After an 11-year run, American Pickers’ Frank Fritz was fired after a two-year hiatus due to the alleged breakdown in his friendship with co-host, Mike Wolfe.
One of the most popular programmes on the History Channel is the reality show, American Pickers.
For 11 years, we watched co-hosts, Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe, travel around the United States (US) in an attempt to find antiques and artefacts. Moreover, fans of the show got to enjoy the chemistry between the two former co-hosts.
This is as Frank and Mike were best friends before they even fronted the popular reality show.
This is why there was a lot of confusion around his two-year hiatus, especially when it was formally announced that he would no longer be part of the show. Effectively, Frank was fired from American Pickers.
Who is Frank Fritz?
Frank Fritz is an actor and television personality who was born in Davenport, Iowa on 11 October 1965.
While he came to prominence as one half of the History Channel’s hit reality show, American Pickers, with former co-host and best friend, Mike Wolfe, Frank has other television credits under his name.
He has featured on other television series including American Restoration, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and American Dad!
His last stint on American Pickers was in 2020, ahead of his back surgery, which marked the last time he worked on television, as he was subsequently fired from the show.
What happened to Frank on American Pickers?
Frank Fritz’s last appearance on American Pickers was in March 2020, when he took a break from the show.
At the time, his hiatus was explained as Frank taking a break in order to undergo and recuperate from a back surgery that he was scheduled to undergo.
However, it was with the return of American Pickers in January 2021 that fans began to worry that Frank’s “break” was indefinite.
Moreover, during this time, Frank was away from the spotlight and there was no formal announcement on his extended hiatus from the show.
It would only be in July 2021 during the twenty-second season of the reality show that co-star, Mike Wolfe, confirmed Frank’s dismissal in a cryptic post that read:
“The journey that Frank, Dani and I started back in 2009, like all of life, has come with its highs and lows, blessings and challenges, but it has also been the most rewarding…I will miss Frank, just like all of you, and I pray for the very best and all good things for him on the next part of his journey.”
Frank Fritz addresses initial disappearance from American Pickers
Before it was confirmed that Frank Fritz was fired from American Pickers, he had conducted an interview with The Sun in July 2021.
Sporting a new body as he had lost weight, at the time, Frank believed that he could return to the show if he could reconcile his friendship with Mike Wolfe.
He began by stating, “I haven’t talked to Mike in two years.” He continued by alluding to the fact that fame could be responsible for the breakdown in their friendship, as Wolfe was the frontman of the show, and arguably more popular commercially.
His interview suggests that at the time, he was unaware that he had been fired. In the same interview, he also suggested that Wolfe was allegedly looking to replace him with his brother, Robbie Wolfe.
Who replaced Frank Fritz on American Pickers?
Whether or not Frank knew about his dismissal ahead of former co-host Mike Wolfe’s confirmation post, he was seemingly right about the alleged aspirations of Mike to have him replaced with his brother, Robbie Wolfe.
This is as from season 22, Robbie Wolfe has been the co-host of American Pickers, right by his brother’s side. Prior to becoming a co-host, Robbie was already part of the show as a recurring guest appearance.
However, with Frank out of the way, he is now the co-host of the show, proving Frank’s initial fears true.
American Pickers’ Danielle Colby weighs in
While Mike Wolfe has not commented any further following confirming Frank’s dismissal, fellow cast member Danielle Colby weighed in with a cryptic post which suggested that she backed Wolfe instead of Frank.
In part, Colby wrote, “Mike Wolfe, I’m proud of how you have handled the last 12 years and look forward to many more years of rolling around this big blue marble together.”
Going on to add, “I have many thoughts but won’t speak them as they are only my thoughts, not gospel. I wish things could have been different but we must be accountable for our actions when we cause instability or pain and suffering to others.”
Conclusion
American Pickers has been a flagship show for the History Channel for over 11 years. Initially, it was fronted by best friends, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz.
Fans enjoyed seeing their chemistry and banter, besides the artefacts and antiques they would find on their travels.
However, in March 2020, Frank took a hiatus to fully recover from a medical procedure. However, this was the last time he was a part of the show, as his dismissal was confirmed in July 2021, by former co-host and best friend, Wolfe.
No explanation was provided, but it is believed that his dismissal was the result of a rift between the former best friends.