Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

What was once a dream for those who could afford the extensive research time & travel has become affordable for everyone thanks to genetic services such as 23&Me and Ancestry - and the series inspires the viewer to do just that, to discover their past through genetics.

The series is entertaining and informative as well as emotive and compelling. It's definitely a must "schedule record" on the dvr as not not miss an episode.

I am not that into genealogy that much. But, for me learning about the genealogy of famous people is fascinating.

On finding your roots there are usually 3 guests on each episode. Luis gates sits at a table with each guest and takes them through their genealogy. The show switches back and forth between guests.

And sometimes Luis gates jr even finds that two of the guests on the show are related or that a guest on the show is related some someone else famous.

It always interesting.

How can I get chosen for a research into my family roots ?

Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates is soaring high this season. The celebrity guests are awesome. The American history, the story telling, and the surprise endings are so moving. Every episode is a must watch. Science Pioneers, The Slave Trade, Beyond the Pale, Secrets & Lies, Off the Farm, Italian Roots. I can't pick a favorite because they are all so good. Keep the stories coming! I love this show.

Genealogical research is often fascinating, illuminating and addictive. But here's the thing about televising something that involves a lot of library time and reading -- you have to make it engaging. Finding Your Roots means well but it is nowhere near as fun or interesting to watch as another genealogical show, Who Do You Think You Are, currently airing on TLC. Unfortunately, it is Gates himself that is a drag on the show. He is a scholar and a professor and his sit downs with his guests come across like a dry lecture. The guests show up like good students for the lecture but they have had little or no personal involvement in the quest up to that point. And frankly some of them don't look too interested in their own stories.

I've been involved in genealogical research for many decades and I have learned some remarkable things at the hands of Professor Gates and his association with PBS. I don't want the show to disappear but I would encourage PBS to reformat it in favor of engaging both the guest and the viewer to a higher degree. They have the perfect opportunity to do that in the wake of the revelation that Gates and the show's producers covered up the facts of Ben Affleck's slave owning ancestry.