It’s the secret formula for television success…at least to the execs at FX and the new drama series which focuses on members of an outlaw motorcycle gang called the Sons of Anarchy. I’ve blogged about this show previously HERE and HERE.
I took an hour away from blogging last night to watch the gritty, beer-chugging, hell-raising and occasionally gruesome premiere. When was the last time you saw that in prime time? You haven’t!
Sagal is thoroughly convincing in the hellcat role. She completely destroyed any image you may have had of her as the ditzy Peg Bundy. And Drea de Matteo of “Sopranos” fame makes an appearance that you can truly believe as Jackson’s wrung-out, drug-addicted ex-wife. I thought Jax seemed to be telegraphing his sensitive, gentle side a little too early in the first 30 minutes of the pilot.
At any rate, the show is well-acted and is crafted in a way to showcase the fictitious inner workings of outlaw motorcycle gangs. It’s dark, grim and at times very violent, but as a gunrunning gang banger club it will surely be a TV hit and I can visualize t-shirts sales skyrocketing.
Production poster courtesy FX Networks.
Northwest Harley Blog 
You can’t be serious Mac. You think that show portrayed the inner workings of an MC, then I have to question what MC you have been around.
The deceased presidents OL as now shacking up with the new one? And, they are discussing pillow talk about club business? Hmmm, ya know, I’m betting not.
It does have something for everyone though, violent bikers, a dirty cop, a mom that delivers a hot shot to the hospital for her crank addicted ex daughter in law, A wimp for a V.P. who can shoot only when shot at, but not finish the job.
Only redeming scene in the whole show was the stick of dynamite in the dead dudes butt before they blew the warehouse.
No, what this will do though, is take an uneducated public and give them lots to think about next time biker legislation comes up.
I was left wondering after I saw it if the federal government had not commissioned the writers to make it the way it is, that way the public will not howl to loudly when they want more money for gang task forces to hassle bikers.
Anyone that thinks they learned something about club life by watching that show should just drop by their local COC meeting and they would learn a lot more. Inner workings of an MC? Yea, NOT.
oh yea, and if it portrays club life so well, how come not once did that club get pulled over while riding together. Sitting by the side of the road for hours while everyone is ID’d and given tickets for the most minor offenses.
Can’t wait for the scenes when they kick down the doors and hold the wife and kids at gun point while tearing the place apart searching.
Why, didn’t even elude to the phone taps, computer searches and other harassment.
Of course, real life wouldn’t be interesting and gather sponsors would it.
Far fetched hollywood trash, and a very loose and poor portrayal of club life.
Yea Mac, your right on the Tee shirts, can’t wait to see people riding around in son’s of anarchy tee shirts with an MC cube on it.
That should be real interesting.
@ windyjoe – in my hasty post I left out the word fictitious prior to inner workings. Good catch.
Mac
I guess I’m down on the show Mac because of my position as a Chapter Legislative Officer of ABATE of Oregon.
My job convincing politicians, and citizens alike that bikers are regular people with families and mortgages and jobs is not an easy one. The struggle for motorcycle rights is long and hard.
Along comes a show that portrays bikers in this light. Mom and pop citizen that don’t know a thing about bikers can now tune in and learn all about them. So, we know that this is fiction, but most citizens can’t tell a 3 piece patch from a hog chapter patch, they don’t know don’t care and don’t get it.
So, I’m sure there will be some good episodes along the way, but, the black eye the biker community will get from this show will last much longer I believe than the show itself.
@ WindyJoe – I wasn’t kidding about the t-shirts. Saw people wearing them in Milwaukee during the 105th. Look at this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hey_mando/sets/72157607024710030/
and you’ll see gals with em on…maybe if enough average people wear the t-shirts it will become mainstream and help your cause? Who knows.
Mac
Who the hell is Sam Crow????? I know who Alister Crowley is, but not this Sam Crow……Please fill me in so I can ejoy the lame ass show without wondering if they’r etalking about a club member, or some hitorical figure. Thnx y’ll
@dikhead – here is what I’ve read:
Sam Crow is SAMCRO – Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original Charter or (S)ons of (A)narchy (M)otorcycle (C)lub, (R)edwood (O)riginal Charter
If I recall, there is a name reference to Sam Crow in one of the journals which Jax was reading but it might have been a project code name?
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_Ana…
Most bikers will have one thing in common, they will hate the show, but for different reasons. Some think it wont portray Bikers BAD ENOUGH and some will say it portrays them too bad ass! As someone thats been around outlaw clubs i can tell you this, they dont often have big “family” dinners, nor do they kill on a regular basis, but its TV. They need DRAMA in every episode or no one would watch.
