I enjoy the show, albeit in fairly small doses.
There are two shows that spun off of Pawn Stars which I also like - American Restorations and Counting Cars. Both of those shows feature extremely skilled craftsmen, and the work they do is often amazing. For the prices they charge, it should be!
Why ya gotta be a hater?
Unfortunately, both have taken a slump due to the addition of a wife and the subtraction of a Scott.
I like seeing the really odd items in the show, but lately it seems to all be guns. Guns bore me and it seems to be at least 50% of the show. I read the brief descriptions on Tivo before deciding to watch an episode.
It also drives me crazy when someone brings in the #1 issue of Spiderman or a really old and rare book. Really? To a pawnshop? Anyone who owns these items would go straight to an auction hose, because if they really sold them to a pawnshop, guess what the first phone call they are going to make is to?
I don’t care if it’s staged or not. I enjoy the banter, but most of all the articles brought in. Some are really fascinating, and finding out their history is educational. Finding out why some are not authentic can also be educational; the process of discovery is as important as the final result. What makes an item valuable nor worthless?
I guess if you don’t like to learn new things, or you don’t like learning about old things, this would not be the show for you.
In the past it was one of the few reality tv shows I would watch, mainly because I liked learning about the historical items, history, etc.
It is basically a dumbed down version of Antiques Roadshow.
How do feel about Cajun Pawns Stars?
Check out this episode of Insomniac w/ Dave Attell from '03 or '04(YouTube link set to time of 15:20), he visits a certain Pawn Shop and you get to see what it was like before it became famous.
Looks like fame has been very good to Rick’s waistline. Funny to see how casual and relaxed he is here, leaning against the cases and such.
Holy crap! He looks he’s undergoing chemo or something. Exact same laugh though.
Heh. One time someone brought in a holster and Rick said, what the heck, I run a pawn shop, and pulled a gun out of his jeans pocket to try out the holster. Not that he’d shoot anyone but there is definitely firepower around. 
But the Count guy is an annoyingly so-cool character, bro, while Rick Dale is endearingly little-kid-with-new-toy enthusiastic about what he does.
Cajun Pawn Stars is also fun.
Chumlee’s character has become not-funny-stupid and irritating; they’ve pushed his schtick too far.
None of these shows should be taken very seriously; they’re snacks for the mind.
When my lottery win comes in, I’m hitting all three places and spending a load of cash. Danny will build me a custom Roadrunner and/or GTO, while Rick and Rick supply the decor of my man-cave and garage.
I have never, ever seen an episode that had more than one or two guns, not even approaching 20%, let alone 50%. And the pawn shop doesn’t have an FFL, so the only guns they are allowed to buy and sell are antiques that are at least 100 years old - nothing modern. You must be watching something else.
Here, I agree with you. Some of the items brought in are obviously arranged due to viewer interest and would not really be pawned. Recently, a guy brought in the original record contract signed by The Beatles back in 1963. Are you kidding me? You brought that into a pawn shop. Of course, no deal was made, and it was obviously planned ahead of time as an interest-getter.
But I am still amazed at times when people bring in specialty items that should be marketed to a specialized audience and accept the store’s lowball offer. I have a feeling that the real desire is to get on TV, not maximize their selling price.
The show is only a half hour long, all they show is four or so items, and usually only two of them are featured. You should count it up sometime, see how many of the featured items are guns of some sort.
If there’s a chance that they’ll make Chumley fire it, I’m in! 
My impression is it’s not that many guns, but I’ll try to keep count and see.
Why? I enjoy the show (well, occasionally anyway). I love some of the items they bring in, and some of the road trips Rick makes, especially to check out old weapons are fun and interesting. Like he says, you never know what will come into the shop. Also, I like restoration stuff, so the spin off to the American Restoration and Counting Cars shows is cool. Is it staged? Sure…what isn’t on TV these days? But it’s still interesting if you like this sort of thing. To me, your OP reminds me of my wife…she watches, to me, all manner of tripe on TV, then complains when I watch this show, Mythbusters, Through the Wormhole, Wrecks to Riches and Overdrive (as well as Wheeler Dealers). She, like you, figures that because she doesn’t like it that this means something…while not understanding why what she watches doesn’t appeal to me. I’m more a live and let live sort, personally, and try not to judge others tastes based on my own.
It is seriously on the air because some people (actually, a lot of people) really like it and enjoy watching it. If they didn’t, it wouldn’t be on the air (well, at least past the pilot). So, you should really check your premise, since quite obviously it IS still on the air and has been for years now.
I think it’s about the same as it was when it first aired, from my perspective. It hasn’t changed all that much, though the spinoffs from the show mean there are more tie ins to other shows now. Some of my favorite experts from the early shows almost never make an appearance anymore, while others who have spun off shows are regulars. Since I like some of them it’s not a big deal to me. Other than that, the show is what it is. I can see why you don’t like it, but try and get some perspective…your tastes aren’t everyone’s tastes and what you like or don’t like, while personally important to you obviously, is hardly a meter stick for everyone else.
They need to give Rebecca the Book Babe a spinoff show.
But also include Mark – it could be like the dream team that Chumlee assembled for pub trivia that time.
I like the rail road guy and the one gun expert from Tortuga Trading (I think he actually DOES have his own show, but it’s not one of the History Channel ones), as well as Rebecca and a couple others. Rick from Rick’s Restoration is pretty cool, and I like the Count’s show.