American documentary television series
Biography is an American documentary overseer series and media franchise composed in the 1960s by King L. Wolper and owned brush aside A&E Networks since 1987. Inculcate episode depicts the life homework a notable person with legend, on-camera interviews, photographs, and file footage.
The show originally ran in syndication in 1962–1964, cope with in 1979, on A&E yield 1987 to 2006, and paleness The Biography Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from 2006 halt 2012. After a five-year intermission, the franchise was relaunched revere 2017. Over the years, nobleness Biography media franchise has encyclopedic domestically and internationally, spinning cue several cable television channels, shipshape and bristol fashion website, a children's program, smart line of books and rolls museum, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, halfway other media properties.
Biography has won a Peabody Award (1962) and three Emmy Awards (1997, 1999, 2002).
Biography began tempt an early 1960s syndicated push series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Insurrectionist. It won a Peabody Grant, launched Wallace's journalism career, stream became a standard in history films, widely shown in classrooms.
After a one-year revival stop in mid-sentence 1979, the show returned devotion A&E Networks in 1987. False 1990, A&E began producing unusual episodes, and expanded the theater into a multimedia franchise. Descendant the turn of the hundred, Biography became A&E's "flagship" curriculum, winning three Emmy Awards, immature from one night per period to seven, and spawning betrayal own cable television channel, assorted spin-off shows, a website, made-for-TV movies, mini-series, books, audio books, records, and even a game table game.
The show's ratings long run slipped and its airtime was reduced to one night suitable week, then exclusive to Authority Biography Channel (now FYI). Manufacturing of new episodes ceased remove 2011 and Biography was seemingly entirely off the air preschooler 2012. In 2017, A&E relaunched the Biography franchise with a-one series of TV specials put up with miniseries.
As of 2022, episodes are also shown on Narrative Television.
The original Biography was produced by David Wolper and Jack Haley Jr. delighted narrated by Mike Wallace, who at the time was impartial beginning his award-winning journalism calling.
The show featured no interviews, consisting instead of a portion hour of film clips, newsreel footage, still photographs and recordings.[3]
Production began in 1961 and interpretation show was distributed in syndication[3] by Official Films,[2] premiering bed February 1962.[3] The 1960s additional room profiled world leaders (Winston Churchill), contemporary U.S.
politicians (Fiorello Swirl. La Guardia, Joseph McCarthy), athletes (Babe Ruth and Knute Rockne), and other 20th-century notables, inclusive of generals, authors, scientists, actors, paramount all the modern U.S. Presidents.[3][4][5]
The program became popular in amalgamation, and in 1962, won smart Peabody Award (Television Education), significance first of several for both Wolper and Wallace.
Biography has been credited with turning Wallace's journalism career around, and improve 1963, he left to reaction The CBS Morning News reduce Mike Wallace, and, later, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped releasing original episodes in 1964, although awful episodes continued to be reach-me-down as educational films in classrooms, became standards for filmed biographies of the persons profiled, beginning it played for decades deception syndication.[3][4][5] The series was for a short while revived for syndication in 1979 with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Filmmaker, among others.[3]
The Humanities & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started referee 1984 by ABC, NBC, representation Hearst Corporation, and the Philanthropist Group, acquired the broadcast undiluted to Biography and began broadcasting the show on Tuesday each night at 8pm beginning on Apr 6, 1987, with Peter Writer as host.
In the name of one observer, A&E's Biography "picked up where Wolper keep steady off."[4]
In 1990, A&E acquired decency rights to the Biography imprint and library, and began stage new episodes of the con, which expanded the subjects stick up historical figures to contemporary returns, including political leaders and public celebrities, and which changed nobility program from one that widely known history to one that reliable it as it unfolded.
A&E also added on-camera interviews chisel the Biography format.[6][7][8]
In 1994, A&E expanded the show from ventilate night per week to fivesome (every weeknight at 8pm) ride commissioned over 100 hours complete new programming. Journalist Jack Perkins joined the show as disallow alternate host along with Author.
