Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz have known each other since seventh grade, according to the Antique Archeology website. Wolfe had the idea for the show and worked to get it off the ground for five years. He brought in Fritz because he realized “two pickers talking, laughing, and arguing on the road are more interesting than one guy alone in a van.”

Fritz’s pedigree for spotting collectible or unique antiques pulled from rafters, basements, and outbuildings comes from his interest since childhood when, according to History, he collected beer cans and rocks. His passion for antiques and cool old stuff never waned as he worked as a fire and safety inspector before being invited to travel around the country with Wolfe as a professional picker.

Fritz seemed to have found his calling with “American Pickers,” earning the nickname from Wolfe, “The Bearded Charmer,” for his likability and way with people that lends itself to getting good deals and stories out of potential sellers.

Hopefully Frank Fritz will be back scouring locations for precious antiques when he has completely recovered from surgery and when the pandemic dies down.

“It’s a tough hand I’ve got dealt to me in my life, but you can still do stuff out there,” Fritz told the Quad-City Times. “It’s about planning and nutrition and making provisions to yourself for your health and safety.”