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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: Hammerman on Wednesday 16 November 11 20:13 GMT (UK)
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There's a new series on BBC1 tonight of Who Do You Think You Are? USA version.
Only half hour long though. Tonight director and actor Steve Buscemi.
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Have just watched my recording of this show and found it quite interesting but also found it to be very fast compared to the usual WDYTYA programmes. It looks like they have cut quite a few bits out .
Steve appeared to find his each of his ancestors names first go when I think there may have been other people with the same names.
I did wonder at the end if perhaps there could be a future film. He could play his own great great grandfather's eventful life
Jean
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Wasn't impressed. The 30 minute programme was very very staged, results came up fast because they were already all 'fixed'. Prerecorded screenshots. Venues were all completely empty of anyone else. Discussions were clipped and hardly worth having.
What a shame.
Roger
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I was also surprised that the programme only lasted half an hour. My suspicion is that in the US the programme actually lasts for a full hour with the remaining 30 minutes taken up with adverts. Can anyone confirm?
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I too got the feelng that it must have been edited. There were quite a few threads, I thought, that were left unexplored, and things that were said that remained sort of unchallenged. For instance, he commented several times on the fact that he found it interesting that thoughts of suicide and depression ran in his family after he found out about his ancestor's note in the bottle.
To me, that note in the bottle read like someone's idea of what a suicide note should say and the whole incident seemed more like a calculated plan to make people think he was dead so that he could do a bunk, which he did. After he'd deserted his first wife and children, and joined the army (which a lot of men have done in the past to help them 'disappear'), he deserted again twice, making it look like a bit of ahabit. Again, I smiled to myself when SB said that maybe his ancestor had come back to the army the first time out of patriotic duty because the record read 'reclaimed from desertion'. Maybe it's me, but I would have just thought that meant he got nicked!
Is it just me?
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Its not just you.... in fact the more I think about it the more the programme was a 'feature' for the guy himself rather than what we expect over here.
And yes if he'd wanted to join the war agin he'd have simple reenlisted..... he was caught!
sadly I guess its what the audience ratings over there tell them its what they want.
Roger
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I was also surprised that the programme only lasted half an hour. My suspicion is that in the US the programme actually lasts for a full hour with the remaining 30 minutes taken up with adverts. Can anyone confirm?
This would appear to be a logical reason, can't think of any other reason :)
Jean
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You're right, Roger. I got the definite feeling that there was a bit of forelock tugging going on in the direction of the Big Hollywood Star and there were a lot of things that could have been said but weren't because people didn't dare.
Nobody mentioned the word 'bigamy' either, did they? Or divorce. He just left the wife and started up with a new one and nobody asked any questions. And where did his grandmother's name come from - Vandyne? There didn't seem to be anybody in the tree above her with that name. Did I miss something, or was that on the cutting room floor, too!
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There is an artical in the Dec edition of Your Family Tree by one of their regular contibutors, that mentions this series and says that the show is heavy with placement ads which the programme relies on. These appear to be by A******y so I suppose being the BBC they have had to cut them out.
This would explain why the jerkiness of some parts of the show.
Jean
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I have series record set for this
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I liked last night's show. An American being told that their Ancestor came over on the Mayflower is like someone in the UK being told that they are related to ancient royalty.
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The shows are an hour long here, not 30 mins and yes Ancestry has commercials during the show.
Karen
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I enjoyed the Ashley Judd one too. It seemed to flow a lot better. Wonder how many Americans have some 'Mayflower' blood in them??
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I also enjoyed Ashley's journey. The show flowed a lot more smoothly and what a refreshing change with the reactions of a film star. .
She was obviously overcome at some of the revelations but without any of the Blimey's that I have heard from previous actressess on the WDYTYA USA. I also had tears in my eyes at the terrible time that William Bruster (Brewster) experienced before eventually setting off from Plymouth.
The only thing I did wonder is why William after spending 16 years in Holland did he come back to England - or did I miss that bit?
So far this has been - for me - the best of the American series.
Jean
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I don't remember that part too clearly, but I vaguely recall that it was some sort of administrative matter, and involved some sort of deception from the British government.
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I also enjoyed Ashley's journey. The show flowed a lot more smoothly and what a refreshing change with the reactions of a film star. .
She was obviously overcome at some of the revelations but without any of the Blimey's that I have heard from previous actressess on the WDYTYA USA. I also had tears in my eyes at the terrible time that William Bruster (Brewster) experienced before eventually setting off from Plymouth.
