Roots: Celebrating 25 Years (2002) TV Special

The power of 'Roots': Special celebrates 25th anniversary of landmark miniseries
Tuesday, January 15, 2002
By Monica L. Haynes, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

For eight consecutive nights in January 1977, millions of Americans watched the groundbreaking, history-making saga of an American family who did not come over on the Mayflower or pass through Ellis Island. "Roots," the story of Kunta Kinte, a West African enslaved in the United States, and his descendants, captivated the American television audience as no other dramatic program had done before.

LeVar Burton, who starred as the young Kuntu Kinte in "Roots," says he "had no thought or expectation of what it would lead to." It was television at its best -- controversial, thought-provoking, entertaining and a ratings hit. At some time during the miniseries' eight nights, 130 million Americans watched "Roots," and the series went on to garner countless awards including nine Emmys and a Peabody.

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Roots: Celebrating 25 Years (2002) TV Special
Cast: LeVar Burton, Tina Andrews, Maya Angelou, Alex Haley, Will Smith, Ben Vereen, Leslie Uggams

Star Trek Saga, The: From One Generation to the Next (1988) (TV)

Watch as the baton passes from one to the other. This is hosted by Patrick Stewart not Jonathan Frakes. Includes the original 1 hour pilot episode, "The Cage" with Jeffrey Hunter. This is very rare and rarely seen, an excellent document of the franchise to that date.

The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the Next (1988) (TV)
Cast: Jonathan Frakes, Patrick Stewart, Denise Crosby, LeVar Burton, Rick Berman, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden, William Shatner

Special Friendship, A (1987) TV Movie

A story of post-Civil War racism and it's affect on two young ladies.

A Special Friendship (1987) TV Movie
Cast: Akosua Busia, Cynthia Harris, Josef Sommer, LaShaunna Brown, LeVar Burton, Michael Mattison, Nate Bynum, Patricia Elliott, Richard Brooks, Tom Aldredge, Tracy Pollan, William Newman

Parallel Lives (1994) TV Movie

Parallel Lives (1994) TV Movie
Cast: Ben Gazzara, Helen Slater, Jack Klugman, James Belushi, James Brolin, LeVar Burton, Lindsay Crouse, Liza Minnelli, Matthew Perry, Mira Sorvino, Patricia Wettig, Paul Sorvino

One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story (1978) TV Movie

TV movie telling the story of Ron LeFlore, a troubled Detroit youth who rose from Michigan prisons to star in Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers. The movie was based on LeFlore's autobiography, "Breakout: From Prison to the Big Leagues." It follows LeFlore from his heroin addiction, to his time in Michigan's Jackson State Penitentiary, and tells of his discovery in prison by Billy Martin, who was then the manager of the Detroit Tigers. The role of Ron LeFlore was played by LeVar Burton. Former Detroit manager Billy Martin played himself, and former Tigers' players, Norm Cash, Bill Freehan, Al Kaline, and Jim Northrup also appeared as themselves. The movie first aired on CBS Television on September 26, 1978.

One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story (1978) TV Movie

Cast: Billy Martin, James Luisi, LeVar Burton, Madge Sinclair, Paul Benjamin

Midnight Hour, The (1985) TV Movie

Phil, Melissa, Mitch, Mary, and Vinnie are high school friends, who unwittingly raise the dead on Halloween night. Once the dead have returned, Pitchford Cove will never be the same again.... or will it?

The Midnight Hour  (1985) TV Movie
Cast: Dedee Pfeiffer, Dick Van Patten, Jonelle Allen, Kevin McCarthy, Kurtwood Smith, Lee Montgomery, LeVar Burton, Mark Blankfield, Peter DeLuise, Shari Belafonte