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: If I wasn't involved, this (EXPLETIVE LANGUAGE) would go to (EXPLETIVE LANGUAGE). It would burn to the (EXPLETIVE LANGUAGE).
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: You know what?
Get the (EXPLETIVE LANGUAGE) out of here. And don't (EXPLETIVE LANGUAGE) bother coming in tomorrow because you're (EXPLETIVE LANGUAGE) terminated.
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: Good, it's about time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Wow!
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: I wonder if he inherited some of my anger.
KING: No kidding. We'll find out.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: Paul, Jr. joins us next. Mikey's here, too.
We'll get into the Teutul family's dysfunctional dynamics.
How much is real?
How much is reality TV?
They'll answer those questions and yours, too. Go to CNN.com/larryking and ask the guys what you want to know.
It's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, COURTESY DISCOVERY TV)
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: We're partners in this thing.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Partners my (EXPLETIVE LANGUAGE).
You know, I am so sick and tired of this (EXPLETIVE LANGUAGE). He doesn't know who the (EXPLETIVE LANGUAGE) the boss is around here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can't mouth it like that.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Wrong, jackass. You.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, this fight seems a lot different. I think this -- this one is really serious.
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: That's (EXPLETIVE LANGUAGE).
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: You know what?
Get the (EXPLETIVE LANGUAGE) out of here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Just your everyday night at home.
The Teutuls have completed the round here. The book is "The Ride of A Lifetime."
And joining Paul Teutul, Sr. is Paul Teutul, Jr. , his oldest son, chief designer for the OCC. His work and his volatile relationship with his dad are probably the key parts of "American Chopper."
And Mikey Teutul is Paul, Sr.'s youngest son. He works at OCC and is seen on "American Chopper."
There is another boy, right?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes, Dan.
KING: And Dan is in another business.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes.
KING: The steel business.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Right.
KING: And there's a daughter.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: (INAUDIBLE).
KING: And a wife. She's nice. And the wife watches all this.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes.
KING: She's a housewife?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes.
KING: The trouble with -- did you get into this business, Paul, Jr. because you wanted to or because he asked you to?
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: Well, you know, I was in the steel business working for him for about 10 years. He started tinkering in his basement. He always had bikes. Growing up, I was always around them.
And, you know, he started kind of semi-retired, needed a little help on the fab end of things and started calling me down into his basement, where he was working on these things during a workday.
And then we just evolved into -- into, actually, having a full shop. And then the name came. And then -- then, you know, we realized we had a knack for doing some pretty wild machines.
KING: Were you always, though, tempestuous with each other?
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: That's a good word.
KING: I just made it up.
(LAUGHTER)
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: Yes. Yes, always. Well, you know, I think, always. You know, he was...
KING: I like it. Let's say it again.
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: Tempestuous.
KING: Tempestuous.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes, that's good.
KING: Mikey, you use it next show.
MIKEY TEUTUL, STAR, "AMERICAN CHOPPER": Yes.
KING: OK. Were you always angry?
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: Yes, absolutely. Well, I think, yes. We've -- we've always had issues and I think they stem from way back in the day and then things...
KING: When he was in bad shape?
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: Well, yes. I mean until I was 10, he drank. So some of that stuff led into the -- to the future. And then, you know, him and my mother broke off and that -- that created problems in the family.
KING: Oh they're -- are you divorced?
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: Yes, he's remarried.
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: Yes, I'm only married for three years.
KING: But technically, on the other side, Junior, he's made you rich.
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: Or I've made him rich.
KING: Oh.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: Mikey, how do you deal with all this?
What's your role?
M. TEUTUL: You know, I try to kind of be the glue in the seams, keep everybody together. And now I just kind of pftttt...
KING: Let them go?
M. TEUTUL: Yes. Whatever happens...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
KING: You don't fight much?
M. TEUTUL: I don't fight much, no. No. I'm a pretty non- confrontational guy and...
KING: What is your specific job?
M. TEUTUL: Levity. Humor.
(LAUGHTER)
M. TEUTUL: Which is starting to die out after -- after seven years of watching these two kind of...
KING: Do you build motorcycles?
M. TEUTUL: I don't build motorcycles. No, I don't.
KING: Are you love -- in love with motorcycles?
M. TEUTUL: No, I'm not.
KING: No you're not.