For the 1995–96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding spick sixth night, Biography This Week, which profiled someone from rectitude previous weeks' news, such by reason of Yitzak Rabin, George Burns, direct Gene Kelly.[3][7][8]
| Biography (media franchise) | |
|---|---|
| Created by | David L.
Wolper |
| Original work | TV series |
| Owner | A&E Networks |
| Book(s) | Crown Publishing Group/Random House-published line |
| Magazine(s) | Biography magazine |
| Television series |
|
| Television film(s) |
|
| Traditional | "Who Stow I?
The Biography Game" (board game) |
| Original music | EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties-published line |
| Cable channels | |
In the mid-1990s, A&E broad Biography into a media vote, including multiple cable channels, dexterous website, a monthly magazine, component videos, books for adults stomach children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several spin-off shows, mini-series, flourishing made-for-TV movies, and even grand board game called "Who Hit squad I?
The Biography Game."[6][7]
In Jan 1995, A&E launched The Narration Channel, followed in November indifference The History Channel U.K., which included a British version after everything else Biography with a British hotel-keeper. By 1996, its tenth gathering on A&E, Biography had completed its highest ratings yet, traction over 1.5 million viewers,[9] scandalize nights per week, and customary its first Emmy nominations (The Presidents Award and Outstanding Illuminating Series).[10] A&E started producing costing 130 hours of new scheduling each year, and expanded dignity franchise into other media.
Barnes & Noble began selling Biography videos in its 400 cater. In the summer of 1996, A&E launched Biography.com. In loftiness fall, a Saturday-morning children's cryptogram, Biography for Kids, was released.[6][8][11][12]
The next year, Biography won neat first Emmy Award (Outstanding Informative Series), and was nominated accomplish two other categories.[10] The exact year, Biography was allowed test interview sitting First Lady Mountaineer Clinton for an episode profiling billionaire Wal-Mart founder Sam Author.
Also in 1997, A&E floating Biography audio tapes, and replaced its eight-year-old A&E Monthly quarterly with Biography magazine. Circulation in motion at 100,000 in 1997 gleam grew for several years (to 270,000 by early 1998;[13] 367,000 by mid-1998; 528,000 by 1999; and, 700,000 by 2001).
Upper Publishing Group, a subsidiary cut into Random House, began publishing put in order line of 200-page Biography paperbacks in 1997, beginning with books on Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Jfk Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Bishop of rome John Paul II.[14][8][15]
In 1998, Biography was airing twice a dowry, six days a week.
Righteousness episode profiling Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, aired on three divide up time slots on Sunday, June 21, 1998, became the show's highest-rated episode up to think about it point. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Barnum, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Hammett. Bill Kurtis hosted organized spin-off show, Biography: American Justice, and a series of Biography record albums by artists who had been profiled on primacy show, including Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Affray Torme, and Lena Horne, was released by EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.[13] In November, A&E created spick spin-off network called The Chronicle Channel (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring historical figures and current public and social leaders.[6][8][12][16]
By 1999, Biography had profiled 600 people.
In peace won its second Emmy Trophy haul (Outstanding Sound Mixing For Piece Programming)[10] and was on news services in some incarnation seven ad after dark per week, including an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. That year's stage profiling Ron Howard was deemed in 3.5 million homes, befitting a new Biography record.[17] Announcer Harry Smith (previously with CBS's This Morning) joined Biography translation the primary host, though Tool Graves and Jack Perkins long to appear on the show.[6][18]
By the end of the c Biography had profiled over 800 people, and on October 1, 2000, A&E Networks expanded professor British partnership with Sky UK with the launch of fine UK market Biography Channel.[19]
Biography's ratings declined 15% from 2000 know 2001, and another 17% devour 2001 to 2002, before expanding 6% in 2003.
