A&E tries to quash 'Storage Wars' lawsuit
The network has repeatedly denied suggestions the show is faked, and wants a court to reject a suit claiming otherwise.
A&E Television Networks, which is owned Walt Disney (DIS), Hearst Corp. and Comcast (CMCSA), Tuesday asked a California court to throw out a lawsuit filed by a former cast member that claimed its hit show "Storage Wars" was rigged. According to the New York Daily News, A&E is trying to get a judge to quash David Hester's lawsuit on procedural grounds. Hester's accusation that the show was rigged was not addressed, though A&E has repeatedly denied suggestions that the show is faked. Hester, known for yelling "yup" when he bids, has alleged that A&E fired him when he refused to go along with the charade.
Hester's lawsuit, which seeks $2.2 million in damages, comes as A&E tries to expand its "Storage Wars" franchise with shows in Texas and New York. Rivals including Spike TV and truTv also have storage auction shows on their schedules.
"Storage Wars", which follows the adventures of a group of people in Southern California who purchase items abandoned in storage units, attracts about 4 million viewers on a weekly basis, making it one of the most popular shows on cable. The ratings are so strong that Entertainment Weekly wondered whether fans care if the show was faked, especially since other hit reality shows such as "Breaking Amish" and "The Hills" blurred the line between fact and fantasy.
One thing that is real about "Storage Wars" is the impact it has had on the storage industry. Attendance at auctions, which were once pretty sleepy affairs has skyrocketed because of the show, as have prices the goods are fetching. Being a storage warrior, however, is much harder than it looks. For one thing, most of the goods in units are mundane household items. A fair number have drugs and pornography.
While buyers do "score" some cool stuff on occasion, that is the exception rather than the rule. Most people have the sense to remove their valuables from a locker if they have fallen behind on the rent.
--Jonathan Berr doesn't think the "Storage Wars" will be the same without Dave Hester. He doesn't own shares of the listed stocks. Follow him on Twitter @jdberr.
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| Tags: | EntertainmentTelevision |
I agree that almost all of these so-called reality shows are scripted--Dave can be kept off the show-he was the main reason I quit watching it on occasion, and the others are just as bad--the only semi-decent ones are the man and woman. I switched to History 2 channel-the people on Pawn Stars makes me rethin k my stand on abortion--they are all such jerks to me--American Pickers has, so far, stayed a favorite, except when Danielle struts her stuff--I turn stations then. The American people are to blame for a lot of these shows,they follow the Khardashians and Honey Boo and her strange family
and all of the other crappy reality shows..I am grateful for the remote.
I really miss the educational programs the 'educational' cable networks used to air. Discovery, History, A&E, TLC (The Leaning Channel!) used to air interesting programs about science and industry.
Does Discovery air a single show that isn't reality based anymore? Seriously, TLC, "19 Kids and Counting" and "Sister Wives" is considered "Learning"?
I'm getting rid of cable...again...
In the beginning the show had some interest. Watching more than 3 shows you know its fake. Same old casting of characters. To me, I always wonder about the people who rented the locker in the first place. Who are they? What's their story? Why did you leave that safe in the locker worth thousands of dollars inside it? ( you could have paid off your locker bill you ****!!) Just wondering!!
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