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Finding Your Roots

TV·2012–present·12 seasons, 126 episodes·PBS·Documentary·1h

Streaming on (US) PBSPBS Documentaries Amazon ChannelPBS Living Amazon ChannelThirteenWETA+See all

Noted Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has been helping people discover long-lost relatives hidden for generations within the branches of their family trees. Professor Gates utilizes a team of genealogists to reconstruct the paper trail left behind by our ancestors and the world’s leading geneticists to decode our DNA and help us travel thousands of years into the past to discover the origins of our earliest forebears.

Highest-rated episodes all ranked

  1. 01The Road We TookS12E04 · 10.0Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces actor Lizzie Caplan and comedian Hasan Minhaj to ancestors whose brave decisions forever reshaped their families.
  2. 02Artistic RootsS12E08 · 9.5Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of director Spike Lee and actor Kristin Chenoweth, meeting ancestors whose creativity built their families.
  3. 03Finding Your Roots S09E01Hidden KinS09E01 · 8.0Henry Louis Gates explores the remarkable roots of actors Edward Norton and Julia Roberts—using DNA analysis and genealogical detective work to travel generations into the past, tracing lineages that run from Northern Europe to the American South. Along the way, Norton and Roberts reimagine their family stories and discover their hidden connections to our nation’s history—and each other.

Cast

Henry Louis Gates, Jr.Henry Louis Gates, Jr.Self - Host

Episodes by season

Season0110Episodes2012Aired—Season avg
  1. S01E01Finding Your Roots S01E01Branford Marsalis and Harry Connick, Jr.March 24, 2012—Their European immigrant ancestors blazed unconventional trails in America, from capturing British ships for the American Revolution to cros
  2. S01E02Finding Your Roots S01E02John Lewis and Cory BookerMarch 24, 2012—In this episode, we feature two African American politicians from different generations and opposite backgrounds. John Lewis grew up in a sh
  3. S01E03Finding Your Roots S01E03Barbara Walters and Geoffrey CanadaApril 1, 2012—What's in a name? Well, a lot, at least when it comes to piecing together your family history. For former slaves, choosing a last name was o
  4. S01E04Finding Your Roots S01E04Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin BaconApril 7, 2012—What do Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick have in common? They are both famous actors and both descend from prominent American families that hav
  5. S01E05Finding Your Roots S01E05Rick Warren, Angela Buchdahl and Yasir QadhiApril 14, 2012—Pastor Rick Warren, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl and Sheik Yasir Qadhi are of three different faiths, all with complex family histories that profou
  6. S01E06Finding Your Roots S01E06Robert Downey, Jr. and Maggie GyllenhaalApril 28, 2012—Many American descend from a dense soups of European ethnicities; we could call them mutts, with ancestral roots across every country in Eur
  7. S01E07Finding Your Roots S01E07Samuel L. Jackson, Condoleezza Rice and Ruth SimmonsApril 29, 2012—Samuel L. Jackson, Condoleezza Rice and Brown University President Ruth Simmons have each climbed to the pinnacle of their profession, yet e
  8. S01E08Finding Your Roots S01E08Martha Stewart, Margaret Cho and Sanjay GuptaMay 6, 2012—The three guests in this episode are all children of first- or second-generation immigrants and share the peculiar burdens of that heritage.
  9. S01E09Finding Your Roots S01E09John Legend and Wanda SykesMay 13, 2012—Most African Americans struggle to trace their ancestors beyond Emancipation; slavery erased names and family ties with brutal efficiency. B
  10. S01E10Finding Your Roots S01E10Adrian Grenier, Michelle Rodriguez and Linda ChavezMay 20, 2012—Michelle Rodriguez, Adrian Grenier and Linda Chavez all share Spanish colonial roots, yet each views their own identity very differently. In