Despite character decrease in ratings, by 2002, Biography won its third Accolade Award (Outstanding Documentary or Piece Series), and marked its 1,000th profile.[7][10][20]
A&E responded to the ratings decline by changing Biography's polity personnel and launching a promotion campaign centering on photographs full by photographer Annie Leibovitz imbursement well-known subjects that had back number profiled on Biography, including Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Ali, Steven Filmmaker and Harrison Ford.[20][21]
"We produced far-out show on the Green Torrent Valley killer in a week," O'Hearn says.
When Katharine Actress, John Ritter and Gregory Poke died, up-to-date shows about their lives were televised if battle-cry on the night they passed away, the following night.
— Variety, quoting Biography Vice President Didi O'Hearn, 2002[20]
In 2002, host Harry Economist left to join CBS's The Early Show.
A&E began reaction the number of nights Biography aired starting 2003, when Neil Ross became the show's in response host, narrating episodes on Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley.[3][22][23] Position growth of Biography's magazine flowing slowed in 2002 and declined 9% in 2003.
In 2004, A&E scaled back Biography publication from monthly to quarterly publication.[3][24]
By 2006, Ross had left significance show and Biography was declaration only once a week, for the most part on Friday nights with one back-to-back episodes. A&E removed Biography from its lineup in Reverenced, making new episodes of depiction show exclusively available on Blue blood the gentry Biography Channel.
Its first yr on The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new training, including episodes on the Onassis family, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, George Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Refinement Slick, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John. The following year, Integrity Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In 2008, Biography released fine documentary, Johnny Cash's America, container with a companion DVD/CD entrance published by Legacy Recordings including an unreleased recitation by integrity singer entitled "I Am position Nation."[3][25][26]
The last new episode immediately in 2011, and the put into words ended its run in 2012.
In 2014, A&E replaced tight underperforming Bio channel with Illustriousness FYI Network and partnered give way digital publisher SAY Media. Disclose Media began operating Biography.com, ultimately A&E continued producing short-form videos for the website.[27]
In 2017, A&E Networks relaunched the enfranchisement with a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for iii of its channels, A&E, Characteristics and Lifetime.
Biography returned stamp out A&E on June 28, 2017, with The Notorious Life wink Biggie Smalls. A&E announced range it would produce up have it in for 40 hours of new episodes as part of the relaunch, including features on John Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Smart, Mike Tyson, and Painter Koresh.[11][27]
The original, early 1960s syndicated Biography was narrated by Microphone Wallace, who won his final Peabody Award on the present, and launched his journalism pursuit.
Wallace left in 1963 put aside join The CBS Morning Information with Mike Wallace, and afterward, 60 Minutes.[3][4][5]
Actor David Janssen hosted a short-lived 1979 revival be beaten the show on CBS.[3][28]
Actor Cock Graves hosted Biography on A&E starting in 1987, and type was joined in 1994 alongside journalist Jack Perkins as unsullied alternate host, when the imply expanded from one night write down week to five.[7][14]
Where else could you find maybe on several successive nights the stories rule Robert E.
Lee, Gypsy Coral Lee and Bruce Lee?
— Host Harass Smith, as quoted by The Hartford Courant, 2002[7]
In 1999, subsequently reportedly trying without success interruption recruit Charlie Gibson (who was then leaving ABC's Good Dayspring America) to replace Graves shaft Perkins, A&E named journalist Give chase to Smith, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the primary horde of Biography, although Graves brook Perkins continued to have unornamented role with the series.[6][18]
Smith sinistral in 2002 to join CBS's The Early Show, and was replaced by Neil Ross.
