Stories by Daniel Hautzinger

Nick Sheedy spends hundreds of hours digging through records and paper trails to discover the ancestors of guests on Finding Your Roots. “You want to have a feeling that you belong and that there’s a community out there that belongs to you," he said of the interest in genealogy.

A reality cooking competition show might seem like an odd subject for an opera, but it allows for some hijinks and character studies as the contestants express their stories through food while vying to make the best mac 'n' cheese.

One hundred and fifty years ago today, the future mayor of Chicago Anton Cermak was born in an area of Austria-Hungary that is now part of the Czech Republic.

As Louis supports the American Revolution and prepares to go to war with Great Britain, Antoinette finds herself enamored by a dashing noble and is abetted in her tryst by Yolande. 

Sophia flees her impending marriage to Blifil, following in the footsteps of Tom, who gets kicked out by Squire Allworthy. More colorful characters are met along the way, and Tom of course gets himself into trouble. 

Almost everything that can go wrong before Matthew and Trixie's wedding does, but they luckily have a caring group of midwives and a supportive community to usher everything through to the end. 

The coronation of King Charles III in the United Kingdom is soon, with all the accompanying pomp. Here are some shows both historical and fictionalized to sate your curiousity about royalty in the meantime. 

At his Chicago restaurant Hermosa, Ethan Lim offers Cambodian-inspired sandwiches during the day and a "Family Meal" multi-course private dining menu at night. He's the subject of a new American Masters profile. 

Provence worries that his position at court is slipping away when Marie Antoinette becomes pregnant. But a defamatory pamphlet throws doubt on the father of the child, and Louis orders a thorough investigation.

Tom Jones is a boy from nowhere who had the good fortune to be taken in by a wealthy magistrate. Sophia Western is a girl from the other side of the world who is adored by her wealthy grandfather. Romance—and hijinks—await.

Sister Veronica garners some needed donations in exchange for hosting a photography contest, while Cyril tries to help a young man who has had everything go wrong. Nancy aids a woman who gives birth while homeless.

Marie Antoinette's brother Joseph, the Habsburg emperor, comes to France to help salvage Antoinette's marriage—and thus herself, and the diplomatic advantages which the marriage confers. 

Weddings and departures are imminent in the series finale of Sanditon, although it remains to be seen which will actually occur as everyone tries to sort out their feelings and opportunities.

Sister Monica Joan makes a new, and unsanctioned, friend in her loneliness. Trixie helps a very young mother navigate her family dynamic, and everyone tries to help out a young boy who's carrying a big burden. 

“God bless the pioneers of the Indian community who brought Indian food [to the United States], but we’ve gotten settled into this greatest hits world,” says Zubair Mohajir, the chef behind the buzzy Wicker Park restaurant Wazwan.