Pawnography

Two one-half hour episodes of "Pawnography" have aired on the History Channel so far. It is one of the most complex game shows ever to air. This is how it works: In Round One, two contestants face Corey and Chumlee (from the show "Pawn Stars") in answering multiple-choice trivia questions worth $100 each. They also play for a item from the "personal collection" of Rick Harrison, star of "Pawn Stars". (Actually, they don't win these items or dollars, they bank them, hoping to win them later.) Some questions may be related to the item they are battling for. If a contestant wins this round, he banks the collectible item. If the "Pawn Stars" duo wins this round, the item goes back to Rick.

In between Rounds One and Two, the two contestants get a shot to bank $150 by correctly answering a multiple-choice trivia question.

In Round Two, the contestants square off against Rick for $200 per question and a shot at another collectible item. At the end of this round, the contestant with the lower score is dismissed.

The remaining contestant faces all three Pawn Stars for all the cash he has banked plus the collectibles he has banked plus another collectible item. One item they played for was an early pinball game valued at $7,000.

In Round Three, the three Pawn Stars wait in a soundproof booth while the contestant tries to answer ten questions in 60 seconds. Viewers can see how many are answered correctly, but the contestant is not told. Then Rick and his two minions try to answer the same questions while the contestant is in the booth.

Before the players are told how they scored, the host (Christopher Titus) lets them negotiate with each other. Rick, based upon how well he thinks he did and how well he thinks the contestant did, offers the contestant a dollar amount to walk away from the banked items. I should mention that Rick is a formidable opponent when it comes to trivia, especially when it relates to history or collectibles. He is not Mark Labbett ("The Beast" on the gameshow "The Chase"), but he should not be underestimated. If he feels he outscored the contestant, he will offer a small amount. The contestant will, like all negotiators, try to bluff and ask for amounts closer to what the collectible items are actually worth. If an agreed price is negotiated, that is the amount the contestant wins. If an agreed price is not negotiated, the actual scores for Round Three are revealed and winner takes all. (Yes, the contestant may walk away without any winnings.) If there is a tie, the contestant prevails.

As you can see, this is a traditional trivia game show mixed with an element of negotiation--a staple on the "Pawn Stars" show. The show is punctuated with humor from the host and from the Pawn Stars, usually in the form of zingers.

If you like trivia or the personalities of the Pawn Stars guys, you may like this show. You might also learn some history or pick up some knowledge about collectibles.

AMEN!!

Christopher Titus, the current host of "Pawnography", is an over-bearing humorless and down-right insufferable jerk. He has the dis-respectfulness of a John McEnroe and the crassness of a Howard Stern, cubed. Titus has the kind of personality which makes King Kong look like an honorable gentleman. His cutting little comments are about as funny as Joseph McCarthy during his hearings in the Senate Subcommittee on Internal Security in the early 1950's. Whether Titus is liberal or conservative, I don't care. I might have rated the show about a 7, but with Titus, it rates 3 points lower. Only Titus could make Stein seem like a courteous gentleman. Maybe the reason they got Titus is he makes the other Pawn Stars, Harrison, Corey and Chumlee, seem much more socially courteous and respectful. As long as Titus is hosting, I probably won't be able to suffer the insufferable.

Pawnography Essentially Ben Stein's Money with an Insufferable Host: Should be Called "Win Rick Harrison's Stuff" Author: classical Steve from Oakland, CA 31 July 2014

BEYOND Dreadful

An interesting idea for a show that is rendered unwatchable by the obnoxiousness of the cast. I also question whether the show is 100% on the up and up.

Christopher Titus, host, is simply annoying. He is obnoxious, overbearing and NOT funny, as far as I can tell the only people who laugh at his 'jokes' are the people on camera (and I suspect there's a flashing "LAUGH" sign right above the lens on the cameras).

Rick Harrison, who is quite likable on Pawn Stars, comes off as an insufferable bore on this show. Not content with answering questions he often feels the need to offer details (not all of which are accurate), which raises questions about the integrity of the game.

When was the last time you saw a contestant of a game show answer a question successfully and THEN go on to provide further details than provided by the host?

He comes off like an arrogant Cliff Clavin.

Of course this could have something to do with the fact that the questions are all geared to Rick's interests (he IS a smart guy).

Definitely worth missing.

I consider myself a clever fellow. I have studied history for over 10 years. And it is sad that when I watch this show it means jack squat.

The rules are straight forward. The questions are simple but complex.

If you were ever a fan of Titus? This show is up your alley. The host is quick witted and he knows his stuff too. There was a few references to his break through performance "Norman Rockwell is bleeding" but it was very subtle in the questions of a few episodes.

