Faces of America
Henry Louis Gates, the Harvard scholar, hosts PBS’ “Faces of America,” a series that explores the family history and the genetic building blocks, or DNA, of 12 famous Americans of varying ethnic and racial backgrounds. “Faces” is a follow-up to two similar PBS specials hosted by Gates that featured African American celebrities.
As in Gates’ prior programs, family history researchers dig up what they can about the celebrity’s family history. The celebs also take a DNA test — and then they are told what percentage of their ancestry is European, Asian, African, and/or Native American. Gates presents the findings to each celebrity and elicits their reactions. The findings are spread out over four weeks and we get a piece of the family history of each celebrity in each episode.
In the new series, which premieres at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, the celebrities include comedian Stephen Colbert, Olympic figure skating champ and Fremont native Kristi Yamaguchi, actress Eva Longoria, TV chef Mario Batali, Queen Noor of Jordan, TV doctor Mehmet Oz, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, actress Meryl Streep and film director Mike Nichols.
Nichols, 78, was born in Germany to a German-Jewish mother and a Russian-Jewish father. His family fled to the United States in 1939. He began as a hip young comedian in the ’50s, teaming with comedian Elaine May, now 77. In the early ’60s, he began directing theater productions and, in the mid-’60s, he started directing films. He has won eight Tonys for best director and an Oscar for best director (“The Graduate”).
Without really spoiling it for you, here are two revelations about Nichols in the series — he is related to a very famous German Jew, and DNA tests disclose that he and one of the series’ other celebrities share a common ancestor within the last 250 years.
No cakewalk
The next episode of the popular Food Network show “Iron Chef America” features a cooking showdown between Duff Goldman, 35, and Iron Chef Michael Symon (Saturday, Feb. 6 at 10 p.m., with an encore Sunday, Feb. 7 at 9 p.m.). Goldman, 35, a master baker, hosts the popular Food Network show “Ace of Cakes.” Born in Detroit and raised all over the country, Goldman’s first job was baking bagels.
Goldman has worked for many top restaurants (including Yountville’s French Laundry) and now lives above his own bakery, Charm City Creations, in Baltimore. Symon, who isn’t Jewish, founded and runs two restaurants in Cleveland, his hometown.
Shiri and Sarah
“Life Unexpected” began on the CW on Jan. 18 and, unexpectedly, got much better reviews than most “teen-oriented” shows. In the opener, 15-year-old Lux (Brittany Roberts) is tired of bouncing between foster homes and decides to become an emancipated minor. Lux’s court case leads her to discover Nate, her 30-something father. Nate, in turn, startles Lux with the news that her mother is Cate Cassidy (Shiri Appleby), a radio talk show star whom Lux has long admired. A judge decides to give temporary custody of Lux to Nate and Cate and the three decide to try and give Lux the family life she deserves. (New episodes air Mondays at 9 p.m.)
Appleby, 31, grew up in Southern California. Her mother, a Hebrew school teacher, was born in Israel to Moroccan Sephardi parents. Her father is an American Jewish business executive. Appleby’s breakthrough role came in 2000 as a co-star of the TV series “Roswell.” Most recently, she was a regular on “ER.”
The third season of “The Sarah Silverman Show” began Feb. 4 on Comedy Central. (New episodes air Thursdays at 10 p.m.) Berkeley native Andy Samberg of “Saturday Night Live” fame will appear in an episode this season. In a dream sequence, he will play Sarah’s imaginary childhood friend.