They Like You, They Really Like You!

Congrats to RootsTelevision.com for winning four Telly Awards. That's four more than Susan Lucci has ever won.

RootsTelevision.com, an online channel dedicated to all aspects of genealogy and family history, has been recognized in the 29th Annual Telly Awards for four of its original productions. Selected from more than 14,000 shows were “DNA Stories: A Tale of Two Fathers” (documentary), “Heir Jordan: Extreme Genealogy” (entertainment), “Roots Books: Psychic Roots” (talk show), and “Flat Stanley’s Family Tree” (children’s audience).

“We’re delighted,” said RootsTelevision.com co-founder, Marcy Brown. “To receive this kind of recognition during our first year of existence is remarkable, and winning in four different categories is even more astonishing. We take this as an indication that our decision to pioneer online programming for the substantial but neglected niche of millions of genealogists was a risk worth taking.”

Forbidden Love in the Cemetery

The first installment of a new Roots Television series, Down Under, tells the story of an unlikely love affair. A love affair even more unlikely than mine and Gwyneth's.

Stage Fright Keeps Me From Swabbing

After watching Alex Haley's nephew Chris take his DNA test on Roots Television, I'm hesitant to do it myself. Does it have to be done in a public place while singing?

From Cork to New York

I found time this evening to watch From Cork to New York—a dramatization of Annie Moore's journey to America written, produced, directed, and acted by 11-year-olds from Scoil Oilibhéir in Cork, Ireland. (You can watch the trailer here.)

My school projects at that age involved gluing macaroni to poster board. These kids commandeered a train and reenacted a transatlantic sea voyage on film, then got people on another continent to watch it. I guess they don't have macaroni in Ireland.

Get Your Heirlooms Smashed on TV

On the Chinese version of Antiques Roadshow, sentimental value counts for nothing.

Losers go away not just disappointed that their "family heirloom" has turned out to be a dud. At the end, if a panel of experts decree it to be a forgery, the host wields a golden hammer and smashes it to smithereens.

Before the experts pass verdict, the audience gets to vote - a red, smiling face for genuine, a blue, sad one for those they would consign to the hammer. [Link]

Contestants on "Collector's World" can opt out before receiving the final judgment, but have to sign a contract allowing the destruction of their item if they want to receive an appraisal.

Genealogists Gone Wild!

To celebrate the launch of its RootsTube channel, Roots Television has announced the Wild Roots! contest with a grand prize of $500.

While submissions of all things genealogical are welcome, viewers are invited to tell the world about the craziest thing they ever did in their quest to learn about their heritage. Did you accidentally pull an all-nighter at your computer? Did you cross a field with a bull in it to get to an old cemetery? Did you purposely get yourself locked into a library overnight? If so, we want to hear about it. You can tell your tale directly to the camera, re-enact it, animate it, use hand puppets or whatever appeals to you. Do it by yourself or with your sister, research buddies, fellow society members, or that 6th cousin of yours in New Zealand. On May 15, 2007, Roots Television will select and announce the winner of the Wild Roots! contest. [Link]

I think I'll submit a video about the time I woke up at the Family History Center wearing nothing but microfiche. I'd better get working on some hand puppets.

I Couldn't Look Away

Marcy Brown and Megan Smolenyak² are so happy about the success of Roots Television that they simply must dance.

Click here for a peek. Be sure to turn on your volume and wait for the elevator to arrive. You can watch its progress on the dial on top. That's Marcy on the left and Megan on the right -- well, our faces anyway. We're two of the instigators behind Roots Television, and hope you've been enjoying it as much as we have! [Link]

If you don't like it, you can go Elf Yourself.

Military Missives

Roots Television has launched a barrage of military-themed videos in honor of Veterans Day. There's plenty to watch under the "Military Roots" and "Military Features" tabs, but the highlight for me is the interview with Andrew Carroll, founder of The Legacy Project.

Carroll displays handfuls of war letters, and shares some of the fascinating stories they tell. Like the letter written on Hitler's personal stationery by Staff Sergeant Horace Evers as he sat in Der Führer's "luxuriously furnished apartment" in Munich.

