Viewers Like You
After a national casting call that received over nine thousand submissions, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. meets 3 everyday Americans. Each has a family mystery that they have spent years trying to solve—only to reach dead ends. Using genetic genealogy and old-fashioned detective work, Gates unravels these mysteries, allowing each of his guests to understand themselves—and their families--as never before.
Episodes
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Laughing on the Inside
S7 E10 - 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. provides comedians Lewis Black and Roy Wood, Jr. with accounts of hardship in their family trees which may have led them to each find humor in adversity.
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On Broadway
S7 E9 - 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. investigates the family histories of Broadway stars Audra McDonald and Mandy Patinkin, discovering ancestors whose struggles laid the groundwork for their success.
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Anchored to the Past
S7 E8 - 52m 10s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. examines how journalists Gretchen Carlson and Don Lemon were able to overcome biases in their careers, drawing parallels to relatives who met profound challenges of their own.
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The New World
S7 E7 - 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces ancestors of actor John Lithgow and journalist Maria Hinojosa who thrived in North America long before the birth of the United States.
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Country Roots
S7 E6 - 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates Jr. uncovers the remarkably diverse backgrounds of country music icons Clint Black and Rosanne Cash.
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Write My Name in the Book of Life
S7 E5 - 52m 10s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps musician Pharrell Williams and filmmaker Kasi Lemmons uncover extraordinary rare first-person accounts of their enslaved.
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The Shirts on Their Backs
S7 E4 - 52m 10s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals the immigrant roots of actors Tony Shalhoub and Christopher Meloni, introducing ancestors who came to America to build a better life.
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No Irish Need Apply
S7 E3 - 52m 10s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of actor Jane Lynch and comedian Jim Gaffigan, revealing the Irish American experience through their families.
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Against All Odds
S7 E2 - 52m 10s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces media personality Andy Cohen and radio journalist Nina Totenberg to ancestors who were determined to survive.
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To the Manor Born
S7 E1 - 52m 11s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. discovers the privileged lineages that claim actor Glenn Close and director John Waters as descendants, introducing ancestors who are as bold and independent as they are.
Extras + Features
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Lewis Black and Marc Maron are DNA Cousins!
S7 E10 - 43s
Comedy runs in the family! Lewis Black and previous Finding Your Roots guest Marc Maron are cousins.
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Roy Wood Jr.’s is DNA Cousins with Congressman John Lewis
S7 E10 - 51s
“He was always nice to me.” Roy Wood Jr. discovers his DNA cousin match is one of the pioneers of the Civil Rights movement, the great John Lewis
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Laughing on the Inside Preview
S7 E10 - 30s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. provides comedians Lewis Black and Roy Wood, Jr. with accounts of hardship in their family trees which may have led them to each find humor in adversity.
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Roy Wood Jr. Reflects on the Hopefulness He Has For His Son
S7 E10 - 2m 2s
Roy Wood Jr. reflects on the hopefulness he feels for his son after reading how his ancestors struggled to raise their children through slavery and the heartache that still exists in our country.
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Maternal Third Great Grandparents Freed from Slavery
S7 E9 - 1m 20s
“Look what they did. Look at what they achieved.” Audra McDonald is moved to learn her maternal third great-grandparents survived slavery, started a family, and purchased land post-Civil War.
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Audra McDonald Is Related to Sean “Diddy” Combs!
S7 E9 - 1m 18s
Audra MacDonald learns that she is DNA cousins with her former Broadway costar, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs.
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Mandy Explains His Favorite Line in Literature
S7 E9 - 1m 14s
As long as there is one person on Earth that remembers you, it isn’t over.” Mandy Patinkin explains his favorite line in literature from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel” as it relates to his family discoveries.
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On Broadway
S7 E9 - 30s
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. investigates the family histories of Broadway stars Audra McDonald and Mandy Patinkin, discovering ancestors whose struggles laid the groundwork for their success.
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Audra Reacts to Seeing Her Ancestors Listed as Property
S7 E9 - 1m 12s
In an 1860s census, we uncovered a slave schedule listing Audra McDonald’s ancestor as property, which caused a mixture of emotions for Audra.
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Mandy Learns He Had Family Members in the Holocaust
S7 E9 - 2m 25s
Mandy Patinkin believed for years that his family was not murdered during the Holocaust, through his conversation with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. he sadly learns that they were one of the victims.
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DNA Match
S7 E8 - 1m 35s
Don Lemon finds out that he is a descendent of the white man who owned his maternal ancestors.
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Shame Hurts
S7 E8 - 1m 48s
Gretchen Carlson explains the emotions she felt towards her former pageantry journey as Miss America.
Schedule
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Finding Your Roots
Viewers Like You
Tuesday
Apr 16
1 Hour
Three everyday Americans learn about their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Born to Sing
Tuesday
Apr 16
1 Hour
Singers Ciara and Alanis Morissette examine their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Born to Sing
Tuesday
Apr 16
1 Hour
Singers Ciara and Alanis Morissette examine their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Born to Sing
Wednesday
Apr 17
1 Hour
Singers Ciara and Alanis Morissette examine their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Born to Sing
Wednesday
Apr 17
1 Hour
Singers Ciara and Alanis Morissette examine their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Born to Sing
Wednesday
Apr 17
1 Hour
Singers Ciara and Alanis Morissette examine their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Born to Sing
Wednesday
Apr 17
1 Hour
Singers Ciara and Alanis Morissette examine their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Born to Sing
Saturday
Apr 20
1 Hour
Singers Ciara and Alanis Morissette examine their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Born to Sing
Sunday
Apr 21
1 Hour
Singers Ciara and Alanis Morissette examine their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Born to Sing
Sunday
Apr 21
1 Hour
Singers Ciara and Alanis Morissette examine their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Born to Sing
Sunday
Apr 21
1 Hour
Singers Ciara and Alanis Morissette examine their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Born to Sing
Sunday
Apr 21
1 Hour
Singers Ciara and Alanis Morissette examine their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Born to Sing
Monday
Apr 22
1 Hour
Singers Ciara and Alanis Morissette examine their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Born to Sing
Monday
Apr 22
1 Hour
Singers Ciara and Alanis Morissette examine their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Born to Sing
Monday
Apr 22
1 Hour
Singers Ciara and Alanis Morissette examine their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Born to Sing
Tuesday
Apr 23
1 Hour
Singers Ciara and Alanis Morissette examine their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Forever Young
Tuesday
Apr 23
1 Hour
Actors Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser explore their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Forever Young
Tuesday
Apr 23
1 Hour
Actors Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser explore their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Forever Young
Wednesday
Apr 24
1 Hour
Actors Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser explore their family histories. -
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Finding Your Roots
Forever Young
Wednesday
Apr 24
1 Hour
Actors Valerie Bertinelli and Brendan Fraser explore their family histories.
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