Danielle’s Departure From American Pickers, And More Behind-The-Scenes Stories

American Pickers, everyone’s favorite antique appraisal reality TV show, is famous for its colorful characters and their insatiable love for second-hand goods. It’s a go-to source of inspiration for those who enjoy learning about antique items and other unique artifacts.

You might be shocked to find out that Danielle Colby wasn’t originally supposed to be part of the American Pickers cast.  The History Channel wasn’t in favor of her inclusion when the show first started out. Good thing they did— the show wouldn’t have been the same without her.

Not all celebs are content to be the center of attention. Some of them choose to leave the limelight and go on to have simple, private lives. One of the primary reasons why issues like this arise is because of social media updates.

It’s no surprise that this would come up when her departure from American Pickers came to light. Danielle has had issues with the tax office for a long time. We don’t know the ins and outs of her case, but needless to say, it probably made things more complicated for her.

Fame, as well as fortune, came along with her success on American Pickers.  Fame is a fickle thing, but it isn’t for everyone. In Danielle’s case, it was the root cause of her failed marriage. She said in an interview at WQAD-TV in 2012, “Fame and notoriety are not easy for [my ex-husband] to deal with at all, so the relationship ended up not working out.”

Before she joined, Danielle was uncertain of taking the role when Mike offered it to her. Mike recalls the first time they discussed the offer. Danielle thought he was joking.

It’s no mystery why Mike wanted to get Danielle on the show. They were friends for a very long time, and on top of that, they both had the same keen eye for antiques. Danielle was perfect for the job.

Some speculate that the show is often staged. Many speculate or posit that the crew plant expensive items to make the finds on the show that bit more exciting and to guarantee a story. Say it ain’t so!

Can you imagine the show without Frank and Danielle? Probably not. Their chemistry is not just great—it’s part of why the show works so well. But did you know that Mike started the show alone?

Usually, a production company has to put a pilot episode together and impress a board of executives before a show can be picked up by a network. But American Pickers is an exception.

Those who doubt the show’s authenticity claim that Mike and Frank actually always arrive separately to the set. They claim that what we see on the show where they are together in the car is always filmed beforehand.

On-cam, the chemistry between Mark and Frank is rock solid. They mesh well in whatever they’re doing, and their team spirit always brings them success. But some people say the two aren’t close in reality. Is it all for the show?

Some reality shows require their cast and guests to perform multiple times in a scene so that the director can get the best take. It’s standard practice and good for the editor. Having lots of footage means that they can edit and produce a perfect episode.

American Pickers has set the bar so high that some countries, including Australia and Canada, have created their own spin-offs of the show. Other countries across the world have their own Pickers, too.

Before settling on that iconic name, the production crew tabled a brainstorming session. Many names were considered, including “American Picking Crew,” “Flip This Junk,” and “Mr. Picker.”  We can see why they chose the current name of the show: Americans sure do love America.

The fame the cast received must have been a surprise. The staff had to stop working at the store where they used to make a living because so many people came to visit them and get their autographs. 

Some people think that Mike and Frank are actually just taking credit for the researchers’ work and that the show’s researchers were the ones who are working hard to find sellers and items.

Landing a guest spot on a popular show can help you to garner a lot of attention. This happened to Mole Man Ron, who appeared on one episode of American Pickers. He left such a massive impression and profited at such a rate afterward that many people also wanted to jump on the bandwagon.

Because of the massive success of the show, the three main hosts made a total of $10 million. Mike, Frank, and Danielle surely deserve it for their on-camera devotion to the show and their viewers.

One of the most memorable guests in American Pickers was Hobo Jack. But Jack’s true identity has been a point of contention for viewers over the years. It turns out that Hobo Jack is not a Hobo at all. He was born Jack Sophir, and he’s not actually cut off from society.

American Pickers has guest-starred a few big names in the entertainment industry, including the White Stripes and Raconteurs frontman Jack White. Because of the show’s success, many celebrities want a spot on the show.

The opening theme for American Pickers was by the band Jingle Punks. But the song isn’t an original. It’s a cover of a song by Reckless Son. The production team’s head honcho instructed them to make a rock n’ roll version of the song, and they nailed it.

Is it true that we’re going to have to say goodbye to American Pickers? What a bummer! The show has been on the air for a long time, and it means a great deal to its fans, many of whom have made it a part of their life for over a decade.

Despite all of his success, Frank remained the same old Frank. He tries to make sure that fame doesn’t get to his head and always remembers what’s really important about life.

Frank was arrested for driving on the wrong side of the freeway in 2017 after being pulled over and failing a sobriety test. It was one of the show’s biggest scandals. 

After the incident, we can see Frank riding as the passenger and not in his usual place: the driver’s seat. It’s good that the staff and crew were deliberately withholding the wheel and not letting him drive.

According to some rumors, Frank was not as experienced as Mike when they started. We just want to point out that Frank and Mike do a great job with the show, and it doesn’t matter who’s ahead in terms of experience now.

Some fans noticed changes in Frank’s physical appearance throughout the show’s run. For example, he suddenly lost a lot of weight between seasons. In 2013, he explained the sudden changes, shocking the fans.

In one episode, an antique collector, Jerry Bruce, saw an item that he wanted in Frank’s shop. It was an old device used to test sugar levels in alcohol. He contacted Frank and made the purchase.

Many people have speculated that Mike and Frank’s relationship is more than just a special business partnership. While we would be fine if Mike and Frank really were a couple, it’s fairly obvious that this is just groundless speculation.

The success of American Pickers is not something that every TV producer can relate to. Before airing on the History Channel, they spent at least five years trying to get a TV exec’s attention. 

Although Mike is known for his picking abilities, it’s only a side hustle. His primary income comes from his clothing retail business. But that’s not all Mike has going on.

Without Mike, Frank and Danielle wouldn’t be part of American Pickers. On top of that, he also supports Operation Smile, a charity that helps fund children’s surgery all over the world. They assist children who need mouth and face surgery.

We all know that Mike loves helping children worldwide and people in general. Mike also wants to help the next generation of pickers grow in their field. As a seasoned veteran, he believes in nurturing enthusiasts so that they too can turn trash into treasure.

Mike’s interest in picking started early. At the age of six, he had already sold his first item: a rusty bicycle. Not every kid has that kind of intuition for business. Other kids at the age of six would be happier kicking around a ball or playing dress-up.

When you need to survive, you develop specific skills. Experience hones skills, which is something that Mike learned early on. Rather than being rocked by obstacles, people should learn to grow through them.

Although Mike is in love with picking, he will never move to be closer to where he works. The picking business isn’t exactly classy, and having done so well for himself these days, Mike would want a little elegance and comfort in his life. 

Aside from being a successful host of American Pickers, Danielle was a successful business owner. She has a clothing outlet called “4 Miles 2 Memphis”. If you love vintage or retro clothes, then you might want to visit her store.

Danielle portrays herself as a powerful, self-made woman, carefree and strong. But Danielle was raised with very strict parents. She was born in Davenport, Iowa. Her family was more the “traditional” type, as you can see.

Danielle, in fact, was perfect for the show. Why? Because she has a knack for buying and selling and a keen eye for diamonds in the rough. It’s something you can’t really learn on a course or in school, but Danielle has those skills.