At last – we have a firm date and details from NBC about the American version of “Who Do You Think You Are?” The program will be part of what NBC calls their “post-Winter Olympics primetime schedule.” Although the series was announced as upcoming in 2008 and 2009, it looks like it’s actually going to happen this time. I saw a trailer for the series when I was at Ancestry.com a few days ago – and I can tell you that the series looks fantastic! Although I’m not a fan of NBC (they seem to have a hard time getting anything right…), this time I believe they’ve backed a winner. Tell your friends – and don’t miss the premiere on March 5. MARK YOUR CALENDAR – RIGHT NOW!
“Who Do You Think You Are?” premieres Friday, March 5 (8-9 p.m. ET) and gives viewers an up-close and personal look inside the family history of some of today’s most beloved and iconic celebrities. Among the celebrities featured are Matthew Broderick, Lisa Kudrow, Spike Lee, Sarah Jessica Parker, Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields and Emmitt Smith. Ancestry.com is NBC’s official partner on the series. From executive producer Kudrow (“Friends,” “The Comeback”) – in conjunction with her production company Is or Isn’t Entertainment and the U.K.’s Wall to Wall productions – “Who Do You Think You Are?” is an adaptation of the hit BBC television documentary series created and executive-produced by Alex Graham.
“Who Do You Think You Are?” is produced by Wall to Wall productions (a Shed Media Company) in association with Is or Isn’t Entertainment. Alex Graham and Lucy Carter from Wall to Wall and Lisa Kudrow, Dan Bucatinsky and Don Roos from Is or Isn’t Entertainment are the executive producers. Bryn Freedman is the co-executive producer.
FRIDAYS: 8-9 p.m. – “WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?” (premieres March 5) Don’t miss this premiere! This series looks to be an exciting series.
Thanks to Anastasia Tyler for the heads-up about this news!
The UK version of WDYTYA? has proved extremely popular and entertaining. It has covered several British celebrities and told the story of their ancestors. Hopefully the US version will be just as good and will no doubt increase the number of people interested in genealogy in the US.
Finally, good news. I hope the shows are good and everyone gets excited about genealogy.
WDYTYA WILL be a no-brainer success!! Most American viewers will relish this type of high quality, thought-provoking programming . . . I’m betting that telling folks about their roots and showing them how to pursue them in an exciting and interesting format is “where its at” with the common American. Prime time will never have it any better than this!! Build it and they will come, build it better and more will come!!
I worked on one of the shows, as a researcher and on camera with one of the stars. It was a fantastic moment to introduce his family history to him. He was discovering a new life within himself.I watched him grow in a way he did not even know he could. Brad Quinlin
Does anyone know if this show will be available online anywhere???Im really interested in Matthew Broderick as I know he originates from Brodericks in Ireland and I am from Ireland with Brodericks in my family tree also.
I understand that this is a UK show i.e. primetime but this concept has been in america for awhile. Henry Louis Gates Jr. has a show on public television that does the exact same thing. It would have been nice to have him listed as an exec. producer or at least consulted when the pitch came up. Remember..Oprah was on that show and was one of the leading ppl that made this ancestry thing popular by placing it on her show as well…this is not a new concept at all.
Genealogy will interest the masses of folks that want to know more about their family history. It helps people understand who they are and from whence they came !
I have been doing genealogy and family history for 30 years and this type of show will encourage and foster more researching for the benefit of many generations to come.
It’s time it came to the national TV forefront.
I’ve been researching our family tree for over 30 years and WDYTYA is an answer to a dream…..prime time TV exposure for genealogy! Unfortunately, I’m an elderly widow and can’t afford to subscribe to Ancestry.com. Maybe Ancestry will offer a special subscription rate in connection with this program? Pray, Seniors!
This show is going to be awesome! I’ve been researching my families genealogy for 3 years now (I’m at some real walls), so I’m so excited to see how this show progresses. I did watch a show a few days ago with Professor Henry Gates Jr. it was excellent as well, I wish I could have him help me for a week…:-) Good luck NBC…
BRAVO!!!! About time….
Can’t wait to see this show. It is so interesting to trace your family tree. Maybe, hopefully, ancestry.com will offer a special subscription rate that seniors can afford.
Just started watching this but can tell it is going to be fascinating! I am on the edge of my seat just waiting to see how the story unfolds!
