TV Critics Tour: WE’s ‘Locator’ Offers An Emotional Hunt
New Reality Series Reunites Family Members
By Linda Moss -- Multichannel News, 7/9/2008 10:22:00 AM
Beverly Hills, Calif.—WE tv will forge deeper into the reality genre with its new series The Locator, which is about a man who has “located” more than 40,000 people since 1990, spurred on initially by his mother’s hunt for—and ultimate rejection—by her biological mother.
Troy Dunn, who created a business connecting people with those they want to find—like their birth parents or separated siblings—participated in the WE tv panel Wednesday at the Television Critics Association summer tour.
Also at the session were his mother, Katie, and a young woman and the mother he brought together for one episode of the series, which debuts in September.
The Locator will follow the journey of people who come to Dunn looking for either their biological parents or other long-lost relatives.
Dunn told TV writers that he decided to start a business finding people after his experience helping his own mother’s find her biological mother. She is now a senior investigator for her son.
“Mom here is the reason that I started doing this,” Dunn said. “She’s adopted. I grew up listening to her talk about her desire to find her birth family. She searched for 17 years of my life, that I recall her aggressively searching.”
In an unusual turn, Dunn said that when he finally found his mother’s own mother, it was not welcome news to the woman.
“Her birth mother rejected her,” Dunn said. The woman told Dunn, “If I knew ‘it’ was going to call, I might have aborted it. So it was very tough, and very painful.”
But Dunn’s mother Katie told TV writers that despite her birth mother’s negative reaction, it was a good experience for her.
“It wasn’t a bad experience,” Katie said. “I think it was probably one of the best experiences…I hoped for a new beginning, and I wanted closure…I’d do it again in a heartbeat, because it gave me closure,” After finding her mother, she went on to meet her biological brother.
But Dunn said over 97% of the reunions he’s done have been positive.
The 10-part show, with its 30-minute episodes, will premiere Sept. 6.
For more TCA coverage, click here.
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I am really interested in finding out who am I? I am not looking just to complete pieces of a puzzle. I am looking to complete my medical history. You see my daughter has lupus, and I was told it could be genetic. It isn't on my husbands side of the family, so I need info on me. Finding out would be the last piece of the puzzle. I just want answers to these questions, please if you could help me it would be very greatly appreciated. Not sure of what info you need, just let me know. I was born 2-3-62 in Columbus, Ohio. I was born at Saint Ann's hospital. Told my mother was a military brat. Catholic Social Services protest the mother, so they are no help unless you have money.
Gretchen Sleffel - 4/12/2010 7:30:10 PM EDT -
I have a little brother Billy born who would be mid 30's maybe. Born in California, his adoptive father worked for Del Monte and then they moved to England. Our birth mother's name was Joan Faye Massey, or Joan Faye Tellis
Claire Vosburgh - 4/30/2009 2:22:04 AM EDT -
Please help me find my son's father... This has been a cycle in our family of not knowing "fathers" This will help me, my son, his family and my brother with his son that doesn't know who his father is. Please if you can help, I need help ASAP! Thank you for your time!
Sherry Waters - 10/7/2008 11:36:00 AM EDT -
YES,I HAVE A MOM OUT THERE THAT I WOULD LOVE TO LOCATE HER.
KAHLEY KING - 9/20/2008 7:35:00 PM EDT -
Reading this infomation has really touch me. Along with watching the show for the first time. I have been away from my birth mother for 23 years. I have a great family that raise me but it never stop me from wondering about my birth family. All I know about my family is I have one older brother. One day i would like to find out more. My mother who been taken good care of me all of my life has been the best and i love her with all my heart but there is someone else out there who gave me life and an opportunity to have a family who loves me and i just want to say thanks. One day we will meet.
Timmea Ferguson - 9/20/2008 8:34:00 AM EDT
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