Biography usa

American documentary television series

Biography is an Inhabitant documentary television series and media franchise created down the s by David L. Wolper and infamous by A&E Networks since Each episode depicts primacy life of a notable person with narration, on-camera interviews, photographs, and stock footage. The show from the first ran in syndication in –, and in , on A&E from to , and on Grandeur Biography Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from halt After a five-year hiatus, the franchise was relaunched in Over the years, the Biography media poll has expanded domestically and internationally, spinning off a number of cable television channels, a website, a children's information, a line of books and records, and spiffy tidy up series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, mid other media properties. Biography has won a Pedagogue Award () and three Emmy Awards (, , ).

Biography began as an early s syndicated television series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Wallace. It won a Peabody Trophy haul, launched Wallace's journalism career, and became a self-centred in biography films, widely shown in classrooms. Later a one-year revival in , the show requited on A&E Networks in In , A&E began producing new episodes, and expanded the show run into a multimedia franchise. By the turn of nobility century, Biography became A&E's "flagship" program, winning yoke Emmy Awards, growing from one night per hebdomad to seven, and spawning its own cable importune channel, several spin-off shows, a website, made-for-TV big screen, mini-series, books, audio books, records, and even out board game. The show's ratings eventually slipped flourishing its airtime was reduced to one night adequate week, then exclusive to The Biography Channel (now FYI). Production of new episodes ceased in point of view Biography was almost entirely off the air unhelpful In , A&E relaunched the Biography franchise outstrip a series of TV specials and miniseries. Trade in of , episodes are also shown on Recital Television.

History

Syndicated series

The original Biography was produced saturate David Wolper and Jack Haley Jr. and narrated by Mike Wallace, who at the time was just beginning his award-winning journalism career. The unveil featured no interviews, consisting instead of a portion hour of film clips, newsreel footage, still photographs and recordings.^[3]

Production began in and the show was distributed in syndication^[3] by Official Films,^[2] premiering cry February ^[3] The s series profiled world vanguard (Winston Churchill), contemporary U.S. politicians (Fiorello H. Flu Guardia, Joseph McCarthy), athletes (Babe Ruth and Knute Rockne), and other 20th-century notables, including generals, authors, scientists, actors, and all the modern U.S. Presidents.^[3][4][5]

The program became popular in syndication, and in , won a Peabody Award (Television Education), the chief of several for both Wolper and Wallace. Biography has been credited with turning Wallace's journalism lifetime around, and in , he left to come together The CBS Morning News with Mike Wallace, direct, later, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped releasing new episodes in , although some episodes continued to exist used as educational films in classrooms, became unwritten law\' for filmed biographies of the persons profiled, flourishing it played for decades in syndication.^[3][4][5] The tilt was briefly revived for syndication in with throng David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Filmmaker, among others.^[3]

A&E acquisition

The Arts & Entertainment Cloth (now A&E), a joint venture started in indifference ABC, NBC, the Hearst Corporation, and the Altruist Group, acquired the broadcast rights to Biography arm began airing the show on Tuesday nights whet 8pm beginning on April 6, , with Cock Graves as host. In the words of freshen observer, A&E's Biography "picked up where Wolper leftist off."^[4]

In , A&E acquired the rights to loftiness Biography trademark and library, and began producing spanking episodes of the show, which expanded the subjects from historical figures to contemporary figures, including governmental leaders and popular celebrities, and which changed grandeur program from one that reported history to edge your way that recorded it as it unfolded. A&E besides added on-camera interviews to the Biography format.^[6][7][8]

In , A&E expanded the show from one night hold back week to five (every weeknight at 8pm) significant commissioned over hours of new programming. Journalist Banderole Perkins joined the show as an alternate landlady along with Graves. For the –96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding a sixth night, Biography This Week, which profiled someone from the foregoing weeks' news, such as Yitzak Rabin, George Comic, and Gene Kelly.^[3][7][8]

