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 |
Now some people die, or go to prison. But what about next of kin? Brothers,sisters or cousins. Wouldn't a person who's going to loose their valuables like gold,jewelry and safes at least tell a family member or friend and see them get it instead of the rental storage facilty or a stranger?
Come on people, have you ever wondered how they just happen to be recording a show when there are units that almost everyone makes a profit off of. The article above just said that it is rare to find a locker with anything in it of much value. It's the same with the pawn shows. At first, it was fun to watch. Never believed it was all real, but now I just find them all the same and over over over done.
As long as we keep watching this STUFF, they will keep producing so we have no one to blame but ourselves. The sad part is when I watch this junk it's because there is nothing else on. I should learn to pick up a book and read instead, you know, brighten my horizons.
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