General Discussion

goodthanksandyou

(180 posts) Sat Mar 16, 2013, 08:44 AM Mar 2013

Contrary to what I have read here, I think "Pawn Stars" [View all]

is appropriate for the History Channel.

The same goes for "American Pickers" (if I have the name of that show correct).

To some, they may seem like superficial shows, but I think you can learn quite a bit about history from them.

If someone brings in an old piece on Pawn Stars, for example, they will usually call in an expert to both appraise and explain the history of the piece in detail.

I find these explanations entirely fascinating and educational. In 30 minutes, I can learn several things that I did not know before watching a particular episode.

And Chum Lee is a trip.

The only thing I don't like is Rick's laugh. That's gotta go.

88 replies

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Contrary to what I have read here, I think "Pawn Stars" [View all] goodthanksandyou Mar 2013 OP

I like both those shows. Pawn Stars would do well to drop the name-calling that goes on ... Scuba Mar 2013 #1

I never saw Hard Core Pawn goodthanksandyou Mar 2013 #3

Couldn't agree more about the Hardcore disfunctional pipoman Mar 2013 #5

They are only pretending to Bay Boy Mar 2013 #26

Pawn shops are not antique stores Mnpaul Mar 2013 #44

Yeah, nobody has ever made money buying and selling antiques.. pipoman Mar 2013 #50

I'll take the pawn shop profits before the antique shop profits any day Mnpaul Mar 2013 #53

what ever..lol pipoman Mar 2013 #55

Obscene profit? Mnpaul Mar 2013 #58

I used to go to used book stores and buy books for $3 that I knew I could flip for $30 or more Peter cotton Mar 2013 #61

It's a different kettle of fish.. pipoman Mar 2013 #63

I know that there isn't a single retail business pipoman Mar 2013 #64

600%? Mnpaul Mar 2013 #71

So above you were pipoman Mar 2013 #84

If you tell a customer what it is worth Mnpaul Mar 2013 #85

More justification of bad behavior IMO.. pipoman Mar 2013 #87

The Pawn Stars shop really isn't a proper pawnshop though sir pball Mar 2013 #70

Hardcore pawn is reality Mnpaul Mar 2013 #73

Retail jewelry is a complete ripoff. Manifestor_of_Light Mar 2013 #83

I don't know if it's exactly history.. pipoman Mar 2013 #2

I admire what you do goodthanksandyou Mar 2013 #4

I started as a child pipoman Mar 2013 #23

I some time watch American Picker if I have the television tuned to that channel when the TV bluestate10 Mar 2013 #81

I like Pawn Stars too, but the problem with bringing new viewers to the channel truebluegreen Mar 2013 #35

It's total bullshit. Those 'customers' are shills, paid for by the producers. Ikonoklast Mar 2013 #6

"Why sell it in a dive Vegas pawn shop for pennies?" jorno67 Mar 2013 #9

But that isn't what's happening there. Ikonoklast Mar 2013 #13

One guy brought in a unique piece of American history TheCowsCameHome Mar 2013 #14

Because he was paid by the producers to do so. Ikonoklast Mar 2013 #16

I agree.. pipoman Mar 2013 #15

When you sell on the Internet, you take the chance that you will get stiffed Art_from_Ark Mar 2013 #19

You think a pawn shop won't rip you off? Ikonoklast Mar 2013 #21

I have been buying and selling on ebay and other pipoman Mar 2013 #24

I don't know about how scripted Pawn Stars is Jacoby365 Mar 2013 #30

Message auto-removed bobbyjeffy Mar 2013 #45

It's a safe bet that any reality show is very heavily scripted by now. (nt) Posteritatis Mar 2013 #76

Color me uniformed again. Where can I find these shows you speak of? In_The_Wind Mar 2013 #7

