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Canadian Pickers
OK 'fess up. Who watches American Pickers? I must confess the first couple of times I watched it, I didn't much care for it. But as time went on it grew on me and, now, well I guess I'm hooked.
Canadian Pickers on the other hand, for me, is a far different story. I've watched the first two episodes and it's been painful...downright embarrassing. We have these two guys dressed up in cowboy outfits (Canadian clown suits) who have no life and very little chemistry between them. The dialogue is so forced it's ridiculous. The humour is flater than the land they're crossing.
I'm not even sure what they know. The other night they were at a farm that had a lot of old bikes and motorcycles and the one lad jumped on a early 60's CCM roadster and rode around on it, but neither one had a clue what it was. A little later they phoned an "expert" to determine the value of a Lincoln toy truck. Well anyone who knows anything about Canadian collectibles knows that one of the most common and sought-after items are Lincoln toys. There's no way they should have to phone anyone about them.
Maybe it will grow on me like the American show did. I hope so, but i doubt it. It's such a blatant copy it's pathetic. The other night on the Canadian show, the lad turned to the camera and said: "When we're on a pick we'll buy anything we think we can make a buck on." For crying out loud at least write your own damn lines.
I mean it could have been neat to do a Canadian version, but this one is so poorly done it's almost like a parody. As far as I'm concerned the sooner it dies a quiet death the better. But maybe that's just me.
John
Couldn't agree with you more John. Apparently all Canadians are cowboys..please. I love American Pickers and find it not only entertaining but educational. Canadian Picker tough...I only watch it to see what they are finding, which has really proved not worth watching. Someone needs to pull the plug on that embarrasment of a Canadian show.
Rob
I too have watched American Pickers and found the show was right on the mark. As a long time antique dealer and owning one of the largest stores in Ontario, ( which my ex-wife recently acquired), I have been in their situation many times and as much as I tend to dislike the advantages that I think the shorter of the two individuals takes on what appears to be unsuspecting souls, its a great show. A friend of mine, who is a true picker, applied for the show and I expect the reason he didn't get it was due to his proposed partner, who in my opinion has the personality of an arrogant toad. There has to be some entertainment value at the very least as well as some kind of expertise. In any event I too watched, with some hesitation, the first two shows of the Canadian Pickers. Unfortunately John, I would be of the opinion that your negative opinion of this show just isn't negative enough. These two characters are more than just embarrassing; they have no charisma, no experise, no common sense, no contacts and no spark between the two of them. On the first show they looked at bottles and any true dealer knows that these have been dead for years. I have recently had two absolutely amature dealers, both belonging to the largest bottle club in Ontario, and probably only bottle club, say this isn't so however guess what; the only people keeping this collecting alive is those that collected bottles years ago and have a lot of money tied up in it. They did however end up with a figural windmill weight which was good. The next show they were buying $1.00 items and saying they can sell them for $2.00. Thats right, they are going to make a $1.00 on those investments. Then they looked at buck saws and ice tongs, something that is also worth a couple of dollars. What can I say. You are correct, this show should die a quick and natural death and lets hope the Americans don't see it. One other note is, even if they could buy something, who are they going to sell it to; there are no more dealers, just antique malls and they do not have true antique dealers with any expertise. This last statement could cause a fluery of opposition.
I watched the first episode, had been eagerly anticipating it for so long............what an incredible letdown, couldn't even bare to watch the second episode. Us Canadians had the chance to show the Americans that we have rusty relics too, and we blew it with this show. I was expecting them to get down and dirty in some cobwebby old barn like the American Pickers do, but I saw nothing like that, not one grimy hand in the show.
The thing is - Mike Wolfe is a real picker and has been for a long while. He knows his stuff.
On the Canadian show the one guy is an auctioneer and the other guy is a lawyer. Do we have no real pickers in Canada??? I mean c'mon put some effort into it. I'm convinced this is some kind of cruel joke designed to make Canadians look silly.
I actually feel sorry for these guys.
Canadian Pickers is simply a copycat version of American Pickers and a poor one at that. It lacks humour, pizzaz, knowledge of antiques and collectibles and genuine enthusiam for the craft. The dialogue is almost identical to American Pickers which I love to watch but this seems forced. I won't be watching another segment. All it offers is low-balling to the point of nausea. Come on guys.....Canada can do better than that. When you get to the Badlands you can go the way of the dinosaurs. Boring!!!
I'm watching the newest show as we speak. It is as much a disappointment as I originally thought. When you are looking at electric fans and records, other than the Butcher album, I am more than disappointed. Now we are attempting to pick the Christie Antique Show. Firstly, these people are not real dealers, they are antique mall dealers at best, other than a very few. Secondly, there is no expertise in Ontario because there are no real dealers left other than the absolutely few that own there own stores. These people pay retail at auction because they have no front door which a real dealer DOES have, hence they pay almost or more than retail for their stock. These characters just showed up at Steve's place on Hwy 20 which is an excellent antique mall, which in my opinion is the best mall in Ontario. I cannot even imagine these characters at my door as it would be absolutely embarrasing to have them show there non-expertise at my door. I must admit I have shopped and picked many antique mall and dealers across the country but you have to know what you are doing, AND AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED THEY DO NOT. I know this sound bitter but these guys are truly an embarrassment for Canadians.
