Apparently some loyal followers of the three-generation Harrison clan, owners of the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas and stars of the History Channel's certified hit
Pawn Stars, thought there was a little false advertising with this third DVD collection. Unlike the season one and season two releases,
Pawn Stars: Volume Three is not a compilation collection, rather it's a selection of 16 "fan favorites" culled from the 26 episodes of season three. Yes, completists may feel a little disgruntled, but in this case a little less may be better, especially since the show runs on what is now a pretty formulaic engine. But not to worry, there are still plenty of beloved moments with boss Rick Harrison, his dad "Old Man" Harrison, his son "Big Hoss," the knuckleheaded yet lovable lardo "Chumlee," and all those potential suckers who haggle, bargain, and plead, walking away with cash in their pockets and dollar signs still dancing in their eyes.
Antiques Roadshow in Vegas or
Antiques Roadshow on crack remain appropriate shorthands to describe the show's premise. Watching truly is something that becomes habit-forming regardless of one's interest in historic artifacts, novelty and pop culture relics, or unusual ephemera that has some value to somebody (maybe). Even though the formula doesn't really change, as a reality TV concept
Pawn Stars is an easy sell. A customer looking to discard the unusual stuff that's been lingering in the attic or garage approaches the counter at the G&S Pawn superstore and talks about it with one or more members of the Harrison family. Nobody's looking for a loan or hocking their wedding ring so they can get back to the slot machines; this is all about the cash. Rick is pretty much the star and he seems to have a wealth of knowledge about whatever the for-sale item is. In
Volume Three the objects are pretty much the same mix of war memorabilia, motorized vehicles of whatever sort, coins, autographs, documents, and shrunken heads. The customer is interviewed before and after about their dealmaking experience, while in between Rick or Old Man or Hoss gives a mini-history lesson about whatever's on the counter, complete with graphics that fill us in on history, facts, and trivia. This certainly doesn't qualify
Pawn Stars as educational, mind you, but it does cast a sleek line to viewers who are easily reeled in by the debates over what is often some very cool junk. There is a level of drama as tensions rise with the eye-to-eye negotiations. Rick's attempts to lowball the customer while the customer sweats and stalls in anguish are nice little climaxes. In spite of their near-encyclopedic knowledge, Rick or one of the others will frequently call in one of their expert friends to confirm provenance or give him some sense of value. The show's pace is always lively, even in the hokey, scripted bits of comic business that go on between the boys--usually at the expense of resident fool Chumlee. Everyone is comfortable with the camera and eager to amplify their personality with war stories about the business and boastful anecdotes about their acumen or psychological prowess in bargaining with the marks who come into the store. It's a gimmick that has made checking in with the cast of
Pawn Stars a genuine pleasure, and may send you to digging out that old sword or unframing that dusty picture as you imagine the bundles of greenbacks waiting for you in Las Vegas. --
Ted Fry