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

Season02Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode10Episodes2014Aired 6.0Season avg
  1. S02E01Finding Your Roots S02E01Season's bestIn Search of our FathersSeptember 23, 2014 6.0Three famous guests — Stephen King, Gloria Reuben and Courtney B. Vance — know almost nothing about their fathers’ histories.
  2. S02E02Finding Your Roots S02E02Born ChampionsSeptember 30, 2014—Billie Jean King, Derek Jeter and Rebecca Lobo learn about their family histories. King discovers that her grandmother was an orphan; Derek
  3. S02E03Finding Your Roots S02E03Our American StorytellersOctober 7, 2014 6.0Ken Burns learns that his Southern ancestors include Confederate soldiers and a slave owner; Anderson Cooper learns that an ancestor on his
  4. S02E04Finding Your Roots S02E04Roots of FreedomOctober 14, 2014 6.0Actor Ben Affleck discovers his mother's past as a Freedom Rider in 1964, NAACP President Ben Jealous learns how far his great-grandfather w
  5. S02E05Finding Your Roots S02E05The Melting PotOctober 21, 2014—Chef Tom Colicchio learns the hardships his family endured in Northern Italy; chef Ming Tsai traces his roots back 2,000 years; chef Aarón S
  6. S02E06Finding Your Roots S02E06We Come From PeopleOctober 28, 2014—Nas learns about his slave ancestors; Angela Bassett discovers that her family history includes an emancipation story; and Valerie Jarrett,
  7. S02E07Finding Your Roots S02E07Our People, Our TraditionsNovember 4, 2014—Tony Kushner learns how the Holocaust impacted his ancestors; Carole King delves into the origins of her family name; and Alan Dershowitz di
  8. S02E08Finding Your Roots S02E08The British InvasionNovember 11, 2014—Deepak Chopra, Sally Field and Sting’s ancestry demonstrates the extraordinary influence of the British Empire during the 18th and early 19t
  9. S02E09Finding Your Roots S02E09Ancient RootsNovember 18, 2014—Tina Fey, George Stephanopoulos and David Sedaris, three quintessential voices in American life, descend from ancestors that were part of th
  10. S02E10Finding Your Roots S02E10Decoding Our Past Through DNANovember 25, 2014—Secrets encoded in their genomes challenge these guests’ ideas about their families’ histories and their identities today. This episode feat

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

Season0310Episodes2016Aired—Season avg
  1. S03E01Finding Your Roots S03E01The Stories We TellJanuary 5, 2016—Discover the unsolved mysteries behind the family stories of political organizer Donna Brazile, actor Ty Burrell and artist Kara Walker as t
  2. S03E02Finding Your Roots S03E02The Irish FactorJanuary 12, 2016—Explore the shared Irish ancestry of three powerful social commentators of our times, Bill Maher, Soledad O'Brien, and Bill O'Reilly.
  3. S03E03Finding Your Roots S03E03In Search Of FreedomJanuary 19, 2016—Learn how the ancestors of Maya Rudolph, Shonda Rhimes and Keenen Ivory Wayans struggled for freedom, and how each of these cultural trailbl
  4. S03E04Tragedy + Time = ComedyJanuary 26, 2016—Uncover a history of tragedies and triumphs in the families of three of America’s funniest men–Jimmy Kimmel, Norman Lear and Bill Hader—as t
  5. S03E05VisionariesFebruary 2, 2016—Discover how the ancestors of business mogul Richard Branson and architects Maya Lin and Frank Gehry took audacious risks to create opportun
  6. S03E06War StoriesFebruary 9, 2016—Patricia Arquette, Senator John McCain, and Julianne Moore explore their genealogical heritage with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
  7. S03E07Finding Your Roots S03E07Family ReunionsFebruary 16, 2016—Uncover family mysteries about two legends of hip hop, Sean Combs and LL Cool J, through the use of DNA technology, which reveals informatio
  8. S03E08Finding Your Roots S03E08The PioneersFebruary 23, 2016—Discover how Neil Patrick Harris, Gloria Steinem and Sandra Cisneros are connected to pioneers who broke new ground and paved the way for th
  9. S03E09Finding Your Roots S03E09The Long Way HomeMarch 1, 2016—Discover how actress Julianna Margulies, author Azar Nafisi and chef Lidia Bastianich are bound together by their ancestors’ singular and de
  10. S03E10Finding Your Roots S03E10Maps of StarsMarch 8, 2016—Learn how Dustin Hoffman and Mia Farrow, who last shared the screen together in 1969, also share a history of tragic deaths in their familie

