Pawn Stars: Sunday Night Sundae

I have a new obsession on Sunday nights and I want everyone to know it.

The Pawn Stars (L-R) BigHoss, Rick, Chumlee & The Old Man

It’s Pawn Stars, the History Channel’s new series which combines some of the best features of PBS’ Antiques Roadshow & History Detectives (minus the treat that is Wes Cowan — yes, I’m still stalking him) and adds, like chocolate syrup, a tasty layer of sinfully fun reality television. Sometimes, there’s even the fun of a Mythbusters blast as the cherry on top.

The premise is simple: People walk in off the street & try to sell or pawn their stuff for cash. It might be a custom made motorcycle, art, coins, a retro Pac-Man game (that sit-down version, like you played at Pizza Hut), Civil War weaponry, jewelry — who knows. Once it walks in, it’s up to the owners to figure out what’s real, what’s fake, & what will sell in their shop. Then, if all looks good, it’s time to negotiate a price.

But not just the retail price; the price the pawn shop is willing to pay so that they can make a profit (something you’ll be reminded of, so don’t worry if you forget that — they are used to informing folks that they don’t pay retail, customers do).

Along the way of determining the object’s price (a la Roadshow), there’s the story behind the object, usually with the help of an expert (a la History Detectives). OK, so maybe it’s not quite as in-depth as History Detectives… But it’s closer to that in terms of interest than the stationary table-talk of Roadshow. So there’s your two scoops of ice cream.

The layer of chocolate — the sweet stuff you might feel guilty about — is the reality show aspect. Since this is a real pawn shop, you’re also watching the interactions between the owners & staff of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, located on the outskirts of Las Vegas. Three generations of the Harrison family run the place: grandfather Richard (aka “The Old Man” — sometimes, “Pops”), son Rick, and grandson Corey (aka “Big Hoss”). And there’s Big Hoss’ friend, Chumlee (aka “The Village Idiot”).

Rick With Helmet

Like most men, each one is charming in their own way and I’m not above admitting that along with learning how to identify an authentic Medieval knight’s jousting helmet versus a Victorian copy, I love the banter between the boys.

On one episode, Pops is convinced that in this economy they’ll never get $5K for a watch; but Big Hoss he can, so he challenges The Old Man to a bet. If Big Hoss sells it for $5K, grandpa, who’s worn a suit to work for 30+ years, has to buy & wear a pair of Ed Hardy jeans to wok — but if grandpa wins, Big Hoss, who doesn’t own a suit, has to come to work in a suit for three weeks. Ribbing ensues, the bet is on, and more ribbing continues while the show moves along & we are educated about actual collectibles — and at the end of the show, we see the loser pay his debt. How cool is that? Very cool.

But maybe not as cool, to some, as the cherry-on-top Mythbusters-esque moments.

While the Pawn Stars don’t engage in real science, they do fire guns & blow stuff up occasionally. Hey, they have to test that Civil War canon — if a weapon doesn’t fire, it loses half it’s value.

So I guess in this sweet Pawn Star sundae served on Sunday nights, I’m the chick who goes nuts or bananas for it. Take your pick. (I say I’m the banana; because I sure have a-peal.)

My only words of caution are that one, in case you didn’t notice the staffs stance & tats, some of the language is a bit course (doesn’t bother me, but some of the PBS crowd might faint if not prepared) and two (in case you aren’t already aware of the truth of “reality TV”), the show is scripted. Again, neither detracts for me. But then I’m a realist. Plus mom says I talk like a sailor. (But I do have a-peal, remember?)

Not only do I love the show, but now I can’t wait to get back to Vegas. I must meet the Pawn Stars & see that shop!