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Celebrity Genealogy

March 10, 2012 by · Comments Off on Celebrity Genealogy 

Celebrity Genealogy, With genealogy often cited as the second most popular hobby, I’ve never understood why it’s been largely ignored on TV. We’ve got channels dedicated to everything from golf to going green, but aside from shows such as History Detectives and Antiques Roadshow that occasionally incorporate a dash of family history, genealogy has been badly neglected. Finally, that’s about to change.

Active and armchair genealogists across the country — not to mention those who can’t know enough about their favorite celebrities — will soon be treated to two shows offering a combined 11 episodes of prime time programming. Starting on February 10th and running 8:00-9:00 p.m. for four Wednesdays will be Faces of America, the latest PBS series by Henry Louis “Skip” Gates, Jr. Just two days after this series winds down, Who Do You Think You Are? (WDYTYA) will ramp up for seven episodes (Fridays, 8:00-9:00 p.m.) on NBC.

I suppose now might be an appropriate time to confess that I’m not a disinterested party as I conducted research for both of these series and had the opportunity to write the companion book, Who Do You Think You Are?: The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History, for one. Still, I can honestly say that my excitement would be as high even if I had had nothing to do with them. Genealogy will make for great TV for one simple reason: there’s no such thing as a boring family. This is reality television that was scripted before TV existed.

Both shows offer considerable, multicultural star power that will appeal even to those who have never looked up a census record or interviewed an older relative. The PBS line-up includes Yo-Yo Ma, Queen Noor, Malcolm Gladwell, Eva Longoria Parker, Mike Nichols, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Meryl Streep, Stephen Colbert, Louise Erdrich, Kristi Yamaguchi, Elizabeth Alexander and Mario Batali, while the NBC one includes Lisa Kudrow (who also happens to be the show’s executive producer), Susan Sarandon, Sarah Jessica Parker, Spike Lee, Brooke Shields, Emmitt Smith and Matthew Broderick.

Though both are celebrity roots shows, their formats are quite different. Both are participatory in nature with celebrities traveling to learn about their heritage, but Faces of America will feature Dr. Gates revealing many findings with his guests (much as he did in African American Lives I & II and Oprah’s Roots), while WDYTYA — a wildly popular import from the U.K. — follows celebs on journeys of self-discovery.

As a life-long and hard-core genealogist, I see this as reason to celebrate. Anyone who’s ever dabbled in family history knows how addicting it swiftly becomes, and if WDYTYA’s success in other countries is any measure, many non-genealogists will suddenly find themselves pulled in by the undertow. So now’s the time for current and budding roots-enthusiasts to start planning their weekly soirees (two shows in the week of March 1st!) to gather with friends, down some popcorn, swap tales of DNA testing Grandpa and purposely getting locked into libraries overnight, and most of all, enjoying these long overdue shows.

Genealogy Day March 12

March 10, 2012 by · Comments Off on Genealogy Day March 12 

Genealogy Day March 12, SUNDAY MARCH 11

Read to Rover: 3:30-4:30 p.m., Athens-Clarke County Library, 2025 Baxter St.; beginning readers can read aloud to a certified therapy dog; dogs are insured and with trainers; first come, first served; (706) 613-3650 or www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us.

Auditions for “Red Velvet Cake War”: 6 p.m., Colleen Williams Theater, Winder Cultural Arts Center, Winder; a Southern comedy about three cousins who decide to throw a family reunion and all of the family shenanigans that go on during the reunion; cast requires 8 women and 4 men playing ages 30 to 120 (yes, 120); audition is a cold reading and is open to the public; www.winderbarrowtheatre.org.

MONDAY MARCH 12

Blood Drive: Noon-4 p.m., Epting Events, 2425 Jefferson Road; and from 2-7 p.m., Trinity Baptist Church, 2411 Hwy. 29 N., Danielsville; (706) 795-3718.

Athens Luncheon Optimist Club Meeting: 12:30 p.m., Carrabbas, 3194 Atlanta Hwy.; a non-profit organization committed to bringing out the best in the kids in the Athens community; meets the second and fourth Monday of each month; new members welcome; www.Athensluncheon.org.

Youth Karate classes: 5-6 p.m. today-Thursday, East Athens Community Center, 400 McKinley Drive; promotes mental development and teaches self defense; for ages 7 years and older; free; (706) 613-3593 or www.athensclarkecounty.com/eastathens.

Holy Yoga Gentle: 6 p.m., Watkinsville United Methodist Church, 1331 New High Shoals Road, Watkinsville; for all levels; for ladies only; bring a mat, block and a toy donation; www.holyyogaofathensga.com.

Prenatal Yoga: 6:30-8 p.m., Full Bloom Center, 220 N. Milledge Ave.; learn postures and breathing practices; everything taught in class can be applied to all stages of labor and postpartum adjustment; $14; (706) 353-3373 or www.fullbloomparent.com.

Bedtime Stories: 7 p.m., Athens-Clarke County Library, 2025 Baxter St.; www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us or (706) 613-3650.