The only thing I did wonder is why William after spending 16 years in Holland did he come back to England - or did I miss that bit?
So far this has been - for me - the best of the American series.
Jean
As I recall, most of the "pilgrims" were already religious exiles in Holland, and came back to UK to catch the Mayflower and Speedwell, it's sister ship.
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I caught up last night with the Vanessa Williams episode - she was lucky enough to be given photos of two ancestors - one in his civil war uniform & another as a member of the state legislature. Again it was interesting to me - perhaps the half-hour format really suits the nature of the programme?
Rosie O'Donnell next week - yet to recognise any of this series' participants but am still able to enjoy the programmes.
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I really enjoyed the Vanessa Williams episode. It's very interesting to see the American history stories and which landmark times and events are important to US family history.
Milly
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I have watched it in the states and I have to say I found it quite frustrating and misleading. They make it seem as if anyone can spend a couple of hours and trace their ancestry to some interesting person or event and they never seem to say why they went down one family line and left the others (which obviously were not so rewarding). Hannah
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Rosie O'Donnell next week -
That one was my favourite :)
karen
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I caught up on all of these via iplayer today, and I must say that they were all quite short (without ads) at 30 minutes. All of them had some interest, but the UK 1 hour versions do give the researchers time to develop the stories much more fully.
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This returns to BBC1 this week with country singer Tim McGraw. Broadcast Tuesday 28th Feb/Wednesday 29th times vary
11.20pm Tues England
00.20am Wed Scotland
00.35am N Ireland
Sorry - no mention of Wales
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b015bdf4/broadcasts/upcoming
(Last couple of weeks they've had repeats from the first US series).
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Good grief - will need the iplayer right enough given the time they are being put on. Don't they want an audience!
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Good grief - will need the iplayer right enough given the time they are being put on. Don't they want an audience!
Doesn't look like it, with the time & the long delay since the first part of the series! I'll be recording it to watch at a more convenient hour.
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The new season for the USA Version has started, so far Martin Sheen, Marissa Tomei and Blair Underwood.
Karen
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Reminder for anyone who wants to watch/set recorder for tonight/tomorrow
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Hello Karen:
Have you seen this on the t.v. in Canada? Will have to see if I can see it. Would love to watch it.
Abbe
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Hi Anne,
Yes, they are playing it on Citytv (Toronto) Station. I also get the American NBC channel out of Buffalo so I can see it on that one too.
Karen
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Hi Karen;
Just check on the tv schedule and I can see it this Friday night. have made a note to remind me.
Looking forward to it.
Cheers
Anne
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Just watched the Tim McGraw WDYTYA on iplayer and it was really good. As we've said before on here, a bit rushed compared to the British one but still entertaining. He was really pleased to discover the connection to the earlier settlers as I expect most Americans would be. And with who came over on the boat but I'm saying no more in case folks have still to catch up!
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I find it very interest that a lot of Americans say that their ancestors came over on the Mayflower. I don;t think it was that big of a ship and I am sure there was not loads of passengers.
Just a thought
anne
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On the one hand if you were able to trace all the descendants of Mayflower passengers then there would be quite a few
Of course this is never possible and there is a lot of kudos from being descended from a Mayflower passenger, in the same way that Aussies like to be descended from a convict.
However this can be taken to ridiculous degrees
My dad used to quote the 'elastic side post office' in Dublin
so many people claimed to have been there during the ?siege? that it was known as the elastic sided post office
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Yet to watch the Tim McGraw - but they're really messing around with the schedule as next week's is listed as Matthew Broderick from series 1 ::)
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OK just watched the Tim McGraw episode and what struck me is how much they were presenting thinks as fact with no explanation of how they could be so "certain" whether it was how the Hayd's became Hite's or why Elvis Preley's roots are suddenly from Germany when there are several genealogists who claim they are from Scotland ??? Seems there is too much assumption and not enough fact in these programmes
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I find it very interest that a lot of Americans say that their ancestors came over on the Mayflower. I don;t think it was that big of a ship and I am sure there was not loads of passengers.
Just a thought
anne
My husbands lot missed the Mayflower by 3 years coming to Plymouth, MA in 1630, however, he was a Deacon of the First Parish Church in Plymouth.
