PICKING NEW CAREER? Inside American Pickers star Mike Wolfe’s stunning renovations on 1873 Tennessee home after show ratings decline

AMERICAN Pickers star Mike Wolfe has been renovating a stunning 1873 home in Tennessee as show ratings continue to decline.

Mike, 58, has been updating fans on the 1873 Italianate-style home he is restoring in Columbia, Tennessee.

Mike Wolfe is restoring a 1873 Italianate-style homeCredit: History Channel

 

The U.S. Sun can exclusively go inside the historic home.

Mike first posted about the abode on Instagram in July when he showed off one of the two beautiful bay windows.

The “dramatic” room also features a marble fireplace, “incredible” paintings and dentil moulding.

In an Instagram video, Mike showed off the family room, which features 1960 shiplap walls, 15-foot ceilings, 13-foot windows and a fireplace.

The foyer has gold-flocked wallpaper, and black and white marble floors with moulding in both rooms.

Mike revealed later on that he was unable to salvage the gold-flocked wallpaper because of plaster damage underneath.

The kitchen boasts palm tree and ocean wallpaper.

The cabinets are beige and blue with marble countertops.

The bathroom has blue tile, which Mike said he hopes to keep while adding upgrades.

The home, which he said has “good bones,” also features original chandeliers, a basement, original hardwood floors and more.

Mike’s real estate net worth is approximately $3,467,300.

The home has gold-flock wallpaperCredit: Mike Wolfe/Instagram

The foyer has marble tilesCredit: Mike Wolfe/Instagram

The abode has a marble fireplace

Mike wants to keep the original blue tile in the bathroom

The kitchen has palm tree wallpaper and blue cabinets

RATINGS TROUBLE

The new project comes as American Pickers ratings have declined.

American Pickers returned on July 9 with Mike, his brother Robbie and Danielle Colby after being on a break since March.

Ratings for the History channel show declined ever since fan-favorite Frank Fritz’s firing and the new addition of Mike’s brother.

The U.S. Sun reported the latest episode dropped by a drastic 200,000 viewers.

The Saturday, August 27 episode brought in 829,000 viewers.

Ratings were good the week prior, as the Saturday, August 20 episode, as the show brought in 1,007,000 viewers.

The drop in ratings was likely due to History airing the new episode at 8pm instead of the usual 9pm slot, a risky move that did not pay off for the series.

LOW RATINGS

Ratings have been inconsistent since the casting change.

The August 13 episode had lower numbers with just 868,000 tuning in.

The July 29 episode brought in just 821,000 viewers.

This was down from the July 23 episode that brought in 901,000 fans.

Ratings for the July 9 premiere had just 833,000 viewers tune in.

Season 23 of American Pickers kicked off on January 1, 2022, with 1,050,000 viewers.

The January 8 episode had 1,011,000 people watch.

But by the end of the season, viewers lost interest, as only 830,000 watched the March 12 episode.

The March 19 episode, which was the final one before the months-long break, had just 804,000 viewers.

FAN BOYCOTT

Fans have been boycotting the show since Frank’s firing because of Robbie.

One viewer wrote: “The show needs Frank, Mike & Dani. Stop changing it. I’m sure Robbie is a nice guy but comes across boring on TV.”

A second commented: “I watched the new season with the Wolfe Brothers. Need to bring back Frank. Robbie has no personality he is absolutely boring!!!”

Another tweeted: “Is Robbie in the episode? If so, I can’t watch. He should not be on camera. Leave him to come and pick up cars. That’s where he belongs! The rating drops are directly tied to him.”

A fourth said: “Unless Frank is in the new episode, it won’t be worth watching! Robbie is a disaster, but Mike won’t admit it!”

FRANK’S HEALTH CRISIS

Frank was hospitalized for a stroke on July 14 after a friend found him on the floor of his Iowa home.

The Sun obtained the 911 call placed by Frank’s friend from the star’s Iowa farmhouse on July 14 just before 11am.

The friend said: “I just showed up at my friend’s house here and he was sprawled out on his floor. He can’t speak to me. He might be seizuring [sic] I’m not sure.”

Frank’s father, Bill Fritz, exclusively told The Sun that his son is in “stable” condition.

Mike captioned an Instagram photo of the reality star: “I have been very private in the past year in regards to Frank’s life and the journey he’s been on. There has been lots of opinions in regards to mine and Frank’s friendship and the show but now is not the time to set the record straight.

“Now is the time to pray for my friend. Frank has suffered a stroke and is in the hospital.

“Please keep him in your hearts and thoughts. Frank I pray more than anything that you make it through this okay. I love you buddy.”

Fans have slammed Mike for being “fake” for asking for prayers despite their years-long feud.

ON THE MEND

In an interview with the Quad-City Times, an insider revealed that Frank was on the mend, and his health was improving daily.

“He would like everyone to know he continues to get better every day and is very determined,” the friend told the publication.

“He really is getting better every single day,” she added.

The friend also alluded that Frank was not happy that his medical crisis was released to the public by his former friend.

“While Frank was not prepared at the time for his condition to be published, he is grateful for all the prayers and well wishes,” she concluded

FEUDING COSTARS

Frank revealed his feud with co-star Mike during a 2021 interview with The Sun.

Frank 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 even 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.”

FRANK’S FIRING

Frank last appeared on American Pickers during a March 2020 episode, as he took time off to recover from back surgery.

The original cast member’s firing was announced in July 2021 despite his desire to return to the History show.

Frank left the show to recover from grueling back surgery that left him with 185 stitches and two rods in his spine.

During his time off the show, Frank lost 65 pounds and was sober from alcohol.

Frank also told The Sun that he checked into rehab for alcohol abuse in Iowa for 77 days.

Frank said last year: “I went to rehab and I’ve been sober now for 11 months.

“I didn’t like drinking anymore. My mom was an alcoholic and she died five years ago and it was alcohol-related. My grandfather was an alcoholic and he died. That didn’t sit well with me.”

Frank continued that he went to meetings “twice a week” after the stint.

He added: “I don’t think I’ll ever have a drink again because I don’t like the feeling anymore and some of the dumb things that I did.”

Frank continued: “I’m feeling really good. Life is good and I’d like to get back into the swing of things. I wish I had done it five years ago, I would have been a different person.

“It was the best thing for me and I wish I had done it sooner or I wouldn’t be in the position that I am right now.”