American Pickers

{{Infobox television

| image = AmericanPickers2.jpg

| alt_name = Pickers

| genre = Reality

| creator = Mike Wolfe

| developer = {{Plainlist|

Mark Poertner
Stephen Pettinger

}}

| director = Anthony Mastanduno

| presenter =

| starring = {{Plainlist|

Mike Wolfe
Frank Fritz
Danielle Colby
Robbie Wolfe

}}

| narrated =

| theme_music_composer = Jingle Punks Music

| opentheme =

| endtheme =

| composer = The Dark Studio

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 26

| num_episodes = 402

| list_episodes = List of American Pickers episodes

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

Charles Tremayne
Mark Poertner
Mike Wolfe

}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Simon Lloyd
Stephen Pettinger
Julie Cooper

}}

| editor = {{Plainlist|

Julianna Borg
Max Cherpitel
Charles Montany
William Shaw

}}

| location = {{Plainlist|

}}

| cinematography = John Chiappardi

| camera = Multi-camera

| runtime = 60 minutes

| company = {{Plainlist|

}}

| network = History

| first_aired = {{Start date|2010|01|18}}

| last_aired = present

}}

American Pickers (or also known as The Pickers for international broadcasts) is an American reality television series that premiered on January 18, 2010, on the History Channel, produced by A&E Networks in collaboration with Cineflix Media. In the series, the hosts travel across America in search of rare Americana artifacts and national treasures that they can buy from the collectors to add to their personal collections or sell in their antique shops.

Overview

File:American Pickers Antique Car.jpg Super in front of the Antique Archaeology building in LeClaire, Iowa]]

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,{{cite news |title=At Home with Mike Wolfe: The Jack Kerouac of Junk |author=Steven Kurutz |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 24, 2011 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/25/garden/mike-wolfe-of-american-pickers-at-home-in-iowa.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0}} from their home base in LeClaire, Iowa, and more recently at a second location in Nashville. They originally traveled in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van and now in a Ford Transit. Fritz sells his acquisitions at his own shop and on his website,{{cite news |title='Pickers' don't compete on sales |author=Rob Owen |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=September 2, 2012 |url=http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/tv/168209786.html?refer=y}} Frank Fritz Finds, upriver in Savanna, Illinois.[http://frankfritzfinds.com/The-Store.aspx The Store] frankfritzfinds.com {{dead link|date=July 2023}} The men 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 series introduction is narrated by Wolfe and Fritz. The first three seasons used a lengthy introduction, but beginning with Season 4, a shortened version began to be used:

{{blockquote|[W]e're pickers. We travel the back roads of America looking to buy rusty gold.

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.}}

File:Jello wagon Amer Pickers DSC09360 (cropped).jpg

Wolfe and Fritz 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,{{Cite web|url=http://www.cineflixproductions.com/hosts/26-Mike-Wolfe-Frank-Fritz-|title='Mike Wolfe & Frank Fritz'}} has a particular interest in antique motorcycles, air-cooled Volkswagens, old bicycles, and penny-farthings while Fritz has a fondness for antique toys, oil cans, and old Hondas with a special love for peanut-related items."Mike's Breakdown" (season 2, episode 12) 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.[http://www.rcreader.com/news/american-pickers-feature/ "American Pickers": The Inside Story of the History Channel’s Surprise Hit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100911220551/http://www.rcreader.com/news/american-pickers-feature/ |date=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.""Big Bear" (season 1, episode 1)

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.[http://antiquearchaeology.com/antique_arhaeology_nashville_tn.html Antique Archaeology web page about Nashville location] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225020614/http://antiquearchaeology.com/antique_arhaeology_nashville_tn.html |date=December 25, 2011}}

