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''Pawn Stars'' is an American reality television series shown on
History History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...
and produced by Leftfield Pictures. The series is filmed in
Las Vegas Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Veg ...
, Nevada, where it chronicles the daily activities at the World Famous Gold & Silver
Pawn Shop A pawnbroker is an individual or business (pawnshop or pawn shop) that offers secured loans to people, with items of personal property used as collateral. The items having been ''pawned'' to the broker are themselves called ''pledges'' o ...
, a 24-hour
family business A family business is a commercial organization in which decision-making is influenced by multiple generations of a family, related by blood or marriage or adoption, who has both the ability to influence the vision of the business and the willingn ...
opened in 1989 and originally operated by patriarch Richard "Old Man" Harrison, his son Rick Harrison, Rick's son Corey "Big Hoss" Harrison, and Corey's childhood friend, Austin "Chumlee" Russell. The series, which became the network's highest rated show,Childers, Linda (July 7, 2011)
"Rick Harrison of 'Pawn Stars' spills success secrets"
CNN Money CNN Business (formerly CNN Money) is a financial news and information website, operated by CNN. The website was originally formed as a joint venture between CNN.com and Time Warner's ''Fortune'' and ''Money'' magazines. Since the spin-off of Tim ...
.
and the No. 2 reality show behind ''
Jersey Shore The Jersey Shore (known by locals simply as the Shore) is the coastal region of the U.S. state of New Jersey. Geographically, the term encompasses about of oceanfront bordering the Atlantic Ocean, from Perth Amboy in the north to Cape May P ...
'', debuted on July 26, 2009. The series depicts the staff's interactions with customers, who bring in a variety of artifacts to sell or pawn, shown haggling over the price, and discussing its historical background, with narration provided by either the Harrisons or Chumlee. The series also follows the interpersonal conflicts among the cast. One reviewer referencing these conflicts described the show as a version of '' Antiques Roadshow'' "hijacked by '' American Chopper''s Teutul family." ''
TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corporat ...
'' has offered a similar description, calling the show "one part ''Antiques Roadshow'', a pinch of '' LA Ink'' and a dash of '' COPS.''"Moynihan, Rob. "Summer's Guilty Pleasures". ''
TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corporat ...
''. June 21, 2010. Page 23
Numerous local experts in a variety of fields also regularly appear to appraise the items being sold or pawned, two of whom have gone on to their own spin-off programs. Antique restorer/metal artist Rick Dale is the star of the series' first spin-off, '' American Restoration'', which premiered in October 2010, and mechanic/auto restoration expert Danny "The Count" Koker stars in the second spin-off, '' Counting Cars'', which debuted August 13, 2012."Danny 'The Count' Koker is in the Driver's Seat When New Car-Loving Series Premieres on History(R) – 'Counting Cars'"
The Futon Critic. July 25, 2012.
Rose, Lacey (July 20, 2012)
"History Orders Car Flipping Series Starring 'Pawn Stars' Personality (Exclusive)"
''
The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Hollywood film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade paper, and in 2010 switched to a weekly large ...
''.
The show's 16th season premiered January 21, 2019, in a new hour-long format. The series has become a global phenomenon, being shown in 150 countries and dubbed in 38 languages.