Season 3 ranked & reviewed

Season0410Episodes2017Aired—Season avg
  1. S04E01Finding Your Roots S04E01The ImpressionOctober 2, 2017—Join Larry David and Bernie Sanders, who learn they have more in common than they thought.
  2. S04E02Finding Your Roots S04E02Unfamiliar KinOctober 10, 2017—Guests: Carly Simon, Christopher Walken, and more. In this episode, three guests each learn about a grandparent whose real identity and back
  3. S04E03Finding Your Roots S04E03Puritans and PioneersOctober 17, 2017—Guests: Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen and William H. Macy. Three mainstays of modern-day Hollywood discover family legacies that predate the
  4. S04E04Finding Your Roots S04E04The VanguardOctober 24, 2017—Guests: Ta-Nehisi Coates, Ava DuVernay and Janet Mock. Three guests who have helped to redefine Black America in the last decade find their
  5. S04E05Finding Your Roots S04E05Immigrant NationOctober 31, 2017—Guests: Scarlett Johansson, Paul Rudd and John Turturro. In this episode, three guests explore the tremendous challenges faced by their immi
  6. S04E06Finding Your Roots S04E06Black Like MeNovember 7, 2017—Guests: Bryant Gumbel, Tonya Lewis-Lee and Suzanne Malveaux. Three African-American guests delve deep into their family trees, discovering u
  7. S04E07Finding Your Roots S04E07Children of the RevolutionNovember 14, 2017—Guests: Lupita Nyong’o, Carmelo Anthony and Ana Navarro. Three guests explore how their family trees were shaped by political turmoil and vi
  8. S04E08Finding Your Roots S04E08Relatives We Never Knew We HadNovember 21, 2017—Guests: Gaby Hoffmann and Téa Leoni. Two guests whose lives have been shaped by family mysteries are introduced to biological ancestors they
  9. S04E09Finding Your Roots S04E09Southern RootsDecember 12, 2017—Guests: Questlove, Dr. Phil and Charlayne Hunter-Gault. Three guests of disparate backgrounds dig into their Southern roots, where slavery a
  10. S04E10Finding Your Roots S04E10Funny BusinessDecember 19, 2017—Guests: Amy Schumer and more. Guests who have found fame mining their family stories for comedy learn about ancestors who overcame immense s

Season 4 ranked & reviewed

Season0510Episodes2019Aired—Season avg
  1. S05E01Finding Your Roots S05E01Grandparents and Other StrangersJanuary 8, 2019—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps actor Andy Samberg and author George R. R. Martin answer some family mysteries when DNA detective work uncovers
  2. S05E02Finding Your Roots S05E02Mystery MenJanuary 15, 2019—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps actors Felicity Huffman and Michael K. Williams discover a wealth of hidden family history. Both grew up knowin
  3. S05E03Finding Your Roots S05E03Reporting on the ReportersJanuary 22, 2019—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. shows journalists Christiane Amanpour, Ann Curry and Lisa Ling that the stories within their own family trees are eve
  4. S05E04Finding Your Roots S05E04Dreaming of a New LandJanuary 29, 2019—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores with Marisa Tomei, Sheryl Sandberg and Kal Penn the tremendous challenges faced by their immigrant forebears
  5. S05E05Finding Your Roots S05E05Freedom TalesFebruary 5, 2019—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. delves deep into the roots of two African-American guests, actor S. Epatha Merkerson and athlete and television perso
  6. S05E06Finding Your Roots S05E06Roots in PoliticsFebruary 12, 2019—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the diverse family histories of politicians Paul Ryan, Tulsi Gabbard and Marco Rubio. They each see a shared
  7. S05E07Finding Your Roots S05E07No Laughing MatterFebruary 19, 2019—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. shows comedians Seth Meyers, Tig Notaro and Sarah Silverman that their family trees are filled with people whose stru
  8. S05E08Finding Your Roots S05E08Hard TimesFebruary 26, 2019—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the family stories of filmmaker Michael Moore and actors Laura Linney and Chloë Sevigny—three people whose d
  9. S05E09Finding Your Roots S05E09The Eye of the BeholderApril 2, 2019—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. shares the family histories of director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, iconoclastic performance artist Marina Abramović and p
  10. S05E10Finding Your Roots S05E10All in the FamilyApril 9, 2019—The family stories of actor Ty Burrell, and radio host Joe Madison. Also a look at how a summer camp for children is using genetic genealogy