Do you ride a motorcycle?
M. TEUTUL: Not too often.
KING: Why are you on this show?
M. TEUTUL: LARRY KING LIVE? KING: No, why...
M. TEUTUL: You invited me.
KING: My show and your show.
M. TEUTUL: I know. I know what you mean by that.
KING: I'm trying to figure it out.
What do you do there?
M. TEUTUL: Yes, I guess I'm a -- a large part of the family night dynamic, you know. And in between all of the -- the arguing and everything like that, you have to have some sort of humor, right?
KING: Paul, how do you feel about all this?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: As far as?
KING: The arguing and the -- with one son, the other son trying to balance it off, the other son is in the steel business.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: I mean...
(CROSSTALK)
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: You know, the thing of it is, is that it, like Paulie said, you know, it's just -- it's a relationship that we basically had. I mean he's worked for me for 20 years. It's kind of like a marriage. And we spend more time together than being married. And I think that stuff -- you know, when you're -- when you're at close quarters all the time, stuff accumulates, builds up and then it explodes. And I think that we're more alike than we are different.
KING: Do you think...
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: And I (INAUDIBLE)...
KING: Go ahead
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: No. I think that he's right. You know, a lot of the times we're -- we butt heads because we are more alike than we are different. And I have worked for him for 20 years. And, you know, I mean, look, it's been a blessing, no question. And, you know, the bikes have been great. And then Mikey's addition to the whole family thing, that's really -- that's how Mikey fits in. I mean it's the family.
KING: He's the glue.
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: That's what people are watching.
Well, you know, he's the guy who makes it a little lighter. It can get a little heavy between me and him sometimes.
(CROSSTALK)
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: He's the guy who lightens it up, you know?
KING: Do you have a basic disagreement with your father -- something that keeps recurring?
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: Well, yes. It's a -- it's always a matter...
KING: It's over what?
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: Time. We think differently. We're on different wavelengths.
KING: Venus and Mars?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes. I mean, you know, for me, creatively, I like to take my time. For him, it's -- it's more about getting the job done whatever it takes. So sometimes I think he would rather just get it done and not worry about exactly how it's going to look, where me, I can't...
KING: Wait a minute...
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: ...get away from...
KING: So he isn't intentionally saying that you would make a less greater bike?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Not in -- not in a hundred years. My own thing is my work ethics are getting things done, because the only way -- 38 years in business, the only way you can get things done is you have to do them.
KING: Is he slow, is what you're saying?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: He's -- he's slow, but he is precise. And his abilities for -- to create are probably above mine.
KING: That should be a good match, Mikey. As an observer, you need the suit and the creator.
M. TEUTUL: You might -- you might think.
KING: But?
M. TEUTUL: Something's missing.
KING: What's missing?
M. TEUTUL: I couldn't tell you.
(LAUGHTER)
M. TEUTUL: I've been trying to figure it out since -- since I was born.
KING: Do you take sides?
M. TEUTUL: Do I take sides?
I -- I try not to. But ultimately, I think you have to take -- you have to take sides.
KING: Do you come down more on the side of your brother?
M. TEUTUL: Sometimes, yes, just because I feel that he's more of a level-headed person.
KING: Does that offend you?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: No, not at all.
KING: Is he more of a level-headed person?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: You know what, I think at one point, he was. But I think that through -- it's kind of like, you know, when you start wearing down, things don't change after a while, I think you become -- your tolerance isn't as great. And I think at that point, you become -- we become more aggressive to each other.
KING: But the bikes you make are excellent?
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: I would like to think so. I mean, look, we started this thing with three people. What we do is theme building. And, you know, I just have to say that I have been so fortunate in this whole experience to have a gift from God. And that's the only way I can explain it, because I know a lot of these designs that I've come up with and we've come up with as a company, it just didn't come from me.
I don't know where it came from. I didn't -- I didn't even know I was creative until I was 25 years old.
So it's been a blessing.
KING: Does that mean if I'm looking out on the street, I would know a Teutul bike?
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: Definitely. We have a very distinct style. I mean our bikes...
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Right from the get go
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: Yes, right off -- right out of the -- right out of the gate, way before we had a television.
KING: Now you're in Orange, New York?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Orange County in New York. Yes.
