Tuesdays Jan. 5 - 26 at 9pm on WKAR-HD 23.1 | Join Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., as he delves into the genealogy of 27 new guests on Finding Your Roots.
Each story illuminates the vast patchwork of ethnicity, race and experience that makes up the fabric of America.
Episode 1. “The Stories We Tell” premieres Tues., Jan. 5: Discover the unsolved mysteries behind the family stories of political organizer Donna Brazile, actor Ty Burrell and artist Kara Walker as they learn how the legacy of slavery has shaped their identities.
Episode 2. “The Irish Factor” premieres Tues., Jan. 12: Explore the shared Irish ancestry of Soledad O’Brien, Bill O’Reilly and Bill Maher and how they have been deeply influenced by their Irish roots.
Episode 3. “In Search of Freedom” premieres Tues., Jan. 19: Learn how the ancestors of Maya Rudolph, ShondaRhimes and Keenen Ivory Wayans struggled for freedom, and how each of these cultural trailblazers gains a new understanding of how they fit into this proud trajectory.
Episode 4. “Tragedy + Time = Comedy” premieres Tues., Jan. 26: 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 they learn how comedy truly has its place in all aspects of life.