Soap opera fans know a thing or two about exciting family trees, with most daytime characters being connected to everyone else on the canvas via marriage, affairs, and the occasional sperm swap. But sometimes, real-life family trees are just as interesting, which is often proven on the PBS series Finding Your Roots.
The documentary series presents celebrities with a "book of life" that is compiled with information researched by professional genealogists that allows them to view their ancestral histories, learn about familial connections, and discover secrets about their lineage. The upcoming season eight finale, which airs on PBS on Tuesday, April 19, will delve into the family history of Another World alum Amy Carlson (ex-Josie Watts).
In an exclusive preview clip given to Soap Central, Carlson learns how two of her ancestors ended up meeting completely by chance on a ship coming to America in 1868: eleven-year-old Clara fell down, and Samuel helped her up, not knowing at the time that Clara would eventually become his wife.
"That's so sweet!" Carlson enthuses upon learning the details of her family history. "That's how life happens sometimes, right? Totally by accident."
In addition to Carlson, Tuesday's episode of Finding Your Roots will feature CNN news anchor Erin Burnett and the late Vogue magazine editor André Leon Talley, who also discover mysteries, surprises, and revelations hidden in their family trees.
Previous guests featured on Finding Your Roots include Mario Lopez (ex-Dr. Christian Ramírez, The Bold and the Beautiful), Pamela Adlon, Terry Crews, Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Tony Danza, Kathryn Hahn, Anita Hill, Regina King, Nathan Lane, John Leguizamo, Damon Lindelof, Leslie Odom, Jr., Melissa Villaseñor, and Lena Waithe.
Amy Carlson starred as Another World's Josie from 1993 to 1998. After leaving the soap world, she went on to star as Alex Taylor in Third Watch, Katie Owen in Peacemakers, Kelly Gaffney in Law & Order: Trial by Jury, and Linda Reagan in Blue Bloods.
What do you think about Amy Carlson appearing on PBS' Finding Your Roots? What do you think you would learn about your own family history if you were featured on the documentary series? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
