Alas, poor History Channel....
Quote: LarrySmythbusters started off to be very scientific, and has gotten a little show bizzy. It used to be only the 2 older guys, but in order to get the younger generation they bring in the younger folks and try to make it more jazzy. I think by now they are getting low on ideas for "myths". Ithink the show has outlasted its original intent.
Remember when they were the build team, not Cary, Tory and Grant?
Still, they do decent work. Did you see the myth of the deep sea diver being crushed when air pressure fails? Amazing.
What I think is they're doing too many "movie myths" and "Youtube myths." It's a bit interesting when they find one that is true, or sort of true, but 9 times out of 10 one already knows they're going to be busted.
Quote: EvenBobIt usually belongs to the 'expert' they take it
to at the end of the show. he loans it to the
producers, they plant it in a locker, and they
expert gets it back when it's over. I know
somebody who's been buying lockers for 20
years and not once has he found one thing
of real value. Yet they find jewels and coin
collections and things worth $20K on a regular
basis on the show. What its done is ruin the
business for real people who do it for a living.
Every auction is full of amateurs now who
bit thru the roof because they watch the show.
Amen Bob - a bin you could buy for $300-$400 around here and turn into a grand costs $700-$800 with the dilettantes that show has created pulling bids out of their rear ends. Not worth the clean up prep you have to do to get the stuff in shape to sell at the flea market. Sigh
Those storage shows have always been staged.
I laugh when I see lockers with crap in them, old clothes, old tupperware, old broken furniture....and then in the middle of that crap is a small box with take your pick of one of the following
a Rolex watch
an antique tiffany crystal lamp
an antique pistol
a box of gold coins
antique lennox bowl
a pearl necklace
items that could easily fit in someones desk at home.....wouldnt take up much space....no need to put them in a storage unit guarded by a single padlock that anyone could cut.
there was a claim by one bidder that got fired that the other bidders would bring in their own items that were of value, and get a "rental fee" for using it in the episodes. Just as you say these store owners must get a "rental fee" for going through the charade of apprasing their own merchandise.
there is one series with 2 guys named "ton" and alan....it seems in almost every episode they find an antique firearm..and they keep selling it to the same old man
The guy names "ton" is supposedly an expert in firearms....so there is scenes of him shooting the new found treasure at the end of each episode before he sells it
But then u look at all theother storage shows....and no one finds antique firearms.
WTF...how are alan and ton so lucky.
there is this guy..dave hester who sued the show when he was fired, claiming he was fired because he didnt want to do the phoney crap.
He lost the suit...and the show sued him for lawyers and court costs.....6 figures..and won....I tend to think there will be no whistle blowers in the future.
and who are the people in the background???? they sometimes bid...but always drop out. They are just the equivalent of the studio audience
What I think happens...and its just a blind guess...
the production crew of one of these shows contacts the storage place to letthem know when they have 3-4 unitis to auction.
They tell them they will give them lets say 400 for each unit ahead of time and 3k for filming on their property.
Great deal.
So they film with these great prolonged staged bids that go up to 1-2k.
People at home see this and think people actually spend 2k for lockers every day
who knows...maybe some of the lockers are just empty lockers bought by the production crew, loaded with garbage, plant a little treasure....and let the fake bidding begin
...you have a tv show generating hundreds of thousands in advertisement revenue.///created out of an empty locker
Yes. The production costs are so low that it is easy to produce a real life show but so difficult to make it actually interesting.Quote: beachbumbabsI was into this show for a while a couple years ago, but I think it's jumped the shark.
>The guys themselves are almost never there;
Why would they be? They don't make any money actually running a pawn shop.
>The line to get in the store is reportedly out the door at all hours; it's like a line at a club.
The line is in the hot sun, there is no free booze and no "hot numbers" at the club... so why do tourists go there?
>The side stories about them are largely manufactured by their producers at this point, not real interactions between them
Precisely. The producers have to spice things up with scripted material. Those Real Housewives would be pretty boring without
the choreographed fights and bickering.
You dont think they did well before the show? I would disagree with that.Quote: FleaStiffThey don't make any money actually running a pawn shop.
Pawn shops used to be primary lenders to the working man since banks didn't make consumer loans way back when.
First you have to notify the occupant that he is delinquent on his storage unit. As soon as he is delinquent you put a company lock on the unit (the doors have settings for two locks) so that he can't open the unit and get his things out.