Production history and format

''Pawn Stars'' began with Brent Montgomery and Colby Gaines of Leftfield Pictures, who were struck by the array of eclectic and somewhat seedy pawn shops in Las Vegas during a 2008 weekend visit to the city. Thinking such shops might contain unique characters, they searched for a family-run shop on which to center a TV series, until they found the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop less than two miles from the
Las Vegas Strip The Las Vegas Strip is a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South in Clark County, Nevada, that is known for its concentration of resort hotels and casinos. The Strip, as it is known, is about long, and is immediately south of the Las Vegas cit ...
.Fixmer, Andy (October 21, 2010)
"Pawn Stars: Our Most Revealing Reality Show"
''
Bloomberg Businessweek ''Bloomberg Businessweek'', previously known as ''BusinessWeek'', is an American weekly business magazine published fifty times a year. Since 2009, the magazine is owned by New York City-based Bloomberg L.P. The magazine debuted in New York City ...
''.
It had been the subject of a 2001 PBS documentary,Bourdeau, Annette (March 12, 2012)
"'Pawn Stars': 13 Things You Didn't Know About Chumlee, Rick And Corey "
''
The Huffington Post ''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...
''.
and the manager and part-owner, Rick Harrison, had been trying unsuccessfully to pitch a show based on his shop for four years."Pawn Stars’ Richard "Old Man" Harrison Celebrates 70th Birthday"
/ref>Smith, Grady (June 28, 2010)
"'Pawn Stars':" Rick Harrison talks about cable's most unlikely hit!"
''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular ...
''.
Both the shop and Rick had previously been featured in the Las Vegas episode of '' Insomniac with Dave Attell'' in 2003. The series was originally pitched to HBO, though the network preferred the series to have been a ''
Taxicab Confessions ''Taxicab Confessions'' is a television series of hidden camera documentaries that aired on HBO from 1995 through 2006. When passengers enter the cab, they are recorded with several small cameras hidden in the taxi. The producer prompts passeng ...
''-style series taking place at the Gold & Silver's night window. The format eventually evolved into the now-familiar family-oriented motif used in the series.
History History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...
president
Nancy Dubuc Nancy Jean Dubuc is an American businesswoman who currently serves as chief executive officer of the American-Canadian media company Vice Media. Early life and education Dubuc is the daughter of Carol D. Smith and Robert H. Dubuc Jr. Her parent ...
, who had been charged with creating programming with a more populist appeal to balance out the network's in-depth military programming picked up the series, which was initially titled ''Pawning History'' before a staffer at Leftfield suggested that ''Pawn Stars'' would fit better with the locale. The network concurred, believing that name to be more pleasing and easily remembered. The name is an intentional pun on ''
porn stars A pornographic film actor or actress, pornographic performer, adult entertainer, or porn star is a person who performs sex acts in video that is usually characterized as a pornographic movie. Such videos tend to be made in a number of dis ...
.'' The staffer adjusted its storyline to bring it in line with the network's brand, which included the on-camera experts appraising the items brought into the Gold & Silver, though she did not discourage the interpersonal conflicts among the show's stars. The series is filmed on location at the World-Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although jewelry is the most commonly pawned item at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, most of the customers featured in episodes bring in a variety of vintage or antique items to the store, which has 12,000 items in its inventory as of July 2011 (5,000 of which are typically held on pawn). Each episode consists of segments devoted to approximately five or six of these items in which one of the staff members, usually Rick Harrison, his son Corey, or Harrison's father Richard (known as the "Old Man"), explains the history behind the object. When the buyer is unable to evaluate an object, they consult with an expert who can evaluate it to determine its authenticity and potential value, and in the case of items needing repair, the cost of restoration or preparing the item for sale. Whoever is evaluating the object goes over the potential value with the customer, including the expert's opinion, if one is given, often interspersed with an interview in which he explains the basis of his decision to the viewer. A price tag graphic at the bottom corner of the screen provides the ever-changing dollar amount as the two negotiate over the item's price. On occasion, Rick will purchase items in need of restoration before determining their restoration costs, thus taking a risk on such costs. Interpersonal narratives focusing on the relationship and conflicts among Rick, Corey, the Old Man, and Corey's childhood friend, Austin "Chumlee" Russell, who also works at the shop, also comprise episode plots. These usually pertain to arguments over the running of the shop, the elder Harrisons questioning Corey's judgment, and aspersions cast on Chumlee's intelligence and competence. Before the second commercial break, a multiple-choice trivia question related to the shop and its inventory, the cast members, or one of the featured items is shown, with the answer provided after the break; beginning with the Season 8 episode "A Very Vegas Christmas," a trivia question is asked at every commercial break. In addition to spawning imitators and clones, such as the
truTV TruTV (stylized as truTV) is an American basic cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The channel primarily broadcasts comedy, docusoaps and reality shows. The channel was originally launched in 1991 as Court TV, a network that ...
series '' Hardcore Pawn'', and History's own ''
Cajun Pawn Stars ''Cajun Pawn Stars'' is an American reality television series on the History channel that debuted January 8, 2012, at 10 pm ET. The show was the second spin-off of ''Pawn Stars'', but unlike fellow spin-offs ''American Restoration'' and ''Count ...
'', the success of ''Pawn Stars'' has been a boon to the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, which has become a Las Vegas tourist site, and has expanded its business accordingly. Originally averaging between 70 and 100 customers per day, the shop's traffic increased to more than 1,000 by October 2010. To handle the increased business, the shop hired nearly 30 new employees, and underwent a $400,000 expansion of their showroom by two thirds, to 15,000 square feet, the shop's tenth expansion since it opened. Rick Harrison also mentioned in the fourth season episode "Over the Top" that he was building a gym above the Pawn Shop for the staff's use. The shop also now sells its own brand merchandise, whose designs originate from fans entering design competitions on Facebook, which saves the Harrisons the cost of hiring professional designers. The staff's presence on Facebook and Twitter also ensures audiences during local nightclub appearances, for which Corey Harrison and Chumlee Russell are paid $1,000 a night. However, as a result of filming at the shop, the four main cast members can only work the main counter during shoot days, this is due to laws that require the identity of customers pawning items to remain confidential, and the tourists and fans taking photos and video in the showroom that would preclude this. When shooting episodes of the series, the store is temporarily closed to the public, with only a handful of vetted customers allowed into the showroom. In July 2011, Harrison signed a record-breaking 80-episode renewal contract for four more seasons of the series. After being broadcast during its first four years on Mondays at 10 p.m. ET, the program moved to Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET on May 30, 2013,Hibberd, James (April 22, 2013)
"'Pawn Stars' gets new theme song from Lynyrd Skynyrd – EXCLUSIVE"
''Entertainment Weekly''.
replacing '' Swamp People'', which moved an hour later to 10 p.m. ET. The program also received a new opening and theme song, "Winning isn't Everything," performed by
Lynyrd Skynyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd ( ) is an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida. The group originally formed as My Backyard in 1964 and comprised Ronnie Van Zant (lead vocalist), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Junstrom ...
. The opening was replaced again with different theme music from an uncredited artist on June 12, 2014.


