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TV Media Weekly | September 3 - 9, 2016 By Cassie Dresch TV Media W hen you think of Har- ley-Davidson motor- cycles, what springs to mind? Powerful, durable and loud? Beards and leather? What about a game- changing, boundary-pushing dream that started in a small shed in Milwaukee, sprouting from the minds of two close-knit school- yard pals? That's where Discovery is tak- ing viewers — on a journey back in time to the turn of the 20th cen- tury, when Bill Harley and Arthur Davidson took an idea and built it into the legendary product we know today. The premiere of the three-part event series "Harley and the Davidsons" airs Monday, Sept. 5, on the cabler, with the fi- nal two installments running Tues- day and Wednesday, Sept. 6 and 7. Starring Robert Aramayo ("Game of Thrones") and Bug Hall ("The Little Rascals," 1994) as Bill and Arthur, respectively, "Harley and the Davidsons" is based on a true story — one that makes for compelling TV, even if you're not a motorcycle aficiona- do. Two pals embark on a risky adventure, go up against seem- ingly insurmountable odds (and tough competition), and fight and claw their way to success and rec- ognition. In this case, we know the outcome — Harley-Davidson has been around for more than 100 years, and has grown into a way of life for generations. But, as Aramayo and Hall told TV Media during a roundtable in- terview, the focus isn't just on mo- torcycles. "This story is about peo- ple," Aramayo said. "It's about the development of a motorcycle, but it's also about the people who cre- ated it." "At the end of the day, nobody actually watches a show about motorcycles, they watch a show about people," Hall added. "In real life, these guys had a great love for each other, and their story as human beings was just excep- tional, and that's what's really ap- pealing about this." Michiel Huisman ("Game of Thrones") rounds out the big three as Arthur's older brother, Walter Davidson, who was also a company founder. Walter was the daredevil of the bunch, but with Arthur's salesmanship and Bill's creativity, they grew to be an un- stoppable and inseparable team — which is something that Hall said also happened among the three actors. "I can say with absolute cer- tainty that, in 25 years of doing this job, I've never been as close with anybody as I was with Rob and Michiel," said Hall. "We had a name we called ourselves, the Bottom Button Brothers, because Arthur, Bill and all those guys in the photographs always had their bottom button buttoned on their suit jackets. We really, really care about each other, and I think that translates on the screen as well." For Aramayo, the connection with Hall was practically instanta- neous and mirrored the story "Harley and the Davidsons" is looking to tell. "What was so en- joyable for me was the way in which things developed [with Hall]," he said, "because it seems similar to the timeline that we were portraying. Me and Bug struck up very immediately an in- stant friendship, and I think that was lovely, but it was also very useful when telling the begin- nings of the [show's] story be- cause it's two young lads in Mil- waukee who get one another into trouble." Of course, it can't be all fun and games for the three young Wiscon- sinites — there's always some sort of adversity lurking around the corner. Whether it's proving the critics wrong, going up against a big-name corporation that already has a strong foothold in the motor- bike market or facing the dangers that motorbike racing and motor- dromes inherently pose, Arthur, Bill and Walter ultimately have to lean on each other to ensure their bud- ding business survives. The boys also have to lean on a few other friendly (and some not- so-friendly) faces in "Harley and the Davidsons." British actor Dan- iel Coonan ("EastEnders") stars in the miniseries as William "Big Bill" Davidson, the eldest brother and final founding member of Harley-Davidson. Annie Read ("Cherry Red Kiss," 2014) plays the eventual Mrs. Harley, Caroline Jachthuber, and newcomer Essa O'Shea stars as Clara Beisel, Ar- thur's future wife. Gabriel Luna ("Wicked City") also appears in the miniseries as Eddie Hasha, a motorcycle racer also known as the Texas Cyclone who rides on an Indian bike, a Harley-Davidson archrival. So many different things come to mind when you think of an iconic brand like Harley-Da- vidson. Whether you think of its cultural impact, its classic de- sign or its legion of dedicated fans, it always comes back to one thing: motorcycles. The company's humble beginnings, rich history and longevity make for a great story, especially on the small screen, but you don't have to be a part of biker cul- ture to enjoy Discovery's latest offering. "You don't have to know any- thing about Harley-Davidson to watch the show," Aramayo said. "This is a story about adversity, this is a story about creation, and this is a story about people and families." Catch the premiere of the three-part special event series "Harley and the Davidsons" when it airs Monday, Sept. 5, on Discovery. Bug Hall, Annie Read and Robert Aramayo in a scene from "Harley and the Davidsons" Biker beginnings Discovery miniseries shines light on the men behind Harley-Davidson 2 | Cover story Harvey Hinklemeyers Martino's 3 x 5" A/Grindstone Charlie's B/Norris Insurance 1 x 4" 455-2700 3833 S. LaFountain • Kokomo, IN 46902 www.norrisinsurance.com • Home • Auto • Business • Life Call for a FREE Quote! Serving You For Over 50 Years Bill Neher

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