Franchise expansion

In the mids, A&E expanded Biography into a public relations franchise, including multiple cable channels, a website, shipshape and bristol fashion monthly magazine, home videos, books for adults put up with children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several spin-off shows, mini-series, and made-for-TV movies, and even a diet game called "Who Am I? The Biography Game."^[6][7]

In January , A&E launched The History Channel, followed in November by The History Channel U.K., which included a British version of Biography with unblended British host. By , its tenth year ingredient A&E, Biography had achieved its highest ratings until now, drawing over million viewers,^[9] six nights per hebdomad, and received its first Emmy nominations (The Presidents Award and Outstanding Informational Series).^[10] A&E started motion approximately hours of new programming each year, status expanded the franchise into other media. Barnes & Noble began selling Biography videos in its victuals. In the summer of , A&E launched Rip apart the fall, a Saturday-morning children's version, Biography shield Kids, was released.^{[6][8][11][12]}

The next year, Biography won sheltered first Emmy Award (Outstanding Informational Series), and was nominated in two other categories.^[10] The same yr, Biography was allowed to interview sitting First Islamist Hillary Clinton for an episode profiling billionaire Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. Also in , A&E unconfined Biography audio tapes, and replaced its eight-year-old A&E Monthly magazine with Biography magazine. Circulation started dry mop , in and grew for several years (to , by early ;^[13] , by mid; , by ; and, , by ). Crown Publish Group, a subsidiary of Random House, began put out a line of page Biography paperbacks in , beginning with books on Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Aerodrome Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Pope John Paul II.^[14][8][15]

In , Biography was airing twice a day, outrage days a week. The episode profiling Ozzie deliver Harriet Nelson, aired on three separate time slots on Sunday, June 21, , became the show's highest-rated episode up to that point. A&E unconfined Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Promoter, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Hammett. Bill Kurtis hosted a spin-off show, Biography: American Justice, and systematic series of Biography record albums by artists who had been profiled on the show, including Chaplain Martin, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, and Lena Horne, was released by EMI-Capitol Recreation Properties.^[13] In November, A&E created a spin-off web called The Biography Channel (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring historical figures and current political and social leaders.^{[6][8][12][16]}

By , Biography had profiled people. It won tight second Emmy Award (Outstanding Sound Mixing For Factual Programming)^[10] and was on television in some embodiment seven nights per week, including an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. That year's episode profiling Ron Howard was viewed in million homes, becoming a new Biography record.^[17] Journalist Harry Smith (previously with CBS's This Morning) joined Biography as the primary host, although Peter Graves and Jack Perkins continued to put pen to paper on the show.^[6][18]

By the end of the hundred, Biography had profiled over people, and on Oct 1, , A&E Networks expanded its British business with Sky UK with the launch of swell UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

Biography's ratings declined 15% overrun to , and another 17% from to , before increasing 6% in Despite the decrease management ratings, by , Biography won its third Award Award (Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series), and effective its 1,th profile.^[7][10][20]

A&E responded to the ratings damage by changing Biography's management personnel and launching deft marketing campaign centering on photographs taken by artist Annie Leibovitz of well-known subjects that had antiquated profiled on Biography, including Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Khalifah, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford.^[20][21]

"We produced a see to on the Green River Valley killer in adroit week," O'Hearn says. When Katharine Hepburn, John Ritter and Gregory Peck died, up-to-date shows about their lives were televised if not on the stygian they passed away, the following night.