Episodes


Cast


Main shop staff

* Richard "Rick" Kevin Harrison – Co-founder/co-owner of the pawn shop. The son of "The Old Man" Richard and father of "Big Hoss" Corey, he has earned the nickname "The Spotter" due to his sharp eye for rare and valuable items. He started in the pawn business at the age 13.Rick claims in "Steaks at Stake to own 50% of the store, but Richard insists that Rick owns only 49%. Rick co-founded the "Gold & Silver" pawn shop with his father in 1989 at the age of 23. Boasting that "Gold & Silver" is the only family-owned pawn shop in Las Vegas, Rick says he dropped out of high school in the tenth grade because he was making $2,000 a week selling fake Gucci bags. An avid reader since childhood, his favorite area of historical study is the
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against Fr ...
, from the late 1700s to the early 1800s. Harrison also appears on ''United Stuff of America,'' an H2 series from the producers of ''Pawn Stars'' that focuses on notable artifacts that were used in important moments in history, which premiered in June 2014. * Richard Benjamin "The Old Man" Harrison – Rick's father and Corey's grandfather, and the founder/co-owner of the pawn shop, which he opened in 1989 with his son Rick. He was usually referred to by his nickname, "The Old Man," which he earned at age 38, according to the episode "Fired Up."Long, Christopher (December 29, 2009)
"PAWN STARS (TV SERIES) – DVD review"
Movie Metropolis.
Originally from
Lexington, North Carolina Lexington is the county seat of Davidson County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 18,931. It is located in central North Carolina, south of Winston-Salem. Major highways include I-85, I-85B, U ...
, he was the first to arrive at the shop in the morning, and had not had a sick day since 1994."Big Guns" (Episode 2.24); March 8, 2010 He was a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Navy. He was particularly passionate about automobiles, showing an interest in all types of cars, from the 1966 Chrysler Imperial his son and grandson had restored for his 50th wedding anniversary to the mid-1960s B&Z Electra-King electric car shown to them in "Honest Abe," which he suggested could be converted into a golf cart."Honest Abe" ''Pawn Stars'', Episode 3.26, History, November 1, 2010 In the episode that aired on July 31, 2017, it was mentioned that he was retired. Harrison died in June 2018. * Corey Harrison – Rick's son and Richard's grandson, who is nicknamed "Big Hoss." and started at the shop at age nine, polishing jewelry. He is now the manager of the shop's day-to-day operations, 30 of its employees, makes the most purchases of anyone in the shop and is being groomed by Rick to be the boss one day. Corey often comes into conflict with his father and grandfather over his knowledge of the shop's inventory, his responsibilities as a manager,Examples include Rick's reaction to the purchase of a stolen item in "John Hancock's Hancock," and his perception of Corey's laziness in motivating staff people like Chumlee to keep the back storage area organized, as well as putting rare items on display at the shop instead of in the backroom in "Backroom Brawl." and his overall judgment in sales, in particular his purchase of expensive items.Examples include his purchase of a boat in "Sink or Sell," despite his father's policy against buying boats, and his $38,000 purchase of a
hot air balloon A hot air balloon is a lighter-than-air aircraft consisting of a bag, called an envelope, which contains heated air. Suspended beneath is a gondola or wicker basket (in some long-distance or high-altitude balloons, a capsule), which carries ...
in "Hot Air Buffoon," despite his father's rule requiring him to consult him first when paying more than $10,000 for an item.
Following gastric
lap band A laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, commonly called a lap-band, A band, or LAGB, is an inflatable silicone device placed around the top portion of the stomach to treat obesity, intended to decrease food consumption. Adjustable gastric band ...
surgery in 2010 and a change to his diet, Harrison's weight went down from to approximately by July 2011. In Season 6, he tells the elder Harrisons that he will take a job at another business if he is not given a 10% partnership in the shop. He remains with the shop after he is given a raise and a 5% partnership with the possibility of a greater stake in the business in the future. * Austin "Chumlee" Russell started working at the shop when he was 21. Chumlee was given his nickname at age of twelve by the father of a childhood friend, who named him after the walrus sidekick of Tennessee Tuxedo.Profile for Austin "Chumlee" Russel
at Gold and Silver Pawn Shop; Accessed August 25, 2010
"Ready, Set, Pawn" (Episode 3.18); September 13, 2010 He does behind-the-counter work at the shop, such as testing the items, loading them, and writing the tickets for items purchased by others. He is often the butt of the others' jokes for his perceived lack of intelligence and his incompetence,Other examples include the Old Man's remarks in "Plane Crazy" that Chumlee probably can't spell the word "art" and can barely tie his own shoelaces. for which he has been referred to as a "village idiot." Chumlee has responded to this by explaining that he is underestimated and points to his expertise in
pinball machines Pinball games are a family of games in which a ball is propelled into a specially designed table where it bounces off various obstacles, scoring points either en route or when it comes to rest. Historically the board was studded with nails call ...
, which he utilizes in the second season episode "Pinball Wizards," much to Corey's surprise, as an example of one of the areas in which he is knowledgeable. Chumlee later displays the ability to repair a gas-powered toy car in "Never Surrender" (Episode 3.25) and expert knowledge in discerning a fake pair of
Air Jordan V Air Jordan is an American brand of basketball shoes produced by American corporation Nike. The first Air Jordan shoe was produced for Hall of Fame former basketball player Michael Jordan during his time with the Chicago Bulls in late 1984 an ...
sneakers in the following episode, "Honest Abe" (Episode 3.26). As a result of the show, Russell formed his own company which sells novelty items, including T-shirts of his own design, and arranges for his personal appearances. He sold half of the company in 2010 to Rick Harrison for $155,000, so that the shop could handle orders of his merchandise more efficiently.


