I’m a major Antiques Roadshow fan. I’ve loved it since I first saw it on BBC more than a decade ago. It has aired in the United Kingdom for 30 years. Currently, it airs on some, but not all, PBS stations in the U.S. The format has remained virtually unchanged from the pilot program: a brief introduction to the location du jour followed by appraisals of a variety of items.
According to the official BBC Cult website
The Antiques Roadshow is believed to be like the Ravens at the Tower of London, if the show ever comes to an end, then the BBC will come crashing to the ground.
The American version of Antiques Roadshow started on PBS in 1996. While it follows the same format, there are some differences. The appraisers on the British version are more complimentary of the antiques and more sympathetic to the owners, while the American version seems to focus more on the valuation. The BBC Roadshow has also spawned versions in Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, and Australia.
Both the British and American versions were instant successes. Antiques Roadshow remains the highest rated show on PBS, attracting more than 11 million viewers each week.
As you might expect, the Antiques Roadshow official website is a wealth of information. You can learn about appraisals, appraisers, and "antique speak." And, of course, you can learn about how to be on the Antiques Roadshow. This Summer the tour will include:
June 7 — Palm Springs, California
June 28 — Dallas, Texas
July 12 — Wichita, Kansas
July 19 — Chattanooga, Tennessee
August 9 — Grand Rapids, Michigan
August 23 — Hartford, Connecticut
Like many people, I have always wanted to go to an Antiques Roadshow. Unfortunately, I don’t have a knack for finding fantastic antiques in garbage bins, so I’m unlikely to ever make the pilgrimage. But maybe you can. If you decide to, although inaccurate in some details, How to get on Antiques Roadshow offers some good advice, particularly about wearing comfortable shoes. It is no longer necessary to send in a postcard (although they can still be ordered that way); you can apply for the free tickets online.
If you want to go this year, the deadline for online ticket applications is 11:59pm ET, Sunday, April 20, 2008. Postcard ticket applications must be postmarked by Saturday, April 5, 2008 and received by Saturday, April 19, 2008.
While the deadlines are for this summer, the process is the same for each tour. Tickets are free, but only one application per household, either postcard or online will be accepted. You may only apply for only one venue. Extra submissions are discarded. After the deadline, winners of the tickets are selected by a random drawing.
Each ticket has a specific time and you must show up with your item no more than 30 minutes before your assigned time. Appraisals start at 8:00 am and go until the last ticket holder is seen.
Oh, and if someone offers to sell you a ticket to the Antiques Roadshow, it is a fraud. Although Antiques Roadshow gives tickets to the local PBS station where each event is held for them to use in fundraising, the sale of tickets to the Antiques Roadshow is absolutely forbidden.
In case you were wondering about the most valuable items on Antiques Roadshow, you can see the Top Ten Most Valuable Appraisal on YouTube. But here is a clip of the most valuable item ever appraised on Antiques Roadshow:
On DailyKos, some of our most valuable assets are the comments. If you find a particularly valuable comment, nominate it for Top Comments by sending a link to it to
topcomments at gmail dot com
Be sure to include your Dkos handle, so we can give you credit.
And if you were wondering about the most valuable comments on DailyKos today, here are a few:
From noweasels
andydoubtless on the costs? of the Democratic nomination
From condoleaser
PatsBard gets a new sig line in civilrights’ Is Tavis Smiley a Traitor to America and Blacks?
From Orangeclouds115
Catesby has the answer to the age-old question: is it possible not to smile when you're next to Russ (Feingold)?
From asimbagirl
I liked this comment from JekyllnHyde, where we are reminded of exactly what Rovian tactics are.
From emeraldmaiden
In Meteor Blades' most excellent front page Eco-Diary Rescue, Anna M raises a most interesting point.
In the same diary, claude shares an experience that I have not had ... um, ew. But worthy of reading.
panmandan wrote a short, but moving diary, Went to a Soldiers funeral today, and localpol's comment speaks truth.
gchaucer's prayerful comment in the same diary was very moving to me.
From BeninSC:
Ben Goshi submits an insightful comment on class biases which may account for some of John Edwards' difficulties in the media during his campaign. Great comment!