Then you have to put a notice in the local paper that an auction is being held. You have to put a brief description of the contents of the unit. In order to get a description of the contents you have to cut the customers lock off the unit and look inside. When you are finished you put the company lock back on the unit.
You have to put the notice in the paper at least three times.
This is why I know the shows are phoney. They always show them using bolt cutters or a grinder to get the lock off. In real life all you do is open the company lock with a key.
I have seen bidders get good deals, but never the findings that you see on TV.
it makes me smile even more knowing what you posted when I see these shows open up a locker where there is one item in the center, perfectly covered by a sheet so that not even a portion of the item shows. Its a big mystery until someone buys the locker and gets to uncover it.
obviously there just for suspense.
Quote: AxelWolfWhat about American Pickers? Any truth in that show?
pickers is rather staged.
Its obvious that they would have these places scoped out and arrainged to be visited. This game they play where the woman with the tatoos calls them as they are driving aimlessly in middle america to say she just got a lead is rather tired and not believeable.
Time is money, and there is another vehicle driving around with them....with staff that needs to be paid. Who else is there waiting with a camera tofilm them as they drive into the driveway of the next seller. And with a van and camera crew alreadyon theirproperty....they always get the scene of knockingon the door and talking to the homeowner and showing their paper listing the things thy are interested in. What a surprise visit.
Since time is money....most likely these stops are preplanned. even more likely a person is sent out to make sure there is something substantial to sell and film
and the personal side stories seem staged.
But I do believe they did this stuff for real before the show, and they each have certain expertise.
Would it surprise me if someone were to tell me that some of these people dont want to sell anything....and they set up a "pretend sale"....nope
thats what "reality tv" is all about..............make believe
its obvious some of it is pre scouted and side stuff is dramatized. But if they are finding legitimate people that have old barns with junk they want to sell and then they buy that stuff and can make a profit from selling it. That's all that matters to meQuote: LarrySpickers is rather staged.
Its obvious that they would have these places scoped out and arrainged to be visited. This game they play where the woman with the tatoos calls them as they are driving aimlessly in middle america to say she just got a lead is rather tired and not believeable.
Time is money, and there is another vehicle driving around with them....with staff that needs to be paid. Who else is there waiting with a camera tofilm them as they drive into the driveway of the next seller. And with a van and camera crew alreadyon theirproperty....they always get the scene of knockingon the door and talking to the homeowner and showing their paper listing the things thy are interested in. What a surprise visit.
Since time is money....most likely these stops are preplanned. even more likely a person is sent out to make sure there is something substantial to sell and film
and the personal side stories seem staged.
But I do believe they did this stuff for real before the show, and they each have certain expertise.
Would it surprise me if someone were to tell me that some of these people dont want to sell anything....and they set up a "pretend sale"....nope
thats what "reality tv" is all about..............make believe
Quote: LarryShardcore pawn..all kinds of family and worker conflict
all staged.
Not to mention enforcing extremely negative racial stereotypes.
Quote: AxelWolfits obvious some of it is pre scouted and side stuff is dramatized. But if they are finding legitimate people that have old barns with junk they want to sell and then they buy that stuff and can make a profit from selling it. That's all that matters to me
I have no idea they are really buying that stuff, and i hav no idea if they are making a profit off of a particular item.
Just by declaring that they are going to ask a certain price doesnt mean there will be a buyer at that price.
I think the prices they give are optomistic
but what do they care..the real money is the money they make from the show....not the 8 items they buy during the show to make 400 dollars on.
Quote: LarrySI have no idea they are really buying that stuff, and i hav no idea if they are making a profit off of a particular item.
Just by declaring that they are going to ask a certain price doesnt mean there will be a buyer at that price.
I think the prices they give are optomistic
but what do they care..the real money is the money they make from the show....not the 8 items they buy during the show to make 400 dollars on.
when you take away expenses, and split the "profits" between 2 people...its not impresive
People who are looking to buy a home, visit three homes. At the end of the show, they choose one home to purchase.
One of the participants on the show, said that they had already purchased a home and they were approached and asked if they wanted to partake in the show. They were shown two more homes in addition to the home they already purchased. They had to pretend that they were visiting their already purchased home for the first time.
Quote: LarryS
I think the prices they give are optomistic
.
You hit the nail on the head there. I'd guess that 80% of the transactions in the antiques/collectible market are inter-dealer and believe me if you can get 50% of book price you are a super salesman.!
