The Irish Factor on Finding Your Roots

Tonight on Finding Your Roots: explore the shared Irish ancestry of three powerful social commentators of our times. Watch The Irish Factor at 8/7 on PBS

Explore the shared Irish ancestry of Soledad O’Brien, Bill O’Reilly and Bill Maher and how they have been deeply influenced by their Irish roots.

Good News! Finding Your Roots Returns Jan 5/16!

PBS will show the delayed third season of Finding Your Roots on Jan. 5, marking the return of the show since host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. was gave in to Ben Affleck’s request to not mention a slave-owning ancestor from the actor’s episode of the genealogy series. See PBS Suspends Finding Your Roots Over Affleck's Improper Influence

An internal review found that Gates “violated PBS standards” by, among other things, not informing executives at PBS or producing station WNET about Affleck’s request to censor the show’s genealogical research into his ancestors.

After an internal review, an additional researcher/fact-checker, another genealogist and an expert in DNA-based genealogical research have been added.

In the new season of Finding Your Roots Gates traces the ancestral trails of 28 new guests including Maya Rudolph, Richard Branson, Soledad O’Brien, Bill Hader, Julianne Moore, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Senator John McCain, Norman Lear, Shonda Rhimes, and more.

Major corporate support for the third season of Finding Your Roots is provided by Ancestry.com , Johnson & Johnson, POM and the Ford Motor Company. 

PBS Suspends Finding Your Roots Over Affleck's Improper Influence

 Finding Your Roots is a TV show with host Henry Louis Gates Jr. and has been on air for 2 Seasons. The premise is similar to Who Do You Think You Are? and traces the roots and family histories of celebrity guests.

When an episode featuring Ben Affleck aired last October it was later learned (through hacked emails) that Affleck had told Gates he did not want mention made of his slave owning ancestors. Gates and the show's producer removed all mention. 

When the emails surfaced there was a huge outcry from fans and genealogists alike, most of whom were dismayed at the editorial liberties taken by the show to hush up the past and hide the facts. 

At the time Gates defended the decision to not air Affleck's ancestors' slave owning deeds by saying that the producers found "more interesting" ancestors to talk about.

After an investigation, PBS found that "... producers violated network standards by letting Mr. Affleck have “improper influence” and “by failing to inform PBS or WNET of Mr. Affleck’s efforts to affect program content.”

Before Season 3 airs, PBS plans on making staff changes and has not yet reached a decision as to whether or not there will be a fourth Season. 

Read more in the NY Times at Citing Ben Affleck’s ‘Improper Influence,’ PBS Suspends ‘Finding Your Roots’

Ben Affleck and The Can of Worms

For those who haven't seen the dozens of news stories online, Ben Affleck was featured on Henry Louis Gates' PBS show Finding Your Roots. During the course of filming, Affleck learned that he has a slave owner ancestor. Leaked emails from Sony between Gates and Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton reveal that Affleck did not want this aired in public and wanted that part edited out. 

You can read the emails yourself but basically Gates made it clear he didn't like the idea of hiding the facts (truth). The producer then said as long as no one else had seen it and it could never be found out, humour Affleck and don't use it. Affleck was referred to as a "mega-star" and both men worried about making sure he got what he wanted.

And so his true family history was hidden. Affleck got the white-washed version he wanted where all his ancestors were public-spirited justice-seeking good guys.  And of course all genealogists know that's a crock! Our ancestors were real people. They include the good and the bad, the farmer and the daredevil. Some we would like if we met them, others ... not so much. 

The bottom line is that what our ancestors did is no reflection on us. Just as we cannot blame ourselves if we discover we had a "bad seed" in the ancestor mix, nor can we take credit for those who did amazing things. We can feel proud of them, or we can feel sorrow over misdeeds. But we need to accept who they were, and that their actions good or bad were in a different time and place. 

It is only by learning about the past that we can stop evil from happening in the future. We learn from mistakes and they should not be hidden or deleted from our family tree or from history.

It's a shame Affleck didn't adopt Bill Paxton's approach on TLC’s "Who Do You Think You Are?", when he learned he had a slave owner as an ancestor. Mr. Paxton's response was that it was a shame but "your history good and bad is your history" And that, Mr. Affleck is the point. 

Embrace your history, both the positive and the negative! Learn from it. Don't attempt to create a fictional family tree full of heroes and noble ancestors. 

But as the saying goes "Karma will out" and now Mr. Affleck's request for an edited  version of his family tree has bitten him in the (ahem) with the truth now known world-wide. What would have been seen by a small number of viewers watching the show, and truly not a big deal has become a huge deal with many casting stones Affleck's way. The perception by many, including me, is that it was a misuse of celebrity status to facilitate censorship. And this is never a good thing.

Credit:  Photo by Stoonn.