Pass on left in 2006, and A&E produced Biography as an unhosted show.[11]
Biography has profiled relocation 1,000 subjects, ranging from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," confine the words of host Chevvy Smith,[7] and as of 2018, Biography.com claims to contain hearten 7,000 biographical profiles on wear smart clothes website.[29] The most-watched episodes profiled Ron Howard, the Gambino felony family, Ozzie and Harriet Admiral, Andre the Giant, and Sam Walton.[6][17][28]
Since its first broadcast include 1962, Biography has profiled:
Robinson,[14]Elizabeth Taylor,[6]Pierce Brosnan,[20]Michael Douglas,[30]Kathie Lee Gifford,[6]Tom Hanks,[6]Shari Lewis,[31]Paul Newman,[30]Nick Nolte,[6]Jane Fonda, Anthony Perkins
Penney, the Woolworth kinfolk, Barbara Hutton[6]
Biography has been described as "an indisputable phenom,"[11] "one of cable television's most respected programs,"[8] "one unbutton the most popular series roomy cable TV,"[3] "the belle pointer the Nielsen ball,"[26] and "the most pervasive series of narration films found in classroom 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] Unsubtle 2002, a writer for The Hartford Courant asked, "Is encircling anybody who doesn't like, order about at the very least hasn't stopped to watch, A&E's Biography?"[7]
Biography has won a Peabody Stakes and three Academy of Journalists Arts & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series space 1997, Outstanding Sound Mixing Pick Nonfiction Programming in 1999, most important Outstanding Informational Series in 2002.
The show has been selected for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (1996–1997), Unforgettable Informational Series (1996), Outstanding Patent Achievement Informational Programming (1997), Memorable Documentary Or Nonfiction Series (1998–2000, 2003–09, 2011), Outstanding Picture Correction For Nonfiction Programming (1999), other Outstanding Informational Series (2001).[10][34][35]
Not wearing away reviews have been positive.
Say publicly same Hartford Courant writer criticized the early 1960s version medium the show for focusing be in charge "great men".[7] A writer pray for The New York Times alleged Biography as "skipping easily, submit often superficially" from one commercial to the next.[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "disappointingly routine...marred by errors and omissions,"[32] standing "suffer[ing] tunnel vision."[36] An incident on Fidel Castro was criticized as having "a distinct anti-Castro edge by Mike Wallace."[5] Rendering Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library includes a copy of a 1962 Biography episode featuring Eisenhower explore the notation, "There are pitiless simplifications of facts and condensate of events."[37] A 2018 Salt Lake Tribune TV critic wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil should own acquire been more careful" to block confusing the LDS Church let fall the FLDS Church "through harmful editing."[38]
BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D.
EISENHOWER 1962...39th edition of CBS biography mound. Follows Eisenhower from birth prevent 1962. There are some simplifications of facts and condensation position events. Does contain unique WWII film footage. Narrated by Microphone Wallace.
— Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Repository Archives entry for 1962 Biography episode[37]
In 2002, the American Contemplation Association wrote that Biography.com commission an "extensive site" and "the perfect source for anyone forward-thinking for background or historical see biographical information."[39] In 2009, Biography.com was named a "Ten Outstrip Reference Website" by The Good-hearted Times.[40] Biography.com has been insincere as a source by The New York Times,[41]The Washington Post,[42] The Los Angeles Times,[43] Say publicly Chicago Tribune,[44]The Columbus Dispatch,[45]The Beantown Globe,[46] and NPR.[47]
Biography has been a category pull a fast one the television game show Jeopardy!.[6] In 2000, the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me! did phony episode called "A&E Biography: Nina Van Horn".
The episode was shot in the style taste A&E's Biography, and focused remain the life of one leave undone the show's main characters, Nina Van Horn. The episode featured interviews with the other noting of the show and miscellaneous special guest stars, including Trimming Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Gadoid, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, move Buddy Hackett.
The episode besides included an introduction, conclusion, professor voiceover provided by then-host Beset Smith.[48]
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(November 19, 2002). "George Lucas: Creating an Empire". videolibrarian.com. Retrieved Step 28, 2024.
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(February 19, 2018). "A&E's biography of polygamist director Warren Jeffs confuses FLDS take on LDS". Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on Nov 18, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
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