Budiey
PAWN STAR$ Astro channel 555
Where Everything Has a History and a Price…
PAWN STAR$
Premieres Thursday, 15 July at 11pm on HISTORY™
It’s one of the oldest forms of banking, and until the 1950s, it was the leading form of consumer credit in the U.S. Now, the fascinating world and history of the pawning business is revealed in the new 30-minute/14-episode personality-driven series, PAWN STAR$, premiering on 15 July at 11pm, every Thursday, on HISTORY.
PAWN STAR$ takes viewers inside the doors of the only family-run pawnshop in Las Vegas, where three generations of men from the Harrison family – grandfather, father and son – amusingly clash while running the business together. This family has lived and breathed the pawn business, using their sharp-eyed skills to carefully assess the value of items their colorful customers bring in, objects ranging from the obscure to the truly historic.
From a 15th century samurai sword to a Picasso painting, there isn’t much these guys haven’t seen or heard, inevitably making them experts in rare collectables as they must carefully appraise the worth of each item, determine if it’s real or fake and then reveal the often surprising answer to “What’s it worth?” And, when these amateur historians don’t have the answer, they call upon their network of experts for help.
Each episode of PAWN STAR$ features an array of quirky characters attempting to sell, purchase or pawn items. Everything and everyone has a story and it’s the Harrison family’s job to decipher fact from fiction, because in this business the customer isn’t always right.
Meet the PAWN STAR$
THE OLD MAN “The Appraiser” (Grandfather)
After serving in the U.S. Navy and losing a million dollars in the real estate market, Richard Harrison uprooted his family and moved to Las Vegas in pursuit of a fresh start. Opening the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in 1988, he had to learn a little about a lot real fast. From Rolexes to antique cars, Richard is now armed with the rare skill of assessing the value of anything accurately. With uncanny precision, Richard is the king of purchasing underpriced merchandise, even from archrival pawn shops, which helped turn his initial $10,000 capital into a multi-million dollar business. Disciplined, wise and cunning, Richard drives a hard bargain and is NOT easy to please!
RICK “The Spotter” (Son)
After 28 years in the business, Rick Harrison is an expert when it comes to spotting anything fake or stolen. As far as big-ticket items, Rick is the man for the job. Spotting a fake Cartier watch that most people would mistakenly purchase for $30,000 is just one of his many skills. Often acting as the middleman between his father and his son, Rick is the glue that holds this family and business together. Trained in the pawn business from the age of 13, Rick was born a hustler. He even dropped out of high school to pursue his $2,000-a-week business of selling fake Gucci bags. With enough money to partner with his father at the age of 23, he never looked back.
COREY “Big Hoss” (Grandson)
Corey Harrison began working at the pawnshop at the age of 9. Expertly trained in the art of appraisal, Corey not only has the brains to spot a cheat but the brawn to back it up. He is not afraid to throw his muscle around, especially when it comes to protecting his family. He also handles everything when it comes to hiring and firing employees and managing eBay clients. Oftentimes treated like a slave, Rick believes that Corey needs to earn his keep. Without a real stake in the business, Corey is hoping that all of his hard work pays off.
Episodic Synopsis
Episode 1: Knights in Fake Armor
Premieres 15 July, 11pm
It’s clear that this is no ordinary pawn shop as the PAWN STAR$ wheel and deal items ranging from an old school Pac- Man to a Medieval Jousting Helmet. If these items are as real as their owners say they are- they could be worth up to $30,000! Then, an old timer brings in a pristine 1884 Trap Door rifle that the guys buy hoping that it still fires. But, when the gun range owner says that simply firing it could cause a “catastrophic malfunction” the guys decide it’s time to bring out their human guinea pig.
Episode 2: Boom or Bust
Premieres 15 July, 11:30pm
On this episode of Pawn Stars, Rick considers buying a 19th Century cannon that could be worth up to $40,000. But before he makes an offer he’ll need to verify that it’s the real deal by test firing it. Then, a local woodworker needs cash to keep his business afloat and looks to pawn his 1.5 ton table saw but the Pawn Stars might lose the deal if they can’t figure out a way to move it back to the pawn shop. Finally, a guy trying to sell his replica Roman armor strikes out with Corey but gets a second chance as Chumlee tries to negotiate what could be his first and last deal at the shop.
Episode 3: Confederate Conundrum
Premieres 22 July, 11pm
On this episode of Pawn Stars, an 1861 Civil War saber finds its way into the shop – but if it’s real, why was the blade never sharpened? Then Rick and the owner of a Chuck Berry autographed, fender guitar find themselves on very different pages when it comes to bartering over this item. Finally the Pawn Stars appraise a ‘National cash register from 1916, but will they decide to pull out cash from their 2009 cash register?
Episode 4: Sink or Sell
Premieres 22 July, 11:30pm
Corey gets into deep water with his dad and The Old Man when he buys a 1984 Chris Craft boat without first testing it out. Will he bounce back and make a profit or see his investment sink? Then, an old timer brings Rick an 1849 colt revolver that he forgot to unload! Will Rick add this antique weapon to his pawn shop arsenal, or will the sale backfire? Finally, the PAWN STAR$ get a chance to buy an incredibly rare 1954 Gretch Guitar previously owned by Robert Duvall.
