Long Lost Family

[lankeela]

I am always amazed how the families meeting for the first time seem to be so familiar with each other - I am sure I would be far more reticent and would take some time to be comfortable in their company. But maybe that's just me, and I don't do meeting strangers well.

[barry1010]

Me, too, lankeela. I don't think i would agree to meeting a relative I didn't know I had

[maggiebee]

I think there's a lot of work done behind the scenes before any meeting takes place. It's like the knock at the door to give the news. Obviously set up as there's already a camera crew inside. Despite all that I love the show.

[barry1010]

I agree with you, maggie. Reality tv is all smoke and mirrors

[Peter Pedant]

Clearly there are bits rehearsed
a lot fo the walking up to the door and oo look someone is IN !

Some of the repeats are edited. 50% of the Viet-American kids, we dont see as they are rejected by their Dads. The American Dream does not allow for comfort women in Sai gon in the sixties

The Australian on has just had a fella looking for his Dad after 50 yearn - oh it comes out that they met at 20 and the dad er wasnt interested, hem hem

The American one - the girl was very off hand with the father after all these years ( why has he waited that long?) and instead of
"Charlene-Marie meets or rings Wayne every week" it had " Charlene-Marie has joined a counselling group"

and by god she needed it hur hur hur

[Peter Pedant]

I watch a lot
I still go 'foo' over the fella who walked up to two men and said I am your father!

they werent brothers and he wasnt !
Lots of - why did he do this to us?

[FoxLee2]

Of course the person has to know that Nicky or Davina is going to turn up otherwise how would they hear the lightest of taps they give on the front door - never seem to ring a doorbell.
I thought last night's episode where the guy had waited six years to answer the letter looking for him only to find that when he was ready, his mother had died 11 months previously. Tough to live with that.

[bhg481]

As an adoptee I have a curiosity as to who my biological parents are but the fear of breaking up a happy marriage by turning up to announce that one of the couple had had an away-day many years before prevented me from searching them out.

[barry1010]

I can understand your curiosity, bhg. Could you find your birth mother's name without her knowing?

[bhg481]

I probably could, barry, but I'm 77 now, so the chance of either parent still being around is slim.

[Peter Pedant]

bhg - the circumstances vary - one of my uncles had an extra marriage ( No 3 was so like no 2 that no one cd understand why he divorced one to marry the other ) BUT no 3's children, my uncle forgot to tell them about no 2
they were less amused

On the other side, one 55 y o relation was told his aunt was his sister (- if you met the mother you would CERTAINLY undertand why and how) - and he had jellied knees for weeks

[bhg481]

I had an interestin experience a dozen or so years ago. I know I was born and adopted in Liverpool; we were having a few days in Chester and two separate people tooted their car horn and waved at me as I walked along. I can only assume they thought they recognised me and that I look very much like my father or a half-brother.

[lankeela]

I really mean all the hugging and tears, with what is in effect a complete stranger. I know the programmes are rehearsed as are all the reality shows, but the need for the level of emotion escapes me.