Season 5 ranked & reviewed

Season0616Episodes2019–21Aired—Season avg
  1. S06E01Finding Your Roots S06E01Hollywood RoyaltyOctober 8, 2019—Actresses Isabella Rossellini, Anjelica Huston and Mia Farrow explore their family histories, generations beyond their cinematic forebears.
  2. S06E02Finding Your Roots S06E02Off the FarmOctober 15, 2019—Actors Melissa McCarthy and Eric Stonestreet retrace their ancestral journeys.
  3. S06E03Finding Your Roots S06E03HomecomingsJanuary 7, 2020—Sterling K. Brown, Jon Batiste and Sasheer Zamata learn about the unexpected places their ancestors called home.
  4. S06E04Finding Your Roots S06E04This Land is My LandJanuary 14, 2020—The unexpected family trees of Queen Latifah and Jeffrey Wright challenge preconceptions about America's past.
  5. S06E05Finding Your Roots S06E05Beyond the PaleJanuary 21, 2020—Exploring the Jewish heritages of actor Jeff Goldblum, radio host Terry Gross and comic Marc Maron.
  6. S06E06Finding Your Roots S06E06Secrets & LiesJanuary 28, 2020—Sigourney Weaver, Justina Machado and Amy Ryan explore their ancestry.
  7. S06E07Finding Your Roots S06E07Science PioneersFebruary 4, 2020—Tracing the family histories of scientists Harold Varmus, Francis Collins and Shirley Ann Jackson.
  8. S06E08Finding Your Roots S06E08Slave TradeFebruary 11, 2020—Questlove, S. Epatha Merkerson and Ava DuVernay explore the unexpected places where their ancestors were scattered by slavery.
  9. S06E09Finding Your Roots S06E09Italian RootsFebruary 18, 2020—Marisa Tomei, Jimmy Kimmel and John Turturro learn about the sacrifices their ancestors made to bring their families from Italy to America.
  10. S06E10Finding Your Roots S06E10Criminal KindFebruary 25, 2020—The family histories of Laura Linney, Lisa Ling and Soledad O'Brien reveal tricksters, scoundrels and criminals.
  11. S06E11Finding Your Roots S06E11Fashion's RootsOctober 13, 2020—Guests: Diane von Furstenberg, Narciso Rodriguez, RuPaul. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. steps into the world of fashion and meets three icons of st
  12. S06E12Finding Your Roots S06E12DNA MysteriesOctober 20, 2020—Guests: Téa Leoni, Joe Madison. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uses DNA detective work to solve mysteries in the family trees of actor Téa Leoni, an
  13. S06E13Finding Your Roots S06E13War StoriesNovember 10, 2020—Guests: Kehinde Wiley, Julianne Moore, Bill Hader. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of actor Julianne Moore, comedian Bill Hader, a
  14. S06E14Finding Your Roots S06E14FlightNovember 17, 2020—Guests: Lupita Nyong’o, Lidia Bastianich, Scarlett Johansson. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. meets actors Scarlett Johansson and Lupita Nyong’o, and
  15. S06E15Finding Your Roots S06E15Breaking SilencesJanuary 5, 2021—Guests: Gayle King, Jordan Peele, Issa Rae. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the family secrets of journalist Gayle King, film director Jorda
  16. S06E16Finding Your Roots S06E16Coming to AmericaJanuary 12, 2021—Guests: Nancy Pelosi, Norah O'Donnell, Zac Posen. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, news anchor Norah O’Donnell and f

