Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz of “American Pickers” have amassed more than 300 episodes over the course of 21 seasons, making them one of TV’s greatest and most enduring teams. Their program was one of the History Network’s major successes, and they contributed to determining the channel’s identity and course.
Wolfe and Fritz experienced antique “pickers” with complementary specialties, journeying throughout the United States and hunting for remote barns, farmhouses, and garages in search of forgotten and abandoned treasures. This is a straightforward but interesting notion.
They then turn around their amazing finds and sell them for a lot of money with the assistance of Danielle Colby, who is keeping things in order at their shop and headquarters back home. It may be practically infinitely repeated and is excellent for binge-watching and relaxing television.
It did, at least, The original version of “American Pickers” no longer exists. The summer of 2021 saw the public disclosure of what seemed to be a protracted and extremely vicious feud between Wolfe and Fritz. Here is a detailed summary of the nasty quarrels among the “American Pickers” main characters.
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The lost treasure of Frank Fritz
In retrospect, it appears that there were already indications of an “American Pickers”-focused split in the spring of 2020. At first, Season 21 of the series adhered to the show’s venerable formula, which saw Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz traveling across the United States in search of treasure, discovering it, evaluating and obtaining it, and then moving on to the next location.
The seventh episode of the run, “Burlesque Queen,” however, served as what is essentially the final episode of Fritz’s time on the program. Frank and Mike travel to Kansas City in the episode in quest of unique and intriguing products. In the following episode, “Ghost of the West,” which debuted on March 2, 2020, Fritz was not present.
An “American Pickers” first, neither former partner Wolfe nor store manager (and newly promoted on-location picking partner) Danielle Colby offered any justification for Fritz’s protracted absence and hardly even recognized that anything was wrong.
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Nearly a year after those initial Fritz-free episodes premiered, Season 22 of “American Pickers” didn’t premiere on TV because of lockdowns related to the coronavirus outbreak and limitations on TV productions. The “American Pickers” star may be permanently gone, as viewers were concerned when they noticed that Fritz was still missing from the show and had been swiftly replaced.
Frank Fritz Calls Out Mike Wolfe in Interview
Frank Fritz finally broke his silence in July 2021 and revealed the reason he was no longer a member of the program that had made him a reality TV celebrity. Fritz asserts in an interview with The Sun that he didn’t quit “American Pickers” but rather stopped taking part in the new episodes. These two things resemble one another on the surface, yet Fritz can show how subtly they differ. “Whether I come back on the show is up to the network,” he stated. “I didn’t leave the show. I finished shooting and then I had a little back surgery and the pandemic came.”
Those remarks make reference to Fritz’s difficult medical condition. Due to his need to recover from back surgery, he was unable to film “American Pickers” in 2020–2021. He has Crohn’s disease, a severe and persistent inflammatory condition that affects the digestive system. Recently, he shed more than 65 pounds, which he credited to increasing his exercise and giving up alcohol. He declared, “I haven’t had a drink in almost nine, ten months.”
An “American Pickers” first, neither former partner Wolfe nor store manager (and newly promoted on-location picking partner) Danielle Colby offered any justification for Fritz’s protracted absence and hardly even recognized that anything was wrong.
Frank Fritz, who claims to have known Mike Wolfe for more than 40 years, revealed to The Sun that their disagreement started quite quietly a while before the “American Pickers” quarrel became widely known in 2021. “I haven’t spoken to Mike in two years,” Fritz admitted, adding that the fact that he didn’t even answer a call from his longtime buddy and co-star from a decade ago either before or after his back surgery truly hurt. “He knew my back was messed up, but he didn’t call me up and ask how I was doing. That’s just how it is.”
