AboutWhat does the meme depict?

The "Best I Can Do Is" meme features Rick Harrison from the TV show Pawn Stars. This meme typically shows Rick, often in a still from the show, talking to a customer about an item they've brought in for appraisal. After consulting with an expert on the item's value, Rick is depicted making an offer, usually humorously lower than expected. This format is widely used online as a phrasal template and exploitable meme, wherein the amount Rick offers is altered to enhance the comedic effect.

OriginWho did it first?

The phrase "Best I can do is X" originates from the television show Pawn Stars, where co-owner Rick Harrison frequently uses it when negotiating prices with customers. In the show, after an expert appraisal, Rick famously quips this line before making an offer, often seen as a low-ball. This recurring scenario on Pawn Stars inspired the meme, which humorously substitutes the narrative and the offer amount to create various comedic effects. Memes using this catchphrase began circulating widely around the middle of 2010, originally fitting the Advice Animals meme format. One of the earliest examples, showing Rick offering fifty cents for a dollar, was archived on Know Your Meme by user Brad in early 2012, signifying its popularity in the meme culture of that period. A compilation of Rick using the phrase in multiple episodes can be seen in this video on YouTube.^[1]

Origin: 2009