Thursday

The colossal cornerstones of commerce. Oversized outfitters. Merchandise Moguls. Mega Stores are giant facilities engineered to keep up with America's supersized habits. They are the largest, busiest places in the country. Their greatest challenge: keeping up with demand on a massive scale. And to do it, they have everything from scuba divers to sandblasters. It's not what's on the shelves ŒË it's what happens behind the scenes of ... Mega Stores.

Size does matter. On Big and Small, we size up the biggest of machines, and their smallest counterparts. We go to France to find out what goes into assembling the world's largest jetliner, the Airbus A380. Then, we fly with microjet pilots in the world's smallest jets. We hold a race between a huge Boss Hoss 425 horsepower motorcycle and an 18 inch tall pocket bike. We take the world's smallest production car for a ride and see just how many choir members we can fit into a super-sized limousine. We see a mammoth Caterpillar front loader in action, in an open pit coal mine, and dig up the backyard with a loader that's no bigger than a lawnmower. Finally, we walk inside an enormous diesel engine powering an 80,000 ton container ship and eyeball a tiny one driving a five pound model airplane.

What does it take to turn twenty tons of steel into top-notch vehicles in less than a day? How does a pile of lumber become a million dollar home in a mere week? From start to finish, every process is a unique and incredible adventure. Whether it's the fiery birth of high tech golf clubs or the cataclysmic collapse of old buildings, history races from Start to Finish to capture each Modern Marvel.

You know the old saying "dull as dirt"...wrong! In Las Vegas, see how thousands of tons of dirt transform a stadium into a Supercross course. Then, join in the down and dirty fun of mud wrestling at a state fair in Hawaii. In Tucson, see how modern adobe and stunning rammed-earth homes are made. To farmers, "dirt" is "soil" and in a teaspoon of healthy soil there are more living organisms than people on our planet. Find out where they came from at a sprawling potting soil facility in central California where huge earth moving equipment adds tons of dried kelp, bat guano and other ingredients to dirt. At exclusive spas, watch patrons submerge their bodies in mud. Finally, visit the Tide detergent factory. Why? To get the dirt out, of course.

This California bakery boasts a major Hollywood connection and a low-fat fig Newton that’s literally 80-feet long.

Steeped in history, visit the Charleston tea plantation where freshly harvested leaves get to lie down on the job.

Visit California’s Olive City and learn the secret to turning plump green fruit into sliced black olives.

It takes a secret spice blend, a giant steam peeler, and a massive processing facility to turn farm-fresh potatoes into bite-size Mexi-Fries.

While Rick is away from the shop, his brother Ron takes matters into his own hands when a client brings in a 1900s love tester. Is this a match made in overhaul heaven or will this romantic restoration break his heart? And later, the guys put their work on display when a weather worn 1950s casino billboard arrives at the shop. Can they preserve this aging desert advertisement, or will this shabby sign be better left to rot roadside?

Rick battles a brain freeze when a 1940s Good Humor bicycle pedals into the shop. Can he deliver a sweet solution to this sticky situation or will this cold cart be forever frozen in time? And later, a client brings in a 1920s Atwater Kent art-deco radio. Can the shop fine-tune this airwave apparatus, or will it be nothing but dead air for this rundown receiver?

Rick and his son Tyler kick off a restoration race after a pair of vintage scooters wheel into the shop. Can Tyler show up his dear ol' dad or will Rick prove father always knows best? And later, the shop makes cents of a 1940s candy vending machine. Can they sweeten up this nickel-and-dime device or will this sugary service leave a bad taste in their mouths?

Rick and his guys get keyed up to restore a colossal 1920s cannonball safe. Can they lock up this protected project or will this massive mission be too heavy to handle? And later, the shop freshens up some vintage farm tools. Can the guys carefully crack these compact contraptions or will one rotten egg spoil this scramble?

Rick roasts up a pipin' hot coffee grinder overhaul after a client spies a recently picked 1800's coffee grinder sitting in the shop's boneyard. Can Rick and the boys brew up a perfectly caffeinated contraption or will a little decaf spoil the fun? And later, the shop revs up a collectible 1930's fishing boat motor. Can the guys go full throttle on this nautical tune up or will this high seas speeder sputter out?

The clock is running for Rick and his crew when they hail in a 1950s taximeter. Can they successfully speed to a detailed destination or will they get stuck in troublesome transformation traffic? And later, it is Brettly's big break when he oversees the restoration of a 1800s Zeno gum vending machine. Can he pop any bubbled blunder that comes this chewing contraption's way or will his best effort turn into a super sticky situation?

