Originally Posted by crockett

While I understand Pawn Stars is essentially a set up, it's still done in an interesting way.

As for who to blame? Blame "Cops" that was the very first successful "reality show" and the others followed suite. I think History or Discovery (which ever it airs on) Deadliest Catch was the first run away hit for them.

I can't think of anything prior to it on that network and once it became a hit they started turning both the Discovery Channel & History Channel into Redneck Reality TV.