Karen
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OK just watched the Tim McGraw episode and what struck me is how much they were presenting thinks as fact with no explanation of how they could be so "certain" whether it was how the Hayd's became Hite's or why Elvis Preley's roots are suddenly from Germany when there are several genealogists who claim they are from Scotland ??? Seems there is too much assumption and not enough fact in these programmes
Well, I could accept the spelling variation of the name, but I thought that the Elvis Presley link was going a little too far ::)
And I also sat there in the knowledge that a few of my ancestors (on my mum's side) were also out there in Virginia (as traders) about 100 years before. My 7th great grandfather was born in the Isle of Wight, Virginia, in 1644 :)
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I watched the Tim McGraw last night - it did seem rushed with the edit down to half an hour less titles & credits. I did find it interesting him seeing the land in a couple of places where ancestors had been (interesting to see he had photos to show his uncle at the end). I'd have been interested to know if they could have gone further back with the McGraws - do they take the female side when they get stuck or because it is deemed more interesting?
As for the Presley bit ::)
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Have to admit I lost interest in this episode quite early on which is not like me... I think it was when very early on they found a load of ancestors and skipped back quite a few generations in one go. I much prefer the step by step journey rather than the see how far back we can get approach...
Milly
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Although Jost Hite was interesting the steps on the way to him were skipped too much
Bob
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They did Reba McIntyre here last week. It was quite interesting, especially when it got back to England - but they make it look far too easy. WE all know how hard it is but I think these programs give people the wrong impression' Hannah
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When I first started out doing my family tree, I'd assumed that American records would be far easier than UK records to access online. Now, I'm fairly sure that I was wrong. Sure, American censuses are better than ours, but don't go back so far, and finding American BMD records online is a Zip Code Lottery ::)
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It varies by state and therein lies the problem because it is a local function to collect the information and every county or state does it differently. The census, on the other hand, is federal. When you get back to early records they were often not well cared for and lots of courthouses burned which meant the records were lost. Where I live (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) the records going back to about 1820 I think were (and may still be) kept in an attic with no climate control which means it is very hot and very humid a large part of the year. They are not organized and the county clerk actually wantrd to toss them. The genealogy people are frantically trying to transcribe them and find a better home for them. Hannah
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Here in the UK the BBC are still repeating series 1 Susan Sarandon next week. Why oh why do they muddle series up like this >:(
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It's a bit like eggheads
One week they are all current - another week 2- or 3-year old progs
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Well it is very confusing! I settled down to watch a recording of it expecting a new one and it was a repeat I had already seen. I watched it again anyway of course but would rather have had a new one!
Milly
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The Tim McGraw (series 2 programme 5 of 8) gets a Welsh airing Monday 19th March 11.35pm.
Next week (13 & 14 March) we all get a repeat of Susan Sarandon (series 1, 3 of 7). Can't see on either th BBC or Radio Times websites when we get back to series 2 ::)
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Next week a new programme from series 2!
Lionel Richie on BBC1 Tuesday 3 April 10.35 pm (England & N Ireland) , an hour later in Scotland & Wales ;D
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Not to sure where to post this, but WDYTYA tonight here in the USA was Rita Wilson, It was very good :D
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I thought last night's epsiode on Rita Wilson was excellent.
Karen
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Reminder for those in the UK who may want to set their recorders for tomorrow. :)
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..... or who want to watch it on iPlayer :)
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Last night's recorded, not yet watched. Next week the new (to UK) USA programme is on Thursday (12 April) 10.35pm subject Gwyneth Paltrow.
They're also repeating the UK version for J K Rowling during the week.
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I really enjoyed the Lionel Richie programme - mainly about one great-grandfather who was perhaps unusual for his time.
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I really enjoyed the Lionel Richie programme - mainly about one great-grandfather who was perhaps unusual for his time.
I agree, definately one of the most interesting of the US series. :)
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Just caught up with Lionel Richie episode on iplayer. An excellent programme and definitely one of the best US ones so far.
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Reminder Gwyneth Paltrow (number 7 of series of 8) is on
tomorrow Thursday 10.35pm BBC1:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01g8384
Modified to correct day
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It looks like NBC is not renewing WDYTYA next year. :( I hope the impact on Ancestry will encourage them to find another network in the US.
http://www.deadline.com/2012/05/nbc-cancellation-of-who-do-you-think-you-are-uproots-ancestry-com-investors/
Some episodes were better than others, but I enjoyed them all.
Lisa
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I just heard that too. :(
Disappointing, as it was good to have the variety of UK and US stories.
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Perhaps the BBC would show the Australian series instead, I've found them somewhat more interesting than most of the US ... just had to purchase them on DVD from Australia. ::)