American Pickers is gearing up for its 27th season, but fans are itching for show creator Mike Wolfe to take his expertise in a new direction. Since its inception in 2010, the History Channel series has released nearly 500 episodes, following Wolfe, alongside co-hosts and pickers Danielle Colby and the late Frank Fritz, as they “scour the country for hidden gems in junkyards, basements, garages and barns, meeting quirky characters and hearing their amazing stories.” The 25-year-old show is perfect for antique hunters and historians, but some fans think it’s time for Wolfe to expand his TV portfolio.
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Viewers would love to see Wolfe branch out and launch his own home renovation TV show in the new year. Rumors of a potential Wolfe x HGTV partnership started swirling on social media after the American picker shared photos from his latest building restoration project.
Nicknamed the “Jack Kerouac of Junk,” Wolfe is currently restoring an 1873 Italianate structure in Tennessee. According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Italianate architecture is known for its asymmetry, overhanging eaves, tall, narrow windows, porches, and cast iron facades.
On Jan. 2, Wolfe posted a restoration progress update on Instagram with photos showing off the brick building’s new tower and front porch. The tower’s design was heavily inspired by old photos and is now fixed with windows and shutters.
“Shutters are up on the tower of the 1873 Italianate that I’ve been restoring in Columbia TN, obviously with the help of some pretty next level craftsman’s,” he captioned the post. “The tower and the porch were missing from this beautiful structure but we’re fortunate to be working from some very detailed photos.”
Wolfe’s post has racked up nearly 6,000 likes and many followers are calling for him to start his own restoration TV series.
“Love the old building and the quality of the restoration…It’s not as easy as TV makes it,” commented one person, adding, “I would love to see Mike do a restoration show of houses and vintage motorcycles.”
“We need a building restoration show for you on HGTV,” cried another follower, to which someone else wrote, “I agree.”
Followers even began suggesting additional historic structures in Tennessee that are in need of preservation. “There’s an old church off the square in Lewisburg TN that someone started restoring then stopped. Too bad you can’t restore it!” reads a comment.
Another thanked Wolfe for “preserving history.”
Wolfe didn’t shut down their suggestions, nor did he shy away from them either.
“I’ve spent the past 30 years of my life working on old buildings and houses, each one teaches me something different. When they speak, I listen and when I’m in them I feel cloaked in their presence,” he concluded in his post.
In Nov. 2024, Wolfe confirmed on Instagram that Season 27 of American Pickers was in the works. After sharing in “beauty and some sadness around our table,” including the death of Fritz in Sept. 2024, Wolfe said he and the team “remain focused on sharing History and how it connects us all.”