LET’S BE FRANK American Pickers star Frank Fritz ‘not surprised’ ratings have plummeted as fans beg him to return to struggling show

AMERICAN Pickers star Frank Fritz is “not surprised” ratings have plummeted without him, as fans beg for his return to the struggling show.

New episodes of American Pickers featuring Mike Wolfe, his brother Robbie and Danielle Colby have brought in low ratings compared to previous seasons.

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Former star Frank Fritz ‘isn’t surpised’ by the ratings crisis

The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal the ratings decrease doesn’t come as a surprise to former host Frank, 59.

A source close to Frank told The U.S. Sun: “Yeah we all know ratings went down. We’re not surprised by that. Frank finds that a little bit funny.

“Frank still gets tons of fan mail. I would say he’s the favorite. Everyone likes the underdog.

“The show is better with Frank.”

Frank last appeared on American Pickers in March 2020 when he left to recover from back surgery.

Mike, 59 announced over Instagram that he was no longer with the show in 2021.

The source continued: “He wishes everything to go well for everybody. He doesn’t have no bad taste in his mouth. It is what it is.”

RATINGS CRISIS
Ratings for the current season have been struggling, as The U.S. Sun reported the August 23 episode brought in just 620,000 viewers, the lowest of the season.

The August 16 episode had 706,000 people watch, while the August 9 episode had 778,000.

Ratings were better for the July 26 episode with 885,000 viewers watching.

For the July 19 episode, just 713,000 people tuned in, while 803,000 watched the July 12 show.

The U.S. Sun reported 918,000 viewers watched the premiere episode.

Ratings were in the millions when Frank was on the series.

FAN BOYCOTT
The ratings trouble could have to do with fans boycotting the show after Frank was fired.

One commented of the premiere episode: “I’ll only watch American Pickers if it’s a rerun with Frank. Carry on.”

A second said: “The only episodes of American Pickers I watch is WITH FRANK.”

A third asked on the show’s Twitter account: “Why did you screw Frank over?”

FRANK’S BACK?
But fortunately for American Pickers, Frank could help ratings by possibly returning to the show.

The U.S. Sun previously reported he has been in talks to return to the show one year after suffering a stroke in July 2022.

A source close to Frank told The U.S. Sun: “I don’t know why he wouldn’t return to the show. He could go back to the show, maybe.

“He watches the new episodes. He’ll laugh about it. Got to find something on there to razz them about. He’ll tell them about it.”

The insider said when it came down to Frank being fired from the show it “wasn’t that big of a deal.”

The insider claimed: “He came home after filming and said, ‘I think I’m going to be done for a while.’ I think he had burnout. His back surgery was major. Whatever decision came down, it came down.

“Frank had a stroke now he has to do what he has to do. And Mike and Robbie and the show do what they have to do.”

The insider alleged: “People on the show, the crew, Mike and Robbie, there is no bad blood. The crew comes to see him. They keep in touch. They come to see him when they’re in town. They all get together. It’s a good time.

“They’re just buddies and the conversation is what it always was. Those guys are crazy about picking and finding stuff, so that’s the conversation.”

But though Frank returning to the show is a possibility, the insider admitted: “I don’t know that he wants to.”

FRANK’S FIRING
The last time Frank appeared on American Pickers was during a March 2020 episode.

He left the show to recover from back surgery, leaving him with 185 stitches and two rods in his spine.

During his break from the show, Frank lost 65 pounds and entered rehab for alcohol addiction in Iowa for 77 days.

Frank revealed his feud with co-star Mike during the 2021 interview with The U.S. Sun.

The fan-favorite said: “I haven’t talked to Mike in two years. 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.

“The show is tilted towards him 1,000 percent. I can’t even bend that far down to show you how much.

“That’s fine. It’s like you’ve got Aerosmith and there’s Steven Tyler and he’s the frontman.

“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.”

He also admitted: “I think Mike wants to get his brother Robbie in there to replace me. I don’t know why he’s behaving like that towards me.”

Mike shortly after the interview announced Frank’s firing over Instagram in July 2021 with a post that read: “I have known Frank for as long as I can remember, he’s been like a brother to me. 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.

“The support that you all have given us has been a constant reminder of what the show’s message has always been; thru these places, people, and things we all have a common thread. We’re here to not only take care of the past, but also each other.”

Mike concluded: “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.”

Frank suffered a stroke in July 2022, and was placed under conservatorship and guardianship the following month.

FRIENDS AGAIN
Mike and Frank reunited over Memorial Day Weekend for the first time in years after a shocking feud, as The U.S. Sun previously revealed the status of their relationship today.

A source close to Frank told The U.S. Sun: “Everything between them is fine. They’ve known each other for 40 years. They went to high school, they’ve done all this stuff together. They’re very good friends, great friends.