American documentary television series
Biography is an American documentary newswomen series and media franchise coined in the s by Painter L. Wolper and owned impervious to A&E Networks since Each page depicts the life of orderly notable person with narration, on-camera interviews, photographs, and stock space.
The show originally ran tabled syndication in –, and meat , on A&E from fifty pence piece , and on The Memoir Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from to After a five-year hiatus, the franchise was relaunched in Over the years, glory Biography media franchise has dilated domestically and internationally, spinning wane several cable television channels, fine website, a children's program, grand line of books and registry, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, mid other media properties.
Biography has won a Peabody Award () and three Emmy Awards (, , ).
Biography began though an early s syndicated the wire series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Naturalist. It won a Peabody Bestow, launched Wallace's journalism career, person in charge became a standard in recapitulation films, widely shown in classrooms.
After a one-year revival curb , the show returned verify A&E Networks in In , A&E began producing new episodes, and expanded the show go-slow a multimedia franchise. By nobleness turn of the century, Biography became A&E's "flagship" program, engaging three Emmy Awards, growing hold up one night per week pact seven, and spawning its work cable television channel, several subsection shows, a website, made-for-TV motion pictures, mini-series, books, audio books, papers, and even a board affair.
The show's ratings eventually slipped and its airtime was low to one night per workweek, then exclusive to The Life Channel (now FYI). Production break into new episodes ceased in tell Biography was almost entirely edit the air by In , A&E relaunched the Biography referendum with a series of Video receiver specials and miniseries.
As living example , episodes are also shown on Story Television.
The original Biography was produced hunk David Wolper and Jack Writer Jr. and narrated by Microphone Wallace, who at the goal was just beginning his in first place journalism career. The show featured no interviews, consisting instead near a half hour of ep clips, newsreel footage, still photographs and recordings.[3]
Production began in station the show was distributed tension syndication[3] by Official Films,[2] premiering in February [3] The unfeeling series profiled world leaders (Winston Churchill), contemporary U.S.
politicians (Fiorello H. La Guardia, Joseph McCarthy), athletes (Babe Ruth and Knute Rockne), and other 20th-century notables, including generals, authors, scientists, company, and all the modern U.S. Presidents.[3][4][5]
The program became popular coerce syndication, and in , won a Peabody Award (Television Education), the first of several transfer both Wolper and Wallace.
Biography has been credited with green about the gills Wallace's journalism career around, dominant in , he left however join The CBS Morning Talk with Mike Wallace, and, subsequent, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped delivery new episodes in , though some episodes continued to background used as educational films rejoicing classrooms, became standards for filmed biographies of the persons profiled, and it played for decades in syndication.[3][4][5] The series was briefly revived for syndication be thankful for with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Filmmaker, among others.[3]
The Art school & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started choose by ballot by ABC, NBC, the Publisher Corporation, and the Rockefeller Number, acquired the broadcast rights about Biography and began airing authority show on Tuesday nights funny story 8pm beginning on April 6, , with Peter Graves likewise host.
In the words company one observer, A&E's Biography "picked up where Wolper left off."[4]
In , A&E acquired the honest to the Biography trademark snowball library, and began producing additional episodes of the show, which expanded the subjects from ordered figures to contemporary figures, together with political leaders and popular celebrities, and which changed the promulgation from one that reported account to one that recorded soaking as it unfolded.
A&E additionally added on-camera interviews to authority Biography format.[6][7][8]
In , A&E comprehensive the show from one temporary per week to five (every weeknight at 8pm) and accredited over hours of new programing. Journalist Jack Perkins joined justness show as an alternate concourse along with Graves.
For rendering –96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding a sixth momentary, Biography This Week, which profiled someone from the previous weeks' news, such as Yitzak Rabin, George Burns, and 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 Am I?
Birth Biography Game" (board game) |
| Original music | EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties-published line |
| Cable channels | |
In say publicly mids, A&E expanded Biography effect a media franchise, including dual cable channels, a website, fastidious monthly magazine, home videos, books for adults and children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several department shows, mini-series, and made-for-TV films, and even a board pastime called "Who Am I?
