"ROOTS" Turns 25

AKA2D '91 · #1 01-22-2002, 04:23 PM

The epic miniseries "Roots" debuted 25 years ago on ABC. The miniseries based on the book of the same name by the late Alex Haley.

ABC decided that it would not televise the miniseries to comemmorate the 25th anniversary. The Hallmark channel will televise the miniseries. ABC, from reports, didn't want to interrupt its tv line-up to show the miniseries.

IMO, I think that it should be shown on network television. There are many out there who are farrrrrrrrrrr removed from what happened many years ago.

I remember my parents reading the book when I was a little girl, way before the book was turned into a movie. Since my cable system has the hallmark channel, I will watch. I'm sure I can get a better understanding or appreciate the history even more.

I remember years ago, in the 70's seemed like Roots would come on EVERY summer.

CrimsonTide4 · #2 01-22-2002, 04:32 PM

Unfortunately my Digital Cable does not show the Hallmark Channel but I did show 4 parts of ROOTS to my 11th graders in November

BOOOOOOO ABC -- that would be HIGH RATINGS for sure.

Anyway ROOTS is now available on DVD for like $40. I even saw it on AMAZON for about the same price. This will make me go out and buy a DVD player just for ROOTS!

AKA2D '91 · #3 01-22-2002, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
Unfortunately my Digital Cable does not show the Hallmark Channel but I did show 4 parts of ROOTS to my 11th graders in November

BOOOOOOO ABC -- that would be HIGH RATINGS for sure.

I saw an interview with LaVar Burton and he and other reports have said that when Roots aired in the 70's, during its premiere, it WAS the highest rated miniseries EVER shown.

So what's the deal?

CkretCrush8 · #4 01-22-2002, 06:59 PM

It's funny because last friday NBC had a special on about the 25 years of Roots. My roommate went out to the video store Friday evening and we watched them saturday while it was raining/snowing here in Richmond.

skeeliteful · #5 01-22-2002, 08:25 PM

Although I was born in the late 70's, my parents made sure that if the movie came on or reruns of the show came on, everything stopped and we watched it. Actually, i think my mom has the movie and every episode on tape. including... Shaka Aulu and Queen. NBC made a BIG mistake by not airing the mini series...cause personally, they don't have anything worth watching right now.

ClassyLady · #6 01-23-2002, 03:03 AM

I was disappointed to hear that ABC thought Drew Carey and Dharma & Greg

were too important to cancel to show an important part of American history. When it originally aired, 130 million people watched Roots on television for eight nights. I think that ABC needs the ratings because they really don't have a good prime time line up anymore, at least for the African-American community. Damon Wayans one night a week is just not going to cut it.

From what I heard though, the producers of Roots asked NBC if they were interested and they jumped at the chance. I thought that was why they did the special on it a few nights ago. I do hope that NBC shows it in addition to the Hallmark Channel because I don't get that one. Actually, I had never heard of it until I saw the commercials for Roots.