God, Guns & Automobiles
| God, Guns & Automobiles | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Starring |
Mark Muller |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Michael Kronish Isabelle Anouk Bourduas Michel Bissonnette Tim Healy[1] |
| Producer(s) | Austin Reading[1] |
| Editor(s) |
Andrea Van Metter - Lead Todd Batstone Michael Griffin John Burridge Reggie Bourdeau Vanat Sermpol - Lead Assistant David Zimmerman - Assistant |
| Location(s) | Butler, Missouri |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Zone3[1] |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | History |
| Picture format | 1.78:1 widescreen |
| Audio format | Dolby Digital |
| Original airing | July 8, 2013 |
Gods, Guns & Automobiles was an American reality television series that aired on History.[2]
Overview
The show chronicles the daily activities at Max Motors, a small-town car dealership run by Mark Muller with his business partner, brother, (and radio host) Erich "Mancow" Muller. The show is filmed in and around the rural town of Butler, Bates County, Missouri, which is in the southern portion of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Mark Muller retired from his consulting business at age 42 and moved from Kansas City to Butler but soon became bored with retirement and established the business in Butler in 2006, naming it for his first son, Max.[3] The business has since expanded to include a second dealership in Nevada, Missouri in addition to an auto towing business and finance business.[3]
Mancow Muller (Mark's younger brother) has been a silent partner in the various business enterprises for years but recently began taking a more active role—sometimes leading to conflict.[4] The show frequently features the conflict arising from their differing lifestyles (Mancow seeing things from his Chicago-based urban perspective, while Mark approaches his business based on his rural lifestyle) and Mancow's dislike of the "outlaw" personalities that Mark hires as salespersons (Mark wanting to hire people that no one else will, in order to give them a "second chance").
Country Born, American Made
In 2014 Country Music singer Jimmy Miles recorded Country Born, American Made,[5] a patriotic song which was modeled on Mark Muller. The official music video to the song was partly filmed at Max Motors and also co-stars God, Guns & Automobiles protagonist Mark Muller. The song will be featured on Jimmy Miles 2015 album "American Rambler" on Mid South Music Records.[6]
Cast
Muller Family
- Mark Muller: Founder and majority owner of Max Motors.
- Erich "Mancow" Muller: Brother of Mark and co-owner of Max Motors.
- Max Muller: Mark's oldest son and namesake of the auto business. He has recently quit college to work at the business that bears his name.[3]
Max Motors Employees
- Rod Berry: Nicknamed "Hot Rod", salesman Rodney Berry is known not only for his sales ability but for unusual behavior. For example he once drove his wife's new car into a lake to see if the headlights worked underwater.[7]
- Jason Claspill: Mark's personal assistant, the former funeral director and Marine fills a variety of roles around Max Motors. In his spare time he serves as personal MMA fight trainer for fellow employee Brandon Huckaby.[8]
- Lisa Drewing
- Matt Harvey: Considered one of Max Motors top sales staff, Matt "Cowboy" Harvey is a retired professional rodeo bullrider.[9] However, as shown in Episode 2, Harvey has an alcohol abuse problem (having been charged with at least three DUI's) due in part to dealing with severe pain from his rodeo injuries (17 surgeries).
