GAME OVER! Hot Update! American Pickers ratings among lowest ! Heart Breaking! It will shock News
GAME OVER! Hot Update! American Pickers ratings among lowest ! Heart Breaking! It will shock News
**”American Pickers” Faces Lowest Ratings in 14 Years Amid Declining Viewership and Fan Backlash**
*American Pickers*, the long-running reality TV series on the History Channel, is grappling with a significant decline in viewership, marking some of the lowest ratings in the show’s 14-year history. Despite a slight bump in viewership for its November 13 episode, the show’s ratings remain troublingly low, and the numbers are raising concerns about its future.
**November 13 Episode Sees Slight Ratings Surge, But Still Among the Lowest**
The November 13 episode of *American Pickers*, titled *Picking Wall to Wall*, attracted 582,000 viewers—the highest-rated episode of the current season, *Season 26*. In this episode, Mike Wolfe, along with his brother Robbie Wolfe and cast member John “Jersey” Chalet, ventured to Connecticut and California to dig through massive collections of antiques. While this marked an improvement over previous episodes in the season, the viewership numbers are still far from the show’s heyday.
For context, the November 6 episode *Carnival Cash Out* brought in only 547,000 viewers, and the October 30 episode *DeLorean*—which recorded the lowest ratings of the season—drew just 442,000 viewers. The ratings for *Season 26* continue to trend downward, and even the most recent episode’s modest surge is unlikely to reverse the overall decline.
**A Drop from Previous Seasons**
The current ratings are a far cry from the show’s past success. In *Season 25*, the most-watched episode on February 28, 2024, pulled in nearly 1 million viewers, peaking at 966,000. This was a far cry from earlier seasons, where episodes regularly attracted over 1 million viewers, with some even surpassing 2 million. For example, in *Season 22* (2021), many episodes garnered over a million viewers, while *Season 23* (2022) saw the February 26 episode bring in 1.1 million viewers.
Fan frustration has also become more vocal in recent weeks, with some even calling for the show to be canceled. Comments from fans include sentiments like, “This show needs to go,” and “It’s a husk of what it was.” The backlash is partly attributed to a mix of factors, including a shift in the show’s dynamic following the departure of Frank Fritz, one of the original stars.
**Frank Fritz’s Departure and Its Impact**
Frank Fritz, who co-hosted *American Pickers* with Mike Wolfe from its inception in 2010, last appeared on the show in March 2020. After taking time off for back surgery, Frank’s return was marred by personal struggles, including a battle with opioid addiction. The show’s dynamic has never fully recovered from his absence. Fans, especially long-time viewers, have expressed disappointment over the new direction of the show, with many feeling that it’s simply not the same without Frank.
Mike Wolfe has spoken publicly about Frank’s struggles, explaining that after Frank’s back surgery, he became addicted to painkillers and struggled to get clean. Mike and other members of the production team tried to help Frank through interventions and rehab, but Frank’s addiction issues ultimately led to his departure from the show. Tragically, Frank passed away in September 2024 at the age of 60 after battling both addiction and health complications, including a stroke.
**The Future of *American Pickers***
Despite the decline in ratings and some vocal criticism from fans, *American Pickers* still has more seasons in its contract. As reported by *The U.S. Sun* in May 2024, the show has been renewed for at least three more years, and production for *Season 26* is still ongoing. Mike Wolfe has shared that he will soon be filming for the new season, suggesting that the show will continue for now.
However, the future of the show seems uncertain. With ratings consistently declining and the absence of Frank Fritz still felt by many fans, it’s unclear whether *American Pickers* can recover from its slump. The show’s core audience has been shrinking, and while Mike and his team continue to film, the question remains: how much longer will the show continue to hold its place on the History Channel?
**Fan Reactions and the Road Ahead**
The decline in viewership is a stark reminder that even popular shows like *American Pickers* can face difficult times. Fans continue to express mixed feelings about the show’s current state, with many indicating that it’s lost some of the charm that made it so successful in the past. The dynamics of the show have changed significantly since Frank’s departure, and it remains to be seen whether the current cast can carry the series forward.
As *American Pickers* continues to air, the question looms: will the show adapt to its evolving audience, or is its time coming to an end? For now, fans can only hope that the upcoming episodes can turn things around—but with viewership numbers continuing to drop, that seems less likely with each passing week.
**What Do You Think?**
Are you still watching *American Pickers*? Do you think the show can recover from its current ratings slump, or is it time for the History Channel to pull the plug? Share your thoughts in the comments below!