[CA-SCGS] Genealogy Roadshow Season 3 Premieres Tomorrow - Don't Miss!

Season 3 of Genealogy Roadshow on PBS

Tuesday, May 17th

8/7c

It's finally here!  The new season of Genealogy Roadshow starts tomorrow night!

Season 3 features a diverse cast of participants and stories from cities around the country. Cities visited include Boston, Houston, Albuquerque, Miami, and Los Angeles, plus more. 

Join us as we watch and learn from professional genealogists Joshua Taylor, Mary M. Tedesco, and Kenyatta D. Berry, who will join us on June 4th as Guest Presenter at Southern California Genealogy Jamboree for the Saturday Evening Banquet. 

To learn more about Genealogy Roadshow on PBS, visit their page on the PBS website.

Not sure what you local PBS station is?  Click here to view a listing of PBS member stations.

Southern California Genealogical Society
417 Irving Drive
Burbank, California 91504
818.843.7247
www.scgsgenealogy.com

[CA-SCGS] Genealogy Roadshow Premieres Next Tuesday!

Season 3 of Genealogy Roadshow on PBS

Tuesday, May 17th

8/7c

It's finally here!  The new season of Genealogy Roadshow premieres next week, on your local PBS station.  

Season 3 features a diverse cast of participants and stories from cities around the country. Cities visited include Boston, Houston, Albuquerque, Miami, and Los Angeles, plus more. 

Join us as we watch and learn from professional genealogists Joshua Taylor, Mary M. Tedesco, and Kenyatta D. Berry, who will join us on June 4th as Guest Presenter at Southern California Genealogy Jamboree for the Saturday Evening Banquet. 

To learn more about Genealogy Roadshow on PBS, visit their page on the PBS website.

Not sure what you local PBS station is?  Click here to view a listing of PBS member stations.

Southern California Genealogical Society
417 Irving Drive
Burbank, California 91504
818.843.7247
www.scgsgenealogy.com

[CA-SCGS] DVR Alert! Genealogy Roadshow Premieres in 2 Weeks

Season 3 of Genealogy Roadshow on PBS

Tuesday, May 17th

8/7c

It's finally here!  The new season of Genealogy Roadshow premieres in 2 weeks on your local PBS station.  

Season 3 features a diverse cast of participants and stories from cities around the country. Cities visited include Boston, Houston, Albuquerque, Miami, and Los Angeles, plus more. 

Join us as we watch and learn from professional genealogists Joshua Taylor, Mary M. Tedesco, and Kenyatta D. Berry, who will join us on June 4th as Guest Presenter at Southern California Genealogy Jamboree for the Saturday Evening Banquet. 

To learn more about Genealogy Roadshow on PBS, visit their page on the PBS website.

Not sure what you local PBS station is?  Click here to view a listing of PBS member stations.

Southern California Genealogical Society
417 Irving Drive
Burbank, California 91504
818.843.7247
www.scgsgenealogy.com

Genealogy Programs Sprouting on Television

Woohoo! Genealogy is becoming popular in the world of television programming. Here's a rundown:

Who Do You Think You Are?

We know that "Who Do You Think You Are?" is back in production, to resume on cable channel TLC. We will be welcoming Alexandra Orton and other members of the production team to the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree, as they join us for the Friday evening banquet.  

Family Tree - Premiers on Sunday, May 2

Next, there's Family Tree, a new program with genealogy as the basic plot line. However, it's not your typical study-a-family's-history format. This is a comedy that is described as:  

Down on his luck in love and life, having recently lost his job and girlfriend, 30-year-old Tom Chadwick has an unsure sense of his own identity. But when he inherits a mysterious box, Tom starts investigating his lineage and uncovers a world of unusual stories and characters, acquiring a growing sense of who he and his entire family are. [We can certainly relate to unusual stories and characters, right?]

FAMILY TREE kicks off its eight-episode season SUNDAY, MAY 12 (10:30-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, followed by other episodes subsequent Sundays at the same time. The producer is Christopher Guest, who is responsible for such comedy gems as "Best in Show and "A Mighty Wind." If you don't mind spoilers, you can read the episode summaries at http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/family-tree-new-hbo-show-28000/

Genealogy Roadshow

A casting call is out for a new PBS program called Genealogy Roadshow.