Big Rig Marc hits a violent hailstorm while transporting an enormous trolley bus that might just be over the height limit. Jennifer fights the scorching summer sun while she races to get 400 lbs. of live crawfish on ice to a restaurant opening in Austin, Texas.

The Hotshot Couple catch a bad flu en route to the pickup of a state-of-the-art nuclear bomb shelter and Chris butts heads with the seller on the loading of the oversized bunker. Jarrett wins his most expensive load of his career--an Indy 500 racecar. But Jarrett s big payday on the $675,000 car will only happen if he makes it across country in four days.

Jennifer troubleshoots the biggest load of her career--a Mini Max Airplane--that tests her patience. Marc doesn't have a minute to spare or he'll suffer huge consequences with this high dollar load.

Roy's truck comes to a screeching halt when it breaks down for the last time while Jarrett delivers a $150,000 restored Delorean to a nit-picking customer.

The Storage Wars spread to the lone star state in the city of Dallas, Texas. Buyers Ricky and Bubba Smith look past the grime to find a vintage air compressor in their $425 locker. Antique Aficionado Dr. Moe Prigoff purchases a unit for $525 and sniffs out some stunning lithographs. Slick New Yorker Victor Rjesnjansky spends $250 on a room which has a disturbing past. And new store owner Lesa Lewis bids to keep her doors open and her assistant Jerry's mouth closed. The buyers have to be at the top of their game. Like oil, these lockers look crude, but to the trained eye, they're as good as gold.

The auction action heads to Irving, Texas, a town located directly between Dallas and Fort Worth. Lesa Lewis and Moe Prigoff go toe-to-toe for a unit with a mystical item. Victor Rjesnjansky makes twenty-five times his initial investment on a low-price unit, which he pays $20 for. And Ricky and Bubba win a $925 unit containing sci-fi memorabilia. How much profit can one man make? From crystal balls to Jedi masters − the buyers will have to trust in the force to be named the Irving winner.

From stadiums to amusement parks, Arlington has the Texas buyers on the lookout for memorabilia and collectables. Ricky and Bubba play up their country roots in an attempt to nuke the competition. Lesa Lewis treads on a snakeskin ensemble. And Victor Rjesnjansky goes after a scooter with a three thousand dollar potential. Though the buyers search for storage gold-in this arena, it's a silver item that takes first place.

As the bidders arrive at Walt's Longview auction, they notice one major problem. There's a 100-buyer swarm-all of whom are geared up to spend. Ricky and Lesa duke it out for a power tool bonanza. Victor Rjesnjansky strikes it big with a mid-century unit, while Moe Prigoff uses an old friend to transform his locker of junk into a unit of "fabulous" furnishings. With droves of bidders on the prowl--one buyer will have his clocked cleaned, while another cleans up with some antique clocks!

Get all shook up with the Cajun Pawn Stars when the shop gets an opportunity to buy a very unique piece of Elvis--his tooth. Johnnie inspects a vintage Batman marionette. And, Jimmie proves a pawnbroker never takes a break when he sets his eyes on a 1966 Cadillac Fleetwood limousine while he's out to lunch with his wife and Tammie. Will Big Daddy ride home in style or will his wheeling and dealing make him miss lunch and cause family friction?

Hit the road with the Cajun Pawn Stars when they head to shop-regular Bayou Bob's place to see a restored 1927 Chevy Roadster. Jimmie checks out a very rare zebra/donkey hybrid called a zedonk. And, a promissory note signed by Francis Scott Key has the shop feeling patriotic, but will Jimmie swing a star-spangled deal or will negotiations go off-key.

The Ice Road Truckers face their greatest challenges to date. Lisa takes on the biggest haul of her career, and a huge promotion may be on the line. Maya is still stuck under Phil's wing and she's beginning to wonder if he'll ever let her make a solo run. Dave gets a second chance to prove he deserves to be trucking on the Dalton, while Hugh, Rick and Alex embark on an epic race over one of the longest and most treacherous roads in all of Canada.

Rick and Hugh continue their marathon run, but the Winter Roads wreak havoc on the trucks leaving Hugh stuck on the side of the road. Alex comes to the rescue when a local family finds themselves stranded in the wilderness. Maya gets behind the wheel to take another shot at driving the entire haul road with Dave right behind her. And Lisa and Tony continue their heavy-haul convoy. But with her heavy-haul career on the line, the massive load proves to be more than Lisa can handle.