'Pawn Stars' at center of legal tempest with Hollywood agents

By Scott Collins

Dec. 12, 2012 12 AM PT

How big are the stars of “Pawn Stars”? Big enough for Hollywood agents to fight over them.

Los Angeles talent agency Venture IAB filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming that it guided the careers of Rick Harrison and other workers at the Las Vegas pawn shop featured in the History reality hit. But Harrison, his father (“The Old Man”), his son (“Big Hoss”) and staffer Austin Russell (“Chumlee”) were later poached by a bigger firm, United Talent Agency.

Venture claims that it lost millions of dollars in commission as a result after “Pawn Stars” became one of cable TV’s biggest hits.

Venture sued A&E; Television Networks, which owns History, claiming that A&E; boss Nancy Dubuc induced the “Pawn Stars” cast to sign with UTA because Dubuc’s friend Michael Camacho worked there. Camacho left UTA under a cloud earlier this year after the agency settled a separate conflict-of-interest case brought against him by another client. The Harrisons and Russell are not named as defendants.

A History rep could not be immediately reached for comment.

Coincidentally, the “Pawn Stars” suit landed on the same day that Dave Hester, featured on A&E;’s “Storage Wars,” sued claiming he was fired after complaining that the show is staged.

What do you think of “Pawn Stars” and its legal trouble?

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