The casting call reads: HAVE YOU ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT YOUR FAMILY'S HISTORY? The groundbreaking Documentary Series “Genealogy Roadshow” will be in AUSTIN, NASHVILLE, SAN FRANCISCO, and DETROIT reuniting families with long lost relatives, and answering questions about their past, their history, and their lineage. Do you have a Family mystery you would like solved? Is there a missing piece or person in your family tree you’ve always wondered about? Do you believe you might be connected in some way to our Nation’s rich history, folk lore, our founding fathers, or a famous person? If so, we’d love to hear from you! For your chance to be on the show please email us your name, contact info, your story, and someone from the casting department will get back to you!

Please note that the full instructions for registering, including creating an account and signing in, can be found at http://www.realitywanted.com/call/24410-casting-pbss-genealogy-roadshow#.UXrbQMoWdOx

Genealogy on Good Morning America Wednesday morning

Thanks to Randy Seaver for publishing this note on his blog.

Leslie Albrecht Huber, who spoke at the SCGS German Interest Group meeting a couple of months ago, will appear on Good Morning, America (ABC) on Wednesday at approximately 7:45 a.m.  Leslie is author of The Journey Takers, which recounts her ancestors' journeys to America and her pursuit of those ancestors.

You can read Randy's review of Leslie's book in Book Review: The Journey Takers, by Leslie Albrecht Huber.

You can see an online video of Leslie describing her book here on the FamilySearch Beta site.

Area Event: Lisa Kudrow to Speak at Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles

This is an announcement that we're passing along from our good friends at the Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles:

Tuesday, September 28 at 7:30PM 
Skirball Cultural Center - Magnin Auditorium

Free to JGSLA members, guests $5.

An evening with Lisa Kudrow
and the researchers and producers of 

"Who Do You Think You Are?" 
the popular NBC documentary-style reality show 

with a genealogical and historical focus

Lisa will introduce her episode, in which she uncovers a family story dating back to the Holocaust in Belarus.  After the screening she, and the production staff will discuss the particulars of this episode, the impetus for making the series, how the selection process works, and the perils and pitfalls of researching celebrity family histories. 

Kudrow was the first to shoot her installment over two years ago; and despite the existence of a 46 page family tree her father created, she discovered many surprising discoveries about her ancestors.  

Kudrow describes the show as exploring intimate details with a very personalized aspect compared to what we read about historical events in textbooks.  Genealogical research as a way to make history come alive is one of the hallmarks of WDYTYA, which started on the BBC over seven years ago.  She believes our pasts should be intriguing and inviting.  Bring your questions for a lively, interactive panel discussion following the presentation.

Who Do You Think You Are: Susan Sarandon on April 23

"Who Do You Think You Are?" returns to television this Friday night 8pm, 7pm Central time.  Did I see Megan Smolenyak in the preview for this episode?  Why Yes I Did!!  Watch her on Friday night and then visit with her in the SCGS Booth 130 at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on Saturday or Sunday.  She'll be selling and autographing copies of her companion book to the series "Who Do You Think You Are."

I know the celebrities are the main focus of this program, but I think the genealogists are *our* celebrities!

Megan will also be one of the featured speakers at the 2010 Genealogy Jamboree. In addition to three lectures, she will also be giving the Saturday banquet talk on the search for Michelle Obama's roots.

WDYTYA Renewed by NBC

Hurray! We're hearing today that NBC has renewed Who Do You Think You Are? for a second season. No specifics yet about when the new programs will air or who will be featured, but this is great news for genealogy.

The Brooke Shields episode that aired on Friday night got the highest ratings for the time spot, which was very good news. The program's audience had consistently grown over the weeks, and NBC saw a good thing and renewed.

As we reported in an earlier post, the schedule has been adjusted somewhat. Upcoming episodes are scheduled as follows:

- April 9th – Sarah Jessica Parker (Repeat)
- April 16th – No episode
- April 23rd – Susan Sarandon
- April 30th – Spike Lee

Remember that Megan Smolenyak2 is one of the genealogists that appeared in Emmitt Smith's episode, and she'll be in our Festival of Books booth the very next day, autographing her companion book to the television series. Be sure to stop by, pick up your copy, and have it autographed on the spot.

Who Do You Think You Are: Brooke Shields on Friday April 2

This Week’s Episode – Brooke Shields

Brooke Shields’ episode is the most royal of the series, taking viewers to New Jersey, Rome, and Paris. In the episode, Brooke seeks to learn more about her father’s aristocratic roots and to learn the origins of the “Torlonia” family name. Watch for Brooke’s visit to the New Jersey State Archives in Newark and the New York Historical Society.