It's entertainment, after all. I don't care whether or not two physicists really live across the hall from a (formerly) cute waitress/actress in Pasadena. The show's smart and entertaining. Likewise "reality" shows like Pawn Stars. the show is (mostly) smart and entertaining (they could loose all the cast stories and most of the outings to "test" their "finds"). That's all I care about, did I find it interesting? did I find it entertaining? Not, was it it real?
I don't see many of the "reality" shows, and none of the ones mentioned here save Pawn Stars and Mythbusters.
About the latter, I do care whether the results are real or not. I think mostly they are for various reasons. Whether the rest is "real" or not, like who really built what, who came up with what idea (I'm sure lots of ideas come from unsung people behind the scenes, and much of the explanations as well), and the "competitions" between Adam and Jamie (which seem to ahve receded into the apst), I really don't care.
There was an ep where they supposedly randomly selected letters from the fans and tested each myth therein contained. I'm 101% certain the letters (or printed emaisl or baord posts or whatever) were NOT picked randomly, but were in fact selected beforehand. That in no way changed the quality of the resutling show.
Quote: LarryS...there is one series with 2 guys named "ton" and alan....it seems in almost every episode they find an antique firearm..and they keep selling it to the same old man
The guy names "ton" is supposedly an expert in firearms....so there is scenes of him shooting the new found treasure at the end of each episode before he sells it
But then u look at all theother storage shows....and no one finds antique firearms.
WTF...how are alan and ton so lucky.
The show with Alan and Ton puts up a disclaimer at the beginning of each episode stating that the "finds" are re-creations of actual items they have encountered over the years.
I give them credit for being more straight forward than the others.
I visited mid-week one time, not much traffic. I met one of the guys on T.V., who was busy showing a pistol to someone. He waived the thing around, apparently not knowing one of the first rules of gun safety (the gun is either pointed up or down, even if you think its empty).Quote: DJTeddyBearWorth visiting? That depends. When they're not filming, it's generally packed with people. Ropes and stantions for traffic flow.
Quote: AyecarumbaThe show with Alan and Ton puts up a disclaimer at the beginning of each episode stating that the "finds" are re-creations of actual items they have encountered over the years.
I give them credit for being more straight forward than the others.
Did they change the disclaimer?
the ones I used to read said that these were the best finds and that 80 percent of the units were of no consequence.
so now they have a disclaimer that the entire show is a "recreation"????
Quote: NareedI don't get the outrage about "reality" TV not being real. In today's parlance, it can even called "literally real," of course, meaning "figuratively real," or "virtually real." Or frankly "faked real."
It's entertainment, after all. I don't care whether or not two physicists really live across the hall from a (formerly) cute waitress/actress in Pasadena. The show's smart and entertaining. Likewise "reality" shows like Pawn Stars. the show is (mostly) smart and entertaining (they could loose all the cast stories and most of the outings to "test" their "finds"). That's all I care about, did I find it interesting? did I find it entertaining? Not, was it it real?
I don't see many of the "reality" shows, and none of the ones mentioned here save Pawn Stars and Mythbusters.
About the latter, I do care whether the results are real or not. I think mostly they are for various reasons. Whether the rest is "real" or not, like who really built what, who came up with what idea (I'm sure lots of ideas come from unsung people behind the scenes, and much of the explanations as well), and the "competitions" between Adam and Jamie (which seem to ahve receded into the apst), I really don't care.
There was an ep where they supposedly randomly selected letters from the fans and tested each myth therein contained. I'm 101% certain the letters (or printed emaisl or baord posts or whatever) were NOT picked randomly, but were in fact selected beforehand. That in no way changed the quality of the resutling show.
duplicateaaa
Quote: NareedI don't get the outrage about "reality" TV not being real. In today's parlance, it can even called "literally real," of course, meaning "figuratively real," or "virtually real." Or frankly "faked real."
It's entertainment, after all. I don't care whether or not two physicists really live across the hall from a (formerly) cute waitress/actress in Pasadena. The show's smart and entertaining. Likewise "reality" shows like Pawn Stars. the show is (mostly) smart and entertaining (they could loose all the cast stories and most of the outings to "test" their "finds"). That's all I care about, did I find it interesting? did I find it entertaining? Not, was it it real?
I don't see many of the "reality" shows, and none of the ones mentioned here save Pawn Stars and Mythbusters.
About the latter, I do care whether the results are real or not. I think mostly they are for various reasons. Whether the rest is "real" or not, like who really built what, who came up with what idea (I'm sure lots of ideas come from unsung people behind the scenes, and much of the explanations as well), and the "competitions" between Adam and Jamie (which seem to ahve receded into the apst), I really don't care.
