125 replies to this topic

[nottopbravo]

From PBS:

"Four collectible experts search for treasure they can resell for tidy sums at auction."


(Moderator: If this is in the wrong sub-heading, please change.)

I found this format very similar to "Picked Off" in that they are given a set amount of money to start. The main difference is that the people buying are "experts" as opposed to teams. The one with the most profit wins.

Anyone else catch this?

[Totale]

An inferior version of the long running British show "Bargain Hunt", with fundamentally unlikeable "professional" pickers in the place of the enthusiastic amateurs which made BH charming to watch.

[nottopbravo]

An inferior version of the long running British show "Bargain Hunt",

I think this goes for a lot of American shows. But, being unable to watch "Bargain Hunt" and a lot of other British shows, this will have to do.

[LivenLetLive]

Since I am in the business and was also a long time fan of "Bargain Hunt" I watched with interest. I was sort of stunned by the selections the pickers made--that horrible lucite lamp base without it's original shade (when I first started in the business in the 80's) these were rather common as they were mass produced, and the price he paid for what was essentially half a lamp--oy vey! I should say that I had a shop in Hollywood in the '80's that specialized in Mid Century Modern, so the task really interested me. I did like the pair of lamps that actually made money, those were cool.

[nottopbravo]

I wonder if we'll get a new narrator because of Fred Willard's recent problems with the law.

[otcinsf]

Yes, Mr. Willard has been fired for public lewdness (masturbating) while in a theater showing porn. The cops did an aisle-by-aisle sweep and he was arrested.

Yes, he's been fired by PBS. the rest of the episodes will be held back and a new narration recorded by Mark Wahlberg.

Sounds like a dumb move on Mr. Willard's part, but... he's been fired for being arrested, by the scared, gutless folks at PBS.

I'm old enough to remember when PBS was cutting edge broadcasting, and a look into a different world, full of ideas and challenging concepts.

And if he had been arrested for DUI, do you think he'd still have a job? I do...

[nottopbravo]

I really don't think PBS had much of a choice. Though they might be not as pure as one might think.

Thanks for the link, otcinsf. I knew the basics, but not the specifics.

[nottopbravo]

Wow, that was quick.

New narration by Mark Wahlberg already in place.


On a more shallow note, at least Miller's gorgeous gams showed up again.

Edited by nottopbravo, Jul 24, 2012 @ 3:11 PM.

[Kromm]

On a more shallow note, at least Miller's gorgeous gams showed up again.

Yeah, but so did her REALLY annoying voice (both the tone, and the really bizarre hybrid accent, which is kind of like "Southern swallowed Boston").

[Totale]

The thing that gets me is that only the guy who won both weeks (sorry, can't remember their names and don't care enough to go look) seems to have the slightest idea how the game is supposed to be played. Everybody else lost all that awesome TV money they got to spend, and according to the disclaimer at the end cashed their paychecks anyway. They seem unconcerned about this, but I don't think it's doing their professional reputations any good. The appraisal skills possessed by the woman who is billed in Storage Wars style as "The Appraiser" seem to be limited to looking up Internet asking prices on her tablet. No way would I trust her to appraise anything given what we've seen her do so far, and no reason for me to think she'd be able to justify those appraisals to an IRS adjuster.

Edited for sentence structure

Edited by Totale, Jul 29, 2012 @ 12:48 PM.

[Kromm]

The thing that gets me is that only the guy who won both weeks (sorry, can't remember their names and don't care enough to go look) seems to have the slightest idea how the game is supposed to be played. Everybody else lost all that awesome TV money they got to spend, and according to the disclaimer at the end cashed their paychecks anyway. They seem unconcerned about this, but I don't think it's doing their professional reputations any good.

The three who stink at this should be embarrassed beyond belief. I mean week after week, if we CONTINUE to see the three idiots get a shellacking, I wonder if any of them will have any credibility left over at ALL.

