Oprah honors Martin Luther King Day with Cast of 'Roots' 35 Years Later

Oprah Winfrey will air a show today with the cast of the TV series from the 70's "Roots" to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

"Roots" marks its 35th anniversary and Oprah held the interview at her own living room for the first time ever, according to Discovery Communications.

The show captivated the nation, setting ratings record at nearly 80 million viewers and changing the way Americans thought about their history, according to Discovery Communications, the production company of Oprah's show.

Oprah's guests include Cicely Tyson, LeVar Burton, John Amos, Leslie Uggams, Louis Gossett Jr. and Ben Vereen. In the interview she asks living legend Cicely Tyson about playing Kunta Kinte's mother, Binta, the death of her own mother and about her legacy.

Cast member LeVar Burton recounts stepping into the lead role of Kunta Kinte, an African slave. He was still in college when he was tabbed to star in the mini-series, which landed him on cover of Time magazine and brought him instant celebrity.

Then John Amos, Leslie Uggams, Louis Gossett Jr. and Ben Vereen share their own anecdotes from filming "Roots" and describe how the mini-series changed America and television forever, Discovery Communications informed in a press release.

The show Premieres Monday, January 16, 2012 from 8-9 p.m. ET/PT