KING: Orange County. All right. So a famous -- a person orders a bike from you and gets it built and he leaves in Phoenix.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: You ship it.
KING: Well, but how do -- no, I know.
But how does he deal with...
(CROSSTALK)
KING: ...he can't go to -- with the Harleys, he can go down to his Harley place and they fix it.
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: Right. Right.
KING: You're in Orange, he's in Phoenix.
How does he...
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: Well, we have dealers. I mean there's dealers for the bikes...
KING: Ooh, you have dealers?
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: ...that are set up.
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: But I think that when people pay that much for a bike, they don't want anybody else touching it. So, generally, they'll send it back to us.
M. TEUTUL: They'll ship it back to us.
KING: Ship it back?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: Yes, absolutely.
KING: FedEx?
Who ships bikes?
PAUL TEUTUL, SR.: No. I mean -- no, you know, a carrier service.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Freight.
M. TEUTUL: Freight. Yes, you know, trucks do it, you know?
KING: OK. I'm getting used to...
PAUL TEUTUL, JR.: Yes. You're getting adjusted to everything.
KING: I'm trying to.
(CROSSTALK)
KING: Have you got something to say about the Teutuls or motorcycles?
Then go to CNN.com/larryking now and have your say. Back with the "American Chopper" crew after this.
And later, they're going to have a surprise for me. God wonders what that is.
Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, let me in. I feel left out. Come on, guys. Let me in there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Messing with the boys.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he's messing with the boys. But they seem to be having fun, so I wouldn't worry about it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me in, our I will huff and puff and blow the door down.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He thinks he's a big bad wolf.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me in there! No! Get away! I'm never coming back! Never!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: This week's "American Chopper" episode is a crossover with "Jon & Kate Plus 8." How did that come about?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: You know, Discovery just contacted us and asked us --
KING: They've got both shows, right?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: Yes, they've got both shows, and said would you like to build a bike for Jon and Kate?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: We went to their house and we hung out with the kids.
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: They were at our shop. He was at our shop.
KING: What was that like, Mike?
M. TEUTEL: I thought it was nice. He's a nice, quiet man.
KING: What do you make of the friction there?
M. TEUTEL: The friction, well -- I mean, I can't judge anyone until, you know, you clean up your own house.
KING: What judges you are. You're going to help them solve their problems, right? We've got a call here -- that's funny. We've got a call from Frazier, Michigan. Hello.
CALLER: Hello.
KING: Hi.
CALLER: I have a question for the Teutels. I was just wondering if they're ever going to make a bike that's affordable to the blue collar worker?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: Yes, we have one. We actually started a production line of bikes this year with dealerships. And they start at 24,000 dollars.
KING: Is that in the price range of a good bike?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: Yes.
KING: That's what a good bike would cost? What's the Martha Stewart thing all about?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: We were invited on her show.
KING: And what happened?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: We made a few brownies and cookies and we took a big ribbing for the rest of the duration.
KING: And we have a Tweeter question. How has the economic downturn affected OCC and the custom bike business?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: It has an effect on it.
(CROSS TALK)
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: People are not spending money on toys, you know. Especially now, you know.
KING: Another Tweet, what is Paul Sr.'s latest tattoo? And why did he get it?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: My latest tattoo is this one right here. Actually, my original 1974 Harley Davidson has a picture of the sun breaking out into a flame. I still have the bike. I still have the same paint job. This is the same picture that's on the tank.
KING: Why do you tattoo yourself?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: Because it's addictive.
KING: And you're an addictive personality. You don't drink, you get tattoos.
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: I obsess in anything I do. I'm compulsive.
KING: Do you like this?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: I can't -- me personally --
KING: Your opinion?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: Me personally, I don't have tattoos, but I also inherited from him an addictive personality.
KING: What are you addicted to?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: Well, I've been addicted to drugs and alcohol in the past. It's kind of a hereditary thing.
KING: What do you do now? What is something you --
P. PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: Well, I quit smoking about nine months ago. I was very addicted to cigarettes.
KING: Good thing. That's the best thing you can do.
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: Man, it was killing me, definitely.
KING: It's suicide.
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: Oh, it's suicide.
KING: Do you have an addictive personality, Mike?
M. TEUTEL: I most certainly do not, I am perfect in every way.
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: Thank god.
