Leslie Uggams and Cast of ROOTS Reunite in OWN TV Special, 1/16

Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, and recording artist Leslie Uggams will appear on "Oprah and the Legendary Cast of 'Roots' 35 Years Later," an anniversary special to air on Monday, January 16 (Martin Luther King Day) at 8 p.m. ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Uggams, who earned Emmy and Golden Globe nominations and a Critics Choice Award for her stirring portrayal of "Kizzy" in "Roots," joins fellow cast members Cicely Tyson, LeVar Burton, John Amos, Louis Gossett, Jr. and Ben Vereen in discussing their experiences in creating this landmark series.

This celebratory retrospective offers an intimate reflection on the historic television mini-series "Roots" based on Alex Haley's novel "Roots: The Saga of an American Family." The series debuted in 1977 and broke all existing viewer ratings. The final episode was watched by 100 million viewers and still ranks as the third most watched television episode of all time.

Hosted by Oprah Winfrey at her home in Montecito, California, the special features the cast sharing their personal accounts of working on the extraordinary series and their thoughts on becoming part of television history. Original clips from "Roots" will serve as a backdrop for the stars' recollections.

"Roots" forever changed American television. For the first time, TV viewers white and black experienced a part of American history through the eyes of slaves. For many it marked an awakening, and for the participating actors and actresses it was nothing short of a spiritual experience. "Oprah and the Legendary Cast of 'Roots' 35 Years Later" is produced by Harpo Studios.

For more information on OWN TV, visit http://www.oprah.com/own. For more information on Leslie Uggams, visit her official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LeslieUggams or her website at www.leslieuggams.com.

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