Re Hardcore Pawn. Some of the on the floor action seems real, but some of the confrontations seem so over the top you’re thinking it’s got to to be scripted with actors.
I weant online to read various comments and while some think it’s scripted a number of people who work in that Detroit 8 Mile area indicate that insane over the top behavior is exactly the way a lot of people behave.
I don’t think it’s scripted, but I do think people go down there looking for their 5 minutes of fame and might act appropriately over the top to make the edit. On the other hand, sometimes they are just being themselves.
I do live in the area and have never even heard of the place before the show. I can’t speak for the show, but I assume they film special items/cases over again for the show.
This is what is known technically as threadshitting – when you come into a thread for the sole purpose of declaring that you are better than the subject under discussion and to denigrate those participating in that discussion.
In looking arond the net and seeing multiple examples of wireless mikes sticking out of the back of supposedly “out of control” customers I have to conclude it looks pretty scripted.
I don’t know if the specific situations on the show are real or scripted, but living in close proximity to Detroit I would not be at all surprised if they were real. there are a depressing number of people in the entire Detroit Metro area who seem to think that everyone else exists for the sole purpose of giving them what they want.
I grew up (not!) and spent 40+ years living a tad north of 8 mile not far from that store (much closer to the trailer park in the movie ‘8 Mile’). The nature of the clientele and their aggressive behavior makes me remember how little I miss my hometown.
OK, so the episode where the young white guy acting like he’s black, who came in to pawn or sell a ring that is his GF, whose car he just happened to wreck which is why he needs the money now, so he tells the girl to step back and shut up, cuz men are talking, AND SHE DOES~~~!!! The pawn guy tells the punk not to treat a woman that way, and the punk starts going OFF!! They then escort the punk out of the store, and he is FU ing the camera, and the pawn guy, OK< this is so FAKE!!!:dubious::smack:
Agreed. I also live in the Metro Detroit area, and worked at a place where I dealt with customers like this on a daily basis.
I take the show with a grain of salt in that it wouldn’t surprise me if some, or even a lot, of the show is scripted but at the same time none of these blow-ups have been beyond the realm of possibility in my experience.
Considering that this is the same channel that proudly boasts the likes of Operation Repo and Lizard Lick Towing I would put my money on mostly or entirely staged/scripted.
A friend told me that his pal went to the American Jewelry and Loan location and was approached by someone who said “We are having a slow day, here is a script”.
I really like the show and while that was disapointing, I knew it had to be somewhat “put on” . This is fake reality but so what? I would rather watch the Gold family fight amongst themselves at a pawn shop than housewives of “whatever” county. So TPTB would rather have less expensive actors and actresses in TV drama than scripted TV is what it boils down to. They get Joe Blow off the street to read a script and Joe is happy that he got on TV. What is the harm? I am entertained by the show and isn’t that why I am sitting in front of a tube?
Also, don’t knock the show if you have not watched it. Try it - you might just get hooked.