American Pickers

Overview

The show follows antique and collectible picker Mike Wolfe and a co-host (originally Frank Fritz until 2022), who travel around the United States to buy (or "pick") various items for resale, for clients, or for their personal collections. Danielle Colby runs the office of Wolfe's business, Antique Archaeology, from their home base in LeClaire, Iowa. They originally traveled in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van and now in a Ford Transit. The pickers go on the road, not only following up leads that Colby has generated but also "freestyling"–stopping at places that look like they might hold items worth buying. They also pick some places more than once.

The first three seasons used a lengthy introduction, but beginning with Season 4, a shortened version began to be used:

We're looking for amazing things buried in people's garages and barns. What most people see as junk, we see as dollar signs. We'll buy anything we think we can make a buck on. Each item we pick has a history all its own. And the people we meet? Well, they're a breed all their own.

We make a living telling the history of America... one piece at a time.}}

The pickers explore people's homes, barns, sheds, outbuildings, and other places where they have stored antiques and collectibles. They call upon amateur and serious collectors, hoarders, and also people who have inherited overwhelming collections of items that they don't know what to do with. Wolfe, who has been picking since age four, has a particular interest in antique motorcycles, air-cooled Volkswagens, old bicycles, and penny-farthings. They have purchased old advertisements and commercial signage, film posters, a rare 15-gallon visible gasoline pump, and a Piaggio Ape (pronounced "ah-pay") which a friend told them is probably the only one of its kind in North America.

In December 2011, American Pickers revealed that Antique Archaeology had leased part of a former 1914 car factory in Nashville which originally made the Marathon automobile for a second business location to decrease the distance required to haul their finds from the southern states. This location subsequently closed in 2025.

On July 21, 2021, The History Channel announced that Frank Fritz was leaving American Pickers. On July 21, 2022, various news outlets reported that Fritz was hospitalized with a stroke. In a late May 2023 visit between Fritz and Wolfe, Fritz deferred rejoining the series at that time due to his health. Colby, Mike Wolfe's younger brother Robbie, and friend and antiques expert "Jersey Jon" Szalay have since taken turns accompanying Wolfe on his road trips. They also occasionally make their own trips independently.

Fritz was born on October 11, 1963, and died on September 30, 2024, at the age of 60.

Reception

The series debuted on January 18, 2010. The premiere episode of American Pickers had 3.1 million viewers, making it the highest rated History channel debut since Ice Road Truckers in 2007. The September 8, 2010, episode "Laurel & Hardy" garnered Nielsen ratings as high as 5.3 million viewers in the 25–54 age group. As of that episode, the show retained the title of #1 new non-fiction series of 2010 among all viewers and adults 25–54.

Australia

American Pickers was also shown in Australia on 7mate. In 2013, an Australian version of the show, called Aussie Pickers, premiered on 7mate. The series ran until 2014, lasting two seasons. In 2019, Road to Riches was launched on A&E Australia.

Ireland

In 2020, A+E Networks UK commissioned Irish Pickers, which follows Irish antique dealer Ian Dowling. It premiered on Blaze and is narrated by Ardal O'Hanlon.

Episodes

Main article: List of American Pickers episodes

Home media

In other media

• In the NCIS episode, "One Man's Trash", Gibbs and Ducky watch American Pickers and see an antique war stick from a 16-year-old cold case. Mike Wolfe guest stars as himself in the episode.

Notes

The series was re-broadcast on ITV4 from 6 October 2025 onwards.

The series was re-broadcast on Channel 4 from 20 October 2025 onwards.

References

References

1. (2025). "Mike Wolfe {{!}} Writer, Producer, Actor". Amazon.
2. Steven Kurutz. (August 24, 2011). "At Home with Mike Wolfe: The Jack Kerouac of Junk". [[The New York Times]].
3. "'Mike Wolfe & Frank Fritz'".
4. [http://www.rcreader.com/news/american-pickers-feature/ "American Pickers": The Inside Story of the History Channel’s Surprise Hit] {{Webarchive. link. (September 11, 2010 River Cities' Reader Quote: "The episode "Super Scooter" shows how the pair works together. Wolfe is nearly drooling over a Vespa Ape scooter.")
5. "Big Bear" (season 1, episode 1)
6. [http://antiquearchaeology.com/antique_arhaeology_nashville_tn.html Antique Archaeology web page about Nashville location] {{webarchive. link. (December 25, 2011)
7. Brad Schmitt. (April 18, 2025). "'American Pickers star Mike Wolfe is closing Nashville store to spend more time in Iowa'".
8. (July 21, 2021). "Frank Fritz will not be returning to American Pickers".
9. (July 22, 2022). "'American Pickers' Former Costar Frank Fritz Hospitalized With Stroke". Deadline.
10. Ickes, Barb. (May 31, 2023). "'American Pickers' Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe reunite". [[Quad-City Times]].
11. Kealey, Kate. (October 2, 2024). "How old was Frank Fritz? 'American Pickers' star and Iowa native died Monday". Des Moines Register.
12. Darwish, Meaghan. (2024-10-01). "Frank Fritz Dies: 'American Pickers' Star Was 60".
13. Hollingsworth, Heather. (October 1, 2024). "Frank Fritz of the reality TV Show 'American Pickers' dies at 60".
14. "'Series Debut of American Pickers Scores 3.1 million'".
15. "'HISTORY Posts Blockbuster Ratings on Monday Night with Premiere Episodes of Hit Series 'American Pickers & 'Pawn Stars'".
16. Kanter, Jake. (2020-01-16). "A+E Networks Remaking ‘American Pickers’ For UK Channel Blaze As ‘Irish Pickers’".
17. Moore, Paul. (2021-03-05). "Irish Pickers star on the items lying around homes that could be worth a fortune".
18. (16 January 2020). "Ardal O'Hanlon joins Irish treasure hunters' new show.".