On July 21, 2021, The History Channel announced that Frank Fritz would be departing from the cast of American Pickers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/no-plans-bring-frank-fritz-175347822.html|title = Frank Fritz will not be returning to American Pickers| date=July 21, 2021 }} On July 21, 2022, various news outlets reported that Fritz was hospitalized with a stroke after Wolfe posted about it on social media.{{cite news |last1=Haring |first1=Bruce |title='American Pickers' Former Costar Frank Fritz Hospitalized With Stroke |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/american-pickers-frank-frtiz-hospitalized-stroke-1235074799/ |access-date=July 22, 2022 |work=Deadline |date=July 22, 2022}} In a late May 2023 visit between Fritz and Wolfe, Fritz deferred rejoining the series at that time due to his health.{{cite news|first=Barb|last=Ickes|title='American Pickers' Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe reunite|url=https://qctimes.com/news/local/american-pickers-frank-fritz-and-mike-wolfe-reunite/article_45c4c0fc-e283-53fc-849f-e539106664c1.html|work=Quad-City Times|date=May 31, 2023|access-date=June 16, 2023}} Danielle 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. At times, they also strike out on their own trips at the same time that Wolfe is on the road. Fritz was born on October 11, 1963,{{Cite web |title=How old was Frank Fritz? 'American Pickers' star and Iowa native died Monday |first=Kate |last=Kealey |work=Des Moines Register |date=October 2, 2024 |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/entertainment/television/2024/10/02/how-old-was-frank-fritz-davenport-iowa-native-died-september-30-american-pickers/75479836007/}} and died on September 30, 2024, at the age of 60.{{Cite web |last=Darwish |first=Meaghan |date=2024-10-01 |title=Frank Fritz Dies: 'American Pickers' Star Was 60 |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1154805/frank-fritz-dead-american-pickers/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=TV Insider |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Frank Fritz of the reality TV Show 'American Pickers' dies at 60|url=https://apnews.com/article/frank-fritz-american-picker-dead-f1a548813dd01a883d820a82bbb25690 |website=AP News |first=Heather |last=Hollingsworth |date=October 1, 2024}}

On April 18, 2025, Mike Wolfe decided to close their Nashville antique shop. The last day of operation was scheduled for April 27th.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2025/04/18/american-pickers-mike-wolfe-nashville-antique-archaeology-closing/83013480007/ |author=Brad Schmitt | date=April 18, 2025 | title='American Pickers star Mike Wolfe is closing Nashville store to spend more time in Iowa'}}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/19/series-debut-of-american-pickers-scores-3-1-million-new-episodes-of-pawn-stars-average-3-8-million/39384|title='Series Debut of American Pickers Scores 3.1 million'|access-date=2010-10-07|archive-date=2010-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202082640/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/19/series-debut-of-american-pickers-scores-3-1-million-new-episodes-of-pawn-stars-average-3-8-million/39384|url-status=dead}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/history%C2%AE-posts-blockbuster-ratings-on-monday-night-with-premiere-episodes-of-hit-series-american-pickers-pawn-stars/62614|title='HISTORY Posts Blockbuster Ratings on Monday Night with Premiere Episodes of Hit Series 'American Pickers & 'Pawn Stars'|access-date=2010-10-07|archive-date=2010-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914031512/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/08/history%C2%AE-posts-blockbuster-ratings-on-monday-night-with-premiere-episodes-of-hit-series-american-pickers-pawn-stars/62614|url-status=dead}}

=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.

