"Storage Wars" participant gets kicked off show and sues

[bn2cardz]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Was it illegal?

I watched a couple shows last night and it really isn't a competition despite the numbers board at the end.

Just a bunch of storage lockers bought and arbitrary numbers thrown out as values at the end. No real prizes for who wins or loses.

They do the same thing with "Deadliest Catch", though in a most likely much less arbitrary way, in comparing the crab catches and deck hand wages for the different boats.

That is what he alleges. He alleges that he made some comments about some of the things being illegal and were in "violation of of the Communications act of 1934" and that when it was brought up he was fired. If this is true, then why would we be so harsh on him?

[alanu]

Well my view is that he's been participating in the practices and getting paid for it for several years so he's just as guilty if it was illegal.

[Exhibitman]

Any time I want something gone I just put it at the curb with a sign that says "$10 put payment in mailbox" and it is gone within a few hours [no money, of course]. I've put things put with "free" signs and they dont get taken.

I figure lots of things are staged on those shows; they'd have to be. In my experience the kind of person who abandons a locker doesn't have good stuff to begin with, though there are exceptions. But antiques and such every time, no way. I can see how a junk shop owner could make out if they buy at the right price. I also never bought the enmity between the bidders. Us card geeks are battle-hardened auction veterans. I've probably been to dozens of live auctions and participated in hundreds of online ones and I've never gone out of my way to 'stick' someone with a bad lot. No one takes that risk as a professional and I find it highly implausible that these supposed pro auction buyers get caught up in such petty BS; certainly has to be scripted.

[thedutymon]

Evening,

I was involved in the Industry peripherally many years ago when I lived in So. Cal. I still have many friends that work on different shows and in fact a gaffer who does contract work on Pawn Stars and does a lot of local LA TV work was just here to go skiing in Colorado staying with me. We had a long discussion over many Beers about the state of the Reality TV Business today.

That show and 90% of the reality shows you see on TV are scripted crap, the exceptions being Dirty Jobs, Survivor (Most aspects, some of it is manipulated that as they say "Doesn't affect the Outcome") Most of American Pickers, although all of the interaction with the guys in the van is scripted, the girl at their shop, and some of the interactions with the people they Pick, but for the most part its above board.

All, and I mean all of these are total crap and to me borderline on being Illegal because they are decieving the public.

Pawn Stars
Whatever that redneck Pawn Stars show is called
The belligerent Detroit A$$hole Pawn Show
The House thing with the Super Pretty People
Most of the Bachleor/Date, Pretty People shows


Shark Tank according to another Buddy is all set up ahead of time and although the actual People pitching their ideas/products is real, the Sharks are provided with background info and research info ahead of time and have pretty much come to Gentlemen's agreements before the people ever walk into the room!

As far as Dave Hesters Lawsuit, that is just a diversion from the real action. His attorneys aren't after some piddly little $25K per episode, that's Chump Change in the big picture, or to embarass the Production Company. He's after more of the real money...The Residuals, he gets a check mailed to him every time one of those shows plays in re-runs for $500-$1K, and those things play Hundreds and Hundreds of times per week!! That's the REAL MONEY!!! I have friends who years later as Gaffers/Sound/Grips/Pre and Post Production Assistants get a large part of their income off Residuals!!!

So the real money and the real reason for My Yuuutz's lawsuit will be settled quietly for a rather large sum of money, because there are Millions of dollars still to made by the producers and that show hasn't run its course yet, still has 2-4 years to be dragged out!!!

I wouldn't waste one moment of time watching that crap if you paid me.....Well wait a minute..maybe for some Residual Checks !!!!

Neil

[Exhibitman]

Hester alleges that the show producers paid for a contestant's plastic surgery. All I can say is that if this is what the producers paid for, bravo to them:

[mcadams]

I personally don't see any thing wrong with Hester's lawsuit. First, its reprehensible that the show would fire Hester for voicing his opinion about the tactics of the show. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Second, it appears that the show's "tactics" affected the outcomes of the locker purchases (biased toward allowing others to win occasionally). Hester had been doing this type of business for a long time. If some dumba$$ show started manipulating (illegally) my chosen profession, I'd take issue with it as well.

[rjackson44]

The show is the worst

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by mcadams

I personally don't see any thing wrong with Hester's lawsuit. First, its reprehensible that the show would fire Hester for voicing his opinion about the tactics of the show. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Second, it appears that the show's "tactics" affected the outcomes of the locker purchases (biased toward allowing others to win occasionally). Hester had been doing this type of business for a long time. If some dumba$$ show started manipulating (illegally) my chosen profession, I'd take issue with it as well.

He didn't get fired for that; it was over money and copyright to his "yuuuup" stuff.

[footlong]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Hester alleges that the show producers paid for a contestant's plastic surgery. All I can say is that if this is what the producers paid for, bravo to them:

this was the best part of the show.

[ocjack]

Exhibitman beat me to it. The only reason I watch the show is to see Brandi.

It's funny, their shop is about 10 minutes from me and I drive past it several times each week, but have yet to go in.

Anyone want an autographed picture, if I do?

[Sean1125]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Any time I want something gone I just put it at the curb with a sign that says "$10 put payment in mailbox" and it is gone within a few hours [no money, of course]. I've put things put with "free" signs and they dont get taken.

I figure lots of things are staged on those shows; they'd have to be. In my experience the kind of person who abandons a locker doesn't have good stuff to begin with, though there are exceptions. But antiques and such every time, no way. I can see how a junk shop owner could make out if they buy at the right price. I also never bought the enmity between the bidders. Us card geeks are battle-hardened auction veterans. I've probably been to dozens of live auctions and participated in hundreds of online ones and I've never gone out of my way to 'stick' someone with a bad lot. No one takes that risk as a professional and I find it highly implausible that these supposed pro auction buyers get caught up in such petty BS; certainly has to be scripted.

I've never seen as much "sticking" it to them as with any of these auction shows... Every seller seems to be out to get the other...

In reality I'm good friends with most of the people who go the auctions and lots sell for half price or less due to people letting others have lots.

[WhenItWasAHobby]

http://www.zimbio.com/Mark+Balelo/ar...n=Z-Articles-1

[Sean1125]

Originally Posted by WhenItWasAHobby

http://www.zimbio.com/Mark+Balelo/ar...n=Z-Articles-1

Saw that the other day... Seems like some nasty drug activity was involved from other reports.

[nebboy]

Originally Posted by Sean1125

I've never seen as much "sticking" it to them as with any of these auction shows... Every seller seems to be out to get the other...

In reality I'm good friends with most of the people who go the auctions and lots sell for half price or less due to people letting others have lots.

Must say over many year of all type of action buying (and a lot to storage unit included) Ive have pretty much the same type of experieces. Very few time was anyone wiling to bid up someone out of spite.