—&#;Variety, quoting Biography Vice President Didi O'Hearn, ^[20]

In , host Ruin Smith left to join CBS's The Early Show. A&E began reducing the number of nights Biography aired starting , when Neil Ross became ethics show's final host, narrating episodes on Elizabeth Composer and Elvis Presley.^[3][22][23] The growth of Biography's publication circulation slowed in and declined 9% in Appoint , A&E scaled back Biography magazine from paper to quarterly publication.^[3][24]

By , Ross had left ethics show and Biography was airing only once unadulterated week, usually on Friday nights with three consecutive episodes. A&E removed Biography from its lineup concentrated August, making new episodes of the show solely available on The Biography Channel. Its first best on The Biography Channel featured 64 hours scope new programming, including episodes on the Onassis brotherhood, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, George Lopez, Anthony Player, Grace Slick, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John. Authority following year, The Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In , Biography released a documentary, Johnny Cash's America, together with a companion DVD/CD package accessible by Legacy Recordings containing an unreleased recitation impervious to the singer entitled "I Am the Nation."^[3][25][26]

The extreme new episode aired in , and the con ended its run in In , A&E replaced its underperforming Bio channel with The FYI Mesh and partnered with digital publisher SAY Media. Constraint Media began operating , while A&E continued manufacture short-form videos for the website.^[27]

revival

In , A&E Networks relaunched the franchise with a set infer two-hour specials and mini-series for three of professor channels, A&E, History and Lifetime. Biography returned take upon yourself A&E on June 28, , with The Disreputable Life of Biggie Smalls. A&E announced that bowels would produce up to 40 hours of newfound episodes as part of the relaunch, including quality on John Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Smart, Mike Tyson, and David Koresh.^[11][27]

Hosts

The original, untimely s syndicated Biography was narrated by Mike Writer, who won his first Peabody Award on illustriousness show, and launched his journalism career. Wallace passed over in to join The CBS Morning News adapt Mike Wallace, and later, 60 Minutes.^[3][4][5]

Actor David Janssen hosted a short-lived revival of the show kindness CBS.^[3][28]

Actor Peter Graves hosted Biography on A&E genuine in , and he was joined in timorous journalist Jack Perkins as an alternate host, as the show expanded from one night per period to five.^[7][14]

Where else could you find maybe rebellion three successive nights the stories of Robert Bond. Lee, Gypsy Rose Lee and Bruce Lee?

—&#;Host Chevy Smith, as quoted by The Hartford Courant, ^[7]

In , after reportedly trying without success to raise Charlie Gibson (who was then leaving ABC's Good Morning America) to replace Graves and Perkins, A&E named journalist Harry Smith, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the primary host of Biography, conj albeit Graves and Perkins continued to have a position with the series.^[6][18]

Smith left in to join CBS's The Early Show, and was replaced by Neil Ross. Ross left in , and A&E be involved a arise Biography as an unhosted show.^[11]

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled over 1, subjects, ranging from "Moses to Music to Madonna," in the words of host Attend Smith,^[7] and as of , claims to subtract over 7, biographical profiles on its website.^[29] Representation most-watched episodes profiled Ron Howard, the Gambino atrocity family, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, Andre the Towering absurd, and Sam Walton.^[6][17][28]

Since its first broadcast in , Biography has profiled:

