Mike Wolfe is speaking out this week to remember his former American Pickers co-star Frank Fritz, who sadly passed far too young.

This comes as American Pickers is preparing to take its first hiatus in fifteen years.

Wolfe Honors Fritz

Fritz died back in September of last year at the age of 60 due to complications from a stroke that he’d suffered two years before. He’d previously starred on American Pickers with Wolfe for over a decade before leaving in 2020 due to his health issues. Despite this, Fritz is still dearly missed on the American Pickers set – and by fans, of course.

“Every day we think about Frank on set,” Wolfe, 60, told The New York Post. “He was such a big part of the show. He was my friend since 8th grade. And a lot of times when we are traveling through a property there are so many things that capture our attention that connect us to him.”

“It’s kind of hard to talk about because it’s so fresh, but he is with us in spirit every single day,” he continued.

Related: Mike Wolfe Was Holding His ‘American Pickers’ Co-Star Frank Fritz’s Hand When He Took His ‘Last’ Breath

American Pickers Goes On Hiatus

This comes as American Pickers is preparing to take its first hiatus in fifteen years.

“We haven’t done that in 15 years, so that’s going to feel good. For 15 years, we have just been going and going and going,” Wolfe told People Magazine. He went on to say that the longest break the cast and crew has taken is “a month around Christmas.”

“I think we’re going to have at least four or five months off, so it’s going to be good,” he added.

Wolfe will use this time off to focus on his new show History’s Greatest Picks with Mike Wolfe.

“They asked me to do another show, and I felt that it was on brand in regards to what I’ve been doing with them for the last 15 years,” he recalled. “And so I was like, ‘Hell yeah, let’s do this!'”

Wolfe went on to explain the show’s premise.

“I’m going to introduce a story and a piece,” he said. “They’re going to cut to some archival footage, maybe even a little bit of reenactment… In one hour, we’re going to cover four different stories, so it is about picking. It’s about discovery of things, but the bottom line is, it’s very story-based, like my show is.”

Related: ‘American Pickers’ Star Mike Wolfe In Hot Water As Shoppers Blast The ‘Overpriced’ Antiques At His Stores

Wolfe Looks To The Future

Months after turning 60, Wolfe feels that he has a lot to look forward to.

“It’s been 20 years of my life, American Pickers has been. And so now kind of slowing down into it, I’m reflecting a lot, like so many people do my age,” he concluded. “That’s why really it’s a celebration of me turning 60 and I’m like, I’m doing this. You want to do another show? I’m doing another show. You want me to have a part in the scripted project? I’m doing it. I’m excited about the next chapter of everything.”

American Pickers has been one of the most beloved shows on television ever since it premiered back in 2010. While the cast and crew certainly deserve a break, we already can’t wait for the show to come back afterwards!

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