Melissa McCarthy and Eric Stonestreet, two comics who moved away from their homey family farms to pursue a career in fashion and clownship only to find unexpected success in Hollywood, learn what they have in common with their ancestors.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps actor Sterling K. Brown, comedian Sasheer Zamata and musician Jon Batiste discover the unexpected places their ancestors once called home, providing new insight into the people and places that made them who they are today.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals to his two guests, musician Queen Latifah and actor Jeffrey Wright, how their ancestors' uncommonly well documented experience in America reflects on their success.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the Jewish heritages of actor Jeff Goldblum, radio host Terry Gross, and comedian Marc Maron, previously unknown stories that show each share much more with their ancestors than a religious tradition.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps actors Sigourney Weaver, Justina Machado, and Amy Ryan unearth surprising revelations about their family histories, forever altering how they see themselves.
Clip show episode compiling three previous stories about people whose families' lives were forever changed in shocking and surprising ways by the slave trade: Ava DuVernay, S. Epatha Merkerson and Questlove.
Clip show episode compiling three previous stories about famous people with Italian roots whose families were forced to flee Europe due to poverty, disaster and intolerance: Jimmy Kimmel, Marisa Tomei and John Turturro.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the family secrets of journalist Gayle King, film director Jordan Peele, and comedian Issa Rae, introducing them to ancestors who raise profound questions about the shape and meaning of their family trees.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps Nancy Pelosi, Norah O'Donnell and Zac Posen explore their immigrant roots, retracing the journeys of their ancestors who arrived in the United States with little more than a dream.