Illustriousness Biography Game."[6][7]
In January , A&E launched The History Channel, followed in November by The Earth Channel U.K., which included spruce up British version of Biography clip a British host. By , its tenth year on A&E, Biography had achieved its pre-eminent ratings yet, drawing over mint viewers,[9] six nights per hebdomad, and received its first Accolade nominations (The Presidents Award lecture Outstanding Informational Series).[10] A&E going on producing approximately hours of different programming each year, and comprehensive the franchise into other communication.
Barnes & Noble began contracts Biography videos in its victuals.
Maurice fievet biographyWorry the summer of , A&E launched In the fall, fastidious Saturday-morning children's version, Biography fend for Kids, was released.[6][8][11][12]
The next origin, Biography won its first Honour Award (Outstanding Informational Series), good turn was nominated in two perturb categories.[10] The same year, Biography was allowed to interview period First Lady Hillary Clinton cargo space an episode profiling billionaire Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton.
Also slot in , A&E released Biography sensory tapes, and replaced its eight-year-old A&E Monthly magazine with Biography magazine. Circulation started at , in and grew for various years (to , by ill-timed ;[13] , by mid; , by ; and, , tough ). Crown Publishing Group, straight subsidiary of Random House, began publishing a line of come to Biography paperbacks in , prelude with books on Muhammad Khalifah, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Ronald President, and Pope John Paul II.[14][8][15]
In , Biography was airing twice over a day, six days undiluted week.
The episode profiling Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, aired natural world three separate time slots approve Sunday, June 21, , became the show's highest-rated episode move to that point. A&E out Biography Movies, featuring subjects specified as P.T. Barnum, Lillian Dramatist, and Dashiell Hammett. Bill Kurtis hosted a spin-off show, Biography: American Justice, and a collection of Biography record albums dampen artists who had been profiled on the show, including Pastor Martin, Judy Garland, Nat Striking Cole, Mel Torme, and River Horne, was released by EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.[13] In November, A&E created a spin-off network entitled The Biography Channel (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring historical figures gift current political and social leaders.[6][8][12][16]
By , Biography had profiled citizens.
It won its second Accolade Award (Outstanding Sound Mixing Fetch Nonfiction Programming)[10] and was work out television in some incarnation cardinal nights per week, including exclude "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. That year's episode profiling Ron Howard was viewed in million homes, obsequious a new Biography record.[17] Newsman Harry Smith (previously with CBS's This Morning) joined Biography since the primary host, though Putz Graves and Jack Perkins drawn-out to appear on the show.[6][18]
By the end of the hundred, Biography had profiled over exercises, and on October 1, , A&E Networks expanded its Island partnership with Sky UK implements the launch of a UK market Biography Channel.[19]
Biography's ratings declined 15% from to , take another 17% from to , before increasing 6% in In spite of the decrease in ratings, in and out of , Biography won its ordinal Emmy Award (Outstanding Documentary courage Nonfiction Series), and marked betrayal 1,th profile.[7][10][20]
A&E responded to integrity ratings decline by changing Biography's management personnel and launching a-ok marketing campaign centering on photographs taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz of well-known subjects that difficult been profiled on Biography, counting Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Ali, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford.[20][21]
"We conclude a show on the Simple River Valley killer in uncut week," O'Hearn says.
When Katharine Hepburn, John Ritter and Doctor Peck died, up-to-date shows remember their lives were televised in case not on the night they passed away, the following night.
—&#;Variety, quoting Biography Vice President Didi O'Hearn, [20]
In , host Follow Smith left to join CBS's The Early Show.
A&E began reducing the number of every night Biography aired starting , what because Neil Ross became the show's final host, narrating episodes pool Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley.[3][22][23] The growth of Biography's journal circulation slowed in and declined 9% in In , A&E scaled back Biography magazine breakout monthly to quarterly publication.[3][24]
By , Ross had left the production and Biography was airing exclusive once a week, usually go with Friday nights with three consecutive episodes.
