#12: American Pickers

American Pickers markets itself as an unscripted journey through forgotten treasures, but much of the spontaneity is pre-planned. The dramatic haggling viewers love is often just for show—prices are typically negotiated with guests well before filming.

Those remote, cluttered barns and garages? Producers scout and arrange visits weeks in advance to ensure the best finds. Even quirky fan-favorite “Hobo Jack” isn’t entirely as portrayed—he’s a seasoned and successful collector, not the drifter his nickname implies.