Parents' Guide to

American Pickers

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Hunt for antique treasures is a gem for history buffs.

TV History Reality TV 2010
American Pickers Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 34 parent reviews

HUEY K
HUEY K Adult
January 2, 2023
age 15+

STOPPED WATCHING WITHOUT FRANK

I think this show was.great show back.when.frank.was.with them now with Robbie he is just so.dry and boring would be on.holiday abroad and would tune into.watch them.with Frank never again would I watch this show without him and friends family and work colleagues agree with me and have also.stopped I think.History channel have shot.themselves in.the.foot with this new member and to replace Frank.with someone who.has not even got the years experience at the show its R.I.P.D american.pickers.because I think.that is.the Road ahead for you and you.deserve it for sacking.someone.who.had a.serious genuine health and.physical problem
nuenjins
nuenjins Parent
January 1, 2020
age 10+

Simple concept ends up being surprisingly educational, intricate and interesting.

Mike and Frank with their buy, sell and trade business run into some very interesting people and very rare finds. As they come across various items they do not simply get down to the deal but take the time to tell the stories and history, via small intermitent segments, of many of the items so that you can and understanding all the historical values and worth of the things that they come across. Equally as interesting are the personalities that they encounter along the way, from a man that lives underground in a self-made Alice in Wonderland sort of dwelling to some of the most prolific collectors in the country, along with experts in they're fields and many restoration gurus at the top of their class. So long the way the journey is a little bit different every time and, just when you thought you've seen it all, you learn something new. Anyone who claims this is FAKE ignores the real world facts of the show, not to mention their very REAL business and very intricate projects they accomplish such as finding and restoring Aerosmiths original tour van, which is then used at their concerts as well as restoring entire buildings. You can tell these are real scenarios as people often give Mike and company a hard time in their travels and dealings, but they do it with respect and act appropriately. You may find some mildly adult references, but this is a pre teen friendly show over all. After over a decade of this show it is still a worthwhile trip to take now and again. YES, I'm sure they make a killing off of the shows success, but it didn't start out that way and the show maintains enough grass roots, real world rubber meets the road relevance to remain worth watching.
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What's the Story?

Whoever drew the comparison between one man's junk and another man's treasure surely had Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz in mind. Business partners and lifelong friends, Mike and Frank are professional "pickers\": antiques experts who hit the road in search of people's junk collections to weed through for lost treasures they can buy and resell to dealers. Often their quests turn up little more than intriguing folks and fascinating stories, but once in a while they unearth some real gems that they turn around for a hefty profit.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (34):
Kids say (12):

AMERICAN PICKERS offers a unique glimpse at the antiques business, taking viewers into the trenches with Frank and Mike, two buddies with a passion for their work and an eye for diamonds in the rough buried below piles of rusty cars and dilapidated farm equipment. The show's subject matter obviously caters to antiques enthusiasts and history buffs (the hosts often explore the historical value of the pieces they find), but even novices will enjoy seeing what the guys manage to dig up in other people's backyards.

While they don't necessarily set out to take advantage of the people they meet, Mike and Frank are ultimately opportunists looking to make a buck off of someone else's stuff and, indirectly, off their unfamiliarity with the lucrative antiques market. It's an eye-opening example of how things work in the exchange market and underscores the reminder "Buyer (or in this case, seller) beware." Kids and tweens probably won't be too interested in the show itself, but adults will be intrigued by the guys' modern-day treasure hunting.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can discuss what aspects (if any) of this show you'd consider educational. Do you think the show is intended to teach or just to entertain? How reliable are different types of media (TV, internet, newspaper, etc.) as teaching tools?

  • How do the goods we consume get to us? How does the cost of a good change related to the number of people who handle it?

  • Kids: What type of career would you like to have? What special skills or knowledge will you need for it? What risks and benefits do you foresee?

TV Details

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