Just over a year ago, when Pawn Stars began airing episodes, nobody knew just what to expect or how viewers would react. To much amazement and positive acclaim, the show is now one of the most viewed cable TV shows and is highly revered by the pawn industry.
Now another show, Hardcore Pawn, has entered onto the reality show stage and promises to portray a “different side” of the industry as Pawn Stars. The show’s “different side” refers to showing the core of a pawnshop’s business, something that is almost completely absent from Pawn Stars… the pawn loan. Yet, many pawn industry insiders have been concerned that the edginess of the TV show Hardcore Pawn might potentially harm the image of the industry.
American Jewelry and Loan owner, Les Gold, said in a recent interview with NPA that “the show is about a family run pawn shop and the crazy things that occur between the family, the customers, and the items they bring in.” He emphasized that one of his priorities is to help break the stigma that pawn shops have carried for decades. Les Gold also noted that he had no editorial control in the production process and, until just recently, was not allowed to see any footage of the show.
Emmett Murphy, NPA Public Relations says, “Reality television is hardly ‘reality’. We have to remember that just as Pawn Stars doesn’t accurately reflect the day to day transactions of an average pawn shop in America, nor does the depiction of American Jewelry and Loan’s normal business day in Hardcore Pawn. This is entertainment and is designed to be sensationalistic, edgy and controversial. It’s no secret that in order to generate a strong viewership and good ratings, entertainment producers are obliged to present the public with something different. “
Mr. Murphy, who has also worked extensively in entertainment production for 10 years, argues that the controversial nature of these reality shows does not translate into a downturn for the image of the pawn industry. ”In many instances these types of reality television shows, despite their rough edges, have done a great deal to help their specific industry. From Bounty Hunters to American Chopper, these television shows have many of the same elements as Hardcore Pawn but are loved by millions of American viewers every week, and their businesses and industries have flourished.”
As the media will be very interested in the industry’s take on Hardcore Pawn and will have a continuing fascination with Pawn Stars, NPA has developed the following talking points to address this topic:
-Reality TV is not “reality”, Hardcore Pawn and Pawn Stars are entertainment.
-These shows, while entertaining, don’t fully portray the day to day life of pawnbrokers, and the important services they provide.
-As fellow NPA members, we support the cast of Pawn Stars and Hardcore Pawn and their dedication to upholding the NPA Code of Ethics and supporting their industry on a national level.
-We’re happy to see that America is embracing our industry, and we hope to continue building our image in the minds of the American public.
-Pawn Stars and Hardcore Pawn are in extreme urban areas and are only two examples out of more than 13,500 pawn shops providing much needed safety-net loans and financial services for Americans across the country.