Minor shop staff

* Danielle "Peaches" Rainey – One of the shop staff members. In the episode "Rope a Dope" she is punished for her habitual tardiness by being put on the graveyard shift with Chumlee, who harbors an unrequited affection for her. She reluctantly helps Rick appraise a box of ''
Playboy ''Playboy'' is an American men's Lifestyle magazine, lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from H ...
'' magazines in "Peaches & Pinups," despite her distaste for the task. The Old Man asks her about Chumlee's whereabouts in "Chum Goes AWOL." She is also seen socializing with the other shop staff in the closing scene of "Confederate Conundrum." *Olivia Black – A night shift employee hired in Season 5. She is among the applicants favored by Corey and Chumlee, because of her attractiveness, when they screen the applicants in "Learning the Ropes." She is hired, after being further interviewed by Rick and The Old Man in "Crosby, Stills and Cash," and begins her training in "Les is More." In "Corey's Big Burn" she is shown working with night shift customers with Chumlee, though Rick and The Old Man express concern that the double shifts Chumlee is working as a result of volunteering to train her (which they perceive to be motivated solely by his attraction to her) might be too much for him. Black was fired from the show on December 19, 2012, when her 2008 nude modeling work for the soft porn website SuicideGirls was revealed. Though fired from the series, she was not fired from the shop where she continued to work, albeit off-camera. She later left the shop. She also returned to SuicideGirls and shot a new pictorial for them four days after her firing. * Antwaun Austin – The shop's 6'5""Pawn Stars: Security Detail", History Channel's official YouTube channel. December 18, 2009. Accessed June 14, 2011. security guard. Usually seen in the background, Antwaun sometimes sells store T-shirts to people who come in, helps customers bring in large items, and when necessary, removes customers who are unruly or disruptive. In "Flight of the Chum", for example, he attempts to intervene when a seller becomes irate after Rick informs him that the
Perseus In Greek mythology, Perseus ( /ˈpɜːrsiəs, -sjuːs/; Greek: Περσεύς, translit. Perseús) is the legendary founder of Mycenae and of the Perseid dynasty. He was, alongside Cadmus and Bellerophon, the greatest Greek hero and slayer ...
statue he brought into the shop is not an original by Émile Louis Picault, but a copy. He features heavily in an episode storyline for the first time in Season 4 "Teacher's Pet" in which he is revealed to have worked at the shop for three years and is tutored by Chumlee on negotiating prices and discerning genuine gold. When he later prepares to take a few days off in "Security," he in turn tutors Chumlee on how to work the door. * Fat Back – An in-house mechanic, who also provides appraisals on the condition of vehicles. * Johnny – An in-house mechanic and expert in racing and other sporting
memorabilia A souvenir (), memento, keepsake, or token of remembrance is an object a person acquires for the memories the owner associates with it. A souvenir can be any object that can be collected or purchased and transported home by the traveler as a ...
. * Scott – One of the shop's part-time employees, who spends much of his time at
flea market A flea market (or swap meet) is a type of street market that provides space for vendors to sell previously-owned (second-hand) goods. This type of market is often seasonal. However, in recent years there has been the development of 'formal ...
s and
estate sale An estate sale or estate liquidation is a sale or auction to dispose of a substantial portion of the materials owned by a person who is recently deceased or who must dispose of their personal property to facilitate a move. Reasons for an estate ...
s, purchasing items that Rick will purchase from him to sell in the shop. * Andy – The shop's head of security. He first features prominently in a storyline in the Season 6 episode "Shekel and Hyde". * Lili – A college intern at the shop from
UNLV The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is a public land-grant research university in Paradise, Nevada. The campus is about east of the Las Vegas Strip. It was formerly part of the University of Nevada from 1957 to 1969. It includes th ...
. She is hired as an intern in the Season 8 episode "What Happens in Vegas" and is later promoted to a part-time paid position at the shop in the Season 9 episode "Ponies and Phonies."


Recurring experts

Professional specialists are sometimes called in by the pawn shop to determine the authenticity and value of the items brought in and in some cases, to restore them. The following is a list of recurring experts who have appeared in two or more episodes.


Celebrity cameo appearances

Cameo appearances have been made by Phil Collen,
Joe Elliott Joseph Thomas "Joe" Elliott (born 1 August 1959) is an English–Irish rock singer, best known as the lead singer and one of the founding members of the hard rock band Def Leppard. He has also been the lead singer of the David Bowie tribute ba ...
,
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
,
Jeremy McKinnon Jeremy Wade McKinnon (born December 17, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known as a founding member and the lead vocalist of A Day to Remember. He has produced full-length albums for The Ghost Inside, Neck Deep ...
,
Meredith Vieira Meredith Louise Vieira (born December 30, 1953) is an American broadcast journalist and television personality. She is best known as the original moderator of the daytime talk show '' The View'' (1997–2006), the original host of the syndicated ...
, the
Oak Ridge Boys The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quartet originating in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The group was founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They became popular in Southern gospel during the 1950s. Their name was chang ...
,
George Stephanopoulos George Robert Stephanopoulos ( el, Γεώργιος Στεφανόπουλος ; born February 10, 1961) is an American television host, political commentator, and former Democratic advisor. Stephanopoulos currently is a coanchor with Robin Robe ...
, Matt Kenseth,
Steve Carell Steven John Carell (; born August 16, 1962) is an American actor and comedian. He played Michael Scott in ''The Office'' (2005–2011; 2013), NBC’s adaptation of the British series created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, where Ca ...
, Kip Winger,
Roger Daltrey Roger Harry Daltrey (born 1 March 1944) is an English singer, musician and actor. He is a co-founder and the lead singer of the rock band The Who. Daltrey's hit songs with The Who include " My Generation", " Pinball Wizard", " Won't Get Fooled ...
, Katie Couric, Vic Flick, Butch Harmon,
Billy Gibbons William Frederick Gibbons (born December 16, 1949) is an American musician who is the guitarist and lead singer of the rock band ZZ Top. He began his career in the band the Moving Sidewalks, which recorded a full-length album entitled, ''Flash ...
, and Marc-André Fleury.Phil Collen and Joe Elliott appear in the episode "Legends of Rock" in season 12.
Jeremy McKinnon Jeremy Wade McKinnon (born December 17, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known as a founding member and the lead vocalist of A Day to Remember. He has produced full-length albums for The Ghost Inside, Neck Deep ...
appears in the episode "Double Trouble",
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
in "Like a Rolling Chum", and
Meredith Vieira Meredith Louise Vieira (born December 30, 1953) is an American broadcast journalist and television personality. She is best known as the original moderator of the daytime talk show '' The View'' (1997–2006), the original host of the syndicated ...
in "Chumdog Millionaire", all of which aired during the third season. The
Oak Ridge Boys The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quartet originating in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The group was founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They became popular in Southern gospel during the 1950s. Their name was chang ...
appear in "Packing Heat", and
George Stephanopoulos George Robert Stephanopoulos ( el, Γεώργιος Στεφανόπουλος ; born February 10, 1961) is an American television host, political commentator, and former Democratic advisor. Stephanopoulos currently is a coanchor with Robin Robe ...
in "Buy The Book", both of which aired during the fourth season. Matt Kenseth appears at the end of the fifth season episode "What the Truck".
Steve Carell Steven John Carell (; born August 16, 1962) is an American actor and comedian. He played Michael Scott in ''The Office'' (2005–2011; 2013), NBC’s adaptation of the British series created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, where Ca ...
appears in the sixth season episode "Hello, Goodbye". Kip Winger and
Roger Daltrey Roger Harry Daltrey (born 1 March 1944) is an English singer, musician and actor. He is a co-founder and the lead singer of the rock band The Who. Daltrey's hit songs with The Who include " My Generation", " Pinball Wizard", " Won't Get Fooled ...
both appear in the seventh season premiere "Rick 'n' Roll". Katie Couric appears at the end of the seventh season episode "Chum-parazzi". Vic Flick appeared in "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service". Butch Harmon appears in the eighth season episode "Tee'd Off". Marc-André Fleury appears in the season 15 episode "Blades of Deal".


