Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Amateur antique collectors compete for cash in mild show.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
PICKED OFF is a reality competition series featuring four teams of amateur antique dealers and collectors who face off for a chance to win $10,000. Host Keith Neubert sends the teams on three different challenges, each requiring them to scour flea markets, barns, and other places with limited time and funds to locate and deal for valuable antiques and collectibles. At the end of each round, the items are appraised by expert antique dealers Ethan and Todd Merrill, and the team with the item of least cash value gets eliminated. The remaining teams get to spend the cash value of their item in the next round. Mini-challenges also make things interesting. At the end of the competition, the team who has managed to hustle their way to the most valuable item wins the cash prize.
Is It Any Good?
Picked Off offers viewers a chance to see some of the ways that people wheel-and-deal for interesting collectibles, as well as a chance to learn a little bit about what gives antiques and collectors' items their financial value. It also shows some of the issues that arise when people pay too much attention to the historic and/or nostalgic nature of a piece rather than the details that give it its commercial value.
The show attempts to create some suspense and drama during appraisals, but the real fun comes from watching the teams pick through flea markets and outbuildings full of interesting items. Some of the stories the dealers share are interesting, too. Picked Off won't to appeal to everyone, but folks who like swap meets, flea markets, and collecting will find it both informative and entertaining.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes an item a collectible or antique vs. just being an old worthless piece of junk? How do people go from being amateur collectors to become experts in knowing the difference?
What is the appeal of this show? What do competitors stand to gain or lose?
TV Details
- Premiere date : July 11, 2012
- Cast : Ethan Merrill , Keith Neubert , Todd Merrill
- Network : History
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : History
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate