American Pickers

Let's separate the vitriol and resentment of History channel's programming shift as presented by other reviewers to acknowledge this fact: History has clearly shifted it's initial charter. While I share many of the forlorn opinions of disappointed viewers in History's departure from educational programming, I say to those who resent this change to donate to PBS. History needs to pay the bills and meet viewer demand, so alas we're subject to 75% 'reality shows' that are on the thinnest thread tangentially related to history.

So I evaluate American Pickers as a show in its singularity, and not in the context of the network's namesake. And as far as 'reality' TV goes (a content matter in which I generally avoid), I find this show as wholly engrossing television. My review assumes the reader is familiar with the show's premise.

The appeal has layers for many viewers, perhaps accidentally. It appeals to the human element, the business element, and the joy of discovery. Not necessarily in that order.

The human element shows the primary hosts are affable and enjoyable, and they treat their prospective sellers with respect. The dynamics between the Mike, Frank, and Danielle are enjoyable to watch and relatable to anyone who has worked in a front office/field environment.

The business element is fascinating in the negotiations, valuation, and reward (or loss). For those who have suggested that Mike and Frank are "vultures" looking to "rip people off," I counter by saying these two are forthright businessmen, and they do the work of what any middle party does—that is to maximize profit. If the negative reviewers want to cry injustice, I'd suggest a study in how much it cost to manufacture any iDevice.

The third element, and perhaps most inclusive, is the joy of discovery. Whether it's an old oil can or a rusty old gear shift, it's fascinating to see the collection of odds and ends that would otherwise be discarded, forgotten, or simply erode with time spark with new life by those who can assign value. And superficially, they discover some really interesting items.

So this program has as much to do with history as "Ice Road Truckers" or "Tracking Bigfoot" or any other sensational program on History. Let's face and embrace reality viewers—History has mostly abandoned history some time ago. So whether this show is on History, Discovery, NBC, or Comedy Central, it matters not. This show is good TV regardless of the network.

Would have been 10/10 until they dropped Frank in the recent season. Replacements are going to cut it Mike.

Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe are business partners buying (mostly) and selling old junk. They travel the country and even the world to find interesting items. The boys are helped by Danielle Colby-Cushman.

I'm sure that there is some scripting going on but it doesn't really matter. I don't think anybody actually believe they make their money doing this. The reality is that they probably barely cover their gas money. That's not why I like this show. It's about interesting items and their history as well as the chemistry between the guys. One can't help but like the guys. It's fun to see some of these items and the prices isn't even that important.

I have always enjoyed American Pickers since I first started watching it in 2012. I had never seen a show like it; the collectors, the inheritors, the bat crap crazy. It has always been interesting to see into the lives of so many people and the stuff or treasure, depending on your view, that they had. Seeing Mike's and Frank's excitement when they see a toy, bike, piece of history, something they have never seen before; it was like 2 kids in a toy store. That being said, it is a shame of bad of a falling out Mike and Frank have had in the past year over Frank's allegations after his back surgery. I don't know who is right or wrong but it is always sad when this kind of friendship ends this way. This is not like Mythbusters, where both Jamie and Adam really didn't like each other but managed to work on a show for years without any real public dust-ups; these 2 were actually friends travelling around buying stuff. Without Frank the show just isn't the same; having Danielle and Robbie on it in a far more prominent picking role never seemed right and still doesn't. They have had a wonderful decade of picking for entertainment but time for the show to end.

This is a program I'll watch and find interesting should I stumble across it. It's the ad break, I don't know what channel I'm on. - oh! Dave. Ok. It's showing several episodes back to back. The first seemed to have a tin toy theme, then the were somewhere buying signs. Next episodes, a couple of visits, the theme seems to be signs. Is it just that most of the collectors have collected signs. Maybe I need to watch more episodes, maybe they don't have themes?

Being in the UK we've grown up with antique programs ranging from high end discoveries on Antique Road Show to accessible objects on Bargain Hunt. Far from giving me insights into what will make money, I'm usually amazed when something makes money and baffled by what makes a loss. With this program I am amazed at how much they pay for items. Considering the glut of signs there appears to be in the US I don't get the prices the pickers are paying. I would rather know how much they actually sell items for but on the whole they just give a valuation which is always higher than they paid. The one item the reported has selling at auction made a massive loss which is what I suspect happens with most of the stuff, if it ever sells. ..... enjoying it, fascinated, intrigued as the numbers don't add up.