It has long been claimed that in times of economic trouble film and television audiences turn to comedies to escape the hardships of recession.
Now, with the US braced for a downturn, another genre has been tipped for a surge in popularity, with hard-up Americans expected to be on the lookout for novel ways to turn a quick buck.
There was a boom in so-called “transactional TV” following the 2008 financial crisis, with the massive ratings success of Pawn Stars helping to launch the genre. The show follows a family-run pawn shop in Las Vegas, with customers bringing in an eclectic mix of items to sell.
First broadcast on the History channel in 2009, it grew to attract up to 7.6 million viewers and featured celebrity cameo appearances from the likes of Bob Dylan, Roger Daltrey and Steve Carell.
Described as an American take on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, the show was followed by a series of Cash in the Attic-style programmes, with Storage Wars, American Restoration and American Pickers all becoming hits on US television.