Songs of the Past Preview
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. accompanies Broadway stars Leslie Odom, Jr. and Nathan Lane as they meet a cast of inspiring ancestors hidden in the branches of their family trees.
John Leguizamo Learns About His 9th Great-Grandfather
“I can’t believe I got a ninth great-grandfather. What, are you gonna go to the beginning of time?” John Leguizamo is stunned by how far back his lineage has been traced.
John Leguizamo’s Lineage is Traced Back 17 Generations
“My family is going to freak out and bug out.” We were able to trace back John Leguizamo’s lineage over ten generations, learning that his 15th great-grandfather was the governor of the Pompeian district in Spain.
Lena Waithe Discovers Her First Free, Post-Slavery Ancestor
“I’m filled with gratitude for all of these amazing human beings who lived and worked and raised their children and fought, and survived.”
Lena Waithe after reading the birth record of her great-great grandfather, the first person on her family tree to be born free after the abolishment of slavery.
Lena Waithe Learns Grim Statistics on Slave Life Expectancy
“I think there’s a level of ‘not being able to understand’ that I don’t think will ever come. It’s not meant to be understood.” Lena Waithe learns that the life expectancy of slaves on a sugar plantation was seven to nine years.
Lena Waithe Learns the Source of the Name “Waithe”
“It’s painful because your name is such a huge part of your identity. So for someone to put their identity onto your family, it just feels unjust,” Lena Waithe reacts to hearing that her surname derives from her ancestors’ slave-owning family in Christ Church, Barbados.
Forgotten Journeys Preview
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps John Leguizamo and Lena Waithe retrace the paths of their ancestors, uncovering crucial pieces of their own identities that were lost on the journey to America.
Tony Danza’s Greatest Audition
Tony Danza describes how an open audition led to a group of Hollywood heavyweights attending his boxing match, and the chance of a lifetime.
A Family, Torn Apart by Slavery, Reunites
“This is a movie!” Terry Crews is relieved to hear that members of his family, torn apart during slavery when the children were sold off, eventually found their way back to each other again.
Terry Crews Discovers His Grandfather Abandoned His Family
Terry Crews learns the true extent of grandfather's abandonment of his family when his father was only nine years old.
Tony Danza 's Grandfather Endured Harsh Working Conditions
Tony Danza wells up with emotion while learning about his grandfather's grueling existence working as a tinner after migrating to America in 1909.
Fighters Preview
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 their families to beat the odds through sheer force of will. Tuesdays at 8/7c
Melissa Villaseñor Learns Her Great-Grandmother's Lost Story
Melissa Villaseñor gets emotional reading the 1908 birth record of her great-grandmother, who’s story she knew very little about.
Melissa Villaseñor Discovers Her Relative’s Tragic Ending
Melissa Villaseñor reads about the shooting death of her great-grandfather, who was killed while defending a friend at a party.
Mario Lopez’ Grandfather’s Immigration Story
"It makes you kind of proud." Mario Lopez learns about his grandfather's plan to become a U.S. citizen.
Mario Lopez' Ancestors Came to America… and Left
“Why didn’t he stay?” Mario Lopez discovers that his great-grandfather once visited America long before his family immigrated here.
Mexican Roots Preview
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the deep Mexican roots of talk show host Mario Lopez and comedian Melissa Villaseñor, uncovering ancestors stretching back to the 1500s. Weaving together stories of migratory farmers, Spanish Conquistadors and Native Americans, Gates conjures up personal histories of diverse, sometimes conflicting, elements.
Pamela Adlon Knows The Importance of Knowing Your Roots
Pamela Adlon opens up about how important she thinks it is for people to learn more about their family histories.
Pamela Adlon Has an Aunt She Didn’t Know Existed
"I'm so happy that I get to give this to my mom." Pamela Adlon is overjoyed by the discovery that her mother has a half-sister who is alive and well.
Pamela Adlon's Great-Great-Grandfather Was a Rabbi
Here is buried a pure and honest man." Pamela Adlon looks at a photo of her great-great grandfather’s gravestone.
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