Heck, Fred Willard probably has more credibility than these three clowns. Now I hope that one other guy DOES win every week. I'd like to see if PBS tries to spin that, or just lets it be... It doesn't even bother me that he comes off as a bit smug. 'Cause (comparatively at least) its JUSTIFIED.

[Ima Pilgrim]

Miller is just annoying, full stop. Can't stand the voice or the baby talk methods when she wants something. ICK. The other guys, according to auction prices are so far off base it's absurd. I love antiquing and a good find, so I watch the show but I don't find it all that interesting, to be honest. Give me some UK Bargain Hunt and Cash in the Attic any day.

[ShelleySue]

I tried. I really, really, really tried. I desperately wanted to love this show. Heck, I would have been happy with simply liking it. But I can't even watch it. It's not just one thing -- it's an accumulation of a number of things.
1. Miller's voice
2. The fact that I wanted to learn something from this show but the "experts" don't know enough to even make money from week to week.
3. The stupid insert of The Price is Right in the middle of the episode.
4. How snippy the experts are to each other, especially while they make their comments during the auction.
5. I just cringe during the haggling. Yes, I know that's expected, but some of it seems mean spirited (at least to me).

One thing that I did love from the last episode was Wes Cowen. I loved how he disallowed Miller's items and then dissed the chamber pot thing. I love that man. If he were on every week I might change my mind about not watching it anymore.

[rimfire]

I didn't even know about this, but found it while channel surfing.

Where did they get these "experts?" Were they, like, the only ones who wanted to go on TV doing what they do? (My brother-in-law could do MUCH better at bargaining and you don't want to cringe while listening to him do it.)

Not only did they not make any money (well, most of them), but they didn't even follow the "themes" they were given. A commode reminds you of home? Hmm... Maybe you'd better have someone in there to clean while you're out filming this show...

The auctioneer was hilarious (although I doubt he was supposed to be). The fact that he knew more about the stuff they brought to auction than they did really tells me that they didn't do their homework. Maybe they should have stuck with their strengths despite the "themes."

[Kromm]

Miller is just annoying, full stop. Can't stand the voice or the baby talk methods when she wants something. ICK.

I could look past all of that. If she was any good at her job.

But she's not. She's an embarrassment. The old guy with the beard is almost as bad, but she's the bottom of the barrel. She just STINKS at this, and having that revealed on TV each week? She should be hiding her head in her hands and praying her day-work doesn't go away as a side-effect.

I do think that these are epically bad times for collectible sales. It makes sense that these auctions would be filled with bargain hunters who won't even bother unless they can get a steal. But these collectors should know that, and even with their artificial rules and time limit they just be managing to pull a profit, even if its a small one.

[Xingu]

Yes, Mr. Willard has been fired for public lewdness (masturbating) while in a theater showing porn. The cops did an aisle-by-aisle sweep and he was arrested.I tried.

Can someone please tell me the purpose of a porn theater for something other than how Mr. Willard was using it?

Free Fred Willard!

I really, really, really tried. I desperately wanted to love this show. Heck, I would have been happy with simply liking it. But I can't even watch it. It's not just one thing -- it's an accumulation of a number of things.
1. Miller's voice
2. The fact that I wanted to learn something from this show but the "experts" don't know enough to even make money from week to week.
3. The stupid insert of The Price is Right in the middle of the episode.
4. How snippy the experts are to each other, especially while they make their comments during the auction.
5. I just cringe during the haggling. Yes, I know that's expected, but some of it seems mean spirited (at least to me).

Me too.
1. Miller must be the long lost twin of Rosie Pope from Pregnant in Heels. They both gargle with bees in the morning.
2. If they are experts, then I would never entrust them with any of my possessions.
3. TPIR insert is stupid time-filling fodder. It's a total guess as each of these idiots have no knowledge of value.
4. Snippy experts (see America's Lost Treasures) are what the producers must think we want to see. They are mistaken.
5. The haggling is only for the TV show. There is no way in hell you can go to flea market/antique show and negotiate down to the levels these fools do. The merchants only agree to this level because they are on TV and/or are paid by the producers.

