Reality TV Programming for Collectors: It’s About the Stuff Reality Rocks Expo is fulfilling the audience demand to aggregate Reality TV talent from across all genres for a Fan Fest, happening April 9 and 10 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
News-Antique.com - Mar 16,2011 - Reality TV Programming for Collectors: It’s About the Stuff
Collecting industry veteran, expert and appraiser Gary Sohmers was asked by a major cable network last year “what was missing in reality programming?” He pointed out that on a Monday evening 8 million people would be watching “Antiques Roadshow” at the same time as 4 million people were watching “Pawn Stars” and commented that “the audience wanted six more nights of collectors’ programming.”
He got what he wanted and now there are more than a dozen programs aimed at people with stuff. “Antiques Roadshow” has been on in the US for 15 years, but there is more to the “stuff” than an appraisal as viewers want to be educated and entertained.
Reality Rocks Expo is fulfilling the audience demand to aggregate Reality TV talent from across all genres for a Fan Fest, happening April 9 and 10 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Billed as a Comic Con of Reality TV, there will be everything a fan or “TV Wanna-Be” could ever want. And their awareness of the growing audience demand for collectors’ programming encouraged the producers to invite Gary to moderate a Celebrity Panel each day of the event.
Titled “It’s About the Stuff,” the panels will be daily from 11am until Noon, and will discuss antiques, collectibles and second-hand businesses represented by programs such as “Antiques Roadshow,” “Hollywood Treasures,” “Meteorite Men,” “Storage Wars,” “American Pickers,” “Hoarders,” “Oddities,” “Auction Kings” and “Pawn Stars,” along with taking questions from the fans.
Gary Sohmers, known as The King of Pop Culture buys, sells and appraises, hosts “Calling All Collectors: The Gary Sohmers Radio Show,” appears as an expert on internet TV channel CollectorsChannel.TV and has appeared as an appraiser of Collectibles, Memorabilia, Pop Culture and Toys for 14 seasons on the 8 time Emmy nominated “Outstanding Reality Program,” PBS-TV’s “Antiques Roadshow.”
Gary will be joined by Gary Piattoni, who has also appeared for 14 seasons as an appraiser on the PBS-TV program “Antiques Roadshow;” Dan and Laura Dotson, owners of American Auctioneers, along with Dave Hester, the stars of “Storage Wars” on A&E; Joe Maddelena, owner of Profiles in History and star of “Hollywood Treasures” on Syfy; and Geoff Notkin, owner of Aerolite Meteorites and Co-Host “Meteorite Men” on Discovery Science Channel.
Gary Sohmers and some of the talent will also be available to give verbal valuations to attendees to have their own “TV-like” experience all weekend included in admission, although the appraisers are hoping for a small donation to the Red Cross. The appraisers are experts on Pop Culture, Toys, Memorabilia, Collectibles, Hollywood, Comics, general and small Antiques, Kitsch, Weird Stuff and Meteorites. Attendees are encouraged to bring items in for valuation, but please no weapons, furniture, old paintings or jewelry.
Other celebrities scheduled to appear at the event include Tom Bergeron, Nick Cannon and Eric Roberts, Food, Dancing and How-To categories, along with American Idol and Amazing Race cast members. All TV personalities and guests will be signing autographs for