Check out the teaser featuring Brooke Shields, and tune into NBC for the full episode on Friday at 8/7c.

Last Week’s Episode – Matthew Broderick

In last week’s episode, award-winning actor and performer Matthew Broderick set out to learn more about his father’s side of the family. Matthew begins his journey by visiting battlefield grounds of north-eastern France, where he finds out his grandfather served as a medic in World War I. Matthew is surprised to learn that through his grandfather’s heroic military sacrifice, he was awarded the Purple Heart and recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross. But Matthew’s military roots don’t stop there. On a trip to Connecticut, Matthew discovers his great-great-grandfather served in the Civil War and fought in the Battle of Gettysburg. The last leg of Matthew’s journey leads him to Marietta, Georgia, where he visits his great-great-grandfather’s grave site and also solves a 150-year-old mystery.

If you missed the episode, watch it here.

Who Do You Think You Are: Matthew Broderick on March 26

This week’s episode takes a different turn with award-winning actor and performer Matthew Broderick, who sets out to discover more about his father’s side of the family, whom he never knew. As he learns about his ancestors’ heroic military service and sacrifice, Matthew gets closer than he ever imagined to Captain Robert Shaw, who he portrayed in the epic Civil War movie Glory. Watch for Matthew’s visit to the National Archives in New York City, the Connecticut State Archives, and the Marietta National Cemetery in Georgia.

Check out the teaser featuring Matthew Broderick, and tune into NBC for the full episode on Friday at 8/7c.

Last Week’s Episode

Last week’s episode starring Lisa Kudrow was one of the most riveting of the series. In it, Lisa visits the small shtetl of Ilya, Belarus, where her great-grandmother was executed during the Holocaust. Lisa’s father always wondered what happened to Yuri, a cousin who had escaped from Ilya to Poland and who delivered the news of Lisa’s great-grandmother’s death, but was never heard from again. On a visit to Gdynia, Poland, to discover Yuri’s true fate, Lisa is shocked to learn that Yuri was still alive! Despite the tragic history Lisa uncovers, the episode ends with a silver lining – a beautiful reunion between the two families that had been separated by the tragedies of the Holocaust.

If you missed the episode, watch it here.

Who Do You Think You Are: Lisa Kudrow on Friday, March 19

It appears the success of the Who Do You Think You Are? premiere wasn’t just a one-hit wonder. In fact, more Americans tuned in to watch the second episode than the first!

This Week’s Episode
You won’t want to miss this week’s episode. Lisa Kudrow sets out to learn the hard truth about what really happened to her Jewish ancestors who remained behind in Belarus during World War II. Despite the cold details of how the Holocaust impacted her family, Lisa’s episode ends with a silver lining.

Last Week’s Episode

Faced with the obstacles that surround African American family history research, football legend Emmitt Smith sets out to learn about his enslaved ancestors. The trail takes him to Monroe County, Alabama, where Emmitt traces his family back to his 3rd great-grandfather, Prince Puryear. Prince is found in the 1870 U.S. Federal Census, along with several other Puryears – including one 55-year old woman named “Mariah.” Emmitt calls it destiny when the family historian uses Book 22 (his jersey number) to confirm Mariah is Prince’s mother. Mariah then leads Emmitt on a journey that introduces him to the slave trade in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. Seeking his African origins, Emmitt takes a DNA test that guides him to the shores of Africa.

Who Do You Think You Are: Emmitt Smith on Friday March 12

This Friday night, football legend Emmitt Smith will travel across the U.S. and all the way to the African coast to reveal important answers about his slave ancestry — and his own identity. Click on the image to watch a clip from Friday night's show.

Who Do You Think You Are? is a unique show that takes a personal look into the family stories of seven celebrities, while helping people everywhere understand what they could discover about their own family history.

Keep In Touch With SCGS

With the premier of “Who Do You Think You Are” last Friday night, the genealogical community is poised to experience a surge in interest in family history research.

Some are saying that the NBC program, along with “Faces of America” which was shown on PBS, will spark an interest level not seen since Roots in 1976.

News is breaking so quickly that it’s hard to keep up. It’s a great problem to have. I’m trying to update everyone on all the news by posting notices on the SCGS blog and on the SCGS website.