In particular, Fritz’s animosity with Wolfe over the presentation and creation of “American Pickers” seemed to have grown as a result of this. Fritz claimed that “the show is tilted towards him 1,000 percent.” I can’t even stoop down that low to demonstrate how much. Wolfe (and the other “American Pickers” team members) were singled out, although Fritz claimed to understand his position on the show. Fritz compared it to having Steven Tyler as the lead man for the band Aerosmith. “I found my spot, I’m second and he’s number one on the show. That’s no problem with me, maybe he does have a problem.”
Frank Fritz won’t be joining American Pickers again, according to Mike Wolfe
The History Channel gave it official recognition on July 21, 2021. Fritz’s lengthy run on “American Pickers” is ended, a network representative confirmed to Entertainment Weekly, and he won’t be seen in any new episodes for the foreseeable future. According to the source, History wasn’t actively considering having Fritz return because he didn’t fit with the “big picture” of the brand.
Finally speaking about Fritz’s absence at that point, Mike Wolfe did not address or acknowledge any of the criticisms Fritz’s now ex-co-star had leveled at him. In a statement to entertainment media sites, he expressed good wishes for his erstwhile friend while oddly making no mention of his objections to Fritz’s choice. “I have known Frank for as long as I can remember, he’s been like a brother to me,” Wolfe penned.
“The journey that Frank, Dani, and I started back in 2009, like all of life, has come with its highs and lows, blessings and challenges, but it has also been the most rewarding. I will miss Frank, just like all of you, and I pray for the very best and all good things for him on the next part of his journey.”
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Danielle Colby In Support of Mike Wolfe
A member of the “American Pickers” family made some comments that were a little more dramatic and even accusatory than Mike Wolfe’s succinct, courteous, and professional statement regarding the ongoing Frank Fritz affair.
The third cast member of “American Pickers,” Danielle “Dani” Colby, who plays a critical role in the success triangle of the program, provided an Instagram statement about the backstage conflict on August 2, 2021.
She also made a definite choice of side. With a picture of herself and Wolfe “out on the road again,” Colby wrote, “I’m proud of how you have handled the last 12 years and look forward to many more years of rolling around this big blue marble together.” “I’m truly saddened for the loss of Frank on the show. I’m incredibly sad for his struggles.”
Colby continued, “Things could have been different, but we must be accountable for our actions when we cause instability or pain and suffering to others,” and that “Frank caused so much pain for himself that it has been hard to watch.” She may have been alluding to Fritz’s alcoholism which he discussed with The Sun or to other, very private issues that the general public has not yet heard about.
How Frank Fritz Is Dealing After His Firing From American Pickers
It should be noted that Frank Fritz was the one who first decided to stop the filming of American Pickers and claim he needed to recover from a back operation. While he was gone, the show continued without him despite the fact that he first seemed to believe he would be returning to the series.
As sources reported that the show was shot without Frank without any problems, it initially appeared as though it was only a creative decision. The remaining Pickers cast members did, however, start to speak more candidly about what transpired as the tale gained popularity online.
Danielle Colby, a star of another television program, claimed that when it came to Frank, viewers were not given the complete picture. She described how Fritz “caused so much pain for himself” over a long period of time in a post, indicating that the actions had been occurring for “years.”
Additionally, Mike Wolfe has stated that there are explanations for why Fritz was fired from the series despite first taking a leave of absence on his own. Since then, Wolfe’s brother Robbie has joined the show as a sidekick, although American Pickers has had trouble with the numbers.
Frank Fritz acknowledged attending rehab, mentioned having money problems at the time, and mentioned spending 77 days in a sober living home. Fritz also discussed a relationship that he claims ended badly because of adultery during that time.
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The broken romance had cost him a lot of money, he had previously disclosed to The Sun, adding to his other financial troubles: “I was going to get married, I bought a house and a big expensive ring, and then I find out my fiancée had been dating somebody else for two and a half years. She’s the cheater, that’s why I got a tattoo saying ‘Once a cheater always a cheater.’ I got the tattoo two years ago just to remind myself not to make the same mistake again. She cost me six figures.”