Episodes

Home media

class="wikitable"
DVD name ! Format ! Ep # ! Discs ! Region 1 (USA) ! Region 4 (Australia)
American Pickers (Collection 01) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 01, Episode 01-12 \| 03 \| 1 June 2010 \| 6 April 2011
American Pickers (Collection 02) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 02, Episodes 01-08 \| 02 \| \| 1 February 2012
American Pickers (Collection 03) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 02, Episodes 09-13 Season 03, Episodes 01-03 \| 02 \| \| 5 September 2012
American Pickers (Collection 04) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 03, Episodes 04-11 \| 02 \| \| 9 January 2013
American Pickers (Collection 05) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 03, Episodes 12-13 Season 04, Episodes 01-12 \| 04 \| \| 3 July 2013
American Pickers (Collection 06) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 05, Episodes 01-13 Season 06, Episodes 01 \| 03 \| \| 4 December 2013
American Pickers (Collection 07) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 06, Episode 02-10 Season 07, Episodes 01-04 \| 03 \| \| 5 March 2014
American Pickers (Collection 08) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 07, Episodes 06-12 Season 08, Episodes 01-04 \| 03 \| \| 4 June 2014
American Pickers (Collection 09) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 08, Episodes 05-09 Season 09, Episodes 01-07 \| 03 \| \| 1 October 2014
American Pickers: Picking It Forward (Collection 10) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 09, Episode 08-12 Season 10, Episodes 01-04 Season 10, Episodes 06-08 & 11 \| 03 \| \| 2 March 2015
American Pickers: Pick or Treat (Collection 11) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 10, Episode 05 Season 10, Episodes 09-10 Season 10, Episode 12-13 Season 11, Episodes 01-08 \| 03 \| \| 6 July 2015
American Pickers: Big Boy Toys (Collection 12) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 11, Episodes 09-15 Season 12, Episodes 01-07 \| 03 \| \| 9 September 2015
American Pickers: Museum Men (Collection 13) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 12, Episodes 08-11 Season 12, Episodes 13-14 Season 13, Episodes 01-09 \| 04 \| \| 2 March 2016
American Pickers: On The Hunt (Collection 14) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| \| 04 \| \| 1 July 2016
American Pickers: Oddities & Commodities (Collection 15) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 14, Episode 01-05 Season 14, Episodes 10-19 \| 03 \| \| 1 September 2016
American Pickers: Planes, Frames and Automobiles (Collection 16) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 15, Episode 01-10 \| 03 \| \| 5 July 2017
American Pickers: Divide & Conquer (Collection 17) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 15, Episode 12 Season 16, Episodes 01-17 Season 17, Episode 06 \| 04 \| \| 4 October 2017
American Pickers: Tunnels & Treasures (Collection 18) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 17, Episodes 01-05 Season 17, Episodes 07-11 \| 03 \| \| 28 March 2018
American Pickers: The Mother Load (Collection 19) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 18, Episodes 01-06 Season 18, Episode 08 Season 18, Episodes 10,13 \| 03 \| \| 4 July 2018
American Pickers: Junkyard Wizard (Collection 20) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 18, Episodes 07,09-10 Season 19, Episodes 01-08 \| 03 \| \| 6 February 2019
American Pickers: Pickers Like It Hot (Collection 21) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 19, Episodes 09-23 \| 04 \| \| 5 June 2019
American Pickers: Raiders Of The Lost Pick (Collection 22) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 20, Episodes 01-12 \| 03 \| \| 5 February 2020
American Pickers: California Picking (Collection 23) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 20, Episodes 13-24 \| 03 \| \| 4 March 2020
American Pickers: Midwest Mayhem (Collection 24) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 20, Episode 01-11 \| 03 \| N/A \| 7 April 2021
American Pickers: Back Road Buys (Collection 25) \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Season 20, Episode 12-?? \| 03 \| N/A \| 2 June 2021
American Pickers: Mega Collection \| DVD \| style="text-align:center;" \| Box set containing: Planes, Frames & Automobiles Divide & Conquer Tunnels & Treasures The Mother Load Junkyard Wizard Pickers Like It Hot \| \| \| 6 November 2019

class="wikitable"

DVD name

! Format

! Ep #

! Discs

! Region 1 (USA)

! Region 4 (Australia)

American Pickers (Collection 01)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 01, Episode 01-12

| 03

| 1 June 2010

| 6 April 2011

American Pickers (Collection 02)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 02, Episodes 01-08

| 02

| 1 February 2012

American Pickers (Collection 03)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 02, Episodes 09-13

Season 03, Episodes 01-03

| 02

| 5 September 2012

American Pickers (Collection 04)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 03, Episodes 04-11

| 02

| 9 January 2013

American Pickers (Collection 05)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 03, Episodes 12-13

