Who Do You Think You Are?
Have you seen the NBC show, Who Do You Think You Are? It’s a great reality show by NBC that delves into celebrities’ ancestry and teaches them about their heritage. This is the show’s third season, and they have continued to do a great job helping celebrities learn more about their ancestors. This season has already had four episodes, but you can catch up on episodes on the show’s homepage. Diane of Genealogy Insider gives helpful recaps and commentary on the show if you want to learn more.
Each episode takes one celebrity around the world as they research and learn about several of their relatives. Going back to their roots always proves to be a significant life event for the stars. The show spends time researching all sorts of documentation: birth certificates, obituaries, censuses, tax records, etc. While the show can’t always explain exactly how to take advantage of all the resources highlighted in the hour-long show, they expose the viewers to many possibilities for furthering family history research.
Who Do You Think You Are? strives to open people’s eyes to the excitement of learning about their own past. Previous participants have been Reba McEntire, Blair Underwood, Spike Lee, and Ashley Judd, plus tons of others. While helping these celebs find their roots, the show is also getting America pumped about family history work.
If you feel stuck in your family history research, try watching the show for motivation and inspiration. The show may tell you of avenues you haven’t ventured down before, and you may be able to try them out and find what you need to continue your research. Partnering with Ancestry.com, Who Do You Think You Are? airs on Fridays on NBC. You can also watch episodes on the NBC website or on Hulu.
Image via NBC.com