Season 6 ranked & reviewed

Season0710Episodes2021Aired—Season avg
  1. S07E01Finding Your Roots S07E01To the Manor BornJanuary 19, 2021—Guests: Glenn Close and John Waters. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. discovers the privileged lineages of Glenn Close and John Waters.
  2. S07E02The Mole AgentJanuary 26, 2021—Guests: Andy Cohen and Nina Totenberg. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces Andy Cohen and Nina Totenberg to their survivor ancestors.
  3. S07E03Finding Your Roots S07E03No Irish Need ApplyFebruary 2, 2021—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of actor Jane Lynch and comedian Jim Gaffigan, revealing the Irish American experience through the
  4. S07E04Finding Your Roots S07E04The Shirts on Their BacksFebruary 9, 2021—Guests: Tony Shalhoub and Christopher Meloni. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals the immigrant roots of actors Tony Shalhoub and Christopher Me
  5. S07E05Finding Your Roots S07E05Write My Name in the Book of LifeFebruary 16, 2021—Guests: Pharrell Williams and Kasi Lemmons. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps musician Pharrell Williams and filmmaker Kasi Lemmons uncover extr
  6. S07E06Finding Your Roots S07E06Country RootsFebruary 23, 2021—Guests: Clint Black and Rosanne Cash. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncovers the remarkably diverse backgrounds of country music icons Clint Black
  7. S07E07Finding Your Roots S07E07The New WorldApril 13, 2021—Guests: John Lithgow and Maria Hinojosa. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces ancestors of actor John Lithgow and journalist Maria Hinojosa who th
  8. S07E08Finding Your Roots S07E08Anchored to the PastApril 20, 2021—Guests: Gretchen Carlson and Don Lemon. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. examines how journalists Gretchen Carlson and Don Lemon were able to overcom
  9. S07E09Finding Your Roots S07E09On BroadwayApril 27, 2021—Guests: Audra MacDonald and Mandy Patinkin. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. investigates the family histories of Broadway stars Audra MacDonald and
  10. S07E10Finding Your Roots S07E10Laughing on the InsideMay 4, 2021—Guests: Lewis Black and Roy Wood, Jr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. provides comedians Lewis Black and Roy Wood, Jr. with accounts of hardship in

Season 7 ranked & reviewed

Season0810Episodes2022Aired—Season avg
  1. S08E01Finding Your Roots S08E01Hidden in the GenesJanuary 4, 2022—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps Rebecca Hall and Lee Daniels solve family mysteries through DNA detective work, illuminating both history and t
  2. S08E02Finding Your Roots S08E02Children of ExileJanuary 4, 2022—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. retraces the ancestral journeys of David Chang and Raúl Esparza, whose families fled their homelands, leading them to
  3. S08E03Finding Your Roots S08E03Activists RootsJanuary 11, 2022—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. welcomes Brittany Packnett Cunningham and Anita Hill, two guests who made profound sacrifices for social justice, and
  4. S08E04Finding Your Roots S08E04Things we Dont DiscussJanuary 25, 2022—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps actors Pamela Adlon and Kathryn Hahn explore scandals and secrets hidden within their roots, revealing truths t
  5. S08E05Finding Your Roots S08E05Mexican RootsFebruary 1, 2022—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the deep Mexican roots of talk show host Mario Lopez and comedian Melissa Villaseñor, uncovering ancestors s
  6. S08E06Finding Your Roots S08E06FightersFebruary 8, 2022—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. sits down with Terry Crews and Tony Danza, both guests who overcame adversity, to discover they aren’t the first in t
  7. S08E07Incredible JourneysFebruary 15, 2022—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps John Leguizamo and Lena Waithe retrace the paths of their immigrant ancestors who crossed continents and countr
  8. S08E08Finding Your Roots S08E08Songs of the PastFebruary 22, 2022—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. accompanies Broadway stars Leslie Odom, Jr. and Nathan Lane as they meet a cast of inspiring ancestors hidden in the
  9. S08E09Finding Your Roots S08E09WatchmenApril 12, 2022—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. guides Regina King and Damon Lindelof, the creative forces behind a visionary television series, as they discover tha
  10. S08E10Finding Your Roots S08E10Where Did We Come From?April 19, 2022—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. journeys with Erin Burnett, Amy Carlson and André Leon Talley, three guests from diverse backgrounds, as they meet th

