AMERICAN Pickers ratings have dropped to the lowest in show history for the season 27 premiere despite Mike Wolfe dropping thousands on antiques.
Mike, 60, and Jon “Jersey” Jon Szalay picked through a warehouse of antiques from a late collector’s stockpile of motorcycles and model race cars on the July 2 season premiere.
American Pickers ratings have plummeted for the premiere compared to last season[/caption]
Mike spent over $8,000 on model race cars[/caption]
Mike said the cars are ‘rare’ to find[/caption]
But not many fans tuned in to watch the cool finds, as ratings were the lowest in the show’s history.
The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal just 390,000 viewers watched the episode.
This is a major drop from the season 26 finale, which saw 708,000 viewers.
The most-watched episode for season 26 reached 760,000 on December 18.
The least-watched episode of season 26 dropped down to 442,000 viewers on October 30.
American Pickers once reached over one million fans, especially with episodes including longtime cast member Frank Fritz.
Frank left the show in 2020 and sadly died on September 30, 2024, two years after he suffered a debilitating stroke.
History Channel is still able to pull in high ratings, as number one show Secret of Skinwalker Ranch had 985,000 viewers last week.
American Pickers ranks in 8th for History Channel’s shows.
Mike paid $6,500 on three bikes[/caption]
Mike bought a 1930s claw machine[/caption]
Jersey dropped $1,600 on a slot machine[/caption]
THOUSAND-DOLLAR PICKS
On the premiere, Mike and Jersey pick in a late collector’s warehouse in Tennessee.
First up, the men look through a collection of bikes.
Mike agreed to drop $6,250 on two Whizzer bikes and a Cushman bike.
Mike then set his eyes on a 1930s New York-themed claw machine.
The late collector’s brother agreed to sell the antique to him for $1,000.
As for Jersey, he agreed to drop $1,600 on a working 25 cent Poinsettia-themed slot machine.
Mike and Jersey ended the day looking at tether cars.
Mike dropped $8,050 on “incredible” model race cars.
“Some of them can be extremely expensive,” Mike explained. “These things are epic. It’s getting harder to find any tether car.”
Fans enjoyed the episode, as one praised, “Very cool & beautiful slot machine!!! I am surprised that it was 25 cents as I would think that was a little steep in 1936!… I love how these could be lowered & hidden too for the Prohibition! Very clever engineering & design!”
A second commented, “Man, one of the best collections and segments I’ve seen in a while. Well done.”
A third wrote, “Now that is cool!”
FILMING BREAK
Fans are appreciating the new episodes, as the show will go on its longest filming break yet.
In an interview with People, Mike said, “For 15 years, we have just been going and going and going. I think we’re going to have at least four or five months off, so it’s going to be good.”
The insider told The U.S. Sun of the break, “He’s got a couple of things he’s doing. He’s coming out with a show at the end of the year. He’s opening up a second vacation rental.
“He’s going to stay picking. He’s just trying to slow it down and get a little bit more time for family. His daughter just turned 13. He’s like, ‘I want to be involved with my teenager!’”
Mike shares daughter Charlie with his ex-wife Jodi.
A second source told The U.S. Sun of the time off, “He wants to focus on family. He’s stretching himself too thin. He’s 60, he wants to slow down and spend time with his daughter. He has a lot going on.
“The show is not ending.”
NEW VENTURES
Mike shut down his Nashville, Tennessee store Antique Archaeology in April.
“I’ve been so proud to be a part of this neighborhood, this city, and this chapter of life,” he wrote in an Instagram post on Friday, April 18.
“But sometimes, even when something is good, you have to pause and ask yourself where your time is going — and where your heart is calling you next.”
Mike was there to see the store off, as he took photos with customers.
Mike Wolfe’s businesses
Mike Wolfe has created a business empire featuring real estate, antique stores, and more.
OTHER PROJECTS
Mike will host History’s Greatest Picks, which he explained to People, “I’m going to introduce a story and a piece. They’re going to cut to some archival footage, maybe even a little bit of reenactment.
“In one hour, we’re going to cover four different stories, so it is about picking.”
Outside of picking antiques, Mike is the owner of multiple businesses and landlord of properties in Iowa and Tennessee.
The Iowa antique store is across the street from his new vacation rental Two Lanes Guesthouse and blocks away from properties he owns.
The vacation rental is now available for rent after a months-long delay.
He also has a vacation rental in Columbia, Tennessee.
The rental is down the block from his bike shop Columbia Motor Alley and other properties he manages.
American Pickers stars Mike and his brother Robbie, Danielle Colby and Jersey[/caption]