Hi, they are on the history channel on cable TV. goodthanksandyou Mar 2013 #40

I think I can find that! In_The_Wind Mar 2013 #41

Goodnight! goodthanksandyou Mar 2013 #42

"Hardcore Pawn" is on TruTV JustABozoOnThisBus Mar 2013 #66

I avoid all of the shows makin' money on the hardship of people tryin' to survive. In_The_Wind Mar 2013 #68

A friend of mine was an actor on American Pickers alphafemale Mar 2013 #8

Tell me more... Bay Boy Mar 2013 #27

Savannah episode alphafemale Mar 2013 #29

And so that person is not an appraiser? Bluenorthwest Mar 2013 #65

Most "reality" shows are scripted and played by actors. alphafemale Mar 2013 #67

Market Warriors on PBS Mnpaul Mar 2013 #75

I can agree with you, but the fact that this is the closest they get to actual history programming Squinch Mar 2013 #10

+1000 n/t truebluegreen Mar 2013 #37

Message auto-removed bobbyjeffy Mar 2013 #56

Wouldn't it be nice to see a biography of Tsar Nicholas, or Attucks Crispus, or Ghengis Khan? Squinch Mar 2013 #60

Both shows are interesting TheCowsCameHome Mar 2013 #11

How revolting. CBHagman Mar 2013 #18

Well said, especially your first two sentences. woo me with science Mar 2013 #25

Well, the "Learning Channel" has Honey Boo Boo on so your point is well made tularetom Mar 2013 #34

World's Worst Tenants is completely scripted and acted and has no educational values. alphafemale Mar 2013 #12

I like watching American Pickers here in the UK dipsydoodle Mar 2013 #17

Long ago I bought a Fender Rhodes piano at the flea market for $20 and sold it online for a lot more Fumesucker Mar 2013 #52

Instead of watching a couple hucksters haggling over a unique historical object for profit baldguy Mar 2013 #20

Worst of the bunch of 'scavenger' shows madamesilverspurs Mar 2013 #22

Message auto-removed bobbyjeffy Mar 2013 #46

The fact that they even aired that poisonous garbage offends me. (nt) Posteritatis Mar 2013 #77

Chum is a total waste of human flesh dballance Mar 2013 #28

Pawn Stars Prices dem in texas Mar 2013 #31

I agree. The storage wars stuff is really outrageous. They can find a box of used Kleenex BlueStreak Mar 2013 #51

I don't pipi_k Mar 2013 #32

the name irritates me: it's a takeoff from Porn Stars Whisp Mar 2013 #33

The interaction between the characters is all scripted tularetom Mar 2013 #36

Interesting conversation and opinions about these shows, and the channels. northoftheborder Mar 2013 #38

A note on the History Channel and why it probably does what it does Benton D Struckcheon Mar 2013 #39

i have interest in history but i'm no scholar JI7 Mar 2013 #47

I like pawn stars Paulie Mar 2013 #43

to zee lounge spanone Mar 2013 #48

most tv shows are poorly produced but you are right liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #49

The problem is that it frames the history as a monetary transaction. Doesn't really focus on Erose999 Mar 2013 #54

History of ephemera and a bit of social history in shows like these.... JCMach1 Mar 2013 #57

Theres nothing real about 96% of reality shows olddots Mar 2013 #59

I enjoy Pawn Stars union_maid Mar 2013 #62

I have never watched either one of those shows. In_The_Wind Mar 2013 #69

Well, it's not like you've missed all that much union_maid Mar 2013 #72

I imagine there's options out there better than contemporary reality TV. (nt) Posteritatis Mar 2013 #74

These and news shows I like in the background when doing other things like playing my mandola. Hoyt Mar 2013 #78

I refuse to watch Pawn Stars LadyHawkAZ Mar 2013 #79

The thing I don't like about all these so called reality shows doc03 Mar 2013 #80

I like Antiques Roadshow much better. Manifestor_of_Light Mar 2013 #82

When AR first began airing in the US pipoman Mar 2013 #88

In 30 minutes you may learn a few facts about 3 or 4 items? Incitatus Mar 2013 #86