American Pickers, the beloved antique-hunting series, has been going strong for over a decade now. But over 10 years of episodes means there are over 10 years’ worth of behind-the-scenes secrets and fun facts about the cast and show!
Image via @mikewolfeamericanpicker/IG; Screenshot from "American Pickers"
From how each of the main cast members got into vintage collecting in the first place to the real reason Frank Fritz suddenly left after Season 20, did you know any of these wild things that happened between takes?
Recycle America
The antique-hunting show has been a highly-admired History Channel show for over a decade now. The series focuses on finding some cool, vintage items, but really, it's about so much more.
As the History Channel states, “The American Pickers are on a mission to recycle America”, and do so by driving all around the country to find hidden gems in places you never would’ve expected—the grimier the location, the more adventurous the hunt is.
Image by History Channel Cineclipse Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock (5882980d)
Did you ever wonder how the team decided to turn their adventure into a reality show watched by millions of viewers, though?
History Will Always Be Important
Even if you’ve only watched one episode, you can tell that everyone involved with the series is incredibly passionate about antiquing and the history of America. After all, every piece of “trash” comes with a rich history, and that’s what makes each item so precious.
Image by History Channel Cineclipse Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock (5882980l)
But before we jump into how the show even got started, let’s dive into the rich history of the American Pickers team. More specifically, how the team got into antiquing in the first place.
Mike Wolfe’s Dream
The original team of American Pickers consisted of Danielle Colby, Frank Fritz, and Mike Wolfe. But how did the show actually get started?
Image by History Channel Cineclipse Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock (5882980j)
Long before the show started, Mike Wolfe was on a quest for antique items which included traveling around the country and meeting people who he never normally would have. This was something he wanted to share with the world and that's how the concept of the show was born.
How Did the Show Get Started?
Mike had been dreaming up this show for years before it actually took off. But Danielle Colby was right there the whole time supporting him from the sideline and behind the scenes.
Screenshot from "American Pickers"
“When I was pitching the show for 5 years, [Danielle] was really inspirational to me, as far as like, you know, just keeping the wheels on the track. Saying, ‘Hey, you can do this! Don’t give up on it,'” Mike Wolfe explained during a 2019 interview with Fox News.
Getting into Antique Hunting
Ever since the age of 4, Mike loved looking for “hidden treasure” and eventually turned it into a profession. As the years went by, he has become one of the country’s leading antique scavengers, but that’s just the start of it.
Image via @mikewolfeamericanpicker/IG
From hearing the intriguing backstories of the items he finds to meeting the owners themselves, Mike Wolfe loves that a big part of treasure hunting is the outrageous expedition itself.
A Modern-Day Pirate
One could say that searching for and collecting antiques is the modern-day version of being a pirate and hunting for treasure. In fact, Wolfe believes that being a picker like himself is pretty much like being a nomad.
Image via @mikewolfeamericanpicker/IG
And the type of items Mike loves most are those that are filled with history. “He looks for things with a story; things that fill in some of the blanks in the everyday history of America. That could be anything from antique baby carriages and vintage jukeboxes to old cars and peeling metal advertising signs,” according to The History Channel.
