An all-access pass to America's first (and favorite) reality television program -- boasting over ten million viewers each week -- Antiques Roadshow!If you're a fan of PBS's top-rated
Antiques Roadshow, you've probably wondered -- what would it take to get your family treasure on the program? What happens to the antiques after the show airs? Are the appraisers ever wrong? And will
Antiques Roadshow come to
my hometown?
In this four-color, fully illustrated guide to America's favorite treasure-hunting program,
Antiques Roadshow Behind the Scenes reveals inside information about the participants, the appraisers, the fans, and the antiques that make up the show, direct from the woman who makes it all happen -- executive producer Marsha Bemko. Learn what it really takes to put on a
Roadshow event (and why certain cities are more likely to get a visit from the show than others), who gets chosen to be on air (and what items producers are really looking for), what it takes to be an appraiser (and how even the experts make mistakes) and what happens when things go terribly wrong (such as the occasional antique that turns out to have been stolen!). In addition, learn which books, websites, and resources your favorite appraisers recommend, and get updates on some of the most popular and notorious items ever featured on the show.
From priceless tips to the juicy family secrets hidden in dusty heirlooms,
Antiques Roadshow Behind the Scenes is both an invaluable resource and a fascinating slice of Americana.
Reader Reviews
Antiques Roadshow Behind the Scenes is a fun and fascinating look at the no. 1 PBS weekly show, written by the program's longtime executive producer, Marsha Bemko. Packed with quick hits called "Marsha's Musings," Bemko shares insights on the personalities and logistical demands that go into making ARS, but that's only the beginning. The book combines valuable "how to" tips for collectors with tales of wrap-party hi-jinks and appraisers' favorite recollections from 13 years of cross-country travels. The show's history is honestly reviewed, warts and all, including the infamous "watermelon sword" episode in which two appraisers concocted a scenario to inflate the value of a Confederate weapon. The fraud resulted in a strict code of conduct for all ARS appraisers. Hundreds of color photos feature happy (or shocked) collectors and treasures brought to the show, and profile the team in front of and behind the cameras. Bemko also recalls her favorite appraisal stories, and first on her list is Lark Mason being overcome with emotion as he views a carved marble lion from China (valued at more than $100,000). But her fondest reminiscences are reserved for "ordinary people collecting what they love without really knowing, or caring, what the pieces may be worth." And that, in a nutshell, sums up the appeal of this book, and the continued success of Antiques Roadshow. It's not just the appraisers or the objects, but the curious collectors -- whether shy or outrageous -- that draw us to the show. This will make an ideal gift for the antique lover on your Christmas list, no matter what their collecting passion.
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