On Monday at 8 pm on WGBH2, Antiques Roadshow will celebrate its 500th episode with Extraordinary Finds, a special that revisits some of the iconic show's most amazing moments, and follows up on those fascinating stories with all-new interviews, appraisal updates and more. To help celebrate this milestone, ROADSHOW Executive Producer Marsha Bemko held a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything), dishing on her experiences of producing the long-running series for the last two decades.
Here are some highlights of the lively discussion, a post that quickly hit the front page of Reddit and gathered almost 800 comments.
Q: Is it real? How much of it is staged and you invite people to come in with specific things vs just strangers off the street? -Ty__Webb
A: Strangers off of the street. We do move in ten pieces of furniture. We don't talk to the owner until we come on set. It is real. If the appraiser leaks info, we won't tape it. We're an honest show. You bet! We may be crazy but we're honest.
Q: After so many years on air, what kind of items from our modern times do you hope to see show up on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: 2180? -saigatenozu
A: I'll still be here! In 2180, what is a camera? Do you have to use a device to capture images?
Q: What's the oldest object you've held? -2___________________
A: An antiquity that is thousands of years old. Roman amphora circa 100 AD. We've also seen some BC stuff.
Q: What is the strangest but most valuable item someone has brought in? -DustyMainer
A: The strangest ones don't often have a lot of value. Scientific tools. Weird inventions. They don't always have a lot of value. I'm still stunned that a hot wheels car can be worth $100,000. No longer how long I produce the show, the values on some items are still jaw-dropping. In the collectibles market, it's about the values we assign. It's what the market decides. And that's something that still shocks you.
Q: Young PA, trying to go further and higher up in the industry, do you have any tips? -SteveImNot
A: Work your butt off. Don’t let anybody poop on you. Do what’s asked of you as long as your mother would approve. Work as many hours as you must, sleep if you must, eat if you must, but whatever you do, make sure your producer has eaten first!
Some Redditors took to Twitter to share their experience with Bemko's AMA:
This AMA by the Exec Producer of @RoadshowPBS is terrific. Such honesty and obvious joy for her job! https://t.co/4jQO6l5Vc5
— Matt Saunders (@mattsaunders) October 28, 2019
This is pretty cool. In honor of the upcoming 500th episode of @RoadshowPBS, the show's executive producer did a @reddit AMA yesterday. There are 763 comments so far, and a ton of great #AntiquesRoadshow banter! https://t.co/yre53jLGRM
— Nine Network (@TheNineNetwork) October 29, 2019
Hi everyone should read this AMA with the producer of antiques roadshow https://t.co/j38ayGuqjF
— Michael Hauntacoloni (@Mike__Pont) October 29, 2019
Read the whole AMA here, and be sure to tune in Monday night or stream on WGBH.org following the broadcast. For the greatest Boston moments in Antiques Roadshow's history, visit our special section honoring the show's 500th episode.
