American Pickers

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

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.

Why did they change a good setup by firing Frank?? He was the most interesting picker and a good contrast to egotistical Mike.

I watched a couple episodes with Mike's brother and he is just a lump of nothing. So boring.

Then they have Danniel as a picker. She tries to get deals by flirting and bating her eyes. So boring.

This show has run its course and calling it a "reality show" is a joke. It is common knowledge that it is totally scripted.

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.

ADD: I miss Frank. I think the show does too. It's a lesser show without him. RIP.

I always enjoyed the Frank and Mike days. They always seemed like lifetime buddies who enjoyed working together. Of course, I understood that wasn't exactly true. There were always 'scandal sheet stories' of Franks alcoholism and Mikes womanizing. But the last season, I watched about half the season and couldn't watch anymore. Frank had hurt his back and needed time off for surgery and rehabilitation and Mike used the 'alcoholism' angle that had never been a problem before to fire him. And then Mike left his wife and child for some 'adult' actress. And Danielle 'fell in line' also making public statements downing Frank because she got his 'on the road picking' job. I used to love seeing her on the show. Now I can't stand either of them. She has no loyalty.