Parents' Guide to

Pawn Stars

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Bickering, hard bargains mark show about family business.

TV History Reality TV 2009
Pawn Stars 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 13+

Based on 13 parent reviews

ButcherMahn56
ButcherMahn56 Adult
September 27, 2021
age 18+

1977 Matel Las Vegas pinball machine

I have access to a 1977 Matel Las Vegas pinball machine and would like an estimate for it. Needs a little bit of work. All the electronics are in working condition.
Super Dave
Super Dave Adult
September 14, 2021
age 18+

Fun show except one guy.

Rick is a good businessman and does his job well. Chumlee is immature but entertaining. But I quit watching because Corey is an arrogant jerk. A while back he demanded to become a partner, but he kept acting like an irresponsible child and had an attitude problem. I used to watch the show a lot, but can't anymore.
See all 13 parent reviews

What's the Story?

PAWN STARS goes behind the counter at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, a busy Las Vegas store that handles everything from motorboats to classic works of art to antique firearms. The store is run by three generations of the Harrison family -- Rick, his son Corey, and his dad Richard. The series focuses on the men's wheeling and dealing as they negotiate with people hoping to sell unusual items -- and on the back-office bickering as the trio argues over whether one of them has pulled of a major coup ... or gotten taken for a ride.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (13):
Kids say (30):

The Harrisons' tempestuous personalities are part of what makes this show fun. All three are very savvy businessmen, but they don't always see eye to eye. Where one sees an underpriced diamond in the rough, another sees a lump of coal -- and they aren't shy about sharing their opinions.

But it's the naked capitalism that's even more interesting. There's no way to predict what people will try to sell at the pawn shop, and the guys will seriously consider even the most unusual objects -- if they think they can sell it later for a profit. That means they have to be experts in an enormous range of high-end products, capable of spotting both a fake Rolex and a real Picasso. After each negotiation, they explain what an item might really be worth and why they were willing (or not) to buy it. In the end, any object is worth exactly as much as someone is willing to pay -- a fundamental rule of business that's rarely seen as clearly as here.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what makes for a fair deal for both buyers and sellers. The Harrisons think carefully about every deal and drive a hard bargain -- do you think they're fair, or do they ever take advantage of people?

  • Though they clearly love each other, the Harrisons disagree often. Do you think they'd argue as much if they weren't related to each other? Would you want to work with your family?

  • What kind of reputation does the pawn shop business in general have? Where does that reputation come from? How do movies and TV shows impact your impressions of the business?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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