Discovery's 'American Chopper' Ending After 10 Years

Reality show to conclude with live special Dec. 11

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/16/2012 3:26:14 PM

Discovery Channel's American Chopper, which started the genre of family docu-soap reality series, will end its run this December after a decade on the air.

"After 10 years and 233 episodes of incredible, riveting reality television, American Chopper will be ending its run," said Eileen O'Neill, group president, Discovery and TLC Networks in a statement. "This series was one of the very first family-based reality programs on television. Special thanks to Pilgrim Studios for over a decade of great producing. The Teutuls have given us really innovative bike builds and real drama since 2002. We wish both Orange County Choppers and Paul Junior Designs the best."

American Chopper follows the Paul "Senior" Teutul and his son Paul "Junior" Teutul as they built motorcycles and clashed at their New York shop Orange County Choppers. The series is a strong ratings performer for Discovery, drawing 1.4 million viewers in its most recent episode, according to Nielsen, and ranking as the No. 2 basic cable program on Monday nights in October with men 25-54 and men 18-49.

The series has had a roller coaster run, first premiering on Discovery in 2003, moving to sister network TLC in 2008 only to be canceled in 2010. TLC revived the series later that year as American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior though halfway through that season it moved back to Discovery and its original title.

Chopper will end its run with the previously announced special Chopper Live: The Revenge bike build-off in Las Vegas Dec. 11 at 9 p.m. ET.

Entertainment Weekly first reported the story.