This series should have been a great opportunity to highlight some local Canadian history in the various areas visited. Unfortunately I think in the rush to capitalize on the popularity of the American show, very little thought was put into making this a truly show Canadian.
These guys are shoppers, not pickers. They spend all their time in stores and other places that anyone could access. 'Inner sanctum' my foot. What next - the sally ann?
They are trying to be tour guides, popular culture historians and cowboy clowns. They are only one of the above, and not intentionally. They are scripted and wardrobed 'actors', lacking spontaneity or charm, 'eh'. And they haven't highlighted anything that I would really go for, unlike the US guys.
At least you can believe that Frank and Mike came to this naturally and bickering is part of their lifestyle. Are there no carefree hillbillies, destitute hoarders, or dirt-filled derelict barns in this country?
We don't really care where you are, just show us some awesome stuff, and don't go cheepo dickering down five bucks. It'll be reality TV when someone boots you out - - cameras, road crew, scriptwriters and all.
I have forced myself to watch this show because I love to collect and pick aswell, but these two clowns should pick themselves off the air. It is painful to watch how they hammer away at such nice and trusting people for a few bucks. Give me a break, spend some money and pay fair on descent items! Its not always about squeezing good folks for every last dollar. it should be a win win for both. Bring back American pickers, these are guys I like to watch and they seem to have a true love and heart for collecting! That's just my opinion!
Not to keep beating a dead horse, but last show the two Canadians picked a Murray bicycle. All well and good, but when the value of the bike was flashed on the screen, the name was misspelled (Murry). I don't necssarily blame the pickers for that, but is there no one connected to this show who actually has a working knowledge of antiques and collectibles? Or edits things for accuracy?
It's a well know fact that cowboy hats cut off the flow of blood to the brain, which explaines a lot of things.
Ralph Kline, Steven Harper, and the folks that voted for them.
My son summed up the Amercan version quite nicely: "Far more entertaining than it had any right to be."
Well guys I have continued to watch this show as that is my interest , ie antiques in general. The show is doing better; not the stars. They continue to be an embarassment. They appear to be cheap, no expertise hicks, at best. The long haired creap bothers me the most as he has no skills, in my opinion, talking to people or approaching an individual that is willing to sell items. The last couple of shows they have done were fairly decent although they picked a reproduction blue cupboard in Quebec from a woman that agreed so quickly to sell that they should have known. I did buying trips in Quebec at one time and realized that no matter how great an original blue cupboard looked in a warehouse there were six others in the same area. Once you looked closely you could see what had been done and man are they good at what they do. Someone suggested they bring the American Pickers back on and I definately agree. These characters really know their stuff regardless of whether I like the short fat guy or not; oops, did I say that. I wouldn't doubt in the next few weeks you see the Canadian Pickers try to pick Christie, which is a place I don't go because they have so few dealers with any expertise, only show dealers and antique mall sellers. Antique malls have now become flea markets at best and there are so few stores around I don't even know where to shop. Maybe we can run up a list of antique stores where we can shop across Ontario, or for that matter across Canada. I almost never, and I can't remember, the last time I saw any bicycle items at an antique store. Please prove me wrong and do not just indicate one item you saw in 1994. See you in Brantford at the end of the month. Doug.
disagreeentirely. they are fun personable and the show is great. You are typical canadians whining that canada doesnt do things as well as the usa. what a bunch of grumpy old farts you all are sheesh
Actually I think you missed the point. I, for one, believe that we can do things just as well or better than our American neighbours. This show was a perfect opportunity to do so, but we missed the mark by a wide margin. (Although I must say the "finds" have been getting better and they seem to have reined the "hippie cowboy" in a bit.)
Seriously? These two guys are clowns and know very little about what they are looking at. NO.....AND I MEAN NO charisma,no rapport between the two of them and they are a total disgrace to the picking community.
I watch the show to see what is out there and that is the only reason.
Neither of them would last the summer either here in Victoria and even in Vancouver.
Surely there were better people to pick than them. A lawyer? Really?
And this same old patter: "that's what I was going to say" or "I can't make any money on it" and all of their other inane comments. C'mon Canada and History Channel.....there are pickers out there with brains,charisma,personality and actual knowledge. Get them on TV!!!
Trust me:get rid of these ass clowns,get some good pickers(real ones)and this series will soar in the ratings!
I would like to see someone come out with a t shirt with ''Canadian Pickers'' at the top and those two with their fingers up their noses under that.
That would pretty sum up the show for me...
Where have these guys gone? Is the show finished for good?
First of all I would like to say I'm born and raised Canadian and Canadian Pickers have mocked and don't represent Canadians what so ever. It's a bleeping joke. Get with the program. Someone who put these Hill Billies Rednecks is not the way Canadians look.
I watch it just cause but it is what it is. I was a picker dealer at auto flea markets for years and the two guys on the show are not very different than lots of guys that showed up wheeling and dealing at Barrie. Buy low sell high and every thing you have is never worth any thing and every thing they have is big $$. Around here we have a respectfull dealer that I trust he was on the Christie show and will also be on the last show of this season.