M. TEUTEL: Yes, thank God for that. I do actually have an addictive personality.
KING: Like?
M. TEUTEL: I quit smoking too, as well, five months ago.
KING: That's great.
M. TEUTEL: Yes.
KING: Did you smoke, Paul?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: When I quit drinking and drugs, I quit smoking. That's four years ago, also. I did smoke.
KING: We'll be back right away with more of the Teutels carrying on on LARRY KING LIVE. Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We're back with the Teutels, senior, junior, and Michael. Paul Jr. striking out on his own and gave our LARRY KING LIVE camera an inside look at what he's doing. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: Hey, Larry. Come on in, welcome to my house, and Paul Jr. Designs, actually. Come on in.
This is the new Paul Jr. Design studio. I'm very excited because you're here and I get to show you exactly what I'm doing. This is it. It's very simple, very humble beginnings, but I'm excited to have this new venture.
I'm excited that you're interested in being here. This is actually our first subject matter, Coleman Grills. We're going to make a ten-year anniversary road trip grill, designed by Paul Jr. Designs, for Coleman.
Basically, we're going to take an existing product that works really good and just transform it.
What do you think, Michael?
M. TEUTEL: I think it's swell.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: You didn't sound too thrilled, Mikey.
M. TEUTEL: I was just being --
KING: OK. What do you make of this, senior?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: I think it's great, I think it's great. I think at some point everybody should take the opportunity to see what it's like being on your own and experience the world, actually. I mean, I did it for 38 years and I think that's what makes you who you are.
KING: How's it doing?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: It's good. As I said, my first client is Coleman. You know, they have a phenomenal brand. It's been really good, you know. I'm able to do this thing. Basically, I'm doing the same thing I was doing with motorcycles, only I'm able to apply it to my brand as well as other people's brands; basically innovating people's products.
The nice thing about that is that Coleman grill will go for under 200 bucks, and they can get a piece of what I'm doing.
KING: And you should be very proud of him.
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: Absolutely.
KING: You should congratulate and hug him and love him.
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: I don't know about that.
KING: What ticks you off about him?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: He's never on time. He kind of --
KING: You said you're a perfectionist. You're never on time?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: I work kind of messy. I'm not always on time. But I always get the job done on time. So this is the way I work. I've always worked that way.
KING: You create pressure?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: Yes, I think -- and I've always been that way. I've always worked good under pressure, and I've always been able to supply a finished product under pressure. And he's always been good pressure.
KING: You're a good pressure --
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: I think some of that's true, but I think it takes a team to do that. And I think that's how it gets done.
KING: I'm going to take a call in a second. But Mikey, I'm trying to figure out your role. What do you do? Do they pay you?
M. TEUTEL: No.
KING: They don't pay you? Do you have a side business?
M. TEUTEL: No.
KING: How do you, therefore, eat? How do you buy food, with what exchange of currency?
M. TEUTEL: I steal. Yes, I constantly --
KING: What does he do on the show?
M. TEUTEL: To be honest with you, I basically get paid to do the television program.
KING: And you put it together?
M. TEUTEL: I used to have different jobs in the business. I worked in the parts area. And as the television grew more and more popular, I just became a part of the television show and less of the business.
KING: So you're now a star?
M. TEUTEL: I guess.
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: He's a celebrity. No question.
KING: Do you like celebrity-dom?
M. TEUTEL: I do. It has its ups and down.
KING: You're good. Good timing. Salt Lake City, Utah, hello. CALLER: Hey, guys, I just wanted to know; there's been obvious success with the show and with your business. Does it ever get monotonous or is it ever a possibility that there might be no more ideas left for new bikes?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: Well, it -- if you've been watching --
KING: Good question.
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: If you've been watching the show for the last six years, you probably know the answer to that, because I think there's never been a time that we haven't been able to come up with something different each and every time. And I think that's what the challenge is. And I think that's what keeps you going.
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: There's always room. And the whole thing we've been doing all of these years is theme building. So every time the theme changed, the bike changed. So even though some are more challenging, you're always working off a different theme. That's like our MO.
KING: What's the latest theme? What's in?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: Some of the things -- I think one of the neatest things that we just did is we built a bike to run on natural gas, which was just recently.
M. TEUTEL: You have to eat a lot of beans in order to -- see, that's my job, Larry.
KING: I got it. You're fitting in.
