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An unlucky oversight or a slight towards a fallen fan favourite?
We’ll allow you to determine.
As we reported, Frank Fritz handed away final month as a result of issues from a stroke. The actuality star greatest identified for his time on the History Channel present American Pickers had been coping with well being points since 2022, and was compelled to go away the present as a result of his situation.
On Wednesday, October ninth, the newest season of the beloved actuality present returned and followers settled in to observe how the crew would honor him.
Many had been left extremely disillusioned.
Season Premiere Angers ‘American Pickers’ Fans
When a longtime forged member dies, typically the present that made them well-known shares a tribute.
Sister Wives began off their new season with a point out of Garrison Brown, who died by suicide earlier this yr. Same goes for Days of Our Lives, after they misplaced Drake Hogestyn.
It then appeared like a no brainer then to imagine that when Season 26 of American Pickers kicked off, it’d be devoted to Frank. After all, it premiered just a bit over every week after his demise.
The season premiere aired and … nothing. There was no particular dedication in any respect. No opening graphic, not tribute on the finish of the episode. Nothing.
Needless to say, followers weren’t pleased in any respect!
‘This Show Was and Is Still Dead to Me’
After his stroke in 2022, Frank left the collection to care for his well being. Fans have missed him, however have understood his absence.
They had been much less forgiving of the present failing to acknowledge his passing. Given that the present was filmed months earlier than Frank’s demise, it was comprehensible that there was no footage discussing his passing.
But followers had been fast to level out the opposite methods they might’ve paid tribute.
“There was no dedication to Frank on the season premiere final night time. I really feel like they need to have no less than made a title card on the finish or one thing to honor him?” posted on Reddit consumer in a American Pickers sub-Reddit.
“Total disrespect! This present was and continues to be dead to me,” posted one other, livid with the slight.
“Honestly I feel the present is canine s—- with out Frank. I don’t even trouble watching episodes with out him anymore,” shared one other.
History Channel’s Tribute To Frank
Now, to play satan’s advocate, the community did air a tribute to Frank after the information of his passing. The channel put collectively a highlights reel of favourite moments from his time on American Pickers.
It included moments like their massive sale to Aerosmith or when he bought this near proudly owning a classic Knucklehead Harley Davidson. But the reel was posted on Youtube, not aired on the History Channel itself.
It did, nonetheless, accompany this assertion:
“We are saddened to share that our buddy and beloved member of The HISTORY Channel and American Pickers household, Frank Fritz, has handed away on September 30, 2024. Frank filmed American Pickers for over a decade. We will all the time bear in mind ‘the bearded charmer’ and his unending seek for classic bikes and bikes. Our ideas are with Frank’s family members throughout this troublesome time. He can be deeply missed.”
Frank’s Final Days
In the top, it’s secure to say that it was a missed alternative for The History Channel to not, on the very least, embody a tribute card on the finish of the season premiere. But because the twenty sixth season is simply taking off, there’s time to right the error.
In the weeks that adopted Frank’s passing, followers have obtained extra details about Frank’s failing well being from his longtime buddy Jerry Gendreau.
He truly defined in an interview with The Sun simply how dangerous issues had been for poor Frank in direction of the top.
“You would go to see him within the nursing dwelling and one-half of his physique was fully achieved. He would carry his arm up and it will simply drop,” defined Jerry.
Adding that it was “robust to be completely bedridden” for Frank, Jerry defined that he felt Frank was simply able to be achieved with all of the “dangerous days.”
“I’ve seen this when folks get drained, they get drained. I feel in case you don’t have the need to reside, you received’t,” Jerry stated.
“I feel Frank might’ve lived so much longer if the need to reside would’ve been there.”
Here’s hoping he’s at peace now.
