The following article contains discussions of alcoholism.

Over the course of 24 seasons and more than 370 episodes, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz of “American Pickers” have become one of TV’s all-time greatest and most popular duos. They helped shape the face and trajectory of the History Network, with their show becoming one of the channel’s biggest hits. The simple and compelling premise is that Wolfe and Fritz, seasoned antique “pickers” with complementary areas of expertise, drive around the United States, looking for out-of-the-way barns, farmhouses, and garages in search of abandoned and forgotten treasures. With the help of Danielle Colby holding things down back home at their shop and headquarters, the trio then turn around their remarkable finds and sell them for big bucks. The format is almost infinitely repeatable and makes for some great binge-watching and comfort television.

Or at least, it did. “American Pickers” as it once was is no more. In the summer of 2021, an apparently long-simmering and very nasty feud between Wolfe and Fritz became a matter of public record. Here’s a blow-by-blow account of the ugly in-fighting between the stars of “American Pickers,” and how things were between them before Fritz’s death.

The lost treasure of Frank Fritz

In retrospect, signs of an “American Pickers”-oriented schism were present way back in the spring of 2020. At first, Season 21 of the series kept up with the show’s venerable format of Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz traveling around the U.S., looking for treasure, finding that treasure, assessing and acquiring that treasure, and moving on to the next stop. But then the seventh episode of the batch, “Burlesque Queen,” marked what is for all intents and purposes the swan song of Fritz’s tenure on the show. In the installment, Frank and Mike venture to Kansas City in search of rare and interesting goods. It first aired on March 2, 2020, but in the next episode, “Ghost of the West,” Fritz was nowhere to be seen. Neither erstwhile partner Wolfe nor store manager (and suddenly promoted on-location picking partner) Danielle Colby gave any explanation for Fritz’s extended absence — an “American Pickers” first — and barely acknowledged that anything was even amiss.

Due to coronavirus pandemic lockdowns and restrictions on TV productions, Season 22 of “American Pickers” didn’t hit the air until January 2021, nearly a year after those initial Fritz-free episodes debuted. With Fritz still gone from the show and summarily replaced, fans got worried and realized that the “American Pickers” star might be gone for good.

Frank Fritz made a lot of changes in his life

Finally, in July 2021, Frank Fritz emerged and broke his silence, explaining why he was no longer part of the show that had made him a reality TV superstar. According to an interview with The Sun, Fritz claims he didn’t leave “American Pickers,” but rather ceased to participate in the new batch of episodes. Those two things sound like they’re the same, but they’re ever so slightly different, and Fritz can explain. “It’s up to the network whether I come back on the show,” he said. “I didn’t leave the show. I finished shooting and then I had a little back surgery and the pandemic came.”

Those comments allude to Fritz’s complicated health situation. He couldn’t film “American Pickers” in 2020 and 2021 because of his need to recuperate from back surgery. He also suffers from Crohn’s disease, a serious and chronic inflammatory system that affects the digestive system, and lost more than 65 pounds, which he attributed to exercising more and quitting alcohol. “I haven’t had a drink in almost nine, 10 months,” he said.

But through all of those health issues, Fritz said, it’s something that Wolfe did and said that really started their feud and which directly led to his non-involvement with “American Pickers.” Or rather, it’s what he alleges Wolfe did not say and did not do that upset him.

Frank Fritz says he and Mike Wolfe had professional problems and personal coldness

Frank Fritz told The Sun that his falling out with Mike Wolfe, whom he says he’s known for more than 40 years, began literally very quietly some time before news of the “American Pickers” feud reached the public in 2021. “I haven’t talked to Mike in two years,” Fritz said, adding that what really stung is how he didn’t even field a call from his friend of many decades and co-star of one decade before or after his back surgery. “He knew my back was messed up, but he didn’t call me up and ask how I was doing. That’s just how it is.”

This seemed to make some other, dormant issues of resentment bubble up for Fritz, particularly tension with Wolfe over the presentation and production of “American Pickers.” “The show is tilted towards him 1,000 percent,” Fritz alleged. “I can’t even bend that far down to show you how much.” But despite calling out Wolfe (and other members of the “American Pickers” team by association), Fritz professed an acceptance of his role on his former program. “It’s like you’ve got Aerosmith and there’s Steven Tyler and he’s the front man,” Fritz explained. “I found my spot, I’m second and he’s No. 1 on the show. That’s no problem with me, maybe he does have a problem.”

Mike Wolfe told the world that Frank Fritz won’t be returning to American Pickers

On July 21, 2021, History made it official. A representative from the network told Entertainment Weekly that Fritz’s long tenure on “American Pickers” had indeed come to an end and that he would not appear in any more episodes in the foreseeable future. The source said that History wasn’t actively planning on Fritz coming back, nor did he fit in with the “big picture” of the franchise.

At that point, Mike Wolfe finally weighed in on Fritz’s absence, but without answering or acknowledging any of the criticisms levied at him by his now ex-co-star. He released a statement to entertainment media outlets, wishing his former cohort well and curiously not protesting Fritz’s decision whatsoever. “I have known Frank for as long as I can remember, he’s been like a brother to me,” Wolfe wrote. “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.”