American Pickers is a reality television series that premiered on January 18, 2010 on History Channel. The show follows Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz as they travel around the United States buying antiques and collectibles. Danielle Colby-Cushman is the manager of their shop, Antique Archeology, based in Le Claire, Iowa. Danielle researches potential buyers and sellers, and Mike and Frank track down potential sellers on the road.
Like most vintage sellers, Mike and Frank scour the country for hidden gems in junkyards, basements, garages and barns, meeting quirky characters and hear their amazing stories.
As the History Channel says, "If you think the antique business is all about upscale boutiques and buttoned-up dealers, this show may change your mind--and teach you a thing or two about American history along the way."
Antiques Roadshow is "part adventure, part history lesson, and part treasure hunt." This nine-time Emmy Award-nominated program has been running for sixteen seasons on PBS and is public television's highest-rated series.
Watch Appraisal: Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre Bowl, ca. 1930 on PBS.
Viewed by ten million viewers each week, Veteran television personality Mark L. Walberg serves as the series host. Each hour-long episode provides information from specialists from the country's leading auction houses including Bonhams and Butterfields, Christie's, Doyle New York, Skinner and Sotheby's and independent dealers from across the nation. The experts offer free appraisals of antiques and collectibles to everyday collectors as the TV cameras capture tales of family heirlooms, yard sale bargains and items salvaged from attics and basements.
Oddities is a part documentary, part reality TV program following the operation of an East Village, Manhattan shop which trades in antiques and other rarities. The show premiered on November 4, 2010, on the Discovery Channel and its sister network, the Science Channel. Just another version of antique and vintage collecting/selling, the merchandise is admittedly stranger than most carried by mainstream sellers with some of the most notable pieces including a two-headed pig, a mummified “member,” an occupied coffin, a prostate warmer and a preserved heart with bullet holes.
The patrons of the shop are also quite eccentric such as a self-admitted evil clown, a burlesque dancer, a human pincushion, the artist who creates work out of animal tongues, and a woman who collects vintage autopsy equipment.
Other shows that explore the collectibles, antiquing and vintage trade include:
- Picker Sisters, TV series about two female pickers/designers
- Storage Wars, TV series about storage unit auctions
- Storage Hunters, TV series about storage unit auctions
- Auction Hunters, TV series about storage unit auctions
- Pawn Stars, TV series about the owners of a Pawn Shop
- Canadian Pickers, TV series featuring two pickers from Canada
- Hardcore Pawn, similar series to Pawn Stars
- Pawn Queens, similar to Pawn Stars with female pawn shop operators
- Auction Kings, similar series to Storage Hunters and Storage Wars
- American Restoration, a spin-off of the Pawn Star series starring Rick Dale
- Cash and Cari, HGTV series following the owner of an estate sale company
- Cash in the Attic, HGTV series - expert appraisers that participate in antiques auctions with everyday collectors
- Pop Shop, TV series - HGTV series - California design team uses vintage items in home design
- Home by Novagratz - HGTV series - New York husband-and-wife designers that mix vintage pieces into their interior design projects
- Secrets from a Designer - HGTV series - LA designer uses vintage items in home design
- Design, Inc. - HGTV series - Canadian designer who repurposes vintage pieces into home designs
The number of vintage and antique related series that have appeared on TV is exciting for the vintage community at large. Most of these series are broadcast in multiple countries around the world. Collectors and sellers watch these programs to gain knowledge, connect with like-minded viewers via social network sites, and enjoy the adventures of other people that do what we do.
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