HOLY GUACAMOLE! Did you see the show this week? Not sure what the final tally was on the F word, but if we had a nickel for every time it was said we’d have enough money to pay for some family therapy for a few of the cast members. Things got a little heated over advertising Right Guard deodorant this week on Celebrity Apprentice. Jesse got to give the kids in the shop class at Millikan High School in Long Beach a check for $20,000 that he had won on the previous week’s show. But it was all downhill from there as both teams had some challenges with the team members not getting along. We got to see Jesse express his feelings about Clint Black, and we also got to see how fast a celebrity can run and cuss with a cast on one foot and a snappy pump on the other. Can’t wait until next week to see if the other 1/2 of the Rivers Tag Team returns.

Enjoy a few shots of the Apprentices before all the drama unfurled, and an out take from the Right Guard shoot that didn’t quite make it into the ads.

Leave it to our friends in the land of the Rising Sun to offer up yet another gadget that makes life easier, more efficient, and sillier. Just get in and let the Human Wash get you all spic-n-span for the day. The inventors say it is great for the elderly, or people who can’t otherwise bathe themselves, and for rich, lazy people who don’t want to be troubled with holding a bar of soap. We are told the Tijuana version of the machine lets occupants wash fully clothed. WCC is negotiating with the Japanese this Thursday to access certain aspects of the Human Wash technology for a self-driving motorcycle we have been wanting to build. Stay tuned.

Did you catch Celebrity Apprentice this week? We did. In fact it’s mandatory viewing for the worker bees at WCC. We have to take a quiz every Monday morning to see if we watched. No lie. Well, this week the teams wrapped up part 2 of their task to sell zillion dollar diamonds for Ivanka Trump. All the proceeds went to charity. And these aren’t the baubles you’re going to see at the mall in Robinson’s Brothers or Zales. Not the stuff where 2 month’s salary gets you an engagement ring…We’re talking sell your house, your car, cash in your 401K [or what's left of it] and you might be able to get an earring. That’s earring with no “s” on the end. Much drama ensued with the ever escalating Rivers / Duke cage match. Anyhow…Jesse lived to see another week, and went onto lead the Athena team to a victory cooking up some meatballs and pasta to wow the folks at Schwan’s Foods. You can check out their site and actually order the meal that Jesse & team created. Jesse gave his approval to one of the dishes they sampled. But you’ll have to catch it on the NBC full episode player to hear it in all it’s glory. Make sure you have your surround sound turned WAY up. What could next week hold? Not sure, but we’ll be watching so we’re ready for next Monday’s pop quiz. Tune in. Same bat time. Same bat channel.

Another week. Another task. Another firing. What happens when a national brand comes calling on The Donald and crew to offer up some ideas for laundry detergent? Something scrub-tacular to say the least. If you haven’t seen it, go to NBC’s full episode player and have a look for yourself. This week saw our boy being scrubbed up by a crew that was obviously inspired by one of the all time favorite candy films in the last 50 years. And did you get a load of those yellow dos? We’re still scratching our heads wondering why the folks in the marketing department at ALL didn’t swoop on the Athena Team commercial and use it for their national spot. I guess laundering clothes is serious business, not to be taken lightly…

Plans are underway to give a “fancy” makeover to our original showroom in Long Beach. We’ve been working on the shop in the 718 building recently, moving the bike assembly back where it used to be. So when you stop by you can look in the gate and see what we’re working on. And later this year, we’re overhauling the showroom too. We’ll be rotating our recent bike builds out for people to see, enlarging the store, and basically giving the whole building a little love. We’ll give you a heads up when it is finished…might even have a little shop warming party. Just don’t bring us any toaster ovens or blenders.

Big Chris test driving a bike ordered by one of the scrubbing dudes on Celebrity Apprentice this week. Obligatory Legal Lines: Do not try this at home. This was photographed on a closed course with a professional rider. Always wear correct safety gear when riding a motorcycle, or a pony, or any other moving transportation device. Do not exceed weight or suggested size limitations that might tax the vehicle’s braking system causing the rider to need to drag their feet in order to stop. And above all, do not have fun. Not a drop.

Ran across this detail shot when we were looking for something. No big story here. Just liked the shot.

Looking for some great boots? Here’s a pair you outta check out. The Jesse James Work Boot. They’re the first pair of boots in our workwear line of clothing. They’re full on real deal working boots, but also look pretty damn good for riding or kickin’ around. They’re available at select Walmart’s around the country, and also online at Walmart.com. And keep an eye out on our workwear site, we’re going to be announcing our summer Working Man’s Tour 2009 soon. Yup, we’re hitting the road again to go to county fairs across America to show off our workwear, and shake some hands, and kiss some babies.

The shots of the boots were done by Kevin Necessary, one of the shooters that has worked with us more than a few times over the years. He shot the silver catalog we did (die hard WCC fans will know what we’re talking about). Check out his site to see more rad motorsports shots. He drives in the Baja 500 and 1,000 too. So he gets bonus points in our book.

In case you didn’t catch it, Jesse got to broaden his skill set this week by learning how to clean toilets, lug other people’s stuff around, and politely deal with unruly demands of the people he’s serving…skills that the rest of the staff here at West Coast Choppers have already mastered. But that’s commentary. So, the men’s and women’s groups were tasked with staffing the Lowes Regency Hotel in New York. All the candidates were outfitted in hotel uniforms, and it’s probably the only time you’ll see him in something other than a tshirt with burn holes. It was the most dramatic episode so far, and you can see it again in living color at the NBC website…plus get the behind the scenes scoop on how it felt to wait on cranky ass guests.

So, here’s Fran Kuhn. Fran shot the very first WCC catalog…back when we were all in the 718 building, Cisco was around and had teeth, and Jesse still had some bare spots on his arms. So he’s been one of our BFFs for a long, long time. He stopped by a couple weeks ago to take some B+W shots on film. On what? Yep, film. Didn’t want to shoot any bikes…just the old school machinery that helps build the bikes. Check out his shots, and if you check out his website, you’ll get to see a rare shot of Mr. James with his summer cut.

Well, that’s our brief intro of Fran. Here’s what he had to say about that shoot: “After enduring twelve years of Catholic school, I think Jesse’s place is the only shop where I feel compelled to genuflect, light a candle and dab my forehead with holy water. Maybe drop a few coins in the alms box on the way out. Shoot digital in there? Hell no. That’s gotta be a sin, right? I’d be excommunicated or something. So–film it is. Anyone remember Tri-X?”