Season 8 ranked & reviewed

Season0910Episodes2023Aired 8.0Season avg
  1. S09E01Finding Your Roots S09E01Hidden KinJanuary 3, 2023 8.0Henry Louis Gates explores the remarkable roots of actors Edward Norton and Julia Roberts—using DNA analysis and genealogical detective work
  2. S09E02Finding Your Roots S09E02Salem's LotJanuary 10, 2023—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. takes actors Claire Danes and Jeff Daniels on a journey into their roots, uncovering primal scenes from our nation’s
  3. S09E03Finding Your Roots S09E03Secret LivesJanuary 17, 2023—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps comedians Carol Burnett and Niecy Nash decode scandals hidden within their roots, exposing secrets that their a
  4. S09E04Finding Your Roots S09E04Far From HomeJanuary 24, 2023—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the family trees of pop icon Cyndi Lauper and actors Jamie Chung and Danny Trejo, exploring records in Italy, Ko
  5. S09E05Finding Your Roots S09E05Rising From the AshesJanuary 31, 2023—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the roots of actors Brian Cox and Viola Davis, uncovering records from workhouses in Scotland and slave planta
  6. S09E06Finding Your Roots S09E06Family: Lost and FoundFebruary 7, 2023—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uses DNA detective work to solve family mysteries for actor Joe Manganiello and football star Tony Gonzalez—uncoverin
  7. S09E07Finding Your Roots S09E07ChosenFebruary 14, 2023—Henry Louis Gates helps actors David Duchovny and Richard Kind trace their roots from Jewish communities in Eastern Europe to the United Sta
  8. S09E08Finding Your Roots S09E08And Still I RiseFebruary 21, 2023—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals the unexpected family trees of activist Angela Y. Davis and statesman Jeh Johnson, using DNA and long-lost re
  9. S09E09Finding Your Roots S09E09AnchormenMarch 28, 2023—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces trail-blazing journalists Jim Acosta and Van Jones to the ancestors who blazed a trail for them, meeting r
  10. S09E10Finding Your Roots S09E10Out of the PastApril 4, 2023—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncovers the lost roots of actors Billy Crudup and Tamera Mowry-Housley, traveling back generations to recount signif

Season 9 ranked & reviewed

Season1010Episodes2024Aired—Season avg
  1. S10E01Born To SingJanuary 2, 2024—Singers Ciara and Alanis Morissette examine their family histories.
  2. S10E02Forever YoungJanuary 9, 2024—Actors Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser explore their family histories
  3. S10E03Fathers and SonsJanuary 16, 2024—Actors LeVar Burton and Wes Studi, two men who grew up without their fathers, explore their family histories.
  4. S10E04Buried SecretsJanuary 23, 2024—Singer Sammy Hagar and actor Ed O'Neill uncover their roots and discover deep family secrets.
  5. S10E05Hold the LaughterJanuary 30, 2024—Actor Bob Odenkirk and comic Iliza Shlesinger explore their family histories and learn about relatives who took great risks to overcome hard
  6. S10E06Far and AwayFebruary 6, 2024—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the extraordinarily diverse roots of journalist Sunny Hostin and actor Jesse Williams—telling long-lost stor
  7. S10E07The Brick Wall FallsFebruary 13, 2024—HenryLouis Gates, Jr. helps musician Dionne Warwick and actor Danielle Brooks break down barriers imposed by the slave system to learn the n
  8. S10E08Mean StreetsFebruary 20, 2024—Comic Tracy Morgan and actor Anthony Ramos, both native New Yorkers, map their family trees.
  9. S10E09In the BloodApril 2, 2024—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of actor Michael Douglas & writer-director Lena Dunham. Both are the children of famous artists, b
  10. S10E10"Viewers Like You"April 9, 2024—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. solves mysteries for 3 everyday Americans chosen to be guests.

