AMERICAN PICKERS: Not All Locals Will Love Mike Wolfe Coming to Town

Of course, it wouldn’t be reality TV without some drama, and not all locals are going to be happy about the sudden appearance of a swath of newcomers making changes in thier town. In any story about out-of-towners coming in to restore a small community, it would be irresponsible not to share a range of local opinions as well. If the project of reality TV is to open the world to the reality of a given group, it should share this reality from different angles. Filming would require the locals’ cooperation in all aspects, from requesting permits for the project, rental of properties for parking, capturing local individuals in the background of shots, and, hopefully, as customers of the new businesses and willing participants in the series.

A town source told the U.S. Sun that while some people in the town are happy with the rapid changes Wolfe’s projects have brought to the town, many others are not. They remarked that the town was therefore in an “interesting” state of flux. Attempting to win over the local opposition could be a risky move if the newcomers meet resistance that is insurmountable. But the journey from irritation to acceptance could also be an incredibly rewarding risk as well.

If there is someone who is qualified to approach a small town community and assure them that the changes being made are with respect to the town’s history, it would be Wolfe. He cherishes American history, and even initially chose the town as a new homebase for his heritage tourism project because of its historical links to the transportation industry. On American Pickers, Mike often praises the local individuals in their community who operate from this sense of pride of place, acknowledging that every small town community needs these anchors who know the history of the town. In an episode from Season 25 of American Pickers, speaking about a man who has lived in his small town for his entire life, working to maintain its history all the while, Wolfe fondly observed: “one man’s work and one man’s voice can inspire a whole community.”

A reality series about Wolfe and his growing community in Columbia, Tennessee that shows his efforts to win over the individuals who have so far opposed the changes in the town would make for fascinating TV. Wolfe could continue his role educating viewers about the historical significance in and around the town, in the time when he is not on the road with his other reality series. A rotating group of new and local businesses could feature events, the lives of their staff and families, and their strategies for dealing with growth in the small town. Those who support the changes Wolfe’s development project has brought to the town could work towards winning over those who have been opposed, which may lead to conflict, but would also provide a narrative arc to establish the series.

Wolfe is certainly already a busy man, but a new reality series about his expanding development project in Columbia, Tennessee seems too good of an opportunity to overlook. The reality star has a historical place with American Pickers on the History Channel, A&E, and Hulu. However, almost every streaming service and network has shifted to making reality TV content lately, and the project could fit in with Netflix, Prime Video, or Lifetime just as well.