By Tamie Dehler
TERRE HAUTE — When Alex Haley’s 1976 novel Roots was published, and then a year later premiered as a TV mini-series, it sparked the flame of interest in genealogy for many Americans, including myself. Since then, there have been a few television offerings here and there that involve genealogy. Most notably, Roots the Second Generation on network TV, the PBS series History Detectives, and Henry Louis Gates’ two African American Lives series also on PBS. This winter and spring, however, we can look forward to two new genealogy TV series — one from PBS and one from NBC. Both of these series will trace the ancestry of well-known Americans and celebrities revealing the unique yet common experiences that make up the American experience.
“Faces of America” with Henry Louis Gates debuted on PBS on Feb. 10 and will run through March 3. Each of the four episodes will air on Wednesdays from 8-9 p.m., and will be re-run at other times on PBS (you’ll have to check their listings). The show can also be watched in its entirety on the PBS Web site.
The series asks the questions, “What made America?” and “What makes us?” The show will focus on the immigrant experience by using the ancestries of 12 well-known Americans: Elizabeth Alexander, poet; Mario Batali, chef; Stephen Colbert, comedian; Louise Erdrich, novelist; Malcolm Gladwell, journalist; Eva Longoria, actor; Yo-Yo Ma, musician; Mike Nichols, director; Queen Noor, monarch; Dr. Mehmet Oz, heart surgeon; Meryl Streep, actor; and Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic figure skater.
Episode One — Our American Stories — explores “the dynamic and shifting relationship America has with her new immigrants in the 20th century,” focusing on World War II, the Holocaust, the Japanese internment, and blind luck. Episode Two — Becoming American — explores the Century of Immigration (1820-1924) and the many separate journeys the new immigrants made that helped transform America from an agrarian nation to an industrial power. Episode Three — Making America — focuses on the early history of America and the colonies and the settling of the New World. Episode Four — Know Thyself — takes up where the historical records leave off and explores the guests’ individual histories through their DNA. Says PBS, “this episode offers a compelling and thought-provoking meditation on the importance of ancestry, the meaning of family, and the role of both in creating identity.”
With Professor Gates at the helm, this series promises to be as entertaining and moving as his two previous ones on the genealogies of noted African American celebrities. For more information on the series or to view episodes on the Web, go to www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/. To see a full schedule of the episode airings of this series, go to the Web site of the individual PBS station, such as WTIU Bloomington, WFYI Indianapolis, WILL Champaign-Urbana, and WSIU Carbondale.
NBC will broadcast a similar series this spring, originally based on a BBC program, called “Who Do You Think You Are?” This series will run on Fridays from 8-9 p.m. March 5 through April 30. The series will explore the genealogies of seven celebrities — actors Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Susan Sarandan, Lisa Kudrow, and Brooke Shields, producer Spike Lee, and football player Emitt Smith.
This series is produced in partnership with Ancestry.com, and the New England History and Genealogy Society will also play a role. Visit NBC’s Web site for more information.
Both of these series promise to be interesting, moving, entertaining and educational experiences. Together, these programs may serve to get another generation of viewers “fired up” about genealogy.
