Pawn Stars

This article is about the American television series. For the British version, see Pawn Stars UK. For the Australian version, see Pawn Stars Australia.
Not to be confused with Porn star.

Pawn Stars
From left: Rick Harrison, Austin "Chumlee" Russell, Corey Harrison, and Richard Harrison
GenreReality television
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons21
No. of episodes675 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Mary E. Donahue
  • Nicole Kaye
  • Shawn Witt
  • Gretchen Palek
  • Simon Thomas
  • Tracy Whittaker
  • Sean Moran
  • Rick Harrison
Running time20–21 minutes (2009–2018)
40–42 minutes (2019–present)
Production companiesLeftfield Pictures
Trifecta Entertainment & Media (syndication)
Original release
NetworkHistory
ReleaseJuly 19, 2009 (2009-07-19) –
present
Related
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Pawn Stars is an American reality television series shown on History and produced by Leftfield Pictures. The series is filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada, where it chronicles the daily activities at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop,[1] a 24-hour family business opened in 1989[2] 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,[3][4] and the No. 2 reality show on television, behind Jersey Shore, debuted on July 19, 2009.[5][6]

The series depicts the staff's interactions with customers, which consist of buying, selling, and pawning artifacts; haggling over the price, and discussing the artifacts' 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."[6] TV Guide has offered a similar description, calling the show "one part Antiques Roadshow, a pinch of LA Ink and a dash of COPS."[7]

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,[8][9][10] and mechanic/auto restoration expert Danny "The Count" Koker stars in the second spin-off, Counting Cars, which debuted August 13, 2012.[11][12]

The series has become a global phenomenon, broadcast in 150 countries and dubbed in 38 languages.[13]

  1. ^ Harrison & Keown (2011), pp. 1–3.
  2. ^ Katsilometes, John (April 8, 2010). "Pawn Shop Boys". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  3. ^ Childers, Linda (July 6, 2011). "Rick Harrison of 'Pawn Stars' spills success secrets". CNNMoney. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  4. ^ "Corey Harrison". lasvegassun.com. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  5. ^ Harrison & Keown (2011), p. 249.
  6. ^ a b Lawrence, Christopher (July 19, 2009). "Las Vegas pawnshop center of new reality series". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  7. ^ Moynihan, Rob (June 21, 2010). "Summer's Guilty Pleasures". TV Guide. p. 23.
  8. ^ Hibberd, James (October 14, 2010). "History spinning off "Pawn Stars"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  9. ^ Katsilometes, John (June 29, 2010). "First 'Pawn Stars' spinoff in production in Vegas, and it has restorative properties". Las Vegas Sun.
  10. ^ Katsilometes, John (September 24, 2010). "Rick Dale's 'Pawn Stars' spinoff, 'Rusty Nuts,' set for Oct. 18 debut". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
  11. ^ "Breaking News - 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. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  12. ^ Rose, Lacey (July 20, 2012). "History Orders Car Flipping Series Starring 'Pawn Stars' Personality (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  13. ^ Edgerton, Gary R. (February 11, 2020), Wasko, Janet; Meehan, Eileen R. (eds.), "The Past Is Now Present Onscreen: Television, History, and Collective Memory", A Companion to Television (1 ed.), Wiley, pp. 79–103, doi:10.1002/9781119269465.ch4, ISBN 978-1-119-26943-4, S2CID 213367847, retrieved June 29, 2022