Fully expected to not like this series, but, after watching it for awhile I have to admit that I enjoy it.
As noted the series theme deals with collectors who come on, banter back and forth with Ms. Whelchel about it, then get to interact with an expert who usually makes the collector a tempting offer to trade. This added game show dimension is done is such a low key manner that it's easy to accept and make our own guess.
Ms. Whelchel does a good job interacting with the collectors, who usually arrive on camera with a family member of friend and the subject matter expert about the collection, trying to get the guest collector to talk about their collection and share their enthusiasm and energy about the topic at hand. Ms. Whelchel, of course, is the poster child for those things going back to her career on 'The Facts of Life' a cute 70s ish series which allowed her to smile a lot and interact with others.
As of this date (7/2019) the series has been extended for another season and will bring back the same cast and theme. That's good because this type of series needs someone like Ms. Whelchel to propel it forward. Watching her stand there, smiling and looking excited brings energy to the show and helps loosen up the guests, who are all just regular people like us.
This is the first shot at making their own product by METV. The honchos there believe a series about collectors taps into the nostalgia craze and should be of interest to and a natural connection for the current viewers. Not sure if they'll keep it on the same night and time, but, sounds weird but even that is cute. You have to seek this series out to watch. I found it by accident, flipping the dial looking for 'The Odd Couple', which they used to air on Sunday nights. No dice, that series was sent into outer space. Probably not to return for awhile.
