5.4 /10 1 Votes
Based on Pawn Stars Country of origin Australia No. of seasons 1 Network A&E Australia Number of episodes 12 Language English | 5.4/10 IMDb Directed by Martin Baker Original language(s) English First episode date 21 July 2015 Number of seasons 1 Genre Reality television | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Starring Aaron Senes
Ben Senes
Shanon Folden Similar Pawn Stars, Pawn Stars UK, Pawnography, Hardcore Pawn: Chicago, Aussie Pickers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pawn Stars Australia is the Australian adaption of the American series of the same name. It premiered on 21 July 2015 on A&E. The Australian version is the third international spin-off after Pawn Stars UK and Pawn Stars South Africa.
The series stars brothers Aaron and Ben Senes along with their childhood mate Shanon Folden, who own the well-known chain of pawn stores called Happy Hockers in Sydney.
The series is directed by Martin Baker and produced by Leftfield Pictures, the same company that produces the American original.
The complete first season DVD was scheduled to be released on 5 October 2016.
Development and production
In April 2014 it was reported that a local adaption of Pawn Stars was in the works, with filming starting at Sydney's Happy Hockers which would last 9 weeks. It was believed an official announcement of a late 2014 premiere on A&E would come in the following days. However, it wasn't until August 2014 that the series had officially been commissioned, and that Leftfield Pictures (the company behind Pawn Stars U.S.) were officially confirmed as the producers of the local adaption. It was also stated that the series would air in 2015, rather than in 2014 as previously rumoured. In June 2015 it was announced the series would officially star brothers Aaron and Ben Senes and best friend Shanon Folden and would premiere on 21 July 2015.
The Senes brother said they agreed to do the reality series to help the public know about the pawn industry, which they said is misunderstood. "People can see it's a legitimate operation where we do everything by the book and we have a successful business to prove it", Ben Senes said. The brothers have been in the business for 22 years. Selling jewellery and electronics is the "bread-and-butter" of their business but people also bring in highly unusual items. Through the years they have seen everything from monkey testicles, to gold teeth fillings to rare collectibles such as a vintage red telephone box.
Although Happy Hockers operates 5 stores across Sydney, the series is filmed almost entirely at their Bondi Beach store.