Ah, ancestry. That ever-reliable source of cocktail party conversation starters, awkward family reunions, and, in the right hands, genuinely compelling television. This week, “Finding Your Roots” welcomes Joy Behar and Michael Imperioli, two prominent Italian-Americans, to dig into their respective pasts. Few things are more reliably entertaining than watching celebrities grapple with the reality that their forebears weren’t always glamorous.
For Behar, a staple of daytime television’s “The View,” the journey takes her back to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and beyond. While the specifics of her ancestral narrative remain under wraps until the episode airs, one can anticipate the typical “Finding Your Roots” blend of heartwarming discoveries and the occasional uncomfortable truth. After all, family history rarely follows a straight, predictable path.
Imperioli, forever etched in television history as Christopher Moltisanti on “The Sopranos,” hails from Mount Vernon, NY. His search leads him back to Calabria, Italy, where, among other revelations, he unearths a rather explosive family incident. Turns out, his great-grandfather’s New York apartment caught fire during Prohibition due to a cache of illicit liquor stored in the cellar. One imagines this story will be recounted with the kind of darkly comedic sensibility Imperioli has perfected over his career.
While the celebrity element undeniably fuels the show’s appeal, “Finding Your Roots” consistently manages to deliver more than just star-studded genealogy. The meticulous research, combined with Gates’ approachable style, gives the show a certain educational heft.
“Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.” airs Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 8:00 PM on PBS.