From me
trillian offeres some good advice and some excellent "come backs" in Devilstower's Making the Case.
dengre responds to Meteor Blades' high praise for an outstanding diary with aplea for support for CNMI guest workers in the exceptional must-read dairy Jack Abramoff:John McCain's other Lobbyist problem.
kingbugu has the new McLame vehicle in cookedchicken08's Yes, The NY Times Does Have More ...
And a big round of applause to tonight’s Mojo Hero – BeninSC
Top Mojo - excluding search-identifiable tip jars and first diary comments (top 30 of each plus ties):
1 I said in another diary by RobertInWisconsin - 186
2 Actually the media did an excellent job by pioneer111 - 139
3 Good diary by anastasia p - 126
4 At least she's spewing the venom herself by beltane - 112
5 *******OFFICIAL OBAMA CAMPAIGN RESPONSE****** by slinkerwink - 110
6 Nah... this is the best they had... by Dood Abides - 93
7 I stayed away during the Primary Vitriol by John Campanelli - 92
8 'Enough about big rallies' by RobertInWisconsin - 91
9 I think we used to talk about ideas by andgarden - 91
10 All Aboard! by kingubu - 89
11 You mean... by MichaelPH - 89
12 I'll remind you that by RobertInWisconsin - 85
13 Now that makes me proud- by Red no more - 78
14 her hamhanded consultants are getting THEIR by TAPayne - 77
15 I will not vote. by Delaware Dem - 73
16 I'm watching with tears too by ccr4nine - 72
17 It's Daily Obama now, David... by Superskepticalman - 71
18 On the health care thing by RobertInWisconsin - 71
19 My favorite Edwards quote by LaEscapee - 69
20 It IS possible by anastasia p - 69
21 Siome of Hillary's unpaid bills by leevank - 69
22 Take some mojo and call me in morning. by CTMET - 67
23 I am STILL an Edwards Democrat by fayeforcure - 66
24 Stop this! by jenontheshore - 62
25 Unbelievably depressing . . . by nyceve - 62
26 john edwards by Turkana - 61
27 Yes, because it had a more reasoned by Rolfyboy6 - 61
28 Recommended! by MarkInSanFran - 60
29 Beyond shame...they mystery of Hillary by FishOutofWater - 60
30 I appreciate your commentary David by valadon - 59
Top Mojo - everything included:
1 Tip Jar by John Campanelli - 523
2 tips by mbair - 426
3 Meanwhile on Saipan... by dengre - 366
4 my first diary.. by jvc - 325
5 tip jar by Jr1886 - 283
6 Tips, comments, wet noodles, lemon meringue pie by dewberry - 276
7 Pull out your checkbook and pay your bills. by icebergslim - 243
8 Tip jar by Brandon Friedman - 196
9 I said in another diary by RobertInWisconsin - 186
10 This is fucking sad, Bill by kissfan - 154
11 Tip Jar by PsiFighter37 - 148
12 There's More Fun to Come Tonight! by kath25 - 147
13 Actually the media did an excellent job by pioneer111 - 139
14 Good diary by anastasia p - 126
15 Tips for birds in archaeology. by blue jersey mom - 125
16 This place is a shadow of its former self by palpatine316 - 120
17 Good morning garden bloggers and by Frankenoid - 114
18 At least she's spewing the venom herself by beltane - 112
19 *******OFFICIAL OBAMA CAMPAIGN RESPONSE****** by slinkerwink - 110
20 Any running analysis on this? by LithiumCola - 104
21 Tip jar? by TexanJane - 98
22 Nah... this is the best they had... by Dood Abides - 93
23 I stayed away during the Primary Vitriol by John Campanelli - 92
24 I think we used to talk about ideas by andgarden - 91
25 'Enough about big rallies' by RobertInWisconsin - 91
26 All Aboard! by kingubu - 89
27 You mean... by MichaelPH - 89
28 I'll remind you that by RobertInWisconsin - 85
29 Hear hear. by fink - 82
30 I built the t-shirt by FireCrow - 81