Cameras record expert Drew Winn (left) appraising guitars on set at “Antiques Roadshow” May 14 at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. (photo by Meredith Nierman for GBH, © 2024 WGBH Educational Foundation)
On May 14, 2024, I attended “Antiques Roadshow,” the long-running TV appraisal show, at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. Although I am usually sitting at the paintings table, looking at every imaginable permutation of a painting with other fine art-oriented colleagues, I was going to observe the event from the other side of the table.
The WGBH-produced reality show is the most-watched ongoing series on PBS; the public’s continued enthusiasm manifests itself by the substantial requests for tickets, the dedication of the guests who attend and the viewers who tune in every week.
There were 10,033 ticket requests for Crystal Bridges. Approximately 2,000 pairs of passes were issued, translating to roughly 8,000 objects being appraised, as each guest may bring two pieces to show a specialist. Ticketholders applied online between January and March and were selected through random drawings. This carefully executed and equitable approach was arrived at after scalpers took advantage of the distribution process used in the early days of the show.
From a pool of 150 appraisers, approximately 70 show up at each venue. Additionally, there are 50 crew members and around 110 volunteers who contribute their time and expertise. This year, in addition to Crystal Bridges, the Roadshow is visiting Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, Nevada; the Denver Botanic Gardens; Chatfield Farms in Littleton, Colorado; Living History Farms in Urbanville, Iowa; and the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. Three one-hour episodes for each venue will be edited in the fall and will air sometime between January and May 2025, marking the 30th year of Antiques Roadshow’s broadcast.
When appraisers find something that they feel deserves to be taped, the producer will view the object, talk to its owner and listen to the expert’s pitch before deciding whether it is TV-worthy. The holy grail is a combination of a visually compelling piece, a captivating backstory and an owner who has little idea of the item’s current value or history.
Marsha Bemko, the show’s executive producer, explained the program’s enduring charm in this way: “We’re smart-reality television, viewers like the learning that happens on Roadshow. Also, the people on the show are just like you and me, not professional television talent. Our audiences relate to the owners, are dazzled by our knowledgeable appraisers, and enjoy the discoveries that include mini history lessons.”
Laura Ten Eyck had a firsthand experience with a passionate collector in Arkansas. While Ten Eyck appraises books and manuscripts, she is also an expert on globes; her colleagues make sure that she sees any that come in. She had just finished taping a segment and was stopping by the bathroom on her way back to the book appraisers’ table. Unbeknownst to her, a guest who had been waiting quite a while to speak to her had also gone to the ladies’ room. As Ten Eyck was exiting her stall, she came face-to-face with a woman who recognized her from her appraiser ID badge. “Are you Laura?” she queried. Realizing that the woman was practically vibrating with excitement, Ten Eyck quickly washed her hands and examined her German 19th-century paper globe. “I don’t think she even realized she was still in the washroom,” Ten Eyck elaborated. Meanwhile, Ten Eyck was wondering if she had breached any code of conduct regarding where one was allowed to discuss values.
There were some amazing finds in Bentonville, but unfortunately, they cannot be revealed before the shows air next year. Bemko pointed out that contrary to what the public assumes, “Most owners don’t sell their objects. No matter what the value.”
The producers always love it when they can capture a dramatic reaction on camera.
Many years ago, I heard a story about a guest who brought in a piece of garden statuary for which he had paid nearly $50,000. The appraiser determined that its value was only a fraction of what he had paid. Upon hearing this unwelcome news, the sculpture’s owner reached across the table to grab the expert by the neck. When the show’s head producer heard about the incident later, she was outraged. Not about the bad behavior of the guest or the potential injury to the specialist, but by the fact that she hadn’t been able to tape it.
