I was first introduced to Pawn Stars when I had to study for a math final. I obviously didn’t want to study (I mean, who wants to study complex statistical equations?) so I was flipping through channels and came across a Pawn Stars marathon. Two hours later, I finally stopped watching. Usually I only watch sports on TV, but I was extremely surprised at how engaging the show was.
The show works for a few reasons. First, it is really educational while at the same time being interesting. History has a connotation of being exceedingly boring because loads of knowledge are dumped on you in a monotonous voice by an old guy who perhaps has a thick moustache. Pawn Stars actually makes learning history pretty fun, using the personalities of the shop employees to deliver short-and-sweet historical facts.
Each item shown on the show has some sort of historical significance. When someone brings in an item, a box comes on screen giving a short, insightful description of the item. If the shop employees do not know much about an item, then they bring in an expert to provide more knowledge. The show also explains how to spot certain fake items, such as a fake $100 bill. This is what television should be: programming that teaches the viewer something new while still having entertainment value.
The show is entertaining because of the personalities that work in the shop. The founder/co-owner of the shop, called “The Old Man”, has a rivalry with every employee, including his son and grandson. Then there is the laughing stock of the shop, Chumlee (after seeing that picture, you kind of get an idea why). He gets picked on so much, although in a good-natured way. The diverse ages of shop employees bridge generations, not only in the shop itself but for viewers as well. The show really appeals to viewers of all ages; my roommates and I often watch the show together, and I know older people that watch the show, including my parents. It’s pretty rare these days to find something that kids and parents can agree on, especially on TV.
While there are a few minor subplots and maybe the occasional drama between the employees, those take a backseat to the historical aspect, making the featured items the key components of the show. Who knew history could be so interesting? I sure didn't.
I've really liked Pawn Stars for the couple episodes that I've seen. I feel like lately the History Channels programming hasnt been terrific so I've stayed away, but I've watched a few episodes of Pawn Stars, and its keeping my faith for the network. There is one situation where somebody wants to sell a helicopter to the shop, and the owner figures he can make a huge mark up on the craft. If being a pawn shop owner is as fun as it looks on the show, I think it could be a definite career possibility!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Scott that the History Channel has really fallen from the greatness of what it was when I was growing up watching it. It seems like the history channel is obsessed with armageddon and nostradamus so original programming like this is pretty cool. I think you're spot on to say that the characters are what drive the show and make it appealing as the subject matter can sometimes be a bit bland. Some of the situations bother me though, like when that guy had a priceless artifact that he was going to use to pay for his daughters wedding. I can't remember what it was but he only got a couple of thousand dollars for it. I kept waiting for Indiana Jones to swoop in and snag it while saying 'this belongs in a museum!'
ReplyDeleteThis show sounds really cool and interesting. I hate history, but put into this context it actually isn't so bad. It's actually pretty interesting to learn how much money certain historical artifacts are worth and why.
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