Season 10 ranked & reviewed

Season11Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode10Episodes2025Aired 1.0Season avg
  1. S11E01Season's bestLarger Than LifeJanuary 7, 2025 1.0Research into the ancestry of singer Lea Salonga and actress Amanda Seyfried reveals relatives who survived heart-wrenching ordeals.
  2. S11E02La FamigliaJanuary 14, 2025 1.0Exploring the Italian roots of television host Joy Behar and actor Michael Imperioli.
  3. S11E03Stranger Than FictionJanuary 21, 2025 1.0Traveling across China and the American South to reveal the ancestry of novelist Amy Tan and poet Rita Dove.
  4. S11E04Dreamers One and AllJanuary 28, 2025 1.0Exploring the ancestry of actress Sharon Stone and model Chrissy Teigen includes travelling across Europe and Thailand.
  5. S11E05Family RecipesFebruary 4, 2025—Exploring the ancestry of chefs José Andrés and Sean Sherman.
  6. S11E06Latin RootsFebruary 11, 2025—Tracing the family trees of musician Rubén Blades and journalist Natalie Morales.
  7. S11E07The Ties That BindFebruary 18, 2025—Actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard learn about their family histories, which includes stories of soldiers, settlers and criminals.
  8. S11E08The Butterfly EffectFebruary 25, 2025—Actresses Debra Messing and Melanie Lynskey explore the stories of their ancestors whose bold decisions reshaped their families.
  9. S11E09Moving on UpApril 1, 2025—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. meets Sheryl Lee Ralph and Lonnie Bunch - two African Americans trace their ancestors, who overcame slavery and trave
  10. S11E10Finding My RootsApril 8, 2025—Family mysteries: actor Laurence Fishburne and scholar Henry Lewis Gates, Jr. peer into their mysterious family roots using DNA evidence to

Season 11 ranked & reviewed

Season12Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode10Episodes2026Aired 5.0Season avg
  1. S12E01American DreamsJanuary 6, 2026 1.0America Ferrera and Darren Criss uncover their immigrant roots.
  2. S12E02Great MigrationsJanuary 13, 2026 5.5Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces rapper Wiz Khalifa and actor Sanaa Lathan to ancestors who left the American South, boldly breaking racial
  3. S12E03Caribbean RootsJanuary 20, 2026 1.0Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the Caribbean roots of actors Liza Colón-Zayas and Delroy Lindo—meeting ancestors who took enormous risks.
  4. S12E04Season's bestThe Road We TookJanuary 27, 2026 10.0Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces actor Lizzie Caplan and comedian Hasan Minhaj to ancestors whose brave decisions forever reshaped their fa
  5. S12E05Love & BasketballFebruary 3, 2026 1.0Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the family trees of basketball stars Brittney Griner and Chris Paul—uncovering ancestors who had extraordinary t
  6. S12E06Westward BoundFebruary 10, 2026 6.8Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of talk show host Sara Haines and playwright Tracy Letts from the American west to surprising places b
  7. S12E07Family HarmoniesFebruary 17, 2026—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of musicians Lizzo and Flea—traveling across the globe to find stories of the ancestors who inspired t
  8. S12E08Artistic RootsFebruary 24, 2026 9.5Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of director Spike Lee and actor Kristin Chenoweth, meeting ancestors whose creativity built their fami
  9. S12E09Song of the SouthApril 7, 2026—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the family secrets of Danielle Deadwyler and Rhiannon Giddens, uncovering stories their ancestors once hid.
  10. S12E10Rags to RichesApril 14, 2026—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of actor Kate Burton and media mogul Barry Diller, meeting ancestors who made huge sacrifices to escap

Season 12 ranked & reviewed

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