Storage Wars is one of my Guilty Pleasures. I have no idea why I’m so entertained by Dave, Darrell, Brandi & Jerrod, and Barry bidding on other people’s abandoned property. But apparently plenty of other people share the same fascination I have with the drama because Storage Wars is the highest rated program on A&E. Tonight our intrepid entrepreneurs will be bidding on abandoned storage lockers and finding trash and treasure. Check your local listings for the broadcast time in your area.
I read an interview with the producer who said the original idea for the show was to focus half the time on the people who bought the lockers and the other half on the people who failed to pay the rent and therefore lost the lockers; but he said after just a few interviews with the people who lost the lockers, he realized the show would be “too sad.” I’m surprised it took a few interviews for him to realize that–I’m guessing few people give up the lockers voluntarily–there’s always a sad story there. But I do enjoy the focus on the storage hunters–but, as always, continue to wonder where Barry gets his money as he never seems to find anything valuable and on the rare occasion that he does, he keeps it!
You are so right, Deb! Barry is my favorite character on STORAGE WARS and he does seem to have a unlimited pile of money to spend. His collecting instincts parallel mine.
Phil has tried to make me get into this but the trash so far outnumbers the treasure…he says that’s not the point.
P.S. Phil’s book is on the way. Did you get BOTH BARRELS?
BOTH BARRELS just arrived, Patti. Thank you so much! I’ll be looking for Phil’s book to land here soon. Many thanks!
I don’t watch it – I would probably enjoy it too much IYKWIM.
My favorite story is the one Cap’n Bob told about the moron who killed his wife and left her body in the storage locker, then quit paying the rent after 10 years (I believe), after which they opened it, found her and arrested him for murder.
STORAGE WARS is addicting, Jeff. I love that Cap’n Bob story, too!
From a profile I read somewhere, Barry had a very successful fruit & vegetable distribution business which made him a multi-millionaire. His grousing about not being able to turn his buys for profit is just for show. It’s a hobby.
Thanks for the background on Barry, Art. Just from the vehicles Barry drives around, I knew he was a member of the One Percent.
I watched an episode about a year ago… just couldn’t get into it. Seemed (my personal opinion here!) like dumb people buying dumb stuff no one wants. The old pig in a poke thing. But then, I don’t watch any f the A&E shows. Barbara watches the hoarders show sometimes, and I have caught some of part of those, but mostly I watch PBS, sports (football and, after February, some college basketball) and read.
When the door opens to the storage unit, Rick, I’m trapped by curiosity. Yes, much of the contents is junk, but sometimes there are treasures!
I have my own guilty pleasures, but this show, and others of its like, are not among them.
I’m not a big fan of Reality TV, Randy, but the storage unit shows just fascinate me.
I see from promos that the franchise is expanding yet again. SW:Texas wasn’t enough, next up SW:New York.
I’ll be looking for STORAGE WARS: NY, Art. This is morphing like CSI!
It is a fun guilty pleasure. I haven’t had cable for years, ever since opting for free television while getting out of debt. Now that I’m out I don’t miss it enough to go back but I do catch this show at the home of friends/relatives and can see that it is one of those that is easy to get addicted to. I wouldn’t want to have to make my living that way, but it is fun to watch others do it.
Exactly, Carl. I wouldn’t go to a storage unit auction myself, but I love to watch Barry, Darryl, Brandi & Jerrod (why is she still with that loser?), and Dave gamble their money on a room full of garbage bags and totes.
I’m drawn to this show and others that have a tresuring hunting aspect to the: Pawn Stars, Hardcore Pawn, American Pickers, and the like. I went to an auction at the storage facility I use but never put in a bid. Nor did I expecct to. Unlike the show, the auctioneer (if he can be called that–no patter) visited a string of storage facilites all over the county and the buyers followed him from place to place. I’ve never been back.
Bob, I’ve also noticed the prices of the storage lockers have shot up. I don’t know how the people who buy these units make any money.
I must admit Jarrod is not what you’d call a deep thinker.
I did get a kick out of Barry’s new chair. And I love that car.
Yes, Jeff, Barry’s “bubble” car looks like something from a 1950’s science fiction magazine cover.
Boy, I sure had a lot of typos in my first sentence, above.
I was amazed at how much people paid for the lockers in the auction I attended, but it was no where near what you see on the shows.
Part of the bidding in STORAGE WARS is simply an attempt to inflate the prices on the competition, Bob.
I know. It happened here, too. I didn’t notice any Dave Hesters in the Tacoma group so maybe it’s not as cutthroat as the show, but there is a competitiveness and many of the bidders knew each others. Alas, there was no Brandi in the crowd.
Bob, Brandi should dump Jerrod and find happiness with a retired military guy…
Yep, Dave is a laugh and a half. I like his character as well.
However, it looks like he will not be returning to Storage Wars anytime soon. there is some sort of litigation going on between him and A&E…
Phil
You’re right, Phil. Dave “The Mogul” Hester has been dropped from STORAGE WARS. Hester claims many of the storage units were “salted” by the producers with valuable items. Litigation is the result of these charges. I’m still watching, however.