Reception


U.S. television ratings

By January 2011, ''Pawn Stars'' was History's highest-rated series. An original episode broadcast on January 24, 2011, was watched by seven million viewers, the most watched telecast ever on the History channel, according to the network and Nielsen Media Research.Seidman, Robert
"'Pawn Stars' Delivers 7 Million Viewers, An All-Time High for History"
TV by the Numbers. January 25, 2011
In 2011, it was the second-highest-rated reality series on TV behind ''
Jersey Shore The Jersey Shore (known by locals simply as the Shore) is the coastal region of the U.S. state of New Jersey. Geographically, the term encompasses about of oceanfront bordering the Atlantic Ocean, from Perth Amboy in the north to Cape May P ...
'', attracting 7.6 million viewers.Schneider, Michael. "Summer TV Winners and Losers". ''TV Guide''. September 19, 2011. Page 19 In 2016, a ''
New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' study of the 50 TV shows with the most Facebook Likes found that ''Pawn Stars'' was most popular in rural Kentucky.


Critical reception

Christopher Long, reviewing the first season DVD for DVD Town, praised the series for its cast and the educational value of the items examined, calling it 'addictive' and "...a big-time winner..." and opined that it is the best show on
History History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...
, and perhaps cable. In one issue of ''
TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corporat ...
'', writer Rob Moynihan included the show in a list of "guilty pleasures." April McIntyre of Monsters and Critics, whose negative view of pawn shops influenced her view of the series' setting, reviewed one episode of the series, which she labeled a "cool '' Antiques Roadshow.''" Though she found aspects of it interesting, she criticized what she perceived as an emphasis on cheap laughs at the expense of family
patriarch The highest-ranking bishops in Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, the Catholic Church (above major archbishop and primate), the Hussite Church, Church of the East, and some Independent Catholic Churches are termed patriarchs (and in c ...
Richard Harrison over the show's historical material, as well as Corey Harrison's weight. She ultimately saw potential for the series if aspects of it that she found to be in poor taste were curbed. ''
USA Today ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...
s Gary Strauss opined that the bickering among the Harrisons, as well as the customers seen in the shop, is "alternately amusing and grating." ''
People A person ( : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of prope ...
'' magazine wrote of the show, "Think ''Antiques Roadshow'', but with neon and far more tattoos." Some of History's viewers were reportedly displeased with how reality series like ''Pawn Stars'' and '' Swamp People'' have replaced some of the network's previous history-oriented programming. The series has also attracted some criticism from other pawnbrokers, who while conceding its entertainment value, claim that the series' focus on the extravagant vintage items brought into the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop are not typical of the average pawn shop, whose business is predicated on an individuals' fixed income who bring in conventional objects in order to pay their bills, such as electronics, tools, and jewelry. Corey Grigson and Charles Brown, who own a shop called Pawn Stars, estimate that their average loan to a customer is between $50 and $100. They also point out that appraisals are handled by the staff, who rely on experience, reference works, and research, and not the outside experts who are frequently seen on the show aiding the Harrisons. The success of the series has also lent itself to parody. At the June 2011
NHL Awards The National Hockey League presents numerous annual awards and trophies to recognize its teams and players. The oldest, and most recognizable, is the Stanley Cup. First awarded in 1893, the Stanley Cup is awarded to the NHL's playoff champion. ...
in Las Vegas, the Hanson Brothers from the movie ''
Slap Shot ''Slap Shot'' is a 1977 American sports film directed by George Roy Hill, written by Nancy Dowd and starring Paul Newman and Michael Ontkean. It depicts a minor league ice hockey team that resorts to violent play to gain popularity in a decli ...
'' appeared in a spoof sketch in which they try to sell the
Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
to Harrison at the Gold & Silver.


Awards and honors

In 2010, Rick Harrison and the staff of the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop were awarded the Pawnbroker of the Year Award by the National Pawnbrokers Association for bringing the industry greater recognition and a better image with the TV show. On July 17, 2012, the Clark County Commission declared that day to be "Pawn Stars/Gold & Silver Pawn Day." At the Commission meeting, Richard "The Old Man" Harrison donated $1,000 to the Clark County Heritage Museum, and lent the U.S. Senate floor chair used by Senator Patrick McCarran (sold to the Gold and Silver in the ''Pawn Stars'' episode "Take a Seat") to the museum as part of a display on Senator McCarran.


