Re-airing ‘Roots’ brings TV One record audiences

Sarah Rodman

If you are over the age of 35, it’s possible you recall what you were doing the week of Jan. 23, 1977.

If you are African American, you know exactly what you were doing — you were watching “Roots.”

The miniseries, adapted from Alex Haley’s bestseller “Roots: The Saga of an American Family,” had people of all races and ages glued to the television as the epic tale of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton), captured in Africa and sold into slavery on the auction block in the American south, unspooled over eight nights on ABC.

Whether it was rejoicing in the largest assemblage of black faces in primetime ever — including fresh discoveries like Burton — or recoiling in shock at watching friendly, familiar television faces like Ralph Waite (Pa Walton on “The Waltons”) and Ed Asner (Lou Grant on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”) portray heartless slave traders, the miniseries was a major milestone in television history.

And the reverberations were not only commercial — “Roots” shattered ratings records, won nine Emmy awards, a Golden Globe and a Peabody, and remains the most watched miniseries ever — but cultural as well.

For many African Americans, “Roots” was the first opportunity to witness the tragic trajectory of their own ancestors from proud, free Africans to human chattel. The image of Kunta Kinte crumpling under the fire of the whip as he broke down and accepted his American name of Toby is stained into the memories of many.

It was America’s most shameful chapter come to beautiful, horrible life, lending deeper meaning to the school lessons taught during Black History Month. It set records the first time it aired — and it’s done it again.

Last week, TV One, a lifestyle and entertainment cable network aimed at African Americans, re-aired the groundbreaking miniseries in its entirety and was rewarded with major viewer growth.

According to a press release from the network, the premiere episode, which aired from 8-10 p.m. on Easter Sunday, received a 1.1 household rating, with an average of 413,000 households tuning in. The repeat telecast that night from 10 p.m. to midnight garnered a 1 rating, averaging 368,000 viewing households.

In African American households, TV One posted even more impressive record numbers, with a 6.2 rating during the 8-10 p.m. telecast, and a 5.4 rating from 10 p.m. to midnight. Among African Americans ages 18-49, the first telecast garnered a 4.4 rating, and the second telecast received a 3.6 rating.

“‘Roots’ was such an important cultural phenomenon, and so relevant today, that we felt it was our mission to bring it back to TV One viewers during its 30th anniversary year,” said TV One President and CEO Johnathan Rodgers. “We are delighted that this landmark miniseries not only has set ratings records for TV One, but that a new generation of viewers is tuning in to watch.”

Not only are they tuning in, they’re also logging on to TV One’s Web site, www.tvoneonline.com. Burton, who hosted each night of the series, was among a group of African American actors and artists who offered reflections on the series on the site, which also enabled viewers to share their remembrances.

“I was a junior in high school and I can remember that dinner was always a little early and homework was not given as much when the ‘Roots’ series aired,” said Sondra, a poster to the site from Birmingham, Ala. “No phone calls were made or received until after or the next day. It was as if time stood still while the event was on.”

The Web site also offers remembrances from Alex Haley’s brother, lesson plans, podcasts for educators and a link to African Ancestry, a Web site that sponsors the series and offers a discount to viewers who seek to trace their own genealogical roots.

Warner Home Video plans to re-release “Roots” in a 30th anniversary special edition that includes an additional new bonus disc of special features on May 22.

Sarah Rodman is a staff music critic for the Boston Globe.