Pawn Queens, Season 1, Episode 1 is No Threat to Pawn Stars

Pawn Queens, Season 1, Episode 1 premiered on TLC Thursday night, the channel's attempt to try to cash in on the popularity of Pawn Stars. This half hour program follows the doings at a pawn shop in the Chicago area (Naperville) that caters primarily to women customers. Two women, the tough Minda, and bubblier Nikki plus their two down to earth male business partners, Greg and Tom, help run this store. Season 1, Episode 1 of Pawn Queens saw the business come to a temporary halt as the gold reserves had to be sold to keep the cash flow going. This show doesn't have the viewing punch of Pawn Stars, even though viewers are thankfully spared constantly witnessing bulging pot bellies and "Chumlee's" wit.

A Barbie Doll Causes Cash Problems on Season 1, Episode 1 of Pawn Queens

The first customer featured brings in a heavy wedding dress that has lights on it (designed by a Hollywood fashion type), and wants to sell it for nursery money for her expected baby. It originally cost $6,500. The customer wants $2,500 but is ultimately offered $1,300, which is accepted. Also featured was an old vintage Cribben & Sexton stove that needs lot of repair, which Tom offers $500, and then $600 on the urging of the customer, much to the chagrin of Minda, who called it a "piece of junk" in front of the customer. The $600 is paid, but later, Tom is told by the restorer on Pawn Queens, Season 1, Episode 1 that it will cost $500 to fix, even though Minda strongly objects, but is overruled. Rick, the restorer, shows his quality restoring abilities of the stove towards the end of the show, even impressing Minda. The final price is quoted, which is more than estimated for the extra manhours: $750, but it could supposedly fetch $2,200-plus, if it sells.

An original 1959 Barbie doll is brought in, but the customer wants $4,500 for a doll that's not in mint condition nor includes a box. The offer from the Pawn Queens is $3,000, which is accepted on the Season 1, Episode 1 premiere. But Greg breaks the news that the business doesn't have enough money to cover this, and he has to sell off some of their gold reserves before they can buy the doll. The gold is taken to a business that melts it down so it can be weighed, netting $4,500. The woman with the Barbie gets her money.

Nikki gets to look at and test drive a stroller that converts into a bike quite ingeniously. The Pawn Queens customer wants $1,400 for the bike, then $1,300, claiming that moms are clamoring for these online (so why isn't she selling it there if it's in such demand?), so Nikki gives her the money expecting a payoff of around two grand. Later, a Ouija board is brought in and freaks out Greg, even though Minda isn't bothered by it, so much so, Minda asks it if it will be bought, and offers $10 for it, which is accepted.

Pawn Queens Isn't Compelling Enough to Equate or Overtake Pawn Stars as the Season 1, Episode 1 Program Showed

Another Pawn Queens episode, "Diamonds Go Missing" premiered after the Season 1, Episode 1 airing. What's apparent after these two episodes is that the owners as a whole don't have the "edge" of Rick and "The Old Man" of Pawn Stars, seemingly paying more than the History Channel mainstays would pay for things. Minda's tougher stances were undercut by Tom and Nikki in the Season 1, Episode 1 premiere. The store itself seems to be lighted less invitingly, too, than the shop in Las Vegas.

But one thing that this show does have over Pawn Stars is that at least the characters in this program take some pride over their bodies, as each of the owners are pretty fit and trim. The downside of the History Channel show has always been having to look at four unsightly pot bellies week in and week out. Nonetheless, the vast amount of historical artifacts of Pawn Stars and the tougher haggling with the Las Vegas customers makes that program more worth watching. Pawn Queens wants to be different, but their version of different isn't that compelling, especially since there's no mention of whether the items sold and for how much, copycatting the more established show. You can only do so much with a pawn store, and the History Channel show got to the airwaves first.

Sources:

"Golden Barbie", Pawn Queens, November 18, 2010, TLC