Season 04, Episodes 01-12

| 04

| 3 July 2013

American Pickers (Collection 06)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 05, Episodes 01-13

Season 06, Episodes 01

| 03

| 4 December 2013

American Pickers (Collection 07)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 06, Episode 02-10

Season 07, Episodes 01-04

| 03

| 5 March 2014

American Pickers (Collection 08)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 07, Episodes 06-12

Season 08, Episodes 01-04

| 03

| 4 June 2014

American Pickers (Collection 09)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 08, Episodes 05-09

Season 09, Episodes 01-07

| 03

| 1 October 2014

American Pickers: Picking It Forward (Collection 10)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 09, Episode 08-12

Season 10, Episodes 01-04

Season 10, Episodes 06-08 & 11

| 03

| 2 March 2015

American Pickers: Pick or Treat (Collection 11)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 10, Episode 05

Season 10, Episodes 09-10

Season 10, Episode 12-13

Season 11, Episodes 01-08

| 03

| 6 July 2015

American Pickers: Big Boy Toys (Collection 12)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 11, Episodes 09-15

Season 12, Episodes 01-07

| 03

| 9 September 2015

American Pickers: Museum Men (Collection 13)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 12, Episodes 08-11

Season 12, Episodes 13-14

Season 13, Episodes 01-09

| 04

| 2 March 2016

American Pickers: On The Hunt (Collection 14)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" |

| 04

| 1 July 2016

American Pickers: Oddities & Commodities (Collection 15)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 14, Episode 01-05

Season 14, Episodes 10-19

| 03

| 1 September 2016

American Pickers: Planes, Frames and Automobiles (Collection 16)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 15, Episode 01-10

| 03

| 5 July 2017

American Pickers: Divide & Conquer (Collection 17)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 15, Episode 12

Season 16, Episodes 01-17

Season 17, Episode 06

| 04

| 4 October 2017

American Pickers: Tunnels & Treasures (Collection 18)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 17, Episodes 01-05

Season 17, Episodes 07-11

| 03

| 28 March 2018

American Pickers: The Mother Load (Collection 19)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 18, Episodes 01-06

Season 18, Episode 08

Season 18, Episodes 10,13

| 03

| 4 July 2018

American Pickers: Junkyard Wizard (Collection 20)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 18, Episodes 07,09-10

Season 19, Episodes 01-08

| 03

| 6 February 2019

American Pickers: Pickers Like It Hot (Collection 21)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 19, Episodes 09-23

| 04

| 5 June 2019

American Pickers: Raiders Of The Lost Pick (Collection 22)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 20, Episodes 01-12

| 03

| 5 February 2020

American Pickers: California Picking (Collection 23)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 20, Episodes 13-24

| 03

| 4 March 2020

American Pickers: Midwest Mayhem (Collection 24)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 20, Episode 01-11

| 03

| N/A

| 7 April 2021

American Pickers: Back Road Buys (Collection 25)

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Season 20, Episode 12-??

| 03

| N/A

| 2 June 2021

American Pickers: Mega Collection

| DVD

| style="text-align:center;" | Box set containing:

Planes, Frames & Automobiles

Divide & Conquer

Tunnels & Treasures

The Mother Load

Junkyard Wizard

Pickers Like It Hot

| 6 November 2019

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.

References

External links

{{Official website|http://www.history.com/shows/american-pickers}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20130204010751/http://www.history.com/shows/american-pickers/bios/ History's "Meet the Pickers" cast bios]
[http://www.antiquearchaeology.com Official Antique Archaeology website]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20130115063023/http://www.frankfritzfinds.com/Home.aspx Official Frank Fritz Finds website (archive)]
{{IMDb title|1596786}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20100911220551/http://www.rcreader.com/news/american-pickers-feature/ "American Pickers": The Inside Story of the History Channel’s Surprise Hit], Jeff Ignatius, River Cities' Reader, 17 March 2010