Episode 5: Gangsters & Guitars
Premieres 29 July, 11pm
Rick buys an old, Mafia favorite the 1962 Lincoln Continental with “suicide doors,” but as the repair bills add up, so does the tension between the Old man and him. Then a guy brings in a billfold from 1857 that he found while cleaning out his garage and the best part is that it’s stuffed with Confederate money. Finally the Pawn Stars get a chance to buy a rare 1942 Gibson L7 guitar that was once played at a birthday party for Al Capone; but is the seller in tune with what it’s really worth?
Episode 6: Damn Yankees
Premieres 29 July, 11:30pm
The Old Man hopes to hit a home run when a baseball autographed by the 1951 World Series Champion New York Yankees comes into the shop but he’ll need to verify its authenticity before he steps up to the plate. Then, Rick checks out a 25-piece knights of the round table set but with all the kings men accounted for, is it really worth its weight in gold? Finally, the Pawn Stars have a chance to buy a West Point Cadet jacket owned by a famous general in 1909 – will they try it on for size, or send it to the Salvation Army?
Episode 7: Time Machines
Premieres 5 August, 11pm
Rick tries to refurbish a 1950’s coke machine into a modernized collector’s item. Will his plan quench his thirst or fizzle out and go flat? Meanwhile, Corey is offered an old pirate favorite, an 18th Century flintlock pistol but before he can pull the trigger he’ll need to authenticate it. In addition, the Pawn Stars get a chance to buy a 1941 Philco Radio. Will they dial in a deal, or be stuck searching through the static?
Episode 8: Brothels & Busses
Premieres 5 August, 11:30pm
A young man wants to trade a 1750 Blunderbuss gun for an engagement ring. Will Rick exchange vows and buy the gun or will he get cold feet and run? Then the Pawn Stars get an opportunity to purchase an ejection seat allegedly from a World War II fighter jet, but is this deal destined to crash and burn? And later, a guy looking to make rent money wants to pawn his all original 1966 Shwinn Stingray bike which has Rick remembering the good old days, but will his trip down memory lane include laying out the dough?
Episode 9: Rick’s Big Bet
Premieres 12 August, 11:00pm
One of the shop’s regulars brings in his father’s hard-won, German bayonets from WWII but are they all as real as this guy’s father told him. And then when a customer brings in a rusty gas pump from the 1930’s will the Pawn Stars pay the price to restore this iconic piece of Americana to its original splendor or will they run out of gas. And when the Old Man has a chance to purchase a 1930’s ‘Silent Bell’ Slot Machine will he pull the lever or play it safe?
Episode 10: Rope A Dope
Premieres 12 August, 11:30pm
The Pawn Stars look to buy a 1929 Chopped Ford Coupe but if they can’t agree on a price will the deal end up rusting in the bone yard? A cowboy wants to sell his mechanical calf-roping machine, can Corey reign it in without Chumlee spooking the sale? And when the prettiest pawn shop employee continues to be tardy Rick and the Old Man dish out a fitting punishment, but is it enough to teach her a lesson?
Episode 11: John Hancock’s Hancock
Premieres 19 August, 11:00pm
The Pawn Stars are used to paying big money for celebrity’s John Hancocks but will they know how to price one from the actual John Hancock? Then the guys have an opportunity to buy an allegedly authentic Indiana Jones whip – but it all boils down to two words: Harrison Ford. And finally will the purchase of a hot item by one of his underlings land Corey in hot water.
Episode 12: Plane Crazy
Premieres 19 August, 11:30pm
The Pawn Stars travel back in time over two centuries to colonial Boston but is this sellers map the real deal or will the guys tell him to take a hike while Chumlees purchase of fake art leaves Rick painting him a different sort of picture. Then will the Pawn Stars finally get their wings by buying the shops first ever plane or will excess baggage keep this aircraft grounded.
Episode 13: Peaches & Pinups
Premieres 26 August, 11:00pm
Corey has a chance to buy a wooden crossbow that hasn’t been fired in almost 40 years – will it hold together and hit its mark or splinter, crack and fracture the deal? Meanwhile Rick blushes when a woman tries to sell her husband’s Playboy collection, will he “read the articles” and buy the lot or pass on Hef’s ladies? Finally, the Pawn Stars try to sell one of their most prized items, an Ormolu clock, aka “The Death Clock.”
Episode 14: Old Man’s Gamble
Premieres 26 August, 11:30pm
The Pawn Stars get a call about a 1979 KISS pinball machine – can it still “Rock ‘n Roll All Nite”, or will it steal Corey’s quarter and KISS the deal goodbye? Then Rick is stumped when a woman brings in a 1914 Star-note $20 bill, will everyone walk away with new money, or will it turn out to be chump change? And when an old easy rider brings in his classic 1982 Harley Davidson Shovel-head, Chumlee decides to buy it for himself – but can he raise the cash before the Old Man sells it off.