Auditions for “Red Velvet Cake War”: 7 p.m., Colleen Williams Theater, Winder Cultural Arts Center, 105 E. Athens St., Winder; a Southern comedy about three cousins who decide to throw a family reunion and all of the family shenanigans that go on during the reunion; cast requires 8 women and 4 men playing ages 30 to 120 (yes, 120); audition is a cold reading and is open to the public; www.winderbarrowtheatre.org.

The Hoot featuring Kiss Your Darling, Natalie Garcia & Dave Dowless, Borderhop 5 and The Darnell Boys: 8-10 p.m., The Melting Point, 295 E. Dougherty St.; free; (706) 254-6909 or www.meltingpointathens.com.

Open Mic with Kyshona Armstrong: 8 p.m., Hendershot’s Coffee, 1560 Oglethorpe Drive; free; www.hendershotscoffee.com.

TUESDAY MARCH 13

Athens-Clarke County Library, 2025 Baxter St.; www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us or (706) 613-3650:

• Toddler story time: 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. today and Wednesday; for children ages 18 months to 5 years old; interactive.

• African-American Authors Book Club: 5 p.m., this month’s title is “Till You Hear From Me” by Pearl Cleage; newcomers welcome.

Crochet Circle: 10 a.m.-noon, Winder Library, 189 Bellview St., Winder; bring your hooks and laughter to the crochet circle and social; free; (770) 867-2762 or www.prlib.org.

Commerce Public Library, 1344 S. Broad St., Commerce; (706) 335-5946:

• Garden Club Council: 10:15 a.m.

• Reading with Rosie: 4:30 p.m.; Rosie is a trained therapy dog that helps kids develop confidence in their reading skills; for children in grades 1-8; call to schedule an appointment with Rosie.

Full Bloom Center, 220 N. Milledge Ave.; (706) 353-3373 or www.fullbloomparent.com:

• Toddler Time: 10:30 a.m.-noon.

• ICAN Meeting: 6:30-8:30 p.m.; a non-profit advocacy and support group whose mission is to improve maternal and child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, provide support for cesarean recovery, and promote vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC); facilitated group; email mrquintana99@gmail.com.

Athens Fibercraft Guild Meeting: 12:30 p.m., Lyndon House Arts Center, 293 Hoyt St.; for all amateur and professional fiber artists including knitters, crocheters, weavers, spinners, fabric designers, basket makers, quilters and embroiderers; Bonnie Montgomery will demonstrate five-strand braiding during the March program; (706) 353-7719.

Blood Drive: Noon-6 p.m., First Baptist Church of Commerce, 1345 S. Elm St., Commerce; (706) 335-2882; and from noon-6 p.m., Madison Presbyterian Church, 382 S. Main St., Madison.

Domestic Violence Support Group: 6 p.m.; call Project Safe’s hot line for locations; dinner for participants and children at 6 p.m., meeting from 6:30-8 p.m.; childcare provided; held the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month in Clarke County; (706) 543-3331 or (706)-613-3357, ext. 771.

East Georgia Genealogical Society Meeting: 7-10 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 36 Sims Road, Winder; will feature Eve B. Mays, historical researcher and author, discussing the Federal Census Records; her talk will include information about the upcoming release of the 1940 census in April; www.eastgagenealogy.com or e-mail gaeggs@yahoo.com.

Buttermilk Revival: 7 p.m., The Melting Point, 295 E. Dougherty St.; $5; (706) 254-6909 or www.meltingpointathens.com.

Ike Stubblefield & Friends: 8 p.m., Hendershot’s Coffee, 1560 Oglethorpe Drive; $5; www.hendershotscoffee.com.

10 Fingers Strong (Record Release), Grade A, Da Grinchy Man: 9:30 p.m., Caledonia Lounge, 256 W. Clayton St.; $5; $7 for ages 18-20; www.caledonialounge.com.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 14

Full Bloom Center, 220 N. Milledge Ave.; (706) 353-3373 or www.fullbloomparent.com:

• Crawlers Group: 10 a.m.-noon; informal group for parents and their growing babies that are not “new” but are not toddlers either; sitters, scooters and early crawlers welcome.

• Mama Baby Yoga: 10:30-11:30 a.m.; for moms and babies ages 6 weeks old to “too wiggly”; $14.

• Story Time: 4-4:30 p.m.; open to all ages; free for Full Bloom members, $3 for nonmembers.

St. Patrick’s Day Story time: 10:30-11 a.m., Madison County Library, 1315 Highway 98 W., Danielsville; (706) 795-5597 or www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us/madison.

Kidsercize: 10:30 a.m., Commerce Public Library, 1344 S. Broad St., Commerce; educational program for toddlers and preschoolers with song, movement, puppetry and story telling; (706) 335-5946.

Athens Chapter of AARP Meeting: 10:30 a.m., Athens First Bank and Trust, 150 Hancock Ave., downtown Athens; Ronnie Ogletree from the Athens Senior Resources Network will be the guest speaker and will share information on how seniors can make their home safe and how those with mobility problems can more easily get around by making a few changes in their home; non-AARP members are welcome to attend; (706) 340-9418.

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