WDYTYA - Brooke Shields . . . and beyond?!

This may just be my personal opinion, but this week's episode of "Who do you think you are?" would have been worth watching even if the speakers are busted on your tv.

After all, the featured celebrity root-digger was Brooke Shields, who (as it turns out) is descended from a bunch of blue bloods who lived in some fancy palaces in Italy and France.

Anyway, yours truly was a little perplexed after watching the previews for the next episode, because the kind folks at NBC noted it wouldn't be aired for two more weeks . . .

Do any of ye socks know why they're taking a break like that?

There is some good news to report on this series. Just heard that it has been picked up for a second season.

Stay tuned, I guess. (Just not next week!)

WDYTYA - WWI

"So, what's with all the jumble of letters?!?" ye socks may be asking after seeing the title of this post.

No, it wasn't a transcript of the Scrabble tiles I drew recently . . . they were worse!

Rather, they are the abbreviated way yours truly refers to the new series "Who do you think you are?" and "World War I."

Tonight's episode featured research on actor Matthew Broderick's family history.

He was surprised to discover his grandfather, a quiet postal worker who died before Matthew arrived on the scene, was a decorated veteran of the First World War.

He even got to visit a battlefield in France where his grandfather treated his comrades who were wounded in action.

All this got me thinking of my own great-grandfather, pictured here.

He was also a WWI veteran.

Also treated wounded soldiers in France while serving with an Army Hospital unit.

Also worked for the post office after coming back home.

Also died before yours truly arrived on the scene.

The similarities were almost uncanny.

Anyway, it got me thinking about the all-too-often-overlooked legacy the "war to end all wars" has in the annals of American family history.

Ye socks whose ancestor(s) may have been inducted in Florida to serve in the "Great War" will be interested in checking out this site:

http://www.floridamemory.com/Collections/WWI/

Happy hunting!

Lisa Kudrow on WDYTYA

For ye socks who missed last night's episode of "Who do you think you are?" on NBC, they traced the roots of everybody's favorite "Friend."

Of course, yours truly refers to Lisa Kudrow.

What, you thought I meant David Schwimmer?!

Anyway, I supposed Kudrow kinda had to do an episode on her own roots since she is the executive producer of the new series.

I have to admit I didn't like it quite as much as the previous two episodes about Sarah Jessica Parker and Emmitt Smith. But, it was still good.

I won't spoil it for ye socks who have it on your DVR's, but basically Kudrow tracks her dad's family line back to Belarus and finds a living relative in Poland.

Next week: Matthew Broderick.