I just watched “Who Do You Think You Are” for the first time and thought it was great! My great aunt gave me a genealogy book in which to write down all the ancestors I could find about 50 years ago. I’m so glad because it got me interested in history and finding out who my ancestors were. She had found many of them on several sides of the family. This program is great.
I hope the program will interest teen-agers in their own family history while their relatives are still alive to ask them questions.
Another suggestion: Teachers could give “extra credit” if students wrote reports about “Who Do You Think You Are.”
Having been interested in genealogy for some I am excited about your new show. It was interesting to hear the
history of Sarah J. Parker and I sat with my information in front
of me hoping to learn more from her and how you are researching
the information. Can’t wait until the next show. Thanks.
I watched this show and it is absolutely awesome. I have been working on my family tree for almost a year and i have hit walls, and got stuck of where else to look. After watching the show i got insight of where else to look, and knowing that other people are as interested in researching their Family Ancestry and background is so exciting. This is just what some people really needed to see as a reality show. I can not wait to see more 🙂
I hope this show is a great success.
Good Luck
I have been tracing my family tree for over a year . I have discovered two of my ancestors who fought in the American Revolutionary War. When you start discovering other ancestors it is very exciting. You have given some good tips on how to research your ancestors. I think the show will be a big hit. I’ll be watching every week.
Best of Luck
This show is amazing. The time and effort was put into this show and you can tell. If you are interested in your family history, visit http://www.tolearnyourhistory.com. This same researcher worked on one of the shows and his name is Brad Quinlin
I think your show is great More people should know their heritage. This might encourage more people to find out where they come from. “Their Heritage” I often discuss our family heritage with my grandchildren. I think its important. I tell them how life was in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. They really enjoy listening.
I have searched for many years for my Irish ancestry prior to Ellis Island. It is very expensive and your show does not tell your listeners that it cost $300.00 per year to get the information from Ancestry.com that they may require. The show makes the suggestion that it is free. I have also found that any investigation of ancestors is only as good as the person that puts it there including LDS. I have 1700 names back to the 1600 on my husbands side because of family keeping records and someone spending money to find the facts. My family goes back to 1851 and then it stops. Ireland has no record of birth. That alone cost me $120.00 ten years ago for 1 person. Many sites that were free 10 years ago now cost money to join. I think your listener should be made aware of this.
I love researching genealogy, but it has become to expensive for a retired person. But I will continue to search my Irish heritage.
I’m disappointed that the wonderful program, “Who Do You Think You Are?” was canceled after only seven shows. It spread the love of genealogical research to all generations, because it proved that researching ancestry increases your insight into who you really are and how you became that person. Although my novel, “Whispers from St. Mary’s Well,” like all novels, is strictly fiction, the inspiration for it came to me as I was researching my genealogy. The novel is set in St. Mary’s County, Maryland in the 1800s. My father’s family came there in the 1600s, so I had access to great research resources for the historical context of the novel. I would like to see the television program, “Who Do You Think You Are?” return, because it not only taught techniques on how to learn about your heritage, but it revealed the value of genealogical research, which enhances your insight into who you are and why family members, both ancestors and descendants, behave the way they do.
Good news for you. the series wasn’t canceled. It just came to the end of the season. NBC has renewed the show and it will be back.
I wish they would use regular people too!
“”Barbara Probst Says:
February 25th, 2010 at 9:42 am
I’ve been researching our family tree for over 30 years and WDYTYA is an answer to a dream…..prime time TV exposure for genealogy! Unfortunately, I’m an elderly widow and can’t afford to subscribe to Ancestry.com. Maybe Ancestry will offer a special subscription rate in connection with this program? Pray, Seniors!”
Barbara, I understand it is harder for you to access the data bases you need to get answers to go deeper with your research. My Mom has enjoyed the research and helping friends find more than that could have found on their own. She has been teaching a class at her local Senior Center and making it available to people that may not otherwise access to it. You may want to look into your local Senior Center to see if they have a class, and if not, you could suggest it. It’s become very popular and in the public eye more recently because of the TV shows, but just like my mother, it has been done for many, many years. I hope you are able to find what you are looking for. You can send me a message from my Facebook page where it says “Leave Lisa a message”. You don’t have to have a Facebook page just to write a note. Im sure my Mom could give you some advice how to find what you are trying to find. Best of luck! Lisa