Monday, November 6, 2006

Is there a Genealogy show on TV in our future?

Will we be watching "Desperate Genealogists" on network TV soon? Or maybe "Touched by a Genealogist?" How about "Lost: My Family History." Or "Who Do You Think You Are?"

The last one is a current series on BBC One in England, drawing a decent audience as the ancestry of selected people are researched and explained. A London Times (UK) article about the show is here - and some of the article is about the potential for American TV. Julia Roberts is apparently one of the celebrities whose ancestry might be discovered.

The article notes that:
It is hoped that other stars would also be prepared to take part in the programme. However, questions remain over whether celebrities protective of their images, would open themselves to potentially shocking disclosures.

Alex Graham, head of Wall To Wall, the London independent production company that created the show, said: “It is very important the celebrities discover the information on camera. The emotion is always authentic. Celebrities do not have editorial control over the results of their search. They can ask us to remove scenes they feel are intrusive, but no one has so far.”

A second article on the Times web site is titled "Roots For All", and it is
here. The best part of this article is the following:
Databases, search engines and the internet have made it easier for amateurs to climb their family trees. Of course, taken to its logical conclusion, at the top they will find Adam and Eve. Or, according to their preference, a hairy, tailed quadruped, probably arboreal in its habits. Or a protoplasmal, primordial atomic globule. Pace neophiliac politicians, history is not irrelevant. Those who never look backward to their ancestors will not look forward to posterity.


I can hardly wait!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Randy, I like Desparate Genealogists or how about FSI: Family Search Investigations. who knows maybe they WILL dig up those ancestors! and we could see the latest techniques for DNA coding...and MAYBE someone will CLAIM ME!!!!!!!!! ok pipe dream but genealogists are dreamers at heart...we still think we are going to get the 1890 census to appear one day. when someone with a time machine says they took pictures of it on their digital camera.

So glad you had fun with the grandsons, they are at the best age...they will basically do what you ask, and SITTING in GRANDPA's Lap is a treat (while you recover your breath)

AND a NON GENEALOGICAL DAY is NOT life threating or dangerous in anyway. LOve you posts, you have my sense of humor...and with your talent for words as well you are a deadly combination for my day...keep up the good work

Randy Seaver said...

Thanks, Felicia, for the kind comments. It's nice to know people are reading my content, such as it is.

The babies are great - the smiles, laughs, hugs, butterfly kisses, imitating, chasing, feeding, sleeping, bathing, changing, etc. The 3 year old doesn't usually do what he's told to do...but that's the challenge, isn't it? It's fun to be a grandpa.

I loved being a dad too, and still do - I am really proud of the women my girls became - educated, enthusiastic, ambitious, hard-working wives, mommies and friends.

Take care -- Randy