Think your trash may actually be treasure? DIRECTV programs offer advice on what to do with those old collectibles.

It�s spring—time to get busy and haul out all those items that always seem to get in your way when you walk through your basement or attic. So what about that awful hula girl statue with the clock in its stomach? Before you and your spouse begin arguing over whose side of the family has the worst taste, take heed: One man�s trash is another�s treasure.

Anyone who has ever held a garage sale, or taken part in a Saturday morning drive-by of such sales, knows what we�re talking about. Bargain hunters start early on the weekends and don�t stop until they�ve stocked up. After all, the early bird gets the bargain. So before you start hauling stuff out and slapping tags with prices that practically scream, "Take me!", check out a few key programs on DIRECTV. You may be turning that spring cleaning experience into a serious moneymaking proposition.

These days you can log on to the Internet and find just about everything—from a vintage Snoopy Sno-Cone Maker to an autographed Babe Ruth rookie card—up for grabs on eBay. But there�s always some uncertainty about both the reliability of the seller and the value of the item in question. To satisfy the scavenger in all of us, PBS (ch. 384) and HGTV (ch. 229) have shows that bring the yard sale out from the lawn and into your living room.

The granddaddy of all collectible shows is Antiques Roadshow (Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on PBS and Sundays at 5 p.m. and weekdays at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on BBC America, ch. 264). It truly has changed the way we clean out our garages. The crown jewel in the PBS lineup (it is their current ratings champ) is trekking through its fifth season of evaluating the best bargains in the country. Each episode invites its audience to a variety of locales in search of hidden gems before they�re put in the garage sale pile. And with its uncanny knack for separating faux from fortune, it�s no wonder that the show sells out every one of its convention center stops.

Dan Elias from Boston has taken over hosting duties for this year�s tour. In April, look for Roadshow to hit Denver and Madison, Wisconsin. Expect thousands of people to turn out to seek their 15 minutes of fame and possibly a fortune to boot. It�s not uncommon to see showgoers shocked that grandma�s priceless tea set is not exactly the prized heirloom they thought. In turn, each week promises a wealth of surprises, with item values often exceeding six digits. It�s no wonder the show is so popular. There is truly a thrill in playing along at home, while people on the show wait to find out what their items may be worth. The Roadshow has spawned a number of copycat programs that may also be useful when searching for prizes. HGTV�s new program Bargain Hunt (Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. ET on ch. 229) is a great import from the BBC. Each week, contestants are challenged to go on a spending spree. The catch is that they have to sell all of their findings back—at a profit. An expert is on hand to provide advice. Can you spot which items are gems and which are junk? <P><i>Appraise It!</i> is another <i>Roadshow</i> clone. Each week, this HGTV program gives you two chances (Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. ET) to test your skills at spotting good bargains. <P>Similar to <i>Roadshow</i>�s format, real people are invited to have an expert examine the family jewels. Shot on location at the Butterfield and Butterfield Auction Houses, the show is hosted by Steve Walker from Los Angeles, while Jan Yanehiro takes the helm in San Francisco. This month�s items include a variety of Civil War and Native American tobacco pouches, carvings, paintings, 20th century teacups and plates, as well as tips on making the perfect yard sale purchases. For those that still can�t get enough of the excitement, stick around for HGTV�s <i>Appraisal Fair</i> (Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:30 p.m. ET). This is another chance for average Joes to get treasures appraised. People bring their hope and belongings to find out their worth. Some items, however, can�t just be summed up with a short description and a price range. The show puts aside some time each episode for such little surprises. After all, we�d be happy just to know "What the Heck Is It?" and "How Old Is It?" This month�s out-of-the-ordinary items range from an apple peeler and butter paddle to a Bakelite bracelet and pop-up toaster. Check out the show because something you�ve been using to prop open your kitchen window may actually be worthy of sale to a fanatical collector. <P>But not everyone has an attic full of lost fortune. For those in the buyer�s rather than seller�s mode, there are HGTV�s <i>Collectible Treasures</i> (Mondays at 8:30 p.m. ET) and At the Auction (Mondays at 8 p.m. ET). Both series show you how to keep your eyes on the lookout for the best bargains. <P><i>Treasures</i> helps you to learn through other people�s tragedies and triumphs. Each week, this program takes a magazine-style approach to collecting, spotlighting a different person and their prized possessions. Even if you�re not the collecting type, this show may give you some ideas for decorating or furnishing your home. Those collectors who are not obsessed with Beanie Babies may fancy an old-time soda fountain to spruce up your home. This month, <i>Treasures</i> will put up a collection of historical artifacts to see who salutes. Or those with a sweet tooth may salivate at the idea of collecting candy containers. There are plenty of item ideas, as well as information on ways to start your newfound hobby. <P>The next time your neighbor tells you he�ll give you five bucks for that faded vase, remember the classic tale of Tiffany & Co. Before you groan over the chore of cleaning out this spring, tune in: You may be able to clean up! <P>Rachel Cericola is a freelance writer who covers entertainment, Web and technology trends (www.rachelc.com). <TR><TD WIDTH=470 VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT=10 COLSPAN=2></TD></TR> <TR><TD WIDTH=470 VALIGN=TOP ALIGN=CENTER COLSPAN=2><FONT FACE="GENEVA, HELVETICA, ARIAL" SIZE="-2"> <A HREF="dirf3.cfm">Back</A> | <A HREF="dishnews.cfm">Dishing It Out</A> | <A HREF="../dirfaqs/">DIRECTV® Dish FAQS</A> | <A HREF="../hotlinks/">Hot Links</A> <BR><A HREF="https://commerce.cdsfulfillment.com/SAT/custserv.cgi">Customer Service</A> | <a href="https://commerce.cdsfulfillment.com/SAT/subscriptions.cgi">Subscribe</a> | <A HREF="../contact/">Contact Us</A> | <A HREF="../links/">Programming</A> | <A HREF="/">Home</A></FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> </TD></TR> <TR><TD WIDTH=129 HEIGHT=26></TD> <TD WIDTH=471><HR SIZE=1 COLOR="#000000"> <FONT FACE="GENEVA, HELVETICA, ARIAL" SIZE="-2">© 2001 CommTek Communications Corporation - All Rights Reserved.</FONT> <BR><FONT FACE="GENEVA, HELVETICA, ARIAL" SIZE="-2"><A HREF="copy.cfm">Copyright and legal disclaimer</A> <BR>DIRECTV is a registered trademark of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics.</FONT> <BR><FONT FACE="GENEVA, HELVETICA, ARIAL" SIZE="-2">Website Development: <A HREF="http://www.tomnelson.com/">Tom Nelson Illustration & Design</A></FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> </BODY> </HTML>