By Melissa Garza
I like to say that I hate reality television. My husband often corrects me as I watch Hardcore Pawn, Pawn Stars, American Pickers, Dance Moms, Toy Hunter, Kitchen Nightmares, and Hell’s Kitchen.
Still, when I think of reality television I think of shows that display wastes of space like Jersey Shore and Bad Girls. The closest thing that I watch to those shows is Hardcore Pawn. If Hardcore Pawn was a fair representation of society I would have a new profound understanding of the Biblical flood. Most of the people they show are such ghetto trash that they disgust me. Still, I can’t turn away. It’s entertainment.
Is it intelligent television? No. Is it fun to watch the same type of train wrecks that you see get served at Walmart get thrown out of a store by security? Absolutely!
When I first started watching I really wanted to like Les’s, (the owner) daughter Ashley. I was hoping she would be a strong and successful business woman. Instead, she is just a spoiled brat. The manager Rich, who other than Les is really the only likeable individual, is often berated by Ashley. Now Rich does more work than anyone at the shop. Ashley actually chewed him out for pricing jewelry during the down time.
Les’s son Seth is just as spoiled. He at least has moments where he’s likeable. When a ghetto jerk came in and told his girlfriend to stand behind him and shut up, Seth stood up to him and told him off. Another time, all of the men threw out a father who was trashing his son because their baseball team didn’t perform well.
Ashley is just a fake. She makes me so angry because there is really no strong business women on television that are not sex symbols. She could show her ability to run the shop without the need to step on her employees and customers alike.
Seth isn’t a fake but he’s definitely a jerk. Neither seem capable of taking care of the store. If I were Les, I’d give the shop to Rich after retirement.
Les is pompous but since he built the shop, he has a right to be. Not to mention, with the amount of trash that comes in the store, he needs to show a little toughness.
Now, there is an alternative pawn show which is far superior. The History Channel’s Pawn Stars is much better. It’s a far more intelligent show. The customers that come into the store are generally much smarter and have more class. They come to sell vintage merchandise or items that have some historical significance.
The show always tells the viewers about the product brought in. If its artwork, the artist and his success is discussed. If it’s a gun from the Civil War, the viewers are told a little about the gun and how it was used in the war. It’s a very interesting show and offers much more than Hardcore Pawn.
Overall, both shows are more than watchable but for different reasons. Hardcore Pawn is less about what is brought in and more about the reactions of the customers and employees. Pawn Stars is an intelligent program which gives information about antiques. There are never fights and there isn’t security within the shop that is shown on TV. The family for the most part gets along and it’s fun to watch the banter between them.
Hardcore Pawn Rating 7/10
Pawn Stars Rating 9/10