- Brandon "Mongo" Huckaby: "Mongo" Huckaby is the dealership's internet sales specialist. In his off-hours he is a former top-ranked ISCF cage fighter recovering from injury and training for future competition.[10]
- Bill Myers
- Larry "Metro" VanZandt: A former military policeman and corrections officer, Larry has worked with Mark Muller for nearly two decades. He is the General Manager of Max Motors.[11]
Production
The series is produced by the Canadian firm Zone3, a company that heretofor has specialized in producing French language dramas, magazine shows and youth programming.[12] Tim Healy, known for his work on the MTV show Death Valley, serves as executive producer for History.[1]
Episodes
| Ep.# | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Welcome to Max Motors [13]" | July 8, 2013 | |||
| In the series opener Mark attempts to disuade a customer from purchasing a hybrid vehicle. Younger brother Mancow arrives from Chicago to help oversee his investment in the business. Meanwhile all staff are busy with a weekend "super sale". | |||||
| 2 | "Muller's Way[13]" | July 8, 2013 | |||
| Mark and Mancow disagree over the appearance and management of the sales staff. Mark tries to help top salesman Cowboy Harvey overcome his legal and substance abuse problems with an unusual bet. Mancow goes on a vehicle repo mission and finds it's not as easy as he thought. | |||||
| 3 | "Cowboys and Aliens" | July 15, 2013 | |||
| With Max Motors falling short of their monthly quota Mark comes up with a promotion that will be a Sales Encounter of the Third Kind as aliens invade the business. Larry becomes frustrated with the salesmen goofing off. Meanwhile champion tractor puller L.D. Nation gives Mark and Mancow a tour of his vehicle collection and sells them a 1920 Chevrolet truck. | |||||
| 4 | "Midnight Madness" | July 15, 2013 | |||
| Mancow's idea for a special late-night sale at Max Motors proves to be a failure, partly due to sabotage by his brother. Mark's assistant Jason endures hazing as "the new guy". Mark buys a "rat rod" after promising Mancow he'll slow down his fast-driving ways. | |||||
| 5 | "The Great Gun Buyback" | July 22, 2013 | |||
| Mark co-sponsors a gun buyback event with local law enforcement, but ends up keeping some for his own collection. Also his son Max joins the family business that bears his name. | |||||
| 6 | "Urban Cowboys" | July 22, 2013 | |||
| Mark flies to Chicago when Mancow discovers his rare dream car there. Meanwhile Rod finds running Max Motors in Mark's absence is harder than he thought. | |||||
| 7 | "Demolition Men" | July 29, 2013 | |||
| To inspire his sales staff to reach goal, and have some fun in the process, Mark offers the top three salespersons the chance to face off against him in a demolition derby. The winner gets $1,000. Meanwhile, Mancow recounts tales of childhood bullying by Mark and seeks his revenge in the derby. | |||||
| 8 | "Fight Night" | August 6, 2013 | |||
| Mark attracts a huge crowd to the dealership when he hosts an evening of cage-fighting. As Mongo trains for the fight of his life, Mancow sees an opportunity to cash in as his new manager. | |||||
| 9 | "Respect the Vet" | August 12, 2013 | |||
| Mark's buying multiple vehicles for his private collection causes conflict with his wife. Meanwhile, the Max Motors staff are left scrambling for a different weekend sales promotion when a direct mailing campaign falls through. In its place the staff host a special military veterans appreciation day event. Also, Mark passes on trading for a gyrocopter. | |||||
| 10 | "Make it shine" | August 19, 2013 | |||
| Mark's personal assistant Jason gets called on the carpet. Meanwhile a customer wants to trade rare Persian rugs toward a vehicle. Elsewhere Mark's youngest son Matt convinces the family to get into the moonshine business, after much reluctance from his uncle Mancow. | |||||
| 11 | "Family Circus" | August 26, 2013 | |||
| The annual Butler Rodeo gives the Max Motors gang a chance at thousands of new customers, but also leaves the business short-handed. Mark turns to his wife and sons to help sell vehicles. Meanwhle Mancow discovers his "shock jock" routine doesn't work in a small town radio station. Later he's drafted to be a celebrity rodeo clown. | |||||
| 12 | "Speed Auction" | September 2, 2013 | Speed Auction | ||
| When their mom comes to Butler for a visit it's left up to Mancow to play tour guide as Mark prepares the overstock of trade-ins and used cars for one of Missouri's biggest auto auctions. | |||||
| 13 | "The Art of the Retreat" | September 9, 2013 | |||
| With Max Motors in disarray due to parking lot reconstruction, Mark decideds to have a bonding experience for the staff with a sales retreat at his home. Serving up barbecue and plenty of target shooting with both semi and full automatic weapons, the Max Motors gang get fired up for their special $5 dollar used car sale the next day | |||||
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "God, Guns, and Automobiles Premiers on History". TV By The Numbers. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
- ↑ "History To Bow Unscripted ‘God, Guns & Automobiles’ On July 8". Deadline.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Cast-Mark Muller". History.com. 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
- ↑ "Cast-Erich Mancow Muller". History.com. 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
- ↑ Country Backroad Radio. "LABEL PICKS CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC FOR JIMMY MILES 2014 SINGLE". Retrieved 2014-12-05.
- ↑ Mid South Music Records. "Jimmy Miles - Country Born, American Made (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)". Retrieved 2014-12-05.
- ↑ "Cast-Rodney "Hot Rod" Berry". Historry.com. 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
- ↑ "Cast-Jason Claspill". History.com. 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
- ↑ "Cast-Matt Harvey". History.com. 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
- ↑ "Cast-Brandon "Mongo" Huckaby". History.com. 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
- ↑ "Cast-Larry VanZandt". History.com. 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
- ↑ "Zone3 Company Profile". Zone3. 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "God, Guns & Automobiles TV listings". TV Guide website. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.