Finding Your Roots

2012
4.8
154 reviews
TV-14
Rating
Eligible
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Season 5 episodes (10)

1 Grandparents and Other Strangers
1/8/19
Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps actor Andy Samberg and author George R. R. Martin answer family mysteries when DNA detective work uncovers branches of their family trees. The DNA analysis upends family history and reveals new relatives.
2 Mystery Men
1/15/19
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps actors Felicity Huffman and Michael K. Williams discover a wealth of hidden family history. Both grew up knowing little about their biological fathers, and seeing their lost ancestry restored proves empowering.
3 Reporting on the Reporters
1/22/19
Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. shows journalists Christiane Amanpour, Ann Curry and Lisa Ling that the stories within their own family trees are every bit as compelling as the news stories they have been covering for the world.
4 Dreaming of a New Land
1/29/19
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores with Marisa Tomei, Sheryl Sandberg and Kal Penn the tremendous challenges faced by their immigrant forebears. From Italy, Russia and India, their histories show success could take generations to achieve.
5 Freedom Tales
2/5/19
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. delves into the roots of two African-American guests, actor S. Epatha Merkerson and athlete and television personality Michael Strahan. Both discover unexpected stories that challenge assumptions about black history.
6 Roots in Politics
2/12/19
Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the diverse family histories of politicians Paul Ryan, Tulsi Gabbard and Marco Rubio. They each see a shared vision of the great American melting pot reflected in their ancestors’ stories.
7 No Laughing Matter
2/19/19
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. shows comedians Seth Meyers, Tig Notaro and Sarah Silverman that their family trees are filled with people whose struggles laid the groundwork for their success. Gates also reveals news of an unexpected DNA cousin.
8 Hard Times
2/26/19
Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the family stories of filmmaker Michael Moore and actors Laura Linney and Chloë Sevigny—three people whose distant ancestors overcame great hardships in ways that resonate with their lives today.
9 The Eye of the Beholder
4/2/19
Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. shares the family histories of director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, iconoclastic performance artist Marina Abramović and painter Kehinde Wiley. These visionary artists find their identities challenged—and affirmed.
10 All in the Family
4/9/19
The family stories of actor Ty Burrell, radio host Joe Madison and political strategist Valerie Jarrett. Also a look at how a summer camp for children is using genetic genealogy to help people better understand their burgeoning identities.

About this show

In sharing their stories, FINDING YOUR ROOTS uses every tool available, from cutting-edge DNA research to old-school genealogical sleuthing to reveal long-buried secrets.

Ratings and reviews

4.8
154 reviews
Kathleen Kerr
August 2, 2015
This show has prompted me to try finding my own historical people. I know my family brought about the world's leading people from ancient Normandy, on to America and Canada (Arcadia). The Louisiana Purchase, The founding of the State of Louisiana, and the founder of New Orleans Louisiana itself! Plus my grandfather fought at Normandy in WWII! All my peoples prior to just us kids are dead and gone so this show is the best help I have had to get to know a family that has a castle in Normandy France (400 year
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Susan Kay
September 9, 2016
Compelling documentaries of the historical roots of the melting pot of the people's of our current day America! Harvard Professor Gates uses all the current scientific tools available, as well as recorded historical documents world-wide, to solve the puzzles of Geneology of famous guests. Everyone's family history has a story, and this program urges one to ask - What's Yours?
11 people found this review helpful
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Wendy McNees
March 10, 2022
Wow I cried when Mandy Patinkin found out that 20 of his relatives died in the Holocaust. Audra McDonald Great Grandfather Clarence Jones was a very hard worker and her Grandfather Thomas was a Great man .
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