By Lynn Elber, Television Writer
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) --The celebrity ancestry show "Finding Your Roots" has a message to counter divisive political rhetoric, said its host, educator Henry Louis Gates Jr.
The PBS series demonstrates that "we're all descended from immigrants," whether they came to America willingly or as slaves, and all share a common origin, Gates told a TV critics meeting Monday.
"People want that reassurance that we're all the same," he said, especially as some seek to divide the nation and distinguish between who does and doesn't have the right to be an American and live in America.
It was an apparent reference to President Donald Trump's call for four Democratic House members of color to "go back" to their countries, although all are U.S. citizens and all but one was born in the United States.
"Guess what, we're all home. This is our home. And our ancestors came here and fought for the right to make this our home. … and we all have an equal purchase on the rights guaranteed by the Declaration (of Independence) and the Constitution," Gates said.
"And I'm going to go down swinging against anybody who tries to divide us because of our apparent ethnic differences or gender differences or sexual preference differences," he said.
"Finding Your Roots," which is produced by Harvard professor Gates, returns this fall with guests including Melissa McCarthy, Jordan Peele, Issa Rae, Diane von Furstenberg and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Genealogy research and DNA tests help uncover the celebrities' ancestral backgrounds.
Asked if he'd consider having Trump as a guest, Gates said PBS rules prevent candidates from appearing. Would he consider the president if that wasn't the case?
"I don't pick people by their ideology to be on the show," Gates said. That's been shown with previous guests, including Republican Sen. Marco Rubio and the late Sen. John McCain, he said.
Mike Pierantozzi joins Movers+Shakers as exec creative director
Creative agency Movers+Shakers has appointed Mike Pierantozzi as executive creative director. In this new role, he will help guide the creative direction of Movers+Shakers’ socially-native campaigns. Pierantozzi will report to co-founder and chief creative officer Geoffrey Goldberg.
With nearly two decades of experience as a copywriter, creative director, and multi-platform storyteller, Pierantozzi brings a wealth of knowledge from his work with major brands including Kraft, Unilever, IBM, and Walmart. He has led the creation of award-winning campaigns for agencies like Red Tettemer, Ogilvy, The Brooklyn Brothers, TAXI, Saatchi & Saatchi, and most recently, Vayner, where he spearheaded culturally iconic work for Planters including “Death of Mr. Peanut.” He led the National Down Syndrome Society and Luvs account, whose “First Kid. Second Kid” campaign was awarded by the Effies, ADC, Clios and LIAs.
Outside of the office, Pierantozzi practices what he teaches brands. He’s gone viral multiple times on his own TikTok account, featuring comedic interactions with his son and a trombone. He’s accumulated 15K followers on TikTok.
“Mike brings a rare and awesome combination of deep social and platform experience, a keen eye for excellent storytelling, and a humble and kind approach to leadership,” said Goldberg. “Mike’s got a knack for turning brand stories into cultural movements, making him the perfect fit for Movers+Shakers. He’s got the kind of bold vision and attention to culture that fits perfectly with our mission to push creative boundaries and drive industry firsts. Plus, as a creator himself he has the innate ability to make people stop, laugh, and share--which is exactly what we’re about.”
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