There was an ep where they supposedly randomly selected letters from the fans and tested each myth therein contained. I'm 101% certain the letters (or printed emaisl or baord posts or whatever) were NOT picked randomly, but were in fact selected beforehand. That in no way changed the quality of the resutling show.
I dont consider Mythbusters a reality show per se. They are not following around these 2 guys in their normal lives. These are people with science backgrounds making entertainment. This isnt what they do normally, and the cameras just happen to tag along. They create this show and everything in it specifically for the cameras. Going in I know this is show biz. Instead of the acts we see in a variety show.....we see scientific based entertainment.
But as far as Pawn stars(et al), ....dont piss on my leg and tell me its raining. All it is .....is an antiques roadshow episode under the guise of people walking into a pawn shop to sell those same type items while under the created conflict or created interaction between the owners and chumlee. And the interaction is so phoney and so poorly acted.....its an insult . Really....there is nothing "reality" about this. Whether its allowing a dozen children on field trip to play hide N Seek in the stock room(which is a liability issue wating to hapen) with no teacher in the picture staying behind.....Or if its Chumlee getting a desk in between rick and the old man where he is sitting back with his feet on the old mans desk, or Big Hoss threatening to leave and work for the competition if he isnt made a partner (oh yeah.....where is gonna make the money he makes with this tv goldmine.....how many personal appearances at motorcycle shows is he gonna get if he worked for Joes Pwnshop).
I never once was asked to believe that Jerry Seinfeld really lived next to Kramer. But I am asked to believe that this is the real goings on of a family business.
If they want to bill themselves as a staged fictional account of a fairtale pawnshop in a fairytail location...then fine.
But this is not an account of what went on at this pawnshop during the time before the cameras started to roll, and directors, producers and writers got involved.
Its a poor mans sitcom, with horrible actors.
except with the good sitcoms we got quality acting
Its not always just about the money some things may be fun. I would be far more exited to find something and buy it for 200 and sell it for 900 then hit a RF for 1000. I love looking in old buildings, houses, yard sells for things that may be worth something. Its like a treasure hunt. I have found a few things and done well on them.Quote: LarrySwhen you take away expenses, and split the "profits" between 2 people...its not impresive
Quote: LarrySBut as far as Pawn stars(et al), ....dont piss on my leg and tell me its raining.
I hope you don't talk to your dog that way :)
Quote:Big Hoss threatening to leave and work for the competition if he isnt made a partner (oh yeah.....where is gonna make the money he makes with this tv goldmine.....how many personal appearances at motorcycle shows is he gonna get if he worked for Joes Pwnshop).
I pointed that out as an unbelievable plot device. It's like leaving a one-hit wonder pop group, rather. I also don't think he goes around being called "Big Hoss." Hell, 90% of the time the others call him Corey.
Quote:I never once was asked to believe that Jerry Seinfeld really lived next to Kramer. But I am asked to believe that this is the real goings on of a family business.
Fair enough. Still, as I've mentioned, TV is supposed to be entertainment. If we got half an hour or Rick going through spreadsheets, or Chumlee cleaning up the storage room, or Corey doing inventory, or the Old Man napping, the show would have died after one airing (had it been shot at all).
I do have questions about the reality of the pawn shop business, though. How realistic are the kinds of items brought in? That is, do people sell old cars, antiques, books, etc at pawn shops? I walk past a small branch of a bigger pawn shop near where I get electrolysis. All they display in their window is gold and silver jewelry (not much of it), and a sign saying "We buy gold." Further, if such items are sold there, do they fetch the kind of prices shown? And even, if that wasn't how that store did business before the show, does it do so now?
Quote:Its a poor mans sitcom, with horrible actors.
Yes and no. Their acting in the "stories" sucks so bad they could benefit from lessons by Ed Wood and Jack Palance. But if they're acting in the buy/sell parts, they're really rather good at pretending to know more than they do about certain items.
Here is today's thought (3-17-2014)
"Television is a device that permits people
who haven't anything to do to watch people
who can't do anything."
- Fred Allen, American comedian (born 1894, died this date in 1956)
http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/authors/corey-harrison-net-worth/
everytime corey or chumlee are giving their little lecture on the historical significance of a piece....I think how great this country is....where mullionaire poorley educated people can give me a history lesson
1) Get drunk quick: take a drink whenever you hear "Right price," "the price has to be right," when the expert pauses before quoting a value, when Rick rejects a first offer by saying "that's not going to happen," when the seller says "I want to sell it," when someone insults, denigrates or belittles Chumlee, when anyone says "get back to work."
