Doug Floyd now has official Pawn Star status.
The Brandon Township resident premiered on the popular History Channel cable show ‘Pawn Stars? last month, and will be featured on another show sometime within the next month or two.
‘It’s one of the top rated cable reality shows in the land,? said Floyd. ‘I watch it when I’m flipping around. The draw is, you see who is coming in, what they have, what they want, and what the pawn guys are gonna pay and you never know who or what is coming through the door.?
In January, knowing he would be renting a condo in Las Vegas for the month of March in order to be in town for the birth of his stepdaughter’s baby, he decided to take a chance at being on the show, which is filmed at the World Famous Gold and Silver Pawn Shop. Rummaging around in his basement, he found four items that were relatively old and unique, things he believed might be of interest to the show’s producers. He took pictures of the items and e-mailed the photos, along with a note, to the show.
After several e-mails back and forth with more information, including how much Floyd thought the items were worth, he was invited to be on the show.
He and wife Carol boarded a plane to Vegas, and among their luggage was a Magnavox Odyssey 200 video game console, along with the owner’s manual, the box, and the bag it came in when Doug purchased it in 1975.
‘It was the dawn of the computer gaming world, literally at the beginning’it’s like the Model T of computer gaming,? said Floyd. ‘Back then, it was something to hook up to the tv and do something brand new. It was pretty cool.?
The console doesn’t have joysticks or cartridges. Four games? pong, tennis, hockey, and smash? are built right into the console, which has knobs on front and the paddle moves up and down, left and right, and diagonally. Floyd’s Magnavox Odyssey 200 was in pristine condition and he had researched the value on eBay and told the show’s producers he was going to be asking $350.
When he walked in the Pawn Stars shop, located right on Las Vegas Boulevard near the downtown area, he was met by a producer who explained what would happen, and about the filming as they warmed him up. Then, the cameras began rolling as Floyd walked up to the counter and was met by one of the show’s stars, Corey ‘Big Hoss? Harrison, who asked, ‘Hey, what do you got here??
Floyd explained how it works, and after answering more questions, said he wanted to sell it to them (rather than pawn it) for $350. A toy expert was then ‘brought in,? although in reality, he was already there.
‘If you’re watching the show, it’s cool? you get the background and the big question is, ‘how much do you think this is worth??? said Floyd. ‘He said it was not quite as in demand, so he said, ?$75.? Me, the consummate actor, got a terrible look on my face.?
Floyd gets even more crestfallen when he is offered just $25 for his cut and is given an out when he is asked if he wants to keep it, which he does.
‘The bottom line is, I didn’t sell it, but how fun was it to be a tv star for a day?? he said. ‘They had a professional camera crew, a director, sound guy, and then I got to record and see myself on tv.?
The episode which featured Floyd and his Magnavox Odyssey 200 premiered on the History Channel on July 17 in an episode titled ‘Chumdae,? but Floyd only caught part of the show, after friends and family called to let him know he was on tv.
‘On July 17, I was on the phone talking to a buddy and the caller ID lights up, my daughter calls, my brother-in-law calls, they were watching the show… and they call my wife’s cell and I hear them scream, ‘Dad, you’re on tv!?? said Floyd. ‘A guy I work with was down in Florida in a hotel room and heard my voice coming from tv and said, ‘That’s Doug on Pawn Stars.? My brother in Florida saw when it aired, too… I was surprised with how much (producers) pared it down. They wove it together well.?
Floyd will appear in a second episode with an item he took to the show for taping, but which he can’t disclose details until after the episode airs due to a non-disclosure agreement, other than to say it is a rare action figure toy.
New episodes of ‘Pawn Stars? are shown at 9 p.m. every Thursday. The show is currently in its eighth season.