50 best television shows set across the United States
By Sundi Rose
Nevada: Pawn Stars
The premise: This reality show may not have been the first of it’s kind, but it refined this niche in the genre to make it one of the most recognizable shows on television today. It documents the goings-on in a family-owned pawn shop, in which folks come in with stuff they want to sell. The World Famous Gold and Silver Pawn Shop is owned and operated by Rick, and his late father worked there alongside his son. They were rough around the edges, but very, very knowledgeable about a lot of things, a convenience in their occupation.
The setting: The guys run their shop in Las Vegas, which couldn’t be handier. Imagine all the desperate people trying to raise money to gamble with or pay their debts. Because Las Vegas is a mecca for travelers from all over the world, there is a varied and colorful set of customers. Sometimes they bring in treasures for the men to get excited about, but most of the time they have to send them on their way disappointed.
The most Las Vegas thing about it: The sheer amount of supposed Elvis memorabilia is a major tip-off that this takes place in Las Vegas. However, the most Vegas thing to happen on the show is the customer who brought in an exploding dye-pack of $10 bills.