<P> The series has seen two past incarnations on PBS, both of which were hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr . In 2006 and 2008 the series African American Lives aired . Both seasons of the series consisted of a season - long story line as well as an all African American cast . In 2010 Faces of America aired . Though it continued to use the season - long plot from the prior installment, it was the first installment hosted by Gates to include Americans of all ethnic and racial backgrounds . Starting with Finding Your Roots in 2012, the series redirected from a season - long plot, to having plots extending only within a single episode . In doing so it has allowed the series to extend its number of episodes each season to ten, opposed to the prior four episodes a season . </P> <P> The show's third season was postponed by WNET after it was discovered that actor Ben Affleck had persuaded Gates to omit information about his slave - owning ancestors . The series returned on January 5, 2016 . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Season </Th> <Th> Episodes </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Originally aired </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> First aired </Th> <Th> Last aired </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> March 25, 2012 (2012 - 03 - 25) </Td> <Td> May 20, 2012 (2012 - 05 - 20) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> September 23, 2014 (2014 - 09 - 23) </Td> <Td> November 25, 2014 (2014 - 11 - 25) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> January 5, 2016 (2016 - 01 - 05) </Td> <Td> March 8, 2016 (2016 - 03 - 08) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> October 3, 2017 (2017 - 10 - 03) </Td> <Td> December 19, 2017 (2017 - 12 - 19) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Season </Th> <Th> Episodes </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Originally aired </Th> </Tr>

When is season 5 of finding your roots