Rick, Corey, Chumlee work well in this scenario. Also it's fun seeing Rick's face when they are losing. Some of the items have more sentimental value than cash value and too me that makes this show interesting.

If you like history? Artifacts? Fun questions? This show is for you.

Great to see diversity from the History Channel.

In the late 1990's to early 2000's, Comedy Central broadcast a game show called "Win Ben Stein's Money". Ben Stein was a rather obnoxious and opinionated right-winger who produced and co-hosted the show with Jimmy Kimmel who now has his own late-night show on ABC. "Pawnography", a spin-off show from History's "Pawn Stars" is essentially the same format as "Win Ben Stein's Money". Instead the prize isn't money but collectible "stuff". And the host is a bit different, but we'll get to that.

The premise of Ben Stein's original show was simple enough. Stein would put $5000 in the "bank", and the first round consisted of three contestants answering Jeopardy-like questions in "funny categories" with dollar values which would extract money from "the bank". Contestants won money which was always being propagated as being Stein's, even though it was really the money of the show. (Stein made millions from the show, so whatever money was supposedly lost during his show were negligible overall.) After the first round, the last place contestant (the one with the least amount of dough) had to leave, his or her money would return to the bank, and Ben Stein would become the third participant. Although Stein couldn't actually win, he could prevent the other contestants from obtaining "his money" by answering correct questions.

In the final round, the contestant with the most "cash" had to beat Stein directly by going head-to-head with the host/producer in order to win an additional $5000. Stein and the contestant each try and answer correctly as many of 10 questions as possible in 60 seconds. The higher number of right answers was the winner. Each contestant would be in a booth. The contestant's booth looked like a one-room brown-stone while Stein's booth looked like the sitting room of a posh château. If the contestant beat Stein, he would win an extra $5000. If not, the contestant would receive the money he had won during the other rounds plus maybe "Win Ben Stein's Money" the board game. During each airing Stein would repeatedly say things like "These contestants are trying to take MY money!"

Now fast-forward 10 years. With the success of "Pawn Stars", the History Channel has decided to resurrect "Win Ben Stein's Money" with a bit of a twist. Instead of cash, contestants are trying to win collectibles at the Pawn Shop. Each round has up for grabs a collectible item plus the virtual "cash" earnings won by answering correct questions. The first round involves two contestants, and Corey and Chumlee acting as a third contestant. In the second round, Rick Harrison becomes the third contestant. They answer similar questions as in "Stein's Money" but there are no set categories. If the Pawn Stars team ever wins the round, the item up for grabs is lost. If a contestant wins the round, they "sort of" win the item, but not entirely. After the second round, the contestant with the highest "cash" winnings must play all three Pawn Stars in the same head-to-head as "Stein's Money". Another item is now up for grabs, but the contestant must beat the Pawn Stars to win the other item(s) of the other rounds, plus the cash. (If the Pawn Star contestants came out ahead in the previous rounds, only the item of the 3rd round can be won plus the cash.) If the contestant loses the head-to-head round, he or she wins nothing. However there is one final "round" after the questions. Before revealing how the outcome of the head-to-head round, the contestant and Rick Harrison can negotiate for a money "deal" in lieu of the contestant taking away the cash and the prize(s).

In the original show, Ben Stein was a somewhat over-bearing conservative who, strangely, had charm, personality, and a good sense of humor. Despite his politics might drive liberals into setting fire to effigies of Barry Goldwater, Stein had enough of a spark in his eye to make the show at least modestly entertaining. And you always laughed when he griped about losing "his money". And contestants at least kept the money they won during the other rounds.

However, in "Pawnography" the contestant gains no prizes unless they beat the Pawn Stars in the last round, which I think is a total sham. And, Christopher Titus, the current host of "Pawnography", is an over-bearing humorless and down-right insufferable jerk. He has the dis-respectfulness of a John McEnroe and the crassness of a Howard Stern, cubed. Titus has the kind of personality which makes King Kong look like an honorable gentleman. His cutting little comments are about as funny as Joseph McCarthy during his hearings in the Senate Subcommittee on Internal Security in the early 1950's. Whether Titus is liberal or conservative, I don't care. I might have rated the show about a 7, but with Titus, it rates 3 points lower. Only Titus could make Stein seem like a courteous gentleman. Maybe the reason they got Titus is he makes the other Pawn Stars, Harrison, Corey and Chumlee, seem much more socially courteous and respectful. As long as Titus is hosting, I probably won't be able to suffer the insufferable.