Parents' Guide to

Hardcore Pawn

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Reality show reveals the quirky, dark side of the pawn biz.

TV truTV Reality TV 2010
Hardcore Pawn Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 4 parent reviews

HonestAbe
HonestAbe Adult
March 25, 2022
age 2+

Hardcore Pawn is “must watch” TV

Hard-core pawn is a show that every family should watch. It shows the difficulties in life and hard choices we have to make. It also shows the beautiful caring side of humanity like Les Gold who helps so many people who comes to this pawnshop. I highly recommend this show and believe everyone should watch it to learn about life.

This title has:

Educational value
Great role models
TimTheTVGuy
TimTheTVGuy Adult
November 19, 2012
age 18+

UPDATE: This show sucks now.

I'm gonna rewrite my review on this cruddy show.I just realized how boring it is.Plus,the employees (and customers) fight for stupid reasons.HOW ANNOYING.I used to like Hardcore Pawn,but now it's garbage.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 4 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (7):

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.

Talk to Your Kids 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?

TV Details

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