Today's Entertainment

2 • May 29 - June 4, 2016 • Brainerd Dispatch By Jacqueline Spendlove TV Media I n a seemingly never-ending sea of TV and movie remakes, the original "Roots" is one series that set the bar particularly high. Un- daunted, however, History is tak- ing a crack at a reboot, and it's off to a good start with an all-star cast. Based on author Alex Haley's 1976 novel, "Roots: The Saga of an American Family," the original miniseries debuted in 1977 to ex- plosive ratings and rave reviews. The show launched the career of then-unknown actor LeVar Burton ("Star Trek: The Next Generation") and was lauded for opening a dia- log between black and white Americans on previously tabooed subject matter. The highly antici- pated "Roots" remake premieres Monday, May 30, on History, A&E and Lifetime. Baby-boomer fans who fol- lowed the original miniseries may decry an attempt to remake the wheel, but arguably there's no reason the material should stay in the past. Haley's book chronicles the life of Kunta Kinte — a young man snatched from The Gambia during the 18th century and sold into slavery in the United States — down through the lives of his descendants, to Haley himself. Stepping into the role that a young, fresh-faced Burton brought to life 40 years ago is Malachi Kir- by ("EastEnders"), the remake's Kunta Kinte. The series follows Kunta from his youth in West Afri- ca, where he's accosted by slave traders and tossed aboard a ship, to endure the grueling three- month journey to Colonial Ameri- ca. Upon his arrival, he's sold to a plantation owner who changes his name to Toby, and from there we witness Kunta's persistent strug- gle for freedom and to preserve his Mandinka heritage and name. The first in his line to arrive in America, it's around Kunta Kinte that the story forms, but it doesn't end with him. He eventually mar- ries Belle (Emayatzy Corinealdi, "The Invitation," 2015), a fellow slave, and they have a daughter, Kizzy (Anika Noni Rose, "The Good Wife"). Kizzy, in turn, is raped by the man to whom she's later sold and has a son, George (Regé-Jean Page, "Survivor," 2015). George fathers eight children, and so on, with the story following each gen- eration's individual struggles through to the American Revolu- tion and the Civil War, the dawn of the Ku Klux Klan, the slave upris- ings and eventual emancipation. The rest of the cast boasts some big names, including Forest Whita- ker ("The Last King of Scotland," 2006) as Fiddler, an older slave who takes the newly arrived Kunta under his wing and teaches him English; Jonathan Rhys Meyers ("The Tudors") as the farmer who buys Kizzy and fathers George; and Anna Paquin ("True Blood") as the fiancée of a vicious Confed- erate soldier, who has her own agenda in regards to the handling of slaves. Hollywood heavyweight Laurence Fishburne ("The Matrix," 1999) plays Haley himself. Haley's book became a cultural sensation in the United States, spending 46 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller List, with al- most half that time spent in the top spot. It won both a Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, sold more than a million copies in the first year, and is con- sidered by many to be one of the most important works of the 20th century. The original miniseries, which first aired on ABC in 1977, raked in a whopping 37 Emmy nomina- tions, winning nine, as well as a Golden Globe and a Peabody Award. Roughly 130 million view- ers tuned in to the miniseries, with nearly 85 percent of all TV house- holds seeing some or all of it, and the last episode was the second- most-watched series finale in U.S. television history. Big shoes to fill? I'd say so. But the minds behind the remake have every confidence in the new ver- sion and the decision to bring the story to a new generation of view- ers. "It was time — almost 40 years had passed," Burton, an executive producer on the remake, told the Associated Press. "It made sense. If we want to keep these stories alive in the cultural consciousness, we have to reinvent them and re- tell them." Though there's been some pla- giarism controversy surrounding Haley's work, with the author ac- knowledging that most of the book's dialog and incidents are fictional, he did maintain that the framework for the story is built around real people and history. His dogged research into his bloodline included a visit to the Gambian town of Juffure, where Kinte was born, and, combined with oral his- tory passed down by his grand- mother, led him to learn that he was the great-great-great-great grandson of Kunta Kinte. Regardless of the accuracy of details, the work is considered a highly important depiction of slav- ery in America and the impact it had on those who lived through it, and the story is every bit as vital today. "It expanded the conscious- ness of people," Burton told the Sun Sentinel back in 1987, a de- cade after the show's run. "Blacks and whites began to see each other as human beings, not as stereotypes. And if you throw a pebble into the pond, you're going to get ripples. ... 'Roots' is part of a changing trend, and it's still being played out." His words still hold true. The eight-hour, four-night re- vival of "Roots" pre- mieres Monday, May 30, on History, A&E and Life- time. Regé-Jean Page as seen in "Roots" Back to their 'Roots' History remakes the massively popular 1977 miniseries Cover Story this week 501 W Washington St, Brainerd 218-828-1823 Free loaner cars available with most services! www.heartlandtireservice.com FULL SERVICE OIL CHANGE Up To 5Qts Oil & Filter. Top Off Vital Fluids. 44 Point Inspection. plus tax & fees 001414478r1 BRAKE SALE $ 100 $50/Axle On Any Brake Service Of $100 Or More /Axle Brake Fluid Flush $69.99 Reg. $94.99 With Any Other Brake Service Expires 5/31/16 Save Up To HUGE TIRE SALE On a set of 4 select Goodyear or Dunlop tires Instant savings plus great mail in rebates! Lowest prices of the year. See associate for details Expires 5/31/16 $ 210 SAVE UP TO $ 19.99 CONVENTIONAL OIL GOOD $ 49.99 FULL SYNTHETIC OIL BEST HIGH MILEAGE OIL BETTER $ 34.99 Expires 5/31/16 We buy used equipment. "Your One-Stop, Locally-Owned Medical Supply Company." FREE Delivery in our service area! • 8-5:30pm M-F, 9-12 Sat. 206 W. Washington, Tyrol Hills Center Brainerd • 218-829-2100 BRAINERD MEDICAL SUPPLY We Process Medical Assistance, Medica, Blue Cross, Medicare and Most insurance. 24 Hour Emergency Oxygen Service Family Visiting? Need a Wheelchair, Walker, Hospital Bed, Commode, Shower Bench, Any other Medical Equipment...Call or Stop In. Short Term or Long term Rental Available. STANDARD & QUEEN SIZE $49.99 No need to wait to get one shipped to you, we have them IN STOCK... stop in and get yours today to get a GOOD NIGHT'S REST TONIGHT. Also available in king size. AS SEEN ON TV! • Sizes Available for Both Indoor/Outdoor Use • Rentals available for daily, weekly, monthly use • Trade-Ins Welcome • Delivery Available 4 WHEELED CARTS 001413466r1 COMPLETE LINE OF DIABETIC SHOES & SUPPLIES Great Selection of Styles and colors. Certified fitters.Covered by most insurances. Medicare with provide with a qualifying diagnosis a pair of shoes and 3 insoles per year. DIABETIC SHOES & SUPPLIES Great Selection of Styles and colors. Certified fitters.Covered by most insurances. Great Selection of Styles and colors. Certified fitters.Covered by most insurances. POWER CARTS

• Cover