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: It actually runs on natural gas. It's real clean.
KING: Do you ride bikes?
M. TEUTEL: Not often. I got in a bad scooter accident and hurt my knee last year. But I do prefer scooters. I do like two-wheeled vehicles.
KING: Why are you looking at him strange?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: I'm just looking at him. I actually own a scooter. I don't drive it too much.
KING: Did you guys build a scooter?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: No.
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: We customized a scooter for --
KING: Paul Sr., by the way, is into cars too, and we'll see his incredible private collection in 60 seconds. Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KING: Paul Sr. doesn't just like bikes. He's got a rare car collection beyond impressive. Look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: So you got to tour the shop. Now we're here at my house, and I'm going to show you my car collection. Before I get into the cars, Larry, I just want to -- if you look around the whole building here, I have, from day one, all of the memorabilia.
As far as my car collection, most of my cars are muscle cars, and then I have some newer cars. Right here is an AMG Mercedes. It's about 600 horsepower.
I'm a real big block high, horsepower person. Larry, listen to this, it'll knock your suspenders off.
This very rare car, 427. They came out, they put a Corvette motor in it in the factory, four speed with bench seats. A '64 GTO, very rare year, hard to get. This was probably the nicest GTO '64 you'll ever see. It's just my favorite car. But I think it's enough said of that.
Let's go up to the upper garage, I'm going to get on my bike and take a ride.
Here's one of the old school bikes, Larry. This is what I build and this is what I enjoy riding. So right now, I'm going to take it for a ride and I'll see you in L.A.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: You sell those cars?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: No.
KING: Your private collection?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: Private collection.
KING: Paul's written an exclusive commentary on our blog go to CNN.com/LarryKing to read it. You won't find it anywhere else. And we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: There are many talents. Mikey has another one he hasn't brought up. He can really draw. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
M. TEUTEL: A sketch of Larry.
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: Oh, very nice.
M. TEUTEL: Doesn't that look like a South Park character. PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: Yes, man, he's got a grille on.
M. TEUTEL: I think it is coming to life.
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: Really low stress on the forehead, you know, make it look Jack Nicholson-ish.
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: It's good. I like it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: When did this talent come? Did you paint as a kid?
M. TEUTEL: No. About four months ago I was fairly bored, and I just and I just decided to become a painter. I'm not making this up. I started painting portraits of fellows at the shop. I decided to have an auction of my portraits. And all the proceeds went to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
KING: I'm on their board.
M. TEUTEL: Yes.
KING: Very proud of that.
M. TEUTEL: Very good.
KING: This is a latent talent. If you started sooner, you might have had major showings.
M. TEUTEL: There is a time and place for everything.
KING: How do you feel about that as a macho guy? It's painting.
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: He wants to paint, let him paint.
KING: How do you feel?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: I think he is talented. I actually bought half of his paintings at the auction. I think they're that good.
KING: Wait a minute. This is like Van Gogh. His brother bought one painting.
(CROSS TALK)
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: Really? No. I wanted to support him. I think he is talented. I think it is a great cause.
KING: You have a surprise for me.
M. TEUTEL: I do, actually. Here is my rendering of you. Please, don't be angry with me.
KING: Let me see. I'm honored. It is a caricature. I like it. I think it's -- the teeth. What was the emphasis there? What are you doing? Here is an actual picture of me. It has been seen everywhere. What is the concept there? What are you saying?
M. TEUTEL: What am I saying? I'm saying, I hope not to offend Larry so I'll be on the show once again one day.
KING: You do not offend me. I was just looking for the interpretation.
M. TEUTEL: The interpretation -- honestly, I just started on it. I don't know what's going on. I'm lucky to bring enough form to it where it actually resembles you.
KING: What do you think, Junior?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: I think it is great.
KING: What do you think?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: I like it.
M. TEUTEL: What do you think of it, Larry?
KING: I would say Larry King, lock jaw. I like it. The more I see it, the more I -- I'm not into lipstick.
M. TEUTEL: I did mess it up with the red.
KING: Rouge, yes. There is more to come on LARRY KING LIVE. Thanks for this. I will treasure it. I will frame it.