Legal issues

In October 2012,
A+E Networks A&E Networks (stylized as A+E NETWORKS) is an American multinational broadcasting company that is a 50–50 joint venture between Hearst Communications and The Walt Disney Company through its General Entertainment Content division. The company ...
and History, as well as cast members from the show, were sued in Clark County District Court in Las Vegas for interference with business practices by Wayne Jefferies, a Las Vegas promoter and the Harrisons' manager, who represented them and Austin Lee "Chumlee" Russell in their television business dealings. Jefferies, who was instrumental in helping to launch the series, states that after the show premiered, his influence in the show was increasingly reduced, and he was ultimately fired and left without his promised share of fees and merchandising
royalties A royalty payment is a payment made by one party to another that owns a particular asset, for the right to ongoing use of that asset. Royalties are typically agreed upon as a percentage of gross or net revenues derived from the use of an asset o ...
from the series. Jefferies states that this occurred after a January 2012 leaked story on TMZ that indicated that the ''Pawn Stars'' cast was taken aback by History's launch of the spinoff ''Cajun Pawn Stars'', which the cast had been unaware of. On March 9, 2016, Chumlee's home was raided during the course of an investigation into sexual assault allegations. During searches of his residence, police found crystal meth,
marijuana Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant. Native to Central or South Asia, the cannabis plant has been used as a drug for both recreational and entheogenic purposes and in various t ...
, Xanax, and multiple firearms. Evidence of possible
cocaine Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly used recreationally for its euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from the leaves of two Coca species native to South Am ...
use was also found. In March 2016, "Chumlee" Russell pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the discovery of an arsenal of weapons, marijuana, and other drugs by police at his home in Las Vegas.


Spin-offs and similar series by Leftfield

Following the success of ''Pawn Stars'', Leftfield Pictures created the following spinoffs of ''Pawn Stars'': * '' American Restoration'' was ''Pawn Stars''' first spinoff. It stars Rick Dale and his crew at Rick's Restorations and premiered in October 2010. * ''
Cajun Pawn Stars ''Cajun Pawn Stars'' is an American reality television series on the History channel that debuted January 8, 2012, at 10 pm ET. The show was the second spin-off of ''Pawn Stars'', but unlike fellow spin-offs ''American Restoration'' and ''Count ...
'' is set at the Silver Dollar Pawn & Jewelry Center, a pawn shop in
Alexandria, Louisiana Alexandria is the ninth-largest city in the state of Louisiana and is the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the prin ...
that is owned and operated by Jimmie DeRamus and his family. The show, which follows the same format as the original ''Pawn Stars'', debuted on History on January 8, 2012."History(R) Puts a Southern Spin on Its Mega Hit Series With "Cajun Pawn Stars" – New Series Premiering on Sunday, January 8 at 10pm EST"
The Futon Critic. December 15, 2011.
* '' Counting Cars'' stars Danny "The Count" Koker, proprietor of Count's Kustoms, and follows a format similar to ''American Restoration'', in which Koker and his staff restore and modify classic automobiles. ''Counting Cars'' debuted on August 13, 2012, after ''Pawn Stars''. * ''
Pawn Stars UK ''Pawn Stars UK'' was a British reality television series which debuted on 26 August 2013 on the British version of the History channel and ran until 10 November 2014. The series is filmed in Sealand, Flintshire in Wales, and chronicles the d ...
'' is a local version of ''Pawn Stars'' set in the United Kingdom; that series premiered in the UK on the
History channel History (formerly The History Channel from January 1, 1995 to February 15, 2008, stylized as HISTORY) is an American pay television network and flagship channel owned by A&E Networks, a joint venture between Hearst Communications and the Disney ...
on August 26, 2013. This series is slated for a first season of eight episodes, and, like ''Cajun Pawn Stars'', will show the trade of collectibles from the local perspective.Rawden, Jessica (October 9, 2012)
"Pawn Stars UK Spin-off Will Air Internationally On History Channels"
Television Blend.
* ''
Pawnography ''Pawnography'' was an American game show broadcast by History (U.S. TV channel), History. Hosted by comedian Christopher Titus and featuring ''Pawn Stars'' personalities Rick Harrison, Corey Harrison and Chumlee, Austin "Chumlee" Russell as pan ...
'' is a game show that first aired on July 10, 2014 on History. Hosted by comedian Christopher Titus and featuring Rick, Corey, and Chumlee as panelists, ''Pawnography'' features contestants answering questions related to selected items sold at the Gold and Silver, for a chance to win the item. * ''Pawn Stars SA'' is a local version of ''Pawn Stars'' set in South Africa; that premiered on October 14, 2014 on the
DSTV Digital Satellite Television, commonly abbreviated to DStv, is a Sub-Saharan African direct broadcast satellite service owned by MultiChoice and based in Randburg, South Africa. Launched on 6 October 1995, the service provides multiple audio, ...
channel. * ''
Pawn Stars Australia ''Pawn Stars Australia'' was the Australian adaptation of the American series of the same name. It premiered on 21 July 2015 on A&E. The Australian version is the third international spin-off after Pawn Stars UK and Pawn Stars South Africa. Th ...
'' is a local version of ''Pawn Stars'' set in Australia, that premiered in 2015 on
Foxtel Foxtel is an Australian pay television company—operating in cable television, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April 2018, superseding an earlier company from 1995. The service was establi ...
. In addition, Leftfield created five similar series that follow the same format as ''Pawn Stars'': * '' Oddities'', a
Discovery Channel Discovery Channel (known as The Discovery Channel from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply Discovery) is an American cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav. , Discovery Chan ...
series which premiered in November 2010, focusing on the operations of a New York-based antique shop. * ''Oddities: San Francisco'', a spin-off of ''Oddities'' taking place at a San Francisco-based antiques shop, which debuted in June 2012 on the
Science Science is a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earliest archeological evidence ...
channel. * ''What the Sell?!'', a TLC series that debuted in March 2011, about three generations of women running an antique shop in
Wheaton, Illinois Wheaton is a suburban city in Milton and Winfield Townships and is the county seat of DuPage County, Illinois. It is located approximately west of Chicago. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 52,894, which was estimated ...
. * '' Ball Boys'', an ABC series that debuted March 2012, about an owner of a sports collectibles shop and his son in
Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was ...
, Maryland. *''United Stuff of America'', an H2 series that focuses on artifacts that played a key role in history, such as the cane with which
Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was an American lawyer, planter, general, and statesman who served as the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before being elected to the presidency, he gained fame as ...
fended off a presidential assassin, the axe
Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation throu ...
used as a young rail splitter, and the pencils
Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant ; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. As Commanding General, he led the Union A ...
used to write his memoirs.


