 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Hardcore Pawn
- truTV
- Genre: Reality TV
Common Sense Media says
Reality show reveals the quirky, dark side of the pawn biz.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this reality series -- which follows events at Detroit's American Jewelry and Loan pawnshop -- features unsettling and/or violent moments that suggest a darker side to the business (for instance, angry
and/or violent patrons, threats made against the life of the
storeowner, and his desire to have his family and employees carry guns). Also expect lots of strong language (words like “ass,” ”hell,” and “bitch” are audible, while curses like “f--k” and “s--t” are bleeped -- but still used frequently), and some sexual content (like dancing on a stripper pole).
What's the story?
HARDCORE PAWN follows the day-to-day madness at American Jewelry and Loan, Detroit’s biggest pawnshop. Owner Les Gold, a fourth-generation pawnbroker, runs the business with the help of his adult children, Seth Gold and Ashley Broad. Together they decide what to offer for a wide range of items, including everything from jewelry to stripper poles and ponies. They don’t always agree, but they always have each other’s backs, especially when angry patrons get violent and/or threaten their lives.
Is it any good?
Hardcore Pawn highlights the process by which the enormous pawnshop buys and sells items, as well as the steps that the Gold family takes to ensure honest transactions. But the real entertainment comes from showing Gold and his kids discussing and negotiating over some of the more interesting and/or weird items that people attempt to pawn.
Like the people in the Vegas-centered show Pawn Stars, the Gold family promotes their business as a positive one. But this show has a grittiness to it that suggests a darker side to the work that they do. Aside from the continual presence of large guards and security devices, the show also tends to linger on some of the nasty and/or violent patrons that Gold and his kids deal with, as well as concerns for their safety. Some adult viewers may find it amusing, but it really isn’t intended for kids.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what a pawnshop is. What purpose does it serve? Can people get the things they pawn back? Is what pawnshops do legal?
How real do you think this show is? Is the Gold family's life/business really as eventful as the show makes it out to be?
What parts of the show do you think might be heightened/exaggerated for TV? What role does editing play in what viewers see?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
| TV rating: | TV-14 |
| Network: | truTV |
| Cast: | Ashley Broad, Les Gold, Seth Gold |
| Genre: | Reality TV |
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