‘Pawn Stars’ Review
Groucho Marx once said that he found television very educating because every time someone turned on the set, he would go in the other room and read a book. His words proved especially prophetic when reality television became widespread in the early 2000’s. Appealing to the lowest common denominator, reality TV relies on obnoxious personalities, physical violence and the occasional unplanned pregnancy to draw in viewers. Fortunately, the History Channel has managed to produce a reality show that does not rely on any of these.
Pawn Stars details the dealings of Rick Harrison, owner of the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas. Along with his father (nicknamed the Old Man), son Corey and Corey’s dimwitted friend Chumlee, Rick deals in everything from vintage cars and antique muskets to plastic toys. The show’s format details the various items that come into the pawn show, which the cast examines, values and decides on whether to purchase the item. While all of the cast members are foul mouthed, they come off as down to earth working men, rather than the immature jerks the likes of which populate The Jersey Shore or The Real World. What’s more, it is clear that the cast maintain a fondness for each other despite it all. The cast will endear itself to viewers because it represents the genuine tension of working in a family business, rather than the melodrama of being locked in a house or stranded on an island with 8 immature strangers.
As the opening narration states, “Everything in this store has a story and a price.” These are the two elements that make the show interesting. As each item is examined, a fascinating mosaic of facts and history blend to give each item a story. Learning what makes an item valuable, how it was made and how it came into the owner’s possession represents an intriguing look into fields as diverse as metallurgy, printing, and engineering. This is especially true of items that need restoration or are counterfeit, which have an added element of suspicion and disappointment which give the show an exciting edge.
Complementing this academic element is the wheeling and dealing that goes on as the cast decides whether to buy an item. The shop is a business and every item needs to be sold for a profit. Unlike the Antiques Road Show, valuing an item is not an idle exercise in intellectual curiosity. The interactions that occur as the cast seeks to talk down the price of a gold coin, broken pinball machine or a classic car humanize the show and build in an element of tension that complements the scholarly expertise nicely. It makes the show relatable as well. Viewers will become enraptured as they share in the hope of finding a million dollar item, and the despair of finding out grandma’s prized antiques are worthless junk.
A pleasant balance of family drama, archeological curiosity and the desperate search for profit, the show is easily addictive and thoroughly enjoyable. The only drawback to the show is that its format rarely changes and after watching several episodes, it can become repetitive. Never-the-less, Pawn Stars represents a triumph: it is a reality show that is at once intellectual, charming and enjoyable.
Pawn Stars airs on the History Channel Mondays at 10:00PM
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