American Pickers show. Is it real? fake? staged?

Anyone ever hear of anything behind this show? Anyone know of someone who was on the show or knew someone that was? Wondering just how "real" it really is?

 

Google it.

 

no proof but i believe that it is real.......to an extent....i don't think they just show up to peoples houses randomly with camera crews asking to go through their shit. they probably arrive at the places with just them, get permission then re-shoot their arrival, but i believe the actual scrounging through places and "wheeling and dealing" is probably fairly realistic, of course Im sure there's tons of editing done also.

 

hmm

 

There are video clips about each of them on YouTube but I haven't bothered to watch any of them.

 

I've always enjoyed this show. They seem like nice guys and they don't rip people off. As to how real it is, no idea, but I like to think the show is one of the more realistic reality shows

 

Someone posted on TW that a friend of theirs had these guys just show up and asjed if they could film and look through his building. I think it's legit, but sometimes a call to get access and setting an appointment, introductions, then film the drive up, other times they just drive up.

 

About as real as Pawn Stars, Storage Wars and other 'reality' TV of that ilk.

Lot of staging mixed with a smattering of truth.

And the tatted up ex roller derby stripper chick knows nothing of antiques or business. She's just there for, well, whatever is attracted to that.

 

That would be me

 

The came here to a place owned by the father of someone who works for me. It's a mix of "staged" finds and real finds.

 

She actually manages the products and store in Le Claire, Iowa. I've seen her and the the guys when I lived in Iowa.

All their stuff is way over priced when they put it up for sale all the store locations.

 

That goes for anything sold in any antique store. It would be a thrift store otherwise.

 

When I was in the field doing HVAC I meet a customer that was on the show. They lived in an old church. Plot seems real but they have plenty of off camera discussions about what they have and how much they want. Definitely staged scenes for TV and a lot of I no a guy down the road bs.

 

They came through my home town when picking through western NC. They tried to buy stuff out of my dads gas station he runs. Unfortunately all the antiques that are in the station is part of the business and the owners wouldnt sell any of it. So we told them that upfront and they didnt even stop.

 

I heard they send people to your house to look at everything first. So when they get there they know where to look to find what they want to buy.

 

Obviously they really do buy things and sell them in their stores. How many items are staged or "selectively placed" for more interesting tv is the question. I think they probably have a crew looking through places first then they swoop in for the good items and interesting tv. No way they spend hours and hours at some of these hoarder-homes only to buy $100 worth of junk. Wouldn't even cover fuel costs.

When it comes down to it, it's a tv show not a documentary.

 

Different strokes for different folks

 

I would imagine like some of the other shows, the TV contract is the real honey of the business.