You don’t need to ~blog~ or ~do blogs~ or ~read blogs~ or ~anything blogs~ in order to keep up with the notices. All you need to do is go to the blog website and sign up to get email with any posts that were made in that day.

I encourage you to sign up to receive email notices. No one will get your email address. You won’t get posts from other individuals – the emails are one-way communications from SCGS. I’ll do my best to keep you updated on SCGS activities, news of bargains from genealogy suppliers, notices of media focus on genealogy, and other interesting bits and pieces of interest to genealogists.

Oh, by the way…

There’s a companion blog for Jamboree. If you’re planning to attend, or even just thinking about it, you can sign up to get those updates too. It's very rewarding to hear from our Jamboree blog readers that they were much more informed, and they enjoyed Jamboree even more, because of the updates posted to the blog.

As I write this, we have 6 subscribers to the SCGS blog and 367 subscribers to the Jamboree blog. Let’s see how those numbers change in the next 24 hours.

Genealogy on Oprah Today!

Don’t miss Oprah today. She’s shining her very bright light on family history, with guests Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Lisa Kudrow, Emmitt Smith, and others. Check Oprah’s website for background stories, clips of today’s program, and related links, including Megan Smolenyak2’s companion book to “Who Do You Think You Are?”

Check your local listings so you don’t miss this program.

WDYTYA: WDYT?

All right. What Did You Think of the program, Who Do You Think You Are? that premiered last night on NBC? Didn't watch it? Well, you can catch it online at NBC

Next week's celebrity is Emmitt Smith, former pro football player and winner of "Dancing With The Stars" a few years ago. Maybe you can get your football-loving family members to watch it by telling them it's a sports show. Just an idea...

Faces of America: All Episodes Online at PBS.org

The four-part series "Faces of America" by Henry Louis Gates ended with Wednesday night's program. If you happened to miss any of the episodes, all four segments are available online at PBS.org They will be available online until March 18.

Click below to watch the final episode, which aired March 3.

Holy Smokes! It's Genealogy All Over the Place!

Suzanne Russo Adams of Ancestry.com just sent out a schedule for programs that will feature Who Do You Think You Are?

In the coming weeks, Who Do You Think You Are? is going to be spotlighted in several major media outlets. Among them, Oprah will designate an entire hour to family history next Tuesday March 9!

Here’s a list of a few shows to watch for (all dates/times are subject to change):

Wednesday, March 3
* Today Show (NBC) – 8-9 am
* The View (ABC – check your local TV listings)
* The Joy Behar Show (HLN – Headline News) – 9 pm ET

Friday, March 5
* Today Show (NBC) – 10-11 am

Monday, March 8
* Martha Stewart (check your local TV listings)

Tuesday, March 9
* Oprah (check your local TV listings)
* Craig Ferguson (CBS late night)

Friday, March 19
* Bonnie Hunt (check your local TV listings)

In case you’re curious about the celebrity line up and timing for the episodes, here is the current schedule according to NBC:

* March 5 – Sarah Jessica Parker
* March 12 – Emmitt Smith
* March 19 – Lisa Kudrow
* March 26 – Matthew Broderick
* April 2 – Brooke Shields
* April 9 – Susan Sarandon
* April 23 – Spike Lee

Roots: How Did It Affect You?

We can't help but compare today's media attention to that following the record-setting book and television mini-series, Roots.

Alex Haley's book was published in 1976, and the mini-series followed the next year. How did these events affect you and or your genealogical research? Tell us about your reaction in 100 words or less.

The best responses will be published in the Summer 2010 issue of The Searcher.

The Searcher will be distributed to all Jamboree attendees, including Chris Haley, Alex Haley's nephew, who will be the keynote speaker at the Jamboree banquet on Friday.

Send your thoughts to alicefairhurst@gmail.com by April 21 in order to be considered for publication.

Faces of America: Final Episode Airs Wednesday March 3

The four-part series by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., closes with tomorrow night's episode, highlighting discoveries through DNA. If you've missed earlier episodes of this excellent series, you can watch them online at PBS.org.

The program airs at 8:00 p.m. Check your local listings for the PBS station serving your area.

The Simpsons Family History

It seems like glory days with all the current media attention shining on our favorite pastime. It has to be a sign that family history has made it to the mainstream when The Simpsons plot revolves around a search for ancestors.

Next time the grandkids are visiting, pull the family around the computer screen and watch the program. If you haven't seen The Simpsons before, be warned to expect a fair amount of irreverence.