The end credits say the experts are paid employees of WBGH and aren't gambling with their own money. 'Nuff said.

[LivenLetLive]

One thing that I did love from the last episode was Wes Cowen. I loved how he disallowed Miller's items and then dissed the chamber pot thing. I love that man. If he were on every week I might change my mind about not watching it anymore.

I love Wes Cowen--he is great on History Detectives, and he has the sort of southern accent I like hearing.

Anyway, I went over to PBS to look up the bios of the "experts" and was shocked to find that Miller Gaffney has gone through Sotheby's Appraisal school and is a certified appraiser of fine art--WTF? She is so, so clueless on this show. The old hippy guy, John Bruno, has been in the business for 40 freaking years, and also appears not to have a clue, Only Kevin Bruneau (the first 2 week's winner) seems to know what he is doing, and is a dealer that I, as a dealer of 28 years, can relate to--Bob Richter (sp?) is a designer and can be forgiven for not winning, although he lucked out with that Moriage Japanese Vase last week, and I think that he has a decent eye for stuff, but Miller is the worst followed by John, I mean really, a potty chair? What dealer in this decade doesn't know that those things are both common and not desirable?

[txhorns79]

Anyway, I went over to PBS to look up the bios of the "experts" and was shocked to find that Miller Gaffney has gone through Sotheby's Appraisal school and is a certified appraiser of fine art--WTF? She is so, so clueless on this show. The old hippie guy, John Bruno, has been in the business for 40 freaking years, and also appears not to have a clue,

I'd say that confuses being an appraiser of fine art with being an expert in everything. I just figure they all have their niches, and are out of their element rummaging flea markets for items that are outside there area of expertise. Having said that, I can agree the potty chair was a stupid purchase, but I thought that was more for attention, than his thinking that was a good purchase.

I did wonder how long Bob spent planning his outfit. The "newsboy cap/army boots with pants tucked into the boots" look seemed very over-thought for where he actually was.

Edited by txhorns79, Aug 4, 2012 @ 10:36 AM.

[Totale]

The old hippy guy, John Bruno, has been in the business for 40 freaking years, and also appears not to have a clue

His real business is promoting antique fairs, though.

http://www.flamingoeventz.com/

[LivenLetLive]

Regarding having a niche, well of course, however, most successful people in the business have an art for seeing unique objects--even out of their niche, I call it having a "dealer's eye," and Ms Gaffney doesn't appear to have it. For myself, I have picked way out of my niche going on gut instinct, and have had some great successes, as for Bruno the promoter, I would bet my bottom dollar that he started out as a dealer which is how one usually gets into the antiques show promoting business.

[txhorns79]

For myself, I have picked way out of my niche going on gut instinct, and have had some great successes,

But wouldn't that also mean you've had some great failures as well? I doubt anyone's "gut instinct" is going to be right all the time, particularly if they are buying antiques without having a background in the specific area they are buying in. Look at Bob's Weller bowl. If he had known about what he was buying, he might have realized a flower frog was missing from the piece. As it was, he didn't know what questions to ask about the piece and he overpaid for it.

Regarding having a niche, well of course, however, most successful people in the business have an art for seeing unique objects--even out of their niche, I call it having a "dealer's eye," and Ms Gaffney doesn't appear to have it.

But dealers aren't typically limited by time, space and the rules of a contest either.

[misterbfd]

Yeah, is it TOO much to ask for an American version of the great "Bargain Hunt" that DOESN'T suck ass?

[LivenLetLive]

But wouldn't that also mean you've had some great failures as well? I doubt anyone's "gut instinct" is going to be right all the time, particularly if they are buying antiques without having a background in the specific area they are buying in. Look at Bob's Weller bowl. If he had known about what he was buying, he might have realized a flower frog was missing from the piece

Well of course, and yes, there are time, and other, constraits on the "Warriors." I can only judge by what I have seen Ms Gaffney pick, and her picks have been mostly heinous--even with the help of the internet, which is a tool that they are allowed to use, which should go some way toward allievating the "no background in specific area they are buying in problem," IMO. I can't think of one purchase that she has picked up that I thought, oh yeah, great choice. Kevin Bruneau, on the other hand, seems to go out of his way to pick interesting pieces at good prices, and I do think that Bob has a good eye for decorative pieces as well. Anyway, I think that tonight is the last new episode for the time being, and look forward to it.

