Ticked Off at Picked Off

Have you seen this new tv show "Picked Off" on Wednesdays on the History Channel? Oh, lord. Every time a new show like this debuts, I get my hopes up, and every time they get it wrong. Why do I bother?

The premise of the show is that four teams of amateur pickers (or as the website calls them, "weekend pickers") are vying for a chance at $10,000. Doesn't sound bad yet, does it?

Well, the contestants IMHO don't seem all that savvy, but I'm gonna blame that on the premise/set up of the show (see below). What I AM gonna blame them for is dressing up in matchy-matchy outfits. WTH! There's always the hippie/boho team (as evidenced by the tie-dye dudes above), the unusual hat team, etc. Seriously, I'm waiting for the first all-female duo dressed in bridesmaid dresses.

Anyway, each team is given $100 and sent to the same place; in the first episode, it was an antique store and in the second it was an estate sale. Here's the rub: they have one hour to find ONE ITEM that will appraise the highest. Owie! In my estimation, that's just setting people like us up for failure! I can buy a boatload of stuff for $100 and turn it into a lot more, but a single item?!? Methinks that's just not the way amateur dealers shop....

 

After each round, one duo is "picked off" after fussy brothers Todd and Ethan Merrill ("famous" appraisers) evaluate and appraiser the purchases. In the first episode, the team that got kicked off made the rookiest of rookie mistakes in buying a Coca-Cola tray and they got BURNED and booted off the show.

For the second round, whatever their first item appraised for is how much money the team gets to spend. This time, they are given three choices of where to go (in both episodes it was some weird collector's barn/garage/house). Incredibly, they have 6-7 hours and can go to one or all of the choices. Again, however, they can only buy one item.

Here's where it gets interesting, though: on the first episode, one team buys two items at one location and then BRINGS THEM to the second location and presents one item as a "gift" to the seller, and then trades the other item and their remaining money for a better deal. Pretty smart, huh? Well, in the second episode, one team agrees to do manual labor for a seller in exchange for a deal. Seeing that, another team does the same thing.

In the final round, the remaining teams go "freestyling" (duh, wonder where they got that term?), which in this instance means they can go BACK to any of the previous locations (but not off the grid, apparently). And, they get cell phones and digital tablets. The winning team gets $10,000. Fair enough.

In MY version of the show, even though it would be a technological nightmare, I'd say the teams can go ANYWHERE and buy AS MUCH as they want. Ditch the fussy brothers, and see by what percentage a team can increase their investment. If I bought a big ole box of skeleton keys, I'd be RICH.

All I know is that I'd much rather see footage of Barbara rooting through a dusty basement for Christmas tchotchkes and feedsacks, Pam chasing down a piled-high pickup truck full of salvage-bound rusty-crusties, Gina bogarting floral china at yardsales, Tamarah knee-deep in hard rubbish ... well, you get the picture. Let's see a REAL junker show without the games and frivolity!

Comments

[martina]

Market Warriors is more interesting. Picked Off seems too predictable and I've never heard of those "famous" appraisers.

[Gina @ VintageJunkinMyTrunk]

Maybe we all should just sit down and write our own show? Totally agree about Picked Off -- more like "Ripped Off" of a bunch of other existing shows.

I just watched the Philadelphia episode of Market Warriors and it was interesting -- maybe because I've been to that flea market? -- but the pace was agonizingly slow and those same contestants every week may get on my nerves.

Oh, and that floral china? i just made a $60 profit on one piece and I didn't even have to list it. Booyah!

[Sylvia]

This sounds like a show I use to watch on BBC America where they sent two teams into a flea market to buy treasures. They are given a set amount to spend. The items are then sold at an auction and the winner is the team which brings in the most money.

[kitty]

See, this is why I bar American television...utter rubbish!!
Not that we have this show, but you know what I mean!!

Let them loose on a swap meet at 4am with a set budget but NOT a set amount of items, and lets see who comes up with what and how quick off the mark they are.

[Randi]

Sounds horrible. I haven't seen it, fortunately. There are some real stinkers out there on t.v.

[barbara]

Haven't seen it, and now I won't! I think it's probably better to avoid anything with any variation on 'picker' in the title - I'm thinking of the lamentable Picker Sisters. p.s. thanks for the shout out and I cannot WAIT til Bouckville!

[oliveoyl64]

I was going to comment on the BBC show too. It was called "Bargain Hunt". Once again a show in the US that is a knockoff of a British show.

[Sea Witch]

So agree. These new shows are awful.

[Into Vintage]

I still haven't recovered from Picker Sisters so maybe I'll skip this one as well. The picture in my head of Barbara at that feedsack auction is enough to keep me entertained for days!

[robelyn]

i'm cracking up... i refuse to watch it!!! i know... i'm so lame... but now i'm just gonna wait to see when your show comes on. LOLOLOL

[Shabby Vintage Junk]

Oh Sue you CRACK ME UP....I'd just be HAPPY to see some of the junkin' shows you guys get....We've only just started getting American Pickers on the FREE channel down here....!!

I had to laugh when I saw OLIVEOYL64 comment....Why on earth American Producers thought it was a good idea to Americycle that ridiculous English 'Bargain Hunt' when there's SO MUCH really cool junkin' material available in the US is beyond me....That show ALONE is reason enough to make the most die hard of Aussie Monarchists hope for INDEPENDENCE....SOONER rather than later....hahahaha....!!

Hope you're having a BONZA week Lovey....hmmmmm....Maybe if we ditch the Queen I'll have to give the 'Lovey' away....I can KEEP the Bonza though....**sly wink**....!!!!!

Cheers,
Tamarah :o)

[Sandi]

Not crazy about it either! Have you seen Cash Cowboys yet?
I've seen a bit and like it much better. I think it is Canada's version of American Pickers.

[curtains in my tree]

LIke all shows to much drama like you have to be back here in 6 hours or your elimitated , then that would ruin the show wouldn't it if one was elimitated last minute?
they sent them crappy places also , those peoples hpuses with $100

I think its very unrealistic of course

oh well gives us something to gripe about

I likes Cash and carey beter but that didn't last 4 shows in my area

I liked longest yard sale show ??? anybody

[Laura @ 52 FLEA]

Thanks for the review...now I don't have to bother tuning in! I think your cast of characters and program ideas are stellar and all we need now is a TV gig...maybe we should stage our own at MB? :)

[Carol in Tulsa]

I've been watching "Market Warriors", and last week's and tonight's show were both so depressing. In almost every case, the "pickers" paid way too much for their items and the auctions seemed to be very poorly attended with very low bidding. Who wants to see that? Of course, they aren't going to score big profits on every piece, but it's been the opposite - big losses or barely breaking even. What's the point???

I'll probably give it another try next Monday because I do enjoy seeing all the cool stuff at the flea markets where they send the contestants to find their pieces (to later be auctioned in a different location). I could do without all the silly games and "drama", though.

We canceled our cable TV because we just don't watch that much and it was getting ridiculously expensive, so I'm limited to shows we can pick up with our antenna. Sadly, no more "American Pickers". I did enjoy Mike & Frank.