MAKING MOVES American Pickers’ Mike Wolfe reveals show will go on ‘long break’ for first time in 15 years as he seeks career change

AMERICAN Pickers star Mike Wolfe revealed the History Channel show will be on hiatus for the first time in 15 years after ratings struggled last season.

Mike, 60, stars on American Pickers alongside his brother Robbie Wolfe, Jon “Jersey” Szalay and Danielle Colby.

American Pickers will go its longest break in 15 yearsCredit: YouTube/Samcrac

Mike Wolfe revealed he will be focusing on other projects during the hiatusCredit: The U.S. Sun

In an interview with People, Mike revealed the show will take its “longest break” in 15 years.

“We haven’t done that in 15 years, so that’s going to feel good,” he said. “For 15 years, we have just been going and going and going.

“I think we’re going to have at least four or five months off, so it’s going to be good.”

Mike explained how their longest break from filming has been “a month around Christmas.”

The History Channel star admitted to turning down “a lot of stuff” over the past 15 years because he was “overwhelmed.”

He explained of the time off, “It’s been 20 years of my life, American Pickers has been. And so now kind of slowing down into it, I’m reflecting a lot, like so many people do my age.

“That’s why really it’s a celebration of me turning 60 and I’m like, I’m doing this. You want to do another show? I’m doing another show. You want me to have a part in the scripted project? I’m doing it. I’m excited about the next chapter of everything.”

But fans won’t miss Mike on the small screen during the break, as he will star in History’s Greatest Picks.

“I’m going to introduce a story and a piece. They’re going to cut to some archival footage, maybe even a little bit of reenactment… In one hour, we’re going to cover four different stories, so it is about picking.

“It’s about discovery of things, but the bottom line is, it’s very story-based, like my show is.”

Mike on the red carpet in Los Angeles for his new movie A Day of ReckoningCredit: Getty

ACTOR MIKE

In a change from reality TV, Mike stars in A Day of Reckoning, which hit theaters on March 28, with his girlfriend, Leticia Cline.

The Shaun Silva-directed movie, which also stars actor Billy Zane, features Mike riding motorcycles in the outlaw film.

The couple flew into Los Angeles on Monday to attend the premiere and spoke to The U.S. Sun on the red carpet.

When asked what made Mike want to take the role of Mark in Day of Reckoning, he said, “The biggest thing was [director] Shaun Silva.

“He’s a Nashville guy. I live in Nashville. We’ve collaborated on a few projects together, and he sent me the script, and he’s like, ‘Hey, this is a really small part, but I think you’d be cool for it.’

“So I’m saying yes to more stuff now. You know what I mean? I’ve got to the point where we’ve been doing Pickers for 15 years, and I’m just like, Hey, I’m going to try some other things.”

PICKERS RATINGS

The show hiatus comes after The U.S. Sun reported American Pickers’ Season 26 brought in low ratings for the long-running show.

The October 9 premiere had 565,000 viewers as Mike picked through Evel Knievel memorabilia.

The finale on January 15 was the second highest-rated episode of the season as 708,000 viewers watched.

The most-watched episode came in at 760,000 viewers on December 18.

DIY Delorean on October 30 had the lowest ratings of the season with 442,000 viewers.

Numbers reached the millions when Frank Fritz was on the show.

Frank passed away on September 30, 2024, two years after he suffered a stroke.

Frank last appeared on American Pickers in March 2020.

OTHER BUSINESSES

In addition to reality television, Mike owns Antique Archaeology in his hometown of Le Claire, Iowa and Nashville, Tennessee.

The Nashville antique store is around 46 miles away from Mike’s bike stop Columbia Motor Alley in the small town of Columbia, Tennessee.

Columbia is also where Mike’s vacation rental Two Lanes Guesthouse and his other businesses are located.

His most recent vacation rental will open in Le Claire, Iowa, just across the street from Antique Archaeology.

After a months-long delay, Mike revealed the home will be available for rent in April.

Mike’s girlfriend, Leticia Cline, also stars in the filmCredit: INSTAGRAM/mikewolfeamericanpicker

The most recent season of American Pickers suffered its worst ratings in historyCredit: History Channel