AMERICAN Pickers star Frank Fritz wants to return to the show despite the network having “no plans to bring him back.”
Frank, 57, hasn’t appeared on History Channel’s American Pickers since mysteriously disappearing after a March 2020 episode.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Frank revealed his attempts to return to the popular series after recovering from back surgery.
Frank told The Sun: “I would like to come back to the show. I was doing it for 11 years. I’m 100 percent recovered now and I’m ready to roll and go back on the show.”
But Frank revealed the network hasn’t given him a straight answer about returning, as he continued: “They talk out of both sides of their mouth. It would be like me telling you I want to go back on the show and then tomorrow going, ‘I never said that, I never said anything about that.'
“The show runner called me on my birthday on October 11 of last year and he said ‘I’ll call you back tomorrow,’ but I haven’t heard from those people at all. They don’t contact me.”
Frank insisted he “didn’t leave the show,” as he underwent back surgery and then the pandemic hit.
The collector added: “I don’t know if they can do it cheaper without having me on there or what the situation is.
"I want to go back on the show, but it depends on the network. It ain’t gonna affect me one bit, but I would like to be back for my fans.”
TMZ reported American Pickers has “no plans” to bring back Frank, who has starred on the hit show since 2010.
Producers feel the show is doing fine without Frank, as the show had to continue filming while he dealt with health problems, according to the outlet.
As The Sun exclusively reported, Frank has also been feuding with his costar Mike Wolfe.
Frank said: “I haven’t talked to Mike in two years. 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.”
While Frank refused to reveal the exact cause of the falling out, he claimed there was tension over their shared American Pickers stardom.
He explained: "The show is tilted towards him 1,000 percent. I can’t even bend that far down to show you how much.
"That’s fine. It’s like you’ve got Aerosmith and there’s Steven Tyler and he’s the front man. I found my spot, I’m second and he’s number one on the show. That’s no problem with me, maybe he does have a problem.
“I’m not arrogant and I’m more of a regular ol’ guy.”
Frank then said it would be “hard” to “put the show on after not talking to somebody for two years.”
He even admitted: “I think Mike wants to get his brother Robbie in there to replace me. I don’t know why he’s behaving like that towards me.”
The Sun also previously reported Frank dropped 65 pounds, as he has been living healthier and sober.
In photos obtained by The Sun, Frank looked unrecognizable while debuting a shockingly thin appearance compared to his heavier figure on the show.
Frank, who suffers from Crohn’s Disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, told The Sun: “The weight loss is me watching what I’m eating so I can keep my disease under control the best I can. I’m just eating healthy.
“After a while I started watching what I’m doing and I’m doing a little bit more walking. I keep pretty busy around here too, taking care of the grass and getting rid of the weeds.”
Frank continued that he is sober today, adding: “Not drinking helps with weight loss because when you drink you eat. I’m not dieting.
“I was drinking a little bit too, but that didn’t work out either. I haven’t had a drink in almost nine, ten months.
“It would have been a year but I had one slip up, it was maybe for four hours but it was enough.”
Frank, who lives in Iowa, admitted that during his time off the show, he “hasn’t been out picking much lately.”
He continued: “I’ve been working on a couple motorcycles and stuff, but that’s about it. I was in Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota in August last year.
"I’ve been going to Sturgis for 40 years now. I was there for the 50th, 60th, 70th, 80th and 90th anniversaries and every year in between that. I just got inducted two years ago to the Sturgis Hall of Fame.”
Source: Read Full Article