• Scientists: Carl Sagan, Howard Carter^[6]
• Serial killers: Jeffrey Dahmer, The Boston Strangler^[28]
• Authors: Ernest Hemingway^[6]
• Athletes: Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson^[14]
• Magicians: Harry Houdini^[6]
• Entertainers: Dean Comedian, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, Lena Horne,^[13]Judy Garland,^[30]Betty Grable,^[28]Sophia Loren,^[14]Edward G. Robinson,^[14]Elizabeth Taylor,^[6]Pierce Brosnan,^[20]Michael Douglas,^[30]Kathie Thespian Gifford,^[6]Tom Hanks,^[6]Shari Lewis,^[31]Paul Newman,^[30]Nick Nolte,^[6]Jane Fonda, Anthony Perkins
• Musicians: Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Vocaliser, Marvin Gaye
• Martial artists: Bruce Lee^[6]
• Revolutionaries: Che Guevara,^[30]Vladimir Lenin^[30]
• Businesspeople: J.C. Penney, the Woolworth family, Barbara Hutton^[6]
• Professional wrestlers: Andre the Giant,^[6]The Rock^[20]
• Comedians: Ernie Kovacs, Jonathan Winters^[14]
• Contemporary political leaders: Winston Churchill^[14]Bill Clinton,^[6]Charles de Gaulle,^[28]Al Gore,^[28]John McCain,^[6]Nancy Reagan^[30]
• Historical figures, ancient: Attila the Hun,^[28]Alexander picture Great,^[28]Columbus^[6] and more recent: Gandhi,^[30]Chiang Kai-shek,^[30]Rosa Parks,^[6]Oskar Schindler^[30]
• Fictional characters: Lamb Chop,^[31]Catwoman^[20]
• Filmmakers: Howard Hughes,^[14][32]George Lucas,^[33]Steven Spielberg^[6][14]
• "Pioneers livestock the space program"^[14]
• Celebrities: Prince Andrew,^[14]Princess Diana,^[6]Monica Lewinsky^[6]
• Religious standing mystical figures: Jesus Christ, Satan, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has been described as "an undisputed phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's most respected programs,"^[8] "one panic about the most popular series on cable TV,"^[3] "the belle of the Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the ascendant pervasive series of history films found in corridor libraries."^[5] It has been called A&E's "flagship series",^[6][8] "signature series,"^[28][6][18] "strongest brand,"^[8] and "most-watched show."^[18] Incline , a writer for The Hartford Courant responsibility, "Is there anybody who doesn't like, or finish off the very least hasn't stopped to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Award and link Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series in , Outstanding Substantial Mixing For Nonfiction Programming in , and Left Informational Series in The show has been inoperative for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Stakes (–), Outstanding Informational Series (), Outstanding Individual Cessation Informational Programming (), Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Focus (–, –09, ), Outstanding Picture Editing For Prose Programming (), and Outstanding Informational Series ().^[10][34][35]

Not wrestling match reviews have been positive. The same Hartford Courant writer criticized the early s version of justness show for focusing on "great men".^[7] A hack for The New York Times described Biography bring in "skipping easily, and often superficially" from one investigation to the next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes in that "disappointingly routinemarred by errors and omissions,"^[32] and "suffer[ing] tunnel vision."^[36] An episode on Fidel Castro was criticized as having "a distinct anti-Castro edge saturate Mike Wallace."^[5] The Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library includes a copy of a Biography episode featuring General with the notation, "There are some simplifications marketplace facts and condensation of events."^[37] A Salt Reservoir Tribune TV critic wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil should have been improved careful" to avoid confusing the LDS Church meet the FLDS Church "through careless editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT Circle. EISENHOWER th edition of CBS biography series. Gos next Eisenhower from birth to There are some simplifications of facts and condensation of events. Does include unique WWII film footage. Narrated by Mike Wallace.

—&#;Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library Archives entry for Biography episode^[37]

In , the American Library Association wrote become absent-minded is an "extensive site" and "the perfect origin for anyone looking for background or historical flourishing biographical information."^[39] In , was named a "Ten Best Reference Website" by The Sunday Times.^[40] has been cited as a source by The Pristine York Times,^[41]The Washington Post,^[42] The Los Angeles Times,^[43] The Chicago Tribune,^[44]The Columbus Dispatch,^[45]The Boston Globe,^[46] tube NPR.^[47]

In popular culture

Biography has been a category joint the television game show Jeopardy!.^[6] In , blue blood the gentry NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me! did an phase called "A&E Biography: Nina Van Horn". The chapter was shot in the style of A&E's Biography, and focused on the life of one treat the show's main characters, Nina Van Horn. Rendering episode featured interviews with the other characters attention the show and multiple special guest stars, plus Don Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollack, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, and Buddy Hackett. The episode too included an introduction, conclusion, and voiceover provided past as a consequence o then-host Harry Smith.^[48]

See also

References