M. TEUTEL: Thank you very much.
KING: We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We are in our waning moments. It's time for two remarkable questions. The first one comes from Wayne in Louisiana. Wayne wants to know, "would you, Larry King, give up all your fame in broadcasting to be a famous Dodger baseball player?" Yes. One word answer. Yes!
Here is another from Leah in Allentown, Pennsylvania, "do you eat mustard on a hamburger like President Obama or do you use ketchup? What else do you load on your favorite burger or hot dogs" Ketchup on a burger, mustard on a hotdog. Mustard on a hamburger don't work. Mustard on a frankfurter, yuck.
You have a question for me, go to CNN.com/LarryKing. If I answer it on the air, I'll give you an autographed copy of my new memoir, "My Remarkable Journey." And you'll have a chance to win a trip to Los Angeles and see our show live. Don't forget this Saturday, if you are in Los Angeles, 2:00 at the Grove, that famous shopping center here, I will be signing books at Barnes & Noble.
Tell me about this, you met Sarah Palin when you went to Anchorage to do research for a custom bike honoring Alaska's 50th anniversary. What did you think of her?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: It is the second time I met her. She is a regular person. She is really a sweetheart.
KING: Your friend David Letterman is in a feud with her now.
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: Is he?
KING: Yes, he took her on and she took him back. He wrote the forward to your book, though, right?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: Yes, he did.
KING: You liked her?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: I did. yes. Very much.
KING: Did you like her?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: I did like her. Yes, I liked them both.
KING: What about you, Mikey?
M. TEUTEL: I thought she was sweet, yes. You never really know a politician.
KING: Got a point. Brookfield, Wisconsin, hello.
CALLER: Hey, you guys rock. I have a question. Whatever happened with Vinny?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: Vinny?
KING: Who is Vinny?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: Vinny Dimartino, he used to be on the show with us. Vinny, he went and did his own thing.
KING: Like what?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: He decided it was time to -- I think he does bikes, right? Things like that.
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: He has a shop, a two-man operation.
KING: Was he a traitor?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: He was on the show for a while. He was an employee of the company.
KING: Are you angry? You look angry.
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: He always looks angry.
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: No. I'm not angry.
KING: You parted in good company?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: Somewhat.
KING: What did Vinny do wrong?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: Vinny really didn't do anything wrong.
KING: You just had that look. OK. You know what, I'll leave it alone. Only got a couple of minutes. What makes a good bike?
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: Good parts, good mechanics, good fabricators.
KING: Is Harley, for the none -- is it the best?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: Um --
KING: If you were going to by a bike not custom made?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: As far as production bikes go, Harley has been around for 100 years, so they are doing something right. OCC builds some pretty darn good production bikes as well.
KING: Is Harley the only American bike?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: That's a good question. Hmm.
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: Indian was --
(CROSS TALK)
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: I think Harley is.
KING: Your show is in the sixth year, Mikey.
M. TEUTEL: It most certainly is. I think -- I'm taking a lot of liberty in saying this, but I think it is over after this season.
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: Shocking.
KING: Why?
M. TEUTEL: It's just run its course.
KING: You are going off the air?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: Are we going off the air?
M. TEUTEL: We are going off the air.
(CROSS TALK)
KING: You'll stay on the air? Mikey, why?
M. TEUTEL: I'm tired of doing the show.
KING: You leave and there is no show? M. TEUTEL: I don't know. I'm not willing to hedge my bet. You know what happened to David Caruso. He got flung across the kitchen floor on that one. As far as doing this, and being with family and the politics involved, and all the animosity and just everything bad that goes with it --
KING: Are you married?
M. TEUTEL: Not yet.
KING: Do you have a girlfriend?
M. TEUTEL: I have a fiancee.
KING: When is the date?
M. TEUTEL: It is June 5th next year.
KING: Congratulations. What about you?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: I have a girlfriend. I don't know. I'm going to ask her soon, I think.
KING: We only have 20 seconds.
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: I have to ask her father first.
KING: Are you kidding?
PAUL TEUTEL, JR.: No.
KING: Is she underage?
M.TEUTEL: No. She is in the green room right now.
KING: OK. Thanks. Don't leave television. Bad mistake.
PAUL TEUTEL, SR.: We won't. We won't ever leave television.
KING: TLC, you lose them, you lose me. That's it. Hey, that's tough stuff. Time now for my man Anderson Cooper and "AC 360." Anderson?
