Press Release: Paul’s story is a tremendous one. First of all, he’s been sober for 28 years – though there is no longer a daily struggle with alcohol since it’s been so long. I think like any businessman who has started and successfully run a business (or multiple) – he has dealt with stress all his life. He uses exercise to alleviate his daily stress – and has been working out since he quit alcohol – he essentially transferred his compulsion for booze to a compulsion for working out. He initially started out lifting heavy weights (and actually participating in competitions) – until about 5 years ago when he switched from lifting heavy to a fast-paced workout of cardio and light weights (which made him super lean.) He went from 265lbs to under 200. (And presumably, that’s what triggered the online rumor to claim he has cancer - because he looks totally different and thinner.) His diet always remained consistent (no fried or fast foods) however it’s changed to adapt to his body and age (which is also true for the change in workout regimen). But now he doesn’t eat red meat and does a lot of protein drinks/smoothies and supplements. He truly is a self-made man, in every sense of the word!
BACKGROUND ON THE SERIES
In each hour-long episode of ORANGE COUNTY CHOPPERS, Paul and his team navigate tight deadlines, lofty egos and all the chaos that emerges from a group of rough and rowdy co-workers -- including some of the most outrageous pranks ever. When 23-year-old Evan Favaro is hired as Creative Director, he has no choice but to hit the ground running. Evan must earn the respect of his new colleagues, and prove he’s worthy of his new position, by demonstrating his leadership ability and undeniable design and fabrication skills.
Paul is a fascinating character, and the bikes he creates are legendary. His clientele can range from fortune 500 companies, high-profile investors to celebrities such as talk-show host, Jay Leno, Will Smith, Ewan McGregor, Wyclef Jean, Joe Perry and Keanu Reeves. He builds these bikes onsite at Orange County Choppers, his custom motorcycle shop, which includes a retail store, a custom bike display, a café, an employee gym, and even bowling lanes he calls “Chopper Alley.”
In addition to his business, Paul has his own compelling story: He began building custom motorcycles as a hobby in 1999, and that passion eventually grew into the Orange County Choppers empire, spawning his first TV series Discovery’s “American Chopper,” which ran for 10 years across Discovery and TLC.
Fans of Paul Sr. have followed him through his personal struggles, including the well-documented fall out with his son Paul Jr. that brought an end to his first TV series. Now, the two are on solid ground again, and Senior has moved on, this time without his son, and has turned his attention back to building the magnificent bikes he’s famous for.
At an age where many of his peers are easing into retirement, Paul Sr. continues to blaze his own trail. He’s a father of four, a former merchant marine and author of the autobiography, “Ride of a Lifetime,” in which his friend, David Letterman, contributed to the book’s Forward. When he is not in the shop, Paul Sr. lives on approximately 30 acres of land in Montgomery, NY, complete with a barn full of animals! And it’s no surprise that he also has a big interest in classic cars – and has two additional barn-like spaces filled with an enviable car collection.
Paul Sr. is perhaps most proud of his long-standing sobriety – after struggling with drugs and alcohol for some 20 years, he’s now been sober for 28 years and counting!
Highlights from the premiere season of ORANGE COUNTY CHOPPERS include:
An international client orders a custom “dragon bike” that becomes one of the most intricate builds the team has ever taken on. When a prank goes awry and a piece of the dragon is broken, all hands must be on deck to resolve the problem and finish the bike by the time the client returns to the States.
One of America’s most beloved restaurants commissions Senior and his team to build a bike for a giveaway at their annual national convention. The event is a huge corporate initiative for the company -- and it’s crucial that the bike impress the audience of nationwide franchise members. Pressure mounts toward the end of the assembly when a problem with an important bracket and a chrome-bubbling issue threaten to keep the bike from the looming reveal date.
GAF, the largest roofing manufacturer in North America, orders a bike to present to a veteran on stage at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The team only has two and a half weeks to design and build a chopper that’s worthy of a Purple Heart recipient -- and that will be unveiled in front of thousands of die-hard motorcycle fans.
For more information on ORANGE COUNTY CHOPPERS and exclusive content, visit CMT.com, “Like” the show’s official Facebook page and follow #OCChoppers on Twitter. Additional info can also be found on the OCC website, orangecountychoppers.com, or via their Twitter @OCChoppers and Facebook www.facebook.com/orangecountychoppers.
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