CBS Saturday Morning Show Features a Familiar Location and a Story that Metro Detroit Wrote

Historic presenter Jerry Davis and “Innovation Nation” host Mo Rocca test the phonograph during filming for the program filmed at The Henry Ford in Dearborn. It will air Saturdays on CBS at 10 a.m. ET, beginning Sept. 27. (Photo submitted)

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The Henry Ford, an internationally recognized cultural destination in Dearborn that brings the past forward with stories of ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation that helped shape America, is the backdrop for a new CBS Saturday morning program aimed at teenagers, 13-16.

The program, “The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation,” premieres at 10 a.m., ET, on Saturday, Sept. 27. It’s part of a three-hour block of educational programming from Litton Entertainment – “The CBS Dream Team: It’s Epic!” – that will run Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, ET.

CBS “Sunday Morning” correspondent, humorist and actor Mo Rocca will host the show, which recalls the fascinating stories behind the historic innovators of the past and the forward-looking visionaries of today,and the extraordinary talents and dedication required to bring their inventions to life.

Tell Us:

• What’s your dream, and what’s it going to take to make it come true?

Patricia Mooradian, president of The Henry Ford, said the program will boost awareness of attraction’s cultural significance, something the nonprofit’s staff and directors have long envisioned. A national historic landmark with an unparalleled collection of artifacts from 300 years of American history, The Henry Ford attracts more than 1.6 million visitors annually to its five attractions: Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, The Ford Rouge Factory Tour, The Benson Ford Research Center and The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre.

“It has always been our vision at The Henry Ford to become a national force for fueling the spirit of American innovation and inspire those inventors, innovators and makers of tomorrow,” Mooradian said in a statement. “With ‘The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation’ and our partnership with CBS and Litton Entertainment, we will now be able to share the stories of perseverance, passion and ingenuity that we tell on our campus every day to audiences across the country.”

Also in a statement, Litton President and CEO Dave Morgan said “The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation” exemplifies the company’s core mission of “co-viewing” in that it inspires young viewers to open their eyes and minds to becoming innovators in their own communities.”

Angelica McDaniel, senior vice president of CBS Daytime, called the program featuring The Henry Ford “the perfect complement to our strong schedule, sharing the same mission to inspire and educate young people and their families.”

The full programming block is targeted at teens, 13-16, but is appealing to all viewers. It helps CBS meet FCC requirements for educational and informational programming. Besides the show featuring The Henry Ford, the block ncludes:

• 9-9:30 a.m.: “Lucky Dog,” featuring animal trainer Brandon McMillan, who rescues hard-to-love, out-of-control, untrained and unadoptable animals, then works and trains the animals until they’re perfect pets at his Lucky Dog Ranch.
• 9:30-10 a.m.: “Dr. Chris Pet Vet,” chronicling the adventures of Dr. Chris Brown, one of the world’s busiest vets, and an occasional consult from Dr. Lisa Chimes. The program offers a mix of human and animal interest stories, a features a variety of animals that undergo elective procedures as part of long-term treatments involving the most intricate and technologically advanced surgery.
• 10:30-11 a.m.: “Recipe Rehab,” hosted by Evette Rios, features two chefs in a head-to-head competition to give family-submitted recipes a low-calorie twist. In their own kitchens, the families make the rehabbed recipe and decide the winner. The recipe makeover challenge promotes using healthy, wholesome ingredients and shows healthy food choices can have positive effects on quality of life.
• 11 -11:30 a.m.: “All In With Laila Ali” steps off the beaten track into uncharted territory, inspiring audiences to go all in on their dreams. Host Ali scours the globe to track down the world’s most compelling stories,profiling inspirational people, groundbreaking achievements and extraordinary lifestyles.
• 11:30 a.m.-noon: “Game Changes with Kevin Frazier” features stories gathered by young reporters that profile athletes and fans who reach out in communities to make life better, and highlights professional athletes who use their celebrity status to make changes in the lives of fans in need. On and off the field, “Game Changers,” hosted by “Entertainment Tonight’s” Kevin Frazer, looks at how sports can have a positive effect on individuals and the communities they serve.

More about Mo Rocca

Rocca began his career in TV as a writer and producer for the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning PBS series “Wishbone.” He went on to write for other children’s series, including “Pepper Ann” and “The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss,” a pre-school series combining the whimsy of Seuss characters with the magic of Jim Henson puppetry.

He is the host and creator of the Emmy Award-nominated “My Grandmother’s Ravioli” on the Cooking Channel. His work on “CBS Sunday Morning” covers a range of topics, from the presidency of Millard Fillmore to a profile of hockey great Bobby Orr.

Also, Rocca is a frequent panelist on NPR’s weekly quiz show “Wait, Wait...Don’t Tell Me!” and he spent four seasons as a correspondent on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and four seasons as a correspondent on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”