This ‘American Pickers’ Star Should Make a ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Reality Series
This ‘American Pickers’ Star Should Make a ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Reality Series
Mike Wolfe is no stranger to reality TV after spending nearly fifteen years on his History Channel series, American Pickers. Wolfe and his companions search for classic Americana antiques and collectibles, usually following specific leads but also making new discoveries on the road. In this search, Wolfe engages with individuals from all walks of life, everyone from farmers, to antique collectors, hoarders, and even rock-legend Jack White. American Pickers takes him all across the country on the hunt for American collectibles and historical artifcats to feature in the series.
Recently, Wolfe has been spending time in a small town setting, investing in real-estate in Columbia, Tennessee. The town, known as the mule capital of the world, is 46 miles away from Nashville, where Wolfe’s business, Antique Archaelogy, has their second business location. Wolfe owns buildings in the town that include a vacation rental property, a café, a bike shop, a boutique music system company, and a drama theater. He has also been restoring a home just outside of town, a journey which he has been sharing on Instagram.
The reality star’s desire is to revitalize the business community and arts sector of the quiet town, restoring buildings whose history he values. A source told the U.S. Sun that “the town is happy” with Wolfe’s $93 million project. And here’s the thing… Wolfe has a unique opportunity at hand. With his significant investment in developing this small town, his longstanding history appearing on reality TV, and his comfort speaking with individuals from all walks of life, it would be engaging to watch it all unfold on a brand-new reality series.
A Feel Good Reality Series With a Fictional Twist
Schitt’s Creek is a fictional series about a wealthy family who loses their fortune and are forced to live in a small town the father purchased once as a private joke within the family. Over time, the Rose family learns to lower their highbrow big-city snobbery, as they humble themselves before the town and integrate with the community. The charm of the series is the way that it creates space for this sense of community between these newcomers and the town. While it is, of course, a fictional TV series, the premise of big-city folks coming into a small town community and learning what it takes to not only fit in, but to also thrive, among them, is an interesting inspiration for a reality series.
The opportunity that Wolfe has in front of him seems too good to pass up. With his commitment to revitalizing the business community in Columbia, Tennessee, his access to potential cast members through the businesses on his properties, and his ample availabilty of locations for filming, combined with his work on American Pickers, Wolfe could easily build a reality series around his small town project. Wolfe’s development plan has also been credited with attracting new businesses to the town, including a combination butcher and public house, and a donut bakery. Following the lives of new business owners attracted to the town, with the Schitt’s Creek twist of focusing on wholesome stories of success within the community as the out-of-towners get to know the locals, would make a heartwarming reality series.
