Antiques Roadshow Behind the Scenes

On the air in the United States since 1997, there's no doubt that Antiques Roadshow delights viewers interested in antiques and collectibles. But the Emmy Award nominations and top ratings this program repeatedly garners aren't based upon antiques alone. The history, amazing stories, and a colorful cast of characters, which includes a few of the appraisers like the Keno twins, draw viewers in week after week.

If you're an avid fan of Antiques Roadshow, you've probably wondered about the criteria an item has to meet to make it on the air. Maybe you wondered what it takes to be an appraiser on the show, or what happens to those ultra rare items worth so much after they're long off the air. If so, Executive Producer Marcia Bemko has your answers.

In her book Antiques Roadhow Behind the Scenes, Bemko covers the people who make the show interesting, including some of the characters who never made it on the air. She delves into how the places the where the events are held are chosen, and gives some insight on why outdoor venues just won't do.

She also discusses what makes an antique catch the eye of one of the show's appraisers - an object with intriguing family history, for instance. But she also reminds readers that only a handful of the thousands of items brought into each event are truly priceless treasures. And in case you're wondering what not to bring, Bemko says limited-edition and mass-produced collectibles are items that top the list. They're just far too common to ever be considered for on-air appraisals.

In addition to answering many burning questions fans consistently have about the show, Bemko also shares some fun and interesting facts with readers. Among these:

• For every taping event, a total of 3,800 pairs of tickets are distributed. How many people actually use those tickets? Attendance ranges from 5,000 to 6,000 for each event.
• Drawn from a pool of 150 experts who volunteer their time and pay their own travel expenses, each event usually has 75 to 80 appraisers on hand to handle valuation requests.
• Local PBS stations round up 110 volunteers for each taping to assist paid traveling staff and local station crews consisting of several dozen people. Each volunteer receives an official Antiques Roadshow shirt and the right to bring an item to be appraised, a very coveted perk.
• Antiques Roadshow appraisers must follow a stringent, written code of conduct and sign an agreement that disallows them from soliciting business or offering to purchase items brought to events for evaluation. They must also agree to objectively appraise each object independent of any outside influence. Integrity is paramount.
• To qualify for possible inclusion in a broadcast, taped guests must attest to the truth of the information given regarding the origin, history and ownership of the item they brought in for evaluation by an appraiser by signing a release form. Folks telling tall tales without substantiating provenance just don't fly with the show's producers.

As they say, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to facts behind the incredible antiques and personalities that make up this popular public television series. For avid fans of the show, Antiques Roadshow Behind the Scenes truly is a must read.