Roots
“The Saga of an American Family.”
Series Overview
The epic tale of celebrated Pulitzer-prize winning author Alex Haley's ancestors as portrayed in the acclaimed twelve hour mini-series Roots, was first told in his 1976 bestseller Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The docu-drama covers a period of history that begins in mid-1700s Gambia, West Africa and concludes during post-Civil War United States, over 100 years later. This 1977 miniseries eventually won 9 Emmy awards, a Golden Globe award, and a Peabody award, and still stands as the most watched miniseries in U.S. history.
Broadcast Schedule & Network Information
Airing status, episode counts, upcoming schedule, and network syndication.
1 Season • 8 Episodes
45–90 min per episode
1977 – 1977
Premiered: Sun, Jan 23, 1977
Alex HaleyLatest Aired Episode
Season 1, Episode 8: “Part VIII”
The Civil War is over but night riders terrorize ex-slaves. By marking his clients' horseshoes, Tom identifies the raiders but endangers his own life. Chicken George, who fought for the Union, rejoins his family. He leads them to a new home in Tennessee.
Seasons & Episodes Breakdown
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
ROOTS (1977)
Type: Trailer • Published 2024-09-06
Cast & Creators
Explore Star Directory →
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Erman, Marvin J. Chomsky, Gilbert Moses, David Greene
Ernest Kinoy, James Lee, M. Charles Cohen, William Blinn, Alex Haley
Gerald Fried, Quincy Jones
Neil Travis, Peter Kirby, James T. Heckert
Department Leadership Roster
John Erman
Director
Marvin J. Chomsky
Director
Gilbert Moses
Director
David Greene
Director
Alex Haley
Writer
Ernest Kinoy
Screenplay
Neil Travis
Editor
Gerald Fried
Original Music Composer
James Lee
Screenplay
Peter Kirby
Editor
James T. Heckert
Editor
M. Charles Cohen
Screenplay
William Blinn
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Roots.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Roots
Key facts, seasons breakdown, and credits for search engines and AI assistants.
What is Roots about?
The epic tale of celebrated Pulitzer-prize winning author Alex Haley's ancestors as portrayed in the acclaimed twelve hour mini-series Roots, was first told in his 1976 bestseller Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The docu-drama covers a period of history that begins in mid-1700s Gambia, West Africa and concludes during post-Civil War United States, over 100 years later. This 1977 miniseries eventually won 9 Emmy awards, a Golden Globe award, and a Peabody award, and still stands as the most watched miniseries in U.S. history.
How many seasons does Roots have?
Roots comprises 1 season available to explore.
Who stars in Roots?
Key cast members in Roots include John Amos, Olivia Cole, Ben Vereen, Madge Sinclair.
Who created or directed Roots?
Roots was developed and directed by John Erman, Marvin J. Chomsky, Gilbert Moses, David Greene.