A wealthy African-American woman reveals that she might be Fran's real mother.
- Career Versus Man: In a Flashback, a young Fran says that she would rather dress as a career woman for Halloween than a bride. The young Sylvia replies, "That's it, young lady. No more That Girl for you!"
- Everything Is Racist: After Fran "discovers" that she is black:Fran: You know, it is just so obvious why you stopped me.
Cop: Yeah, why is that, Miss Fine?
Fran: Uh, because I'm black! - Identical Grandson: In the flashback, Fran Drescher plays the young Sylvia.
- If I Had a Nickel...:Lila: [on the phone talking to Fran] Oh, you have no idea how happy I am to hear your voice.
Fran: Oh, you know, if I had a nickel for every time I heard that... I'd have a nickel. - I Want Grandkids: New mother, same old demands:Fran: Oh, look at us. You can't be my mother.
Lila: Why not? Your children [the Sheffield children] look nothing like you.
Fran: Those aren't my children. I'm not even married.
Lila: You're not? Honey, what are you waiting for?
Fran: Sit down, Ma. - Literary Allusion Title: The title is a reference to Roots, of course.
- "Mister Sandman" Sequence: The flashback to Fran's childhood in The '70s starts with a younger Sylvia watching Maude and singing along with its theme.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Sylvia appears so upset about the idea of her not being Fran's mother that she turns down the option of having pudding... only to then ask when she turned it down.
- Suddenly Ethnicity: Fran discovers that her potential mother is black when they meet in person for the first time. Parodied afterwards, with Fran's insistence that she herself is black:Fran: I just made a peanut butter sandwich, courtesy of my mishpocha George Washington Carver.
- Uncanny Family Resemblance: Fran Drescher plays the young Sylvia in the flashback to Fran's childhood. She wears a blonde wig to better resemble Renee Taylor.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Lila explains that the initial confusion regarding her daughter happened years ago when a nurse at the hospital accidentally mixed up some files while she was a chasing after a woman who kept trying to steal extra pudding. Fran wisely avoids mentioning that was Sylvia.
- Verbal Backspace:Niles: What about the story of the nice Jewish girl from Flushing who discovers that her mother is an African-American?
Fran: Excuse me, but this happens to be a highly personal, very private story.
Maxwell: You'll get a royalty.
Fran: ...that just screams movie of the week.- Later:
Sylvia: I am your mother and nothing that this woman will ever say will ever convince me that I am not!
Lila: Would you two like a little privacy? We have a guest house.
Sylvia: You hear that? Your mother has a guest house.