[GenieinTX]

Either you can get some crazy good deals at Cowan's or these people are getting consistently ripped off. It's so weird how they have totally lost money since switching to Cowan's. Bad economy keeping people away from auctions? But the dealers seem to think they can get these prices at the shows. I don't know.

[Kromm]

Well of course, and yes, there are time, and other, constraits on the "Warriors." I can only judge by what I have seen Ms Gaffney pick, and her picks have been mostly heinous--even with the help of the internet, which is a tool that they are allowed to use, which should go some way toward allievating the "no background in specific area they are buying in problem," IMO. I can't think of one purchase that she has picked up that I thought, oh yeah, great choice. Kevin Bruneau, on the other hand, seems to go out of his way to pick interesting pieces at good prices, and I do think that Bob has a good eye for decorative pieces as well. Anyway, I think that tonight is the last new episode for the time being, and look forward to it.

Here's the difference. For the most part, Kevin PICKS WHAT HE KNOWS.

We can talk about having specialties, but that's how you deal with it. Unless you have a WIDE blind spot, like not knowing ANYTHING about mid-century modern, or ANYTHING about Costume Jewelery, etc, then there still should be enough leeway to find SOMETHING you know. Maybe the time limit is a problem for Miller. Or maybe she just sucks. Hard to say for sure.

[Totale]

It's so weird how they have totally lost money since switching to Cowan's.

You can just add them (and liveauctioneers.com while you're at it) to the list of those whose professional reputations and businesses are being undermined if not destroyed by this clustershow. I mean, based on what you've seen here would you consign something to Cowan's, where people routinely pay 15-20% of low retail, even with buying help from all the World Wide Internets? I know I wouldn't.

[LivenLetLive]

Boy I agree about Cowan's what a disaster---however, I now want to fly to Ohio and start bidding there, LOL. I wish that they had auctioned Bob's scale--I doubt he would have made money on it, but I thought that it was a really cool piece. For the other stuff, ugh, Brimfield (I've never been there being based on the West Coast) seems like a really tough pick. Kevin disappointed me, Rose Medallion has been dead for several years, I won't be too hard on him with the document box, it is easy to get fooled by "newtiques" some of which are so cleverly aged as to fool even experts. I actually liked the Theorum (sp?) Miller picked, but Americana is hotter in New England than Ohio.

[Section 31]

Anyone remember "Personal FX", the collectibles show from the late '90s? John Bruno was one of the regular appraisers on the show.. you can see him standing in his dark, dapper suit towards the beginning of this clip:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=Khx5VE11ak8

I actually find Market Warriors refreshing.. watching all these "pickers" fall on their face week after week is quite entertaining.. nice to see an actual dose of reality in a reality show, as it were. But the auctions themselves are pretty pathetic - can't they even half fill up a room for a TV show? I keep waiting for a shot of a guy with his head hanging over, snoring away..

Edited by Section 31, Aug 7, 2012 @ 3:25 PM.

[nottopbravo]

I actually find Market Warriors refreshing.. watching all these "pickers" fall on their face week after week is quite entertaining..

And boy, did they fall last night.

I've been to the Brimfield Flea Market and as one of the picker's said, there is everything there from antiques to junk. And as he stated, the prices are outrageous.

[GenieinTX]

Section 31 - this is really weird. I had just come to TWOP straight from wikipedia where I was looking up the old fX channel and I saw your post. I was trying to remember who the hosts were. Loved that channel back in the day.

Agreed watching the pickers fail so miserably is kind of fun after some of the ridiculousness of all the storage locker shows.

Edited by GenieinTX, Aug 7, 2012 @ 8:24 PM.