My guilty pleasure this summer has been watching Storage Wars on A&E and Auction Hunters on SPIKE. Both programs have similar themes: storage units are auctioned off and then we get to see who finds treasure and who buys a load of crap. Of the two shows, I like Auction Hunters better. Allen Haff and Ton Jones travel around the country going to storage unit auctions. They seem to find an awful lot of guns. But they also find plenty of odd curios like rare coins, jewelry, and antique toys. Storage Wars follows four bidders who are in competition with one another. Many times, one of the bidders goes home buying nothing. I’m amazed at what these people find in these storage lockers. One of the bidders made $29,000 on a storage locker full of vending machines! Storage Wars is the top rated program on A&E right now. SPIKE has ordered 26 more episodes of Auction Hunters so clearly there’s an audience for this kind of reality show.
I’ve watched one where two guys travel around and try to get people to sell them stuff for the lowest price. Not sure if it’s one of these or not.
There are AUCTION HUNTERS marathons on SPIKE on most weekends, Patti. I find the program addicting.
Patti, that’s probably American Pickers, my current favorite.
As a proud storage unit owner, Bill, you’d find these storage unit programs fascinating.
I’ve never watched any of them. So-called reality shows are just not my thing.
I didn’t think I would like these programs either, Jeff. But I got hooked watching them find the most bizarre stuff in those storage units.
I think it might be indicative of our country’s economic condition that the highest-rated shows on basic cable are things like “Pawn Stars” and “Storage Wars.” (Isn’t there also one called “Storage Hunters” with essentially the same premise?) During hard times, people are eager to be reassured that amid the crap & junk, there’s bound to be something of great value…if only they can find it.
That being said, we had a pet emergency with one of our dogs last night; so while I waited for my husband to return from the 24-hour animal hospital, I watched a marathon of “Storage Wars” on A&E. I love the fact that they use this incredibly macho opening song (“Money Owns This Town”) and yet the show involves bidding a few hundred dollars on storage units where the owner hasn’t payed the rent. And I still haven’t figured out how Barry Weiss makes any money, since he appears to throw out everything in every storage unit he buys and, when he occasionally does get something of value, he keeps it.
Exactly, Deb! The terrible economy makes programs like AUCTION HUNTERS and STORAGE WARS, with their promise of finding treasure in those units, attractive to viewers. Yes, I feel the same way about poor Barry: he overpays for the units he buys and then when actually finds something of value, he keeps it! I also can’t believe Brandi has shackled herself to a loser like Jerrod. Brandi is smarter than the whole cast of STORAGE UNITS.
One man’s crap …
You’re got that right, Beth! Most of those storage units are just filled with loads of junk. But, occasionally, there’s gold to be found!
I think I prefer Top Shot. I have never been a real fan of these reality shows. Never watched Survivor, etc.
I don’t watch much reality TV, Stan. But I do watch TOP CHEF and now these storage unit programs. That just shows you how little quality is on the tube right now.
LOVE Storage Wars. I watch Auction Hunters, too, but don’t find it nearly as compelling; the two guys play to the camera much too much. I’m also a big fan of Pawn Stars and American Pickers and Antiques Roadshow. Storage Wars, Pawn Stars and American Pickers make up my three favorite shows on television, with Roadshow a close fourth. Never thought I’d be a reality-television fan, but god help me, I love these shows. I’m seeing a lot of copycats popping up — Hardcore Pawn, Picker Sisters, Storage Hunters, etc. — but all of them pale to the originals (as is usually the case).
The thing I like about AUCTION HUNTERS, Ron, is that Allen and Ton actually sell the stuff they find. Things are much more sketchy on STORAGE WARS.
We saw about half of one of these, someone bought a unit with a bunch of taxidermy stuff, which the Wildlife Cops then took as the items were against the law to own. Big deal. Anyway, seems pretty strange premise for a show. No, thanks, we’ll stick with Design Stars as our one weekly reality show.
My kids love PROJECT RUNWAY, Rick. But I’ve found these storage unit programs appeal to the treasure-hunter in me.
I’m a fan of all of these shows–Pawn shops, storage lockers, pickers, etc–and watch them every chance I get. Correction, Rick, the buyer had to surrender only one trophy, not the entire batch. On Storage Wars, Barry is a collector so he’s not necessarily interested in turning a profit, though he will. And yes, Brandi is way too hot for Jerrod. A new variant of American Pickers just started with two attractive women picking junk that is then made into designer items. Theren was also one called Auction House that seems to have bitten the dust. Finally, American Restoration is a fascinating look into how rusty, junk items are turned into perfectly restored works of art. Now you know how I spend my retirement.
Diane is trying to get me to watch HOARDERS, Bob. She thinks I’m turning into one. And, I’m glad we agree on Brandi. What did she see in that tool, Jerrod?
Now there’s also Storage Hunters on TruTV. Since most “reality” shows on “tru” tv are wholly staged, i.e. faked (Operation Repo, Southern Fried Stings, All Worked Up, etc) I’m sure this is also. Everywhere the husband-wife team goes all over the US it’s the same auctioneer. Their gimmick is that they do “research” (not specified how) on the defaulting owner of the unit to get hints of what’s inside. I’ll stick with the A&E original, now showing new eps. Brandi is the foxiest reality discovery since Kari Byron (though not in her league; no other woman could be!) The proliferation of these shows is amazing. But the first show is usually the best. Pawn Stars trumps its imitators (though Hardcore Pawn is great if you’re into reinforcing racial stereotypes); Pickers is superior to its imitators, etc. I don’t know what’s happened with that auction house show set in Atlanta – forget its name – but that wasn’t bad. I actually learned something about a relic I have!
Notice all of these storage unit shows rarely deal with books, Art. In fact, when books are found, most of them are just tossed into the garbage pile.
I’ve avoided HOARDERS, George. I can see that by looking around my office or hobby room.
Same with me, Bob. I have way too much stuff.
Guys, these shows are STAGED. They are entertainment, not accurate depictions of what is really found, by complete chance and coincidence, at storage auctions.
I have been to some storage auctions lately, and people are bellowing out high figures seconds into the bidding. I have seen people lose their shirts, I don’t know weather to laugh and point or feel bad for them for buying into a fantasy.
Point being. do enjoy the show. But know it is ONLY a show.
Next you’ll be telling me at professional wrestling isn’t Real, John.