Historical past buffs love the fact TV sequence American Pickers, however the present hasn’t been the identical with out Frank Fritz. Fritz and Mike Wolfe co-hosted the present as finest buddies, however Fritz left the present for surgical procedure and by no means returned. Extra just lately, he was hospitalized for a stroke, and his father simply gave an replace on his situation.
What occurred to Frank Fritz? The ‘American Pickers’ star was hospitalized
Frank Fritz stopped showing on American Pickers throughout season 21. He had again surgical procedure that led to his preliminary departure, and it appeared Historical past by no means invited him again to proceed filming with Mike Wolfe. Moreover, Wolfe and Fritz had a falling out — and it’s unclear the place they stand right now.
Extra just lately, Fritz was hospitalized following a stroke. The Sun obtained the emergency audio that Fritz’s buddy positioned after arriving at Fritz’s house on July 4, 2022. “I just showed up at my friend’s house here and he was sprawled out on his floor,” the buddy informed the emergency dispatcher. “He can’t speak to me. He might be seizuring (sic) I’m not sure.”
Regardless of Wolfe and Fritz’s sophisticated friendship, Wolfe posted about Fritz’s hospitalization on Instagram. “There have been lots of opinions in regards to mine and Frank’s friendship and the show, but now is not the time to set the record straight,” Wolfe wrote. “Now is the time to pray for my friend. Frank has suffered a stroke and is in the hospital. Please keep him in your hearts and thoughts. Frank, I pray more than anything that you make it through this OK. I love you, buddy.”
Frank Fritz’s father says he’s in steady situation
Frank Fritz has a number of folks in his nook hoping for a fast restoration, together with his ex-American Pickers co-star Mike Wolfe. And based on Fritz’s father, Invoice, he’s doing OK. Invoice solely informed The Sun that his son is in steady situation following his hospitalization.
Fritz has been vocal about his well being troubles in the previous. The Sun experiences he handled alcoholism and checked into the Abbey Heart in Bettendorf, Iowa, for 77 days. “I didn’t like drinking anymore,” he informed The Solar. “My mom was an alcoholic and she died five years ago and it was alcohol-related. My grandfather was an alcoholic and he died. That didn’t sit well with me.”
Following rehab, he was “feeling really good” concerning the future. “Life is good and I’d like to get back into the swing of things,” he added. “I wish I had done it five years ago. I would have been a different person.”
‘American Pickers’ rankings reportedly drop as he’s now not starring in the present
With Frank Fritz now not on American Pickers and now in the hospital, many followers hope to see him return. In response to The Sun, rankings for the present have declined since Mike Wolfe’s brother, Robbie Wolfe, stepped in as Fritz’s alternative.
American Pickers Season 23, which premiered on Jan. 1, 2022, reportedly introduced in 1,050,000 viewers. By March 12, solely 830,000 tuned in. The episode airing on March 19 introduced in 804,000 viewers.
“Is Robbie in the episode?” a fan questioned. “If so, I can’t watch. He should not be on camera. Leave him to come and pick up cars. That’s where he belongs! The rating drops are directly tied to him.”
American Pickers airs Saturdays at 9 p.m. ET on Historical past.
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