Has-been TV star Frank Fritz wants another fifteen minutes of fame. He managed to break through the wall of silence which was put up around him by his network, to beg the American Picker producers to let him back in front of a camera. They didn’t make any real promising noises in response. He heard a lot of “maybe” and “we’ll think about it.” After the interview, he got his answer.
This picker isn’t grinning
Starting in 2010, a television series called “American Pickers” followed around two antique collectors, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz. “They would travel around the United States to buy or ‘pick’ various items.
They then resell the items for either their personal collections or for clients.” After a ten year run, viewers began to notice that picker Frank Fritz hadn’t been on the show for a while. It turns out “Fritz hasn’t appeared on the show since March 2020.”
Fritz managed to get an interview with The Sun so he could get word of his plight out to the public. It turns out he took some time off for back surgery and then the pandemic hit. He lost a full 65-pounds and he’s ready to get back to work as a picker. The network isn’t so sure they’ll let him.
Ratings are way up since he’s been gone. “It’s up to the network whether I come back on the show. It ain’t gonna affect me one bit. I didn’t leave the show, I finished shooting and then I had a little back surgery and the pandemic came.”
His picker partner, Mike Wolfe, “never contacted him to find out how he was doing.” In fact, “they haven’t spoken since, making it about two years.” Mike “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. The show is tilted towards him 1,000 percent.” Frank never had a problem being in Mike’s shadow.
“It’s like you’ve got Aerosmith and there’s Steven Tyler and he’s the front man. 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.”
American Pickers' Frank drops 65 lbs as he resurfaces for first time in a year https://t.co/Y9VGZnelhj
— The Sun TV (@TheSunTV) July 19, 2021
Sorry Frank
After Frank threw his snit fit of an interview, the picker bigwigs reached out for a conference. It was a rather one-sided meeting. “Fritz will not be returning to American Pickers.” He’s a nice guy and everything but color him gone. “I have known Frank for as long as I can remember, he’s been like a brother to me,” Wolf declares. Don’t let the screen door hit you on the rump though.
“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.” Do what you like, but don’t do it here.
Industry outlets are reporting that “History Channel has no plans to bring Fritz back and he doesn’t factor into the show’s ‘big picture.'”
Danielle Colby, who helps Mike run his picker storefront cryptically notes, “I’m truly saddened for the loss of Frank on the show. I’m incredibly sad for his struggles. I have personally watched everything over the last decade. I have many thoughts but won’t speak them as they are only my thoughts, not gospel. I wish things could have been different but we must be accountable for our actions when we cause instability or pain and suffering to others.”
“Frank caused so much pain for himself that it has been hard to watch. I truly hope Frank receives all the help he needs to become well after years of being unwell. It is not my place to speak Ill of someone who needs help so I will keep my comments uplifting.”
She makes it seem like the picker had a lot bigger problem than one which requires back surgery. Well, Frank finally admitted, along with getting his back fixed, “he checked into rehab for alcohol abuse in Iowa for 77 days.” He “went to rehab and I’ve been sober now for 11 months.”