I saw a few things i thought were real, the wife daring DR do-good to try to f*@% with her.real. biker bitches are almost as bad ass as their old men.
Making the probate drive an electric scooter HAHAHA! real. drugging cops and gettin away with it? bullshit.
All the guys bein at the hospital when a friend is in trouble?real. Killin a child rapist? hmmmm, all i can say is i wont call that scene bullshit. Broads that will screw anyone just to be a club hangaround. real. Members wives that hate the club. real.
If your a do-good family biker and hate the wat your portrayed as a trouble makin bad ass stop tryin to play the part. Lose the leather and the patches, get a windbreaker and have fun riding, and if you wanna be a member of a outlaw motorcycle club buck up, you are not misunderstood, you are who you are, f @&% anyone that dosent like it.
I thought the show started weak but I wanted to give it some time…I think it gets better with each episode. It may not be real, BUT, it beats the hell out of Law and Order reruns. FX is doing a good job for a “free” channel…The Shield, Rescue Me and now Sons of Anarchy…I appreciate what they’re doing.
Time to buy a vowel, people. This is drama, not IRL, fer crissakes. You think the Godfather or the Sopranos portrayed the Mafia? Please.
So, who cares if there wasn’t a 1948 Knucklehead or if the actors appear to use toothpaste and bathe? This is tv drama at its best; MUCH better than later seasons of the Sopranos. The acting is superb; the writing crisp, fresh, and dramtically real. It beats the hell out of everything else on broadcast tv and most everything else on cable.
Tell everyone you know about this “next-gen Sopranos”. It deserves it!
Good news: SAMCO has been picked up another season by FX
I know there’s much debate about this show…total snooze or totally awesome so, it looks like we get another season to test the water.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117993543.html?categoryId=14&cs=1
-mac
I had been wondering about the SAMCRO thing as well. Thank you for clearing that up. Now it makes more sense.
After reading through most of the posts I’d like to clear something up. As a member of Jane Q. Public and a fan of the show. It’s obvious that this is not how real biker gangs operate in this day and age. The public knows the difference more than you think. Just like with The Sopranos it wasn’t the reality people cared about. It was the fantasy.
People aren’t freaked of Italians any more now than they were before the Sopranos, and it should remain the same with Biker Clubs. Harleys and cruisers are expensive. The men and women who can afford them most likely have made their money from legitimate sources… such as…hmmm… jobs and careers.
Sons of Anarchy is put together well enough to maintain audience attention. And Katie Sagal is brilliant in her role. It’s nice to see her play such a deep character.
Don’t think too much into this guys. You worry too much. If you like the show enjoy it and if not don’t watch.
You hit it on the head Julie. It is strictly entertainment. That’s it.
Here is a web-site that may be helpful. It provides a lot if info and answers a lot of questions concerning various types of Motorcycle Clubs, Riding Clubs, Motorcycle Associations, etc..
http://home.earthlink.net/~rcvsmc-edu/
There is a lot of reading and getting through it all is time-consuming, but well worth it.
I’m going to post this on several related threads, so don’t be surprised if you run across it in another area. Not trying to “clog up the blog”,… just think that it is a good site which may help those unfamiliar with patch-holders and club life have a bit of insight into our world.
Respects,
Hermano Roadrash
PS: I still maintain that the best way to get to know the club world is to respectfully meet and get to know a patch-holder or two (or more) in person.
To Hermano Roadrash,
The site you mention (and the information in it) needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
The contributors are those of the 1%er (outlaw) world (or their supporters) and this is how they would like everyone to think and operate.
Their brand of respect is often confused with fear and intimidation.
I will allow that it is informative in that it shows a window into the outlaw way of thinking.
If your too busy to catch the show at night…new episodes are posted eight days after their initial TV broadcast and available on Hulu (http://www.hulu.com/sons-of-anarchy) for twenty-two days. The first two episodes will be up until the end of the year.
LOL…..JOE U MADE ME LAFFFFFFFFFFFF SEVERAL TIMES…”JOE DOES NOT KNOW”
IT IS INDEED INSPIRED BY “SOME PEOPLE”…..HOWEVER HAVING SAID EXACTLY THAT…IT HAS TO BE TONED DOWN AND BECOME TV FANTASY…..WHEN DID ANYTHING IN OREGON BECOME HARDCORE ENOUGH TO KNOW?…..CUTE…SO YES..WHAT SHE SAID..IF YOU DONT LIKE IT THEN DONT WATCH IT…IF YA DO..THEN SIT BACK AND APPRECIATE THAT ITS NOT ANOTHER REALITY SHOW…
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