Pawn Stars, then called Pawning History and now called Pawn Star$. Coming to the History Channel this July. You might think it's a documentary about famous chess players, but it's much more valuable than that...

It's a reality series featuring three generations of the Harrison family who run a Vegas pawn shop.

Haven't heard of it? That's OK. Nothing's been officially announced yet. (Well, that was true until shortly after we published.)

Here's what we know:

• Way back in January, LeftField Pictures posted a sizzle reel on YouTube for "Pawn Star$." (WARNING: The video contains adult language, is NSFW, and may offend some people, but it's a riot.)
• Only two weeks later, Paul Harasim reported in the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the Harrisons' Gold & Silver Pawn Shop would be in a TV show pilot.
• And then we hit pay dirt. On May 7, A&E Networks filed documents with the United States Patent & Trademark Office to protect Pawn Stars for a television series "featuring various aspects of owning, managing and running a pawn shop." (Serial Number: 77731776)
• A few phone calls later and TV Tango can report that Pawn Stars (now Pawn Star$) will actually air on the History Channel -- which is part of A&E Networks -- and it's tentatively scheduled to premiere on Sunday, July 26 at 8:30PM.
• Just after we published, the History Channel made the official announcement (but with no premiere date), as reported in many places such as The Hollywood Reporter that the show will be called Pawning History.
• In early July the History Channel made another announcement that the show is called Pawn Star$ and that it will premiere on Sunday, July 19 at 10PM.
  

The pawn-shop business should be booming in this economy! Wonder if any old-school high rollers are selling their autographed pics of the Rat Pack? Or whether a few Vegas showgirls might be trading in their diamond pasties?

Additional reporting and investigation: Mike Vicic.

UPDATED on May 14, 2009 to reflect name change to Pawning History and History Channel announcement. Additions and changes are shown in italics.

UPDATED on July 8, 2009 to reflect name change to Pawn Star$ and new premiere date. Additions and changes are shown in italics.

Enjoy the YouTube sizzle reel! (WARNING: This video contains adult language, is NSFW, and may offend some people.)