Entertainment

Starr report

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, who better to give jewelry-buying advice than “Hardcore Pawn” star Les Gold?

Gold, who runs the American Jewelry and Loan shop in Detroit (with his son, Seth, and daughter, Ashley), has seen his truTV show grow to nearly 3 million viewers a week, so obviously people are paying attention to what he has to say. The show’s midseason finale, by the way, airs next Tuesday, Feb. 14 — Valentine’s Day.

Here are some of Les’s tips:

1.) “Retail is for suckers,” he says, pointing out that most pawnshops don’t get their stuff wholesale, purchasing items from people who need quick cash (hence jewelry can be sold at lower prices).

2.) Since pawnshops sell their gold items by weight, customers can usually get better prices (as opposed to jewelry stores, which significantly mark up their merchandise).

3.) Pawnshops are good places to find vintage, heirloom and antique pieces.

4.) If you’re worried about a warranty, most pawnshops will replace missing diamonds, for example, if items are brought in every three-to-four months for a “prong checkup.” If you buy a watch from a pawnshop, it may also come with a warranty (often including parts and labor).

5.) Pawn shops also carry men’s jewelry and watches — so don’t forget about the guys.

You can check out their Web site at pawndetroit.com.

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Nickelodeon’s new series, “How To Rock,” starring Cymphonique Miller, premiered to 3.3 million viewers last Saturday — which is roughly on par with several other Nick series which have gone on to become big hits.

For instance, “iCarly” (Amanda Cosgrove) premiered to 3.5 million viewers in 2007 — it now regularly draws anywhere from 5 to 6 million viewers per episode — while “Zoey 101” (Jamie Lynn Spears) premiered to 3.5 million viewers back in 2005 (and went on to become much bigger).

Two other stellar Nick series, “Big Time Rush” and “Victorious” (Victoria Justice) premiered to much bigger numbers, 6.8 million and 5.7 million, respectively. But, then again, they bowed following the Kids’ Choice Awards — giving them enormous lead-in advantages.

Elsewhere on the ratings scene, “Access Hollywood” EP Rob Silverstein says they’re “doing the Victor Cruz salsa dance” in the halls after “AH” posted a 4.4 household rating here in New York on Ch. 4 Monday — following the Giants (and the salsa-dancing Cruz’s) Super Bowl victory Sunday on NBC.

“AH” also tied “Jeopardy!” on Ch. 7 as the day’s top-rated syndicated show (in New York) among women 25-54 (with a 3.3 rating).

I also find it interesting that “Nate Berkus,” which won’t return after this season (its second), has seen a recent uptick in its numbers — including the week of Jan. 23, where it grew 10 percent in households over the previous week and was up 17 percent in women 25-54 over the preceding week. It’s almost like the old, “we’ve got nothing to lose, so why not just go for it?” line of thinking. Whatever it is, it’s working.

Dr. Phil,” meanwhile, averaged a lusty 4.3 million viewers for the week ending Jan. 29 as TV’s top-rated daytime talk show — up 19 percent over the same week last year.

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Last, but not least:

* Ch. 4’s Darlene Rodriguez emcees this morning’s “9th Annual Champions of Diversity Awards Breakfast,” sponsored by the New York Urban League, at the Four Seasons (99 E. 52nd) . . . Kevin O’Connor, Eddie Brill, Jeff Norris and Vic DiBitetto will perform at Saturday’s “A Knight of Comedy 3” (Knights of Columbus Hall, Avenue C, in Bayonne) to benefit Deborah Heart and Lung Center . . . Bi-level winning: Ashley Hebert (“The Bachelorette”) and fiance JP Rosenbaum partied at Snap Sports Bar (W. 14th) on Super Bowl Sunday before heading downstairs to boogie the night away at Stash.