He sat down at Hitler's desk and wrote this letter about the atrocities at Dachau. And, it's interesting as he crossed out Hitler's name—this gold embossed emblem here—and put "S/Sgt Evers." And Horace, who is still alive, great guy, I said, Why did you cross out Hitler's name? He said, I didn't want my parents opening a letter, thinking they were getting something from Adolf Hitler and just scaring them to death.

Sometimes it's not what a letter says, but what it doesn't say.

One letter we have which came as a photocopy—and it's more of a visual thing, but you can imagine it. It began, "Dear Mom and Dad, Here I am in—" and then it cuts out, and the whole middle part of the letter is gone. And then it says, "Well, I hope so too. P.S. They might censor this letter." So I asked the gentleman who sent it in, I said, What did your brother write that was just so secret—did he ever tell you—that the censors cut out the entire middle part of the letter?

And he said, No, my brother would take a piece of paper and write the first line, jump down to the bottom and write the last line, and then say the thing about the censors. And then he would cut out the middle—only because he hated writing letters home, and this was much easier.

The Women Behind the Curtain at Roots TV

Roots Television is bound to be a success considering who's in the (virtual) head office.

Headquartered in Utah, Roots Television, LLC is an independent media company that is the brainchild of national media producer Marcy Brown and professional genealogist Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak (yes, her real name).

Largely a virtual operation with partners scattered around the globe, Roots Television™ takes a broad view of family history and is committed to providing programming – both original and from talented producers and independent filmmakers around the world – that appeals to avid genealogists and family history lovers of all stripes. [Link]

You might remember Brown and Smolenyak's previous attempt to record the activities of genealogists in their native habitat: Brown produced the Ancestors television series that aired on PBS stations several years ago, and Megan signed on as lead researcher for Ancestors II. Perhaps not coincidentally, episodes from both series are now available at Roots Television.

Annie Moore Gets Her Own TV Show

The September 15 press conference at which the real Annie Moore was presented to the world may now be viewed at Roots Television. Megan Smolenyak² offers a compelling account of the search in the second and third segments, Brian Andersson adds some "breaking news" in the fourth, and some appreciative Moore descendants personalize the production with family stories in the fifth.

I especially enjoyed learning how the family of the "wrong" Annie Moore came to believe that she was the "right" Annie. Never again will I use commemorative plates as primary sources.

It's Time to See Roots TV

Roots Television has launched as promised, with some blogs, vlogs, and a nice collection of free video clips. I'm impressed so far—but then, I'm impressed by anything bright and colorful that costs me nothing.

Still, I'm Rooting for Roots Television

It looks like Roots Television will not be the Golf Channel rival we all had hoped. Looking at the trademark application the Provo (where else?) company filed on Aug. 30, it appears that they're more interested in the "streaming of audio and video content via the Internet" than the cablecasting of white-knuckle genealogical investigations in prime time. There's also something in there about tote bags.

I guess I'll be stuck watching the new season of Lost after all.

Must See Roots TV

I'm intrigued by the announcement (received by way of Megan's Roots World) of a new channel devoted to genealogy—Roots Television. The website offers no info on the scheduled programs, but allow me to speculate.

• 7 a.m. - 8 a.m. — An animated series for kids based on the Elizabeth Shown Mills book Evidence! Citation & Analysis For The Family Historian.
• 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. — Barney the Purple Dinosaur reads selected obituaries from the nation's morning newspapers.
• 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Census records scroll across the screen while Muzak plays in the background.
• 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. — Psychic John Edward helps people get in touch with their departed ancestors, and in doing so liberates them from their common sense and spare change.
• 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. — Dr. Phil helps people cope with the divorce of their great-great-great-great-grandparents.
• 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. — The gang from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition visits the homes of genealogists and knocks down their brick walls.
  
• 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. — A Fear Factor spin-off on which people are dared to consume traditional dishes from their ancestral homelands.
• 9 p.m. - 11 p.m. — A nightly movie with a family-history theme—usually Back to the Future.
  
• 11 p.m. - 7 a.m. — Ancestry.com infomercials, occasionally interrupted by MyFamily.com infomercials.