Merchandise

In 2011, History launched ''Pawn Stars: The Game'' for play on Facebook. In June 2011, Rick Harrison's autobiography, ''License to Pawn: Deals, Steals, and My Life at the Gold & Silver'', was published by Hyperion Books. Harrison's autobiography details his childhood, some of the troubles he faced before he got into the pawning business, as well as anecdotes from his time at the Gold & Silver. Also, The Old Man, Corey, and Chumlee have their own chapters in the book, reflecting on their life and experiences at the pawn shop. In October 2011, the Redwood Hills Financial Group issued the ''Modern Cash Prepaid MasterCard Limited Edition: Gold & Silver Pawn Shop'' prepaid
debit card A debit card, also known as a check card or bank card is a payment card that can be used in place of cash to make purchases. The term '' plastic card'' includes the above and as an identity document. These are similar to a credit card, but ...
, in a special tie-in with the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop. On September 5, 2012, it was announced that Bally Technologies would unveil a new
slot machine A slot machine (American English), fruit machine (British English) or poker machine (Australian English and New Zealand English) is a gambling machine that creates a game of chance for its customers. Slot machines are also known pejoratively a ...
featuring the cast of ''Pawn Stars'' the following month at the 2012
Global Gaming Expo Global Gaming Expo (G2E) is a gambling industry trade show presented by the American Gaming Association (AGA) and organized by Reed Exhibitions. The flagship G2E convention debuted in 2001 and is held each fall in Las Vegas, Nevada. G2E Las Veg ...
, which took place from October 2 to 4, 2012 in Las Vegas.


See also

*'' American Pickers'', itinerant buyers of antiques and collectibles *'' Auction Hunters'', a series on Spike *'' Auction Kings'', a similar series on
Discovery Channel Discovery Channel (known as The Discovery Channel from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply Discovery) is an American cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav. , Discovery Chan ...
*'' Comic Book Men'', set at filmmaker
Kevin Smith Kevin Patrick Smith (born August 2, 1970) is an American filmmaker, actor, comedian, comic book writer, author, YouTuber, and podcaster. He came to prominence with the low-budget comedy buddy film '' Clerks'' (1994), which he wrote, directed, ...
's comic book store, the show has been described as "Pawn Stars for geeks".Venutolo, Anthony (July 7, 2011)
"Kevin Smith reality show may land at AMC"
NJ.com
*''
Comic Store Heroes ''Comic Store Heroes'' is a reality television program set inside Manhattan's Midtown Comics, the largest comic book store in the United States. Described as a one-hour documentary about comic book subculture, it is British production company Part ...
'', set at
Midtown Comics Midtown Comics is a New York City comic book retailer with three shops in Manhattan and an e-commerce website. Gustines, George Gene (May 8, 2019)"As Comic Book Industry Grows, Smaller Publishers Learn to Adapt" ''The New York Times''.Gustines, G ...
in Manhattan. *'' Hardcore Pawn'', a similar series on
truTV TruTV (stylized as truTV) is an American basic cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The channel primarily broadcasts comedy, docusoaps and reality shows. The channel was originally launched in 1991 as Court TV, a network that ...
*'' Pawn Queens'', a similar series with female pawn shop operators, airing on TLC *'' Storage Hunters'', a series on truTV *''
Storage Wars ''Storage Wars'' (stylized as ''STORAGE WAR$'') is an American reality television competition series that airs on A&E. It initially aired for 12 seasons, from December 1, 2010, to January 30, 2019. A 13th season premiered in April 2021. Whe ...
'', a series on A&E


References


Further reading

*


External links

* * of the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop * {{DEFAULTSORT:Pawn Stars 2000s American reality television series 2009 American television series debuts Antiques television series History (American TV channel) original programming Pawn shops Television shows set in Las Vegas