Antiques Roadshow Executive Producer Peter B. Cook Departs Popular PBS Series

Market Wire, 20050229

Public broadcaster WGBH Boston announced today that ANTIQUES ROADSHOW executive producer Peter B. Cook would be leaving his position on September 1, 2003. Cook, who has helmed the Emmy Award-nominated series since 2000, is stepping down to pursue other projects. Marsha Bemko, currently ANTIQUES ROADSHOW senior producer, will assume the position of executive producer.

"We all recognize the enormous contribution Peter has made to the continuing success of ROADSHOW," said Margaret Drain, WGBH Vice President of National Programming. "All of us will miss his steady editorial hand, his wit and his professional generosity. As Peter begins a new chapter in his career, we are fortunate to be able to tap Marsha's considerable expertise."

Peter Cook has been a producer and writer at WGBH for more than 30 years. His career started with the Emmy Award-winning debate series, THE ADVOCATES. In addition to his documentary credits, Peter was producer of "Concealed Enemies" for AMERICAN PLAYHOUSE, which won the 1984 Emmy Award for Best Limited Series. He also produced performance specials, helped develop, write and produce "Simple Justice" for AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, and worked on the development of AFRICANS IN AMERICA. His talents will be missed.

Marsha Bemko's television career spans 20 years. In 1999 she joined ANTIQUES ROADSHOW as senior producer. In addition to ROADSHOW, Bemko's WGBH credits include series producer for CULTURE SHOCK, coordinating producer for DISCOVERING WOMEN, and associate producer for FRONTLINE.

Produced for PBS by WGBH Boston, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is part adventure, part history lesson, part treasure hunt. Specialists from the country's leading auction houses -- Christie's, Doyle New York, Skinner, Inc. and Sotheby's -- together with independent dealers and appraisers from across the nation, travel to several US cities each summer offering free appraisals of antiques and collectibles. Each one-hour ANTIQUES ROADSHOW program captures the moment of discovery as owners learn the history -- and financial value -- of family heirlooms, flea market bargains, and long-neglected items salvaged from attics and basements. For more information, log on to the ANTIQUES ROADSHOW Web site at www.pbs.org/antiques.

Funding is provided by the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies. Additional funding is provided by public television viewers.

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is produced for PBS by WGBH Boston.

WGBH Boston is America's preeminent public broadcasting producer, the source of nearly one-third of PBS's prime-time lineup and companion online content as well as many public radio favorites. WGBH is a pioneer in educational multimedia -- including the Web, broadband, and interactive television -- and in technologies and services that make media accessible for people with disabilities. WGBH has been recognized with hundreds of honors: Emmys, Peabodys, duPont-Columbia Awards...even two Oscars. In 2002, WGBH was honored with a special institutional Peabody Award for 50 years of excellence. For more information, visit www.wgbh.org.

Contact: Judy Matthews Company: WGBH Boston Title: Press contact Voice: 617-300-5343 Email: judy_matthews@wgbh.org

Contact: Johanna Baker Company: WGBH New York Title: Press contact Voice: 212-661-9445 Email: johanna_baker@wgbh.org