2) Get drunk not so quickly: take a drink when Rick asks "Dollars!!?" when someone says "I want to pawn it," when the cast offers more money than what was asked for, when the expert pronounces something as worthless.
Big whoop.
Perhaps I'll visit next year, if it's still around. hey, it is Vegas, after all. It may be replaced with a boutique store (imagine that!!), a bar, two bars, a Dottie's "casino," a 7-11, or someone may have the bright idea of building a real resort casino in that otehrwise untuoristy area of Las Vegas Blvd. You never know.
BTW if someone hits the Lion's Share progressive and if it's true MGM will give the machine away to the winner, what are the odds of the machine turning up in Pawn Stars?
As several folks on the forum have suspected, at least for Naked Vegas, "reality" was not reality. I'm sure it started there, but by the time the show was produced, I was an accredited member of the press who flew in from LA to feature the Naked Vegas product. In reality, I was just some reasonably fashionably dressed late 30s/early 40s Joe Schmo with an iPhone camera.
It took about five hours of shooting with the extras to get about three minutes of air time, and we were the last ones to arrive, as the cast also included a band, several dancers, and Claire Sinclair and a few other ex-playmates who got naked. YES, I have photos ... I was in the press, remember?
Anyway ... I can't speak for all reality shows but this one was certainly the manifestation of all the comments-against here. Although ... I wonder if it's manifest fake-ness contributed to its early demise and maybe shows that are less so survive?
My only other reality-show touch was a Hell's Kitchen contestant. Her experience was different ... she said that while some of it was definitely staged, the dynamics that were highlighted/emphasized at least started organically. That's not to say that it's not blown up, only to say that at least they started in a natural place. Hell's Kitchen is in Season 12, I think.
Quote: NareedBTW if someone hits the Lion's Share progressive and if it's true MGM will give the machine away to the winner, what are the odds of the machine turning up in Pawn Stars?
Well if I hit it now, that's like 100% certain. Awesome idea.
Quote: MrWarmthI've gotten cast in a few different things [..]
Do tell. Anything interesting?
Quote:It took about five hours of shooting with the extras to get about three minutes of air time,
And that's why things have to be staged to some degree. Can you imagine shooting for days and not having 25 or 45 minutes of something suitable to air?
Quote: ChampagneFireballWell if I hit it now, that's like 100% certain. Awesome idea.
Thanks.
I've seen them buy a couple of slot machines before. They mentioned they can neither buy nor sell a slot machine that will handle cash. One was modified to accept tokens, I forget about the other one. But for a modern mahine, I expect removing the bill acceptor would be enough.
It won't fetch much, BTW. If I staged it I'd have a naive seller think they can get MILLIONS! for it.
Or, and I'd like this even more, I'd have the seller show up with their own expert. Three guesses as to which owner of this board I'd pick for the role. No Googling! ;)
Quote: NareedDo tell. Anything interesting?
Nah, not really. Extra in Modern Family, Think Like a Man II, Hangover III and a couple of commercials. I was a cop in a commercial for a TV show that never made it to air, Santa Claus at a 49ers halftime show, cover model for children's book ... all pretty low-exposure stuff. Naked playmates is about as sexy as it's ever gotten for me. Earned less than a couple thousand for all of it, not enough for a W2, and no credits. No pictures with Sofia Vergara or Julie Bowen. Extras kind of have to keep away from the stars or else you won't be called back again.
Quote: NareedAnd that's why things have to be staged to some degree. Can you imagine shooting for days and not having 25 or 45 minutes of something suitable to air?
Yeah, things are dramatized all the time. I think the difference between my experience with Naked Vegas and my friend's at Hell's Kitchen was that mine were pretty much wholly contrived while hers were dramatized, if that makes any sense.
Quote: MrWarmthI was a cop in a commercial for a TV show that never made it to air,
The commercial or the show?
Quote:Extras kind of have to keep away from the stars or else you won't be called back again.
I've heard that feeling expressed more vehemently elsewhere.
Quote:Yeah, things are dramatized all the time. I think the difference between my experience with Naked Vegas and my friend's at Hell's Kitchen was that mine were pretty much wholly contrived while hers were dramatized, if that makes any sense.
Sure, one is a complete fake with a script, the other is just "steered" into a certain direction. I think.