FInding Your Roots - Ben Affleck, Khandi Alexander and Benjamin Jealous

Another episode of Finding Your Roots with Henry Gates Jr. is on PBS tonight. In this episode Ben Affleck, Khandi Alexander and Benjamin Jealous learn their families have long been engaged in the battle for freedom and civil rights, principles passed down through generations of ancestors.

Season Two of Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. airs Tuesdays from September 23, 8:00PM EST through November 25, 8:00PM EST.  You will have to check your local listings for times and channel numbers

Do You Want to be on Genealogy Roadshow? Here's How!

 If you've ever wanted to be on the new PBS series Genealogy Roadshow, now's your chance! The producers are calling for submissions for the 2014 season.

Here is the link to the online submission form.

Genealogy Roadshow: Interesting Concept, Great Show

Genealogy Roadshow premiered last night on PBS. I was able to watch it and I was impressed! The show features ordinary people who line up for a chance to have one of their genealogy mysteries or questions answered.

Last night's episode took place in the Belmont Mansion in Nashville Tennessee. If you've ever watched Antiques Roadshow you will have an idea how the show works. The participants submit their questions in advance and then take turns either sitting at a table with one of the two genealogists, Kenyatta Berry, president of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), and D. Joshua Taylor, president of the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS). 

Their expertise rang through but they also showed us that they are both naturals in front of the camera. They were warm and friendly, which provided a relaxed informal atmosphere to the show. If you missed last night's episode, depending where you live, you can watch it online on PBS Videos

Warning: Spoiler Alert!  

Participants vary. One was  a man who had a photograph of a black man and a small white boy. They were identified on the back as "Uncle Fayte" and ( I  forget the little boy's name but the owner of the photo knew who he was). The man's question was who was this "Uncle Fayte" and how was he connected to the family. This was actually my favourite segment in the show. The photo was very poignant as the little boy seemed so happy in the man's arms, and the man himself had a lovely half-smile on his face - very unusual for such early photographs. A lovely surprise awaited the gentleman who owned the photo as the research team not only found out who Uncle Fayte was, they tracked down a living 3rd great grand-daughter and brought her to the show.

Another was a woman whose family lore was that they were related to George Washington. A very touching segment involved a young woman who had never met her father. The behind-the-scenes research team had not only found photographs of him from childhood to adulthood, they found his sister and a living niece. She was brought to the show as a surprise to the young woman, and presented her with a lovely scrapbook of photographs about her father.

Some of the participants were disappointed to learn that they were not related to a famous person. Family lore was shot down but kudos to the show's producers for allowing this! It's refreshing to see a show that is "real" in the sense that often our family lore is incorrect, or mixed up, and beginning genealogists especially need to realize that they may find facts they don't like as they continue their research.

To nitpick, I wasn't sure I liked the "audience" standing around the table watching and applauding while Josh or Kenyatta spoke to the participants. And I definitely did not like the music! But those are two very minor complaints.

All in all, it was entertaining and informative and I will definitely be watching next week's episode. The show airs on PBS at 9 p.m. Eastern.

Genealogy Roadshow Coming to PBS this September!

PBS ANNOUNCES ON-AIR TALENT AND HISTORIC VENUES FOR ITS FALL SERIES “GENEALOGY ROADSHOW” 

– New host, genealogy experts join production crew as season one begins filming this week in Austin –

ARLINGTON, VA; JUNE 21, 2013 – PBS announced today the host, on-air talent and filming locations for its new series GENEALOGY ROADSHOW, which premieres this fall.  Part detective story, part emotional journey, the show combines history and science to uncover the fascinating and surprising stories of diverse Americans from across the country.  The announcements come as GENEALOGY ROADSHOW begins production this weekend in Austin, Texas, the first of four U.S. cities it will visit.

On-Air Experts
Los Angeles-area broadcaster Emmett Miller has been named as the host of GENEALOGY ROADSHOW. As host, Miller introduces the show and each segment, guides viewers through the personal stories of the participants, and interacts with the participants throughout their journey.
ROADSHOW production company Krasnow Productions has also cast nationally known genealogical authors, lecturers and researchers Joshua Taylor and Kenyatta Berry as the show’s on-air experts.  Taylor and Berry will investigate participants’ questions and then, in front of a live audience, reveal the intriguing and surprising information they discover about the participants, their families and their communities.

Locations
GENEALOGY ROADSHOW begins production this week in Austin, Texas, the first of four cities the series will visit in its premiere season.  The shoot, which will capture six stories to be featured in the show, takes place June 23 at the historic The Driskill hotel.  The entertaining mix of stories includes surprising connections to iconic figures in Texas and American history, debunked histories, and an emotional story of one man’s amazing family.

Built in 1886 as the showplace of a cattle baron, The Driskill remains a landmark of legendary Texas hospitality and a symbol of the state’s resilience and historic pride.  Located on 6th Street in the heart of downtown Austin, the hotel was the site of many famous inaugural balls for Texas governors and was the first-date location for Lyndon Baines Johnson and his future wife Lady Bird.  The Driskill maintains its original opulence, from the magnificent columned lobby with marble floors and a stained-glass dome to the classic décor of its 189 guestrooms and suites.

