'Storage Wars' a Fraud?

[revo]

It's hard to imagine how they weren't, but I wonder if this suit, if proven to be true, takes down the whole genre:


"Ever wonder how those cunning buyers on A&E’s Storage Wars continue to get so lucky in their attempt to find treasure in abandoned storage units? We’re about to find out: Cast member Dave Hester is suing the cable network and Original Prods., claiming he was wrongfully terminated after he accused the show of committing fraud.

According to the suit filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court, Hester was fired from the top-rated series after making light of its “outrageous conduct.” “In one episode a pile of old newspapers announcing the death of Elvis Presley was discovered,” the lawsuit states. “In another episode, a BMW mini car was found buried under a pile of trash. When Hester complained to producers that A&E’s fraudulent conduct of salting and staging the storage lockers was possibly illegal, he was fired."

http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/12/11/storage-wars-war-sues-ae-claims-fraud/?hpt=hp_t3

[Piney Boy]

We all still want to know what Barry's real job is.

[johnnya24]

Hardcore Pawn is another complete fraud ... everything there is manufactured.

[Gregg]

We all still want to know what Barry's real job is.

He made his money in Produce. When he started the show he was reportedly worth about $7 million.

He was a collector when his producer friend asked him if he wanted to be part of the show.

[swampdragon]

I still say that barry was an accountant/investor in the adult film industry - produce is not sleazy enough

[JudeBaldo]

So is the Amish show.

[revo]

Could Pawn Stars be a fraud also? I wouldn't be shocked if they fed people items to pawn off.

If this whole thing snowballs, could there be charges filed? There's that whole 1950s game show controversy, so duping the public isn't without precedent.

[Bob Kohm]

How about Moonshiners? I'm sure that the producers are really filming people breaking Federal Laws while simultaneously cooperating with State & Federal authorities to produce the show...

[heyelander]

So long as they aren't giving Todd extra gold in his cleanouts, I'm fine if the entire genre gets wacked...

[senorsheep]

There is nothing real about reality TV - does anyone actually not know this by now? Pretty much everything on these shows is as scripted as a sit-com.

But, hey, if there are any fans here of the baking competition reality shows on Food Network, my fiancee will be appearing on Sugardome this Sunday night. Witness her public humiliation at 8 Eastern, 7 Central!

[Piney Boy]

Could Pawn Stars be a fraud also? I wouldn't be shocked if they fed people items to pawn off.

If this whole thing snowballs, could there be charges filed? There's that whole 1950s game show controversy, so duping the public isn't without precedent.

This one I had heard that it is partially scripted. Sometimes they have people bring in things that they are not expecting to sell just to beef up the show.

[johnnya24]

Could Pawn Stars be a fraud also? I wouldn't be shocked if they fed people items to pawn off.

If this whole thing snowballs, could there be charges filed? There's that whole 1950s game show controversy, so duping the public isn't without precedent.

There is a guy on Youtube who went out and visited all these places to see if they were genuine. Pawns Stars he suggested was real enough, although it's obvious quite a bit of it is scripted for narrative effect. I wouldn't be surprised if the "experts" they bring in to review items feed them a lot of "show worthy" items and clients. It is apparently a huge complex, and very busy.

Perfect place for a pawn store ... people go to Vegas > Pawn / sell valuable personal items > gamble it all away ... lather rinse repeat.

[revo]

There is nothing real about reality TV - does anyone actually not know this by now? Pretty much everything on these shows is as scripted as a sit-com.

But, hey, if there are any fans here of the baking competition reality shows on Food Network, my fiancee will be appearing on Sugardome this Sunday night. Witness her public humiliation at 8 Eastern, 7 Central!

It's one thing to stage a few scenes or give the stars lines to recite. It's another to plant objects to "sell" or for someone to find as "treasure."

It's the same thing as when Bear Grylls was caught checking into hotels for the night, and Discovery had to then put a disclaimer at the beginning of every show. It's called "reality" because it's supposed to be real. If it's just as real as an episode of 24, then it shouldn't be classified as "reality."


This site claims Pawn Stars is also using fraudulent scenes/stories/"common folk."

http://centraltendencies.com/2011/03/pawn-stars-is-fake/

[Don Quixote]

The only surprise here is that anyone is surprised.

I was a fan of Storage Wars for a little while. I knew it was staged, that no one puts that much valuable stuff in storage lockers, that they overvalue the stuff they find, that they found really good stuff too often, that it was all very formulaic. Dave was the bad-a** "table bully", Barry the lovable loser, Jarrod the young dork, Brandi the sex appeal (amazing how her boobs grew after the first season), and what's-his-name (t-shirt guy) the big talker who can't back it up. It got old after a few months. Evidently, Dave's massive ego got the best of him, and the show will suffer without a resident villain.

[Wonderboy]

Evidently, Dave's massive ego got the best of him, and the show will suffer without a resident villain.

If a massive ego is the criteria, half of us are qualified for the job!