Lowest Ratings Ever: American Pickers Faces Fallout from Frank Fritz’s Exit

**Season 26 of *American Pickers* Struggles with Low Ratings**

Season 26 of *American Pickers* premiered on October 9, featuring Mike Wolfe (59), Robbie Wolfe, John Cay, and Danielle Colby. However, ratings have been notably low compared to previous seasons. The October 30th episode, featuring a DeLorean and a collection of carousel horses, toy tanks, and bumper cars, attracted only 442,000 viewers — the lowest numbers since the season premiere.

The premiere episode brought in 565,000 viewers, showcasing Mike’s picks through Evel Knievel memorabilia. However, the second episode on October 16 saw a sharp drop to 463,000 viewers, marking a loss of over 100,000 viewers in just one week. The third episode, titled *The Great Ruli*, saw a slight surge with 566,000 viewers.

—

**Comparing Ratings: Season 25 vs. Season 26**

*American Pickers* ratings for Season 26 continue to trail behind those of Season 25. The previous season, which began with a two-episode premiere in December 2023, attracted 723,000 viewers for the first episode and 676,000 for the second. By the third episode, ratings climbed to 880,000, peaking at 948,000 viewers by January 24. However, ratings fluctuated throughout February, with the lowest recorded on February 14 (774,000 viewers) and the highest on February 28 (966,000). Season 25’s finale, aired on March 27, garnered 832,000 viewers.

—

**Frank Fritz’s Absence and Impact on the Show**

The decline in ratings can be partly attributed to the absence of Frank Fritz, who last appeared on *American Pickers* in March 2020. Fritz left the series to undergo back surgery and was later involved in a public feud with his co-star Mike Wolfe. In a 2021 interview, Fritz revealed that he had not spoken to Mike in two years, adding, “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.” He also mentioned feeling sidelined on the show, comparing it to being the “second” player in a duo.

—

**Mike Wolfe Opens Up About Frank’s Struggles**

Mike Wolfe later discussed the reasons behind Frank’s departure. According to Mike, during the pandemic, Frank suffered a back injury while moving items at his Iowa home, leading to surgery. Unfortunately, this became a “perfect storm” for Frank’s struggle with opioid addiction. Mike staged an intervention with Frank’s loved ones, but despite his efforts, Frank’s addiction worsened.

Mike revealed that *American Pickers* production asked Frank for negative drug tests, but he was unable to provide them, leading to his exit from the show. Despite their falling out, Mike expressed that they ultimately reconciled. “When we did end up speaking again, it was so easy for me to forgive him because I knew it wasn’t him talking; it was his addiction talking,” Mike said.

—

**Frank Fritz’s Health Struggles and Substance Abuse Battle**

An insider close to the situation revealed that Frank’s substance abuse issues began after his battle with Crohn’s disease, which caused his bones to weaken. After fracturing his back, Frank became addicted to pain medication. The source also stated that Frank went to rehab twice to combat his addiction, and after leaving treatment, he suffered a stroke in July 2022.

Frank had entered a treatment program for alcohol abuse at the Abbey Center in Bendorf, Iowa, where he remained sober for 11 months before the stroke. His struggles, both with addiction and his health, have left a lasting impact on his relationship with Mike Wolfe and *American Pickers*.