After Austin, the production team travels to Nashville June 29 to film segments at the Belmont Mansion, the largest house museum in Tennessee and one of the few 19th-century homes whose history revolves around the life of a woman: Adelicia Hayes Franklin Acklen Cheatham.

  GENEALOGY ROADSHOW then visits Detroit on July 14, and the first season’s filming wraps up July 21in San Francisco, at The Old Mint, an 1874 historic edifice that once was the most active mint in the United States, and that in the 1930s held one-third of the nation’s gold reserves.
“The stories of everyday people, told in some of America’s most extraordinary locations, will make GENEALOGY ROADSHOW the perfect destination for people who love history and real-life drama,” said Beth Hoppe, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager of General Audience Programming for PBS. “GENEALOGY ROADSHOW is about anyone and everyone, proving that you don’t have to be famous to be remarkable.”

“Now that we’re on the ground and preparing to film, we are thrilled with all the aspects of this production, from the enthusiastic response to our call for stories to the extraordinary historic locations where we’re working, to the lively, fun and engaging on-air talent,” said executive producer Stuart Krasnow.

GENEALOGY ROADSHOW’s premiere season will feature participants who want to explore unverified genealogical claims, passed down through family history, which may (or may not) connect them to an event or a historical figure. Experts in genealogy, history and DNA use heirlooms, letters, pictures, historical documents and other clues to hunt down details. Producers enlist the help of local historians to add color and context to the investigations, ensuring every artifact and every name becomes a clue in solving the mystery. GENEALOGY ROADSHOW will air Mondays, September 23-October 14, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET.

Finding Your Roots - Two Thumbs Down

I finally managed to watch an episode of Finding Your Roots on PBS last night. It featured Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgewick. The host, if you haven't seen this series, is Henry Louis Gates Jr.

I thought I'd love this show. Especially this episode. I expected to be glued to the television while it was on. But the truth is it didn't grab me. I was bored. It didn't show any of the research behind the scenes. It didn't walk me, the viewer, through any steps that showed me how they got to Ancestor "A" or "B" or whoever they were focused on.

It also seemed to be a celebrity love fest - with a whole lot of buttering up of Kevin and Kyra. Don't get me wrong I like both of them as actors, very much. They seem like great people. But the show is called "Finding Your Roots" and that's what I want to hear about.

There was also an awful lot about the host himself.  Certainly more than I was interested in. That confused me. I didn't expect to be seeing photos of Professor Gates as a student and hearing his stories about his own life.

I'll watch one more episode to be fair. I'll try to be open-minded. But in comparison to Who Do You Think You Are? on NBC it fell short.  By a lot.  At least for me. I wanted to like it. I tried to find something good about it. But I couldn't.

I expect I'm in the minority and in fact I'll probably get a lot of criticism from my readers but I have to call it like I see it.

Finding Your Roots - Every Sunday

PBS has a new genealogy series called Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. The series runs on Sundays, March 25 – May 20 at 8/7c  

Finding Your Roots examines the histories and family genealogies of a number of well-known personalities.  I wish I could watch it!


I have a personal request to make. If anyone is on Shaw Direct in Ontario, and knows what package is needed to get this PBS series, please let me know.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. Hopes DNA Will Find Great-Great Grandfather

"Finding Your Roots" is a 10-part series on PBS about the genealogy and genetics of famous Americans. Henry Louis Gates Jr. is the host of this show which will explore family trees of 22 celebrities.

In an interesting twist, Gates will seek to discover the name of his own great-great grandfather, the man who sired 5 children by the slave Jane Gates. Jane did not reveal the father's name to any of her children, only telling them they had the same father.

Gates will use DNA to look for a match in the descendants of a pool of 178 possibilities of men who might be his ancestor. Gates has already had his DNA tested and to his surprise found he has Irish roots going back to Nial of Nine Hostages. His theory is that his great-great grandfather is a descendant of Nial. By collecting and analysing DNA samples from male descendants of the 178 possibilities, Gates hopes to find a match.

Residents who send in a DNA sample to see if they are related to Gates will get a separate website with the results, said Gates. Those whose DNA matches Gates may be featured in the new PBS miniseries "Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates," which will premiere March 25 at 8 p.m.

Read more at Harvard Prof Henry Louis Gates Jr Hunting for Great-Great Grandfather

Finding Your Roots on PBS in March

Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr is coming to PBS March 25, 2012 at 8pm ET. According to their Facebook page, this is a 10-part PBS series exploring race, culture and identity through genealogy.

 Presented and written by Professor Gates, the series is the 12th production from the renowned Harvard scholar.

'Finding Your Roots' builds on the success of ‘African American Lives 1 and 2’ and ‘Faces of America,' journeying deep into the ancestry of an all-new group of remarkable individuals. 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.