Finding Your Roots
Finding Your Roots with Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., a new 10-part PBS-TV series that explores race, culture and identity through genealogy and genetics, premieres Sunday, March 25 at 7 pm MT
PBS-TV recently announced that Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., host of the network’s past genealogy programs: African American Lives I & II, Oprah’s Roots, and Faces of America (see below), will be hosting another new genealogy program.
Premiering on Sunday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m. MT, the 10-part series delves into the genealogy and genetics of famous Americans, combining history and science in a fascinating exploration of race, family, and identity in today’s America. Professor Gates shakes loose captivating stories and surprises in the family trees of Kevin Bacon, Harry Connick Jr., Robert Downey, Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Branford Marsalis, John Legend, Condoleeza Rice, Martha Stewart, Barbara Walters, Rick Warren, and other celebrities.
This latest series will feature two people in each one-hour episode, including husband-and-wife actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, who jokes she’s afraid they might turn out to be cousins. “They are indeed distant cousins,” revealed Gates.”Talk about six degrees of separation, right?”
“Finding Your Roots will be a moving, uplifting, entertaining and enlightening experience for viewers,” says Gates. “Genealogy is more popular than ever, but it’s far more than a solitary pastime. It’s a fascinating endeavor that can drastically alter both history and the way we think of ourselves.”
Working closely with leading U.S. genealogists (including staff of the New England Genealogical Historical Society and Johni Cerny, co-author of the acclaimed The Source: Guidebook for American Genealogy) and ancestry experts from around the world, Gates and his production team comb through family stories to discover unknown histories and relatives the guests never knew existed. When paper trails end for each story, the team turns to top geneticists and DNA diagnosticians (such as the genetic testing service 23 & Me) to analyze each participant’s genetic code, tracing their bloodlines and occasionally debunking their long-held notions and beliefs.
Gates said he first got fascinated with genealogy when “Roots” premiered in 1977. “Ever since I’ve had a bad case of ‘Roots’ envy,” Gates said. ” I wanted to be like Alex Haley and find my family tree.”
Finding Your Roots Companion Website will present video from the series, profiles of featured guests and an ongoing blog from executive producer, writer and presenter Henry Louis Gates, Jr. In addition to his blog, the website will include material from the production team and the scientists who conducted research for the series. With a heavy focus on online engagement, the website will allow fans to submit stories about their own family histories, and browse those others have uploaded. The website also will offer a comprehensive list of resources that viewers can use to learn more about their own genealogy. (from PBS press release on 1-5-2012)
Faces Of America
Dr. Gates presented 12 celebrities in his popular 2010 PBS-TV program, The Faces of America. Viewers can visit the webpage of this program at The Faces of America Webpage. Viewers can watch the videos of this popular series on the different celebrities for FREE. The celebrities included professor and poet Elizabeth Alexander, chef Mario Batali, comedian Stephen Colbert, novelist Louise Erdrich, journalist Malcolm Gladwell, actress Eva Longoria, musician Yo-Yo Ma, director Mike Nichols, Her Majesty Queen Noor, television host/heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, actress Meryl Streep, and figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi.
History Detectives
Per Wikipedia, History Detectives is a documentary television series on PBS that started in 2003. A group of researchers help people to seek answers to various historical questions they have, usually centering around a family heirloom, an old house or other historic object or structure. It devotes itself “to exploring the complexities of historical mysteries, searching out the facts, myths and conundrums that connect local folklore, family legends and interesting objects.
Each segment begins with a brief introduction and then shows the “detective” meeting with a person who has brought the case to their attention. The cases always revolve around a physical object which is supposedly related in some manner to American history. Usually these are family heirlooms of some type, although occasionally they are public objects or landmarks or items owned by private archives or museums. The person presenting them with the case then shows the investigator the item in question and relates their understanding of how this item is connected to American history. Often this involves some element of folk history which has been handed down as family or local lore.
The History Detectives series runs during the summer through the fall on PBS-TV. You can watch past episodes on their History Detectives website.
Who Do You Think You Are?
Get ready for the third season of the popular ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ TV Series!
Next Episode on Friday, February 10 at 7 pm MT on NBC-TV
If you enjoy family history about famous celebrities and their interesting ancestor stories, you will appreciate the third season (2012) of NBC-TV’s popular “Who Do You Think You Are?” program. The third season will feature celebrities Edie Falco, Helen Hunt, Blair Underwood, Martin Sheen, Reba McEntire, Rashida Jones, Rob Lowe, Marisa Tomei, Rita Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Jerome Bettis, and Paula Deen. The third season premiere is scheduled to start Friday night, February 3 on NBC-TV at 7 pm MT per the series executive producers Lisa Kudrow and Dan Bucatinsky.
“We’re very excited about the stories we have this season,” Kudrow and Bucatinsky said in a statement announcing the news. “This fantastic group of people will take us to countries we haven’t visited before, which is thrilling and gives us glimpses into crucial details of history that not only shaped their families, but our world. This is what we love about this series; it’s so enriching for the viewer, as well as the participants and their families.” (From the Hollywood Reporter on January 6, 2012)
WDYTYA History
Who Do You Think You Are? is an American genealogy documentary series that premiered on NBC on March 5, 2010. The show is an adaptation of the British series of the same name, aired by the BBC. Each week a celebrity goes on a journey to trace his or her family tree. Lisa Kudrow and Dan Bucatinsky are executive producers for the series, which is a partnership between NBC Entertainment and Ancestry.com. It is produced in association with BBC and Watch.
Season one celebrities in 2010 included celebrities Sarah Jessica Parker, Emmitt Smith, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Broderick, Brooke Shields, Susan Saradon, and Spike Lee. Season two celebrities in 2011 included Vanessa Williams, Tim McGraw, Rosie O’Donnell, Kim Cattrall, Lionel Ritchie, Steve Buscemi, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ashley Judd.
You can see more info on these celebrities and watch the first and second season reruns on the NBC website at WDYTYA Website.