Unearthing Heritage: The Epic Premiere of Season 11

Debuting on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV / PBS app

The celebrated series makes its return with Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. delving into the mysteries, surprises, and insights concealed in the genealogies of well-known personalities.

In this episode, Gates presents actors Lea Salonga and Amanda Seyfried, introducing them to ancestors whose lives are just as intense as the roles they have portrayed on stage and screen, recounting tales of relatives who overcame heart-wrenching challenges.

This episode will be available for streaming via the PBS app.

The lineup of guests for Season 11 features actors Kristen Bell, Laurence Fishburne, Debra Messing, Michael Imperioli, Melanie Lynskey, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lea Salonga, Amanda Seyfried, Dax Shepard, and Sharon Stone; renowned chefs José Andrés and Sean Sherman; novelist Amy Tan; poet Rita Dove; historian Lonnie Bunch; talk show host Joy Behar; musician Rubén Blades; journalist Natalie Morales; and model Chrissy Teigen.

For over ten years, distinguished Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has contributed to broadening America’s self-perception, igniting a national dialogue about identity infused with humor, insight, and empathy. Professor Gates has examined the heritage of numerous influential individuals from varied backgrounds, guiding millions of viewers into history to unveil the ties that unite us all.