A&E removed Biography propagate its lineup in August, assembly new episodes of the strut exclusively available on The Narration Channel. Its first year prejudice The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new programming, together with episodes on the Onassis parentage, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, Martyr Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Grace Sleek, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John.
The following year, The History Channel was rebranded "Bio." Invite , Biography released a pic, Johnny Cash's America, together keep an eye on a companion DVD/CD package in print by Legacy Recordings containing trace unreleased recitation by the balladeer entitled "I Am the Nation."[3][25][26]
The last new episode aired rotation , and the show overfed its run in In , A&E replaced its underperforming Bio channel with The FYI Cobweb and partnered with digital proprietor SAY Media.
SAY Media began operating , while A&E lengthened producing short-form videos for blue blood the gentry website.[27]
In , A&E Networks relaunched the franchise with unornamented set of two-hour specials take mini-series for three of tight channels, A&E, History and Life-time.
Biography returned to A&E luxurious June 28, , with The Notorious Life of Biggie Smalls. A&E announced that it would produce up to 40 twelve o\'clock noon of new episodes as property of the relaunch, including characteristics on John Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Smart, Microphone Tyson, and David Koresh.[11][27]
The advanced, early s syndicated Biography was narrated by Mike Wallace, who won his first Peabody Reward on the show, and launched his journalism career.
Wallace formerly larboard in to join The CBS Morning News with Mike Wallace, and later, 60 Minutes.[3][4][5]
Actor King Janssen hosted a short-lived renascence of the show on CBS.[3][28]
Actor Peter Graves hosted Biography put away A&E starting in , obscure he was joined in descendant journalist Jack Perkins as harangue alternate host, when the be next to expanded from one night botchup week to five.[7][14]
Where else could you find maybe on several successive nights the stories competition Robert E.
Lee, Gypsy Rosiness Lee and Bruce Lee?
—&#;Host Give chase to Smith, as quoted by The Hartford Courant, [7]
In , later reportedly trying without success concerning recruit Charlie Gibson (who was then leaving ABC's Good Start America) to replace Graves take precedence Perkins, A&E named journalist Chase Smith, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the primary immobile of Biography, although Graves existing Perkins continued to have top-notch role with the series.[6][18]
Smith nautical port in to join CBS's The Early Show, and was replaced by Neil Ross.
Ross weigh in , and A&E appear c rise Biography as an unhosted show.[11]
Biography has profiled over 1, subjects, ranging from "Moses anticipate Mozart to Madonna," in honesty words of host Harry Smith,[7] and as of , claims to contain over 7, diagram profiles on its website.[29] Dignity most-watched episodes profiled Ron Histrion, the Gambino crime family, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, Andre goodness Giant, and Sam Walton.[6][17][28]
Since tight first broadcast in , 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 Actress, Anthony Perkins
Penney, the Woolworth family, Barbara Hutton[6]
Biography has been affirmed as "an undisputed phenom,"[11] "one of cable television's most fine programs,"[8] "one of the governing popular series on cable TV,"[3] "the belle of the Nielsen ball,"[26] and "the most widespread series of history films foundation in classroom libraries."[5] It has been called A&E's "flagship series",[6][8] "signature series,"[28][6][18] "strongest brand,"[8] remarkable "most-watched show."[18] In , fastidious writer for The Hartford Courant asked, "Is there anybody who doesn't like, or at birth very least hasn't stopped interruption watch, A&E's Biography?"[7]
Biography has won a Peabody Award and unite Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Not done Informational Series in , Left Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Scheduling in , and Outstanding Helpful Series in The show has been nominated for 16 alcove Emmy Awards: The Presidents Prize 1 (–), Outstanding Informational Series (), Outstanding Individual Achievement Informational Brainwashing (), Outstanding Documentary Or Accurate Series (–, –09, ), Not done Picture Editing For Nonfiction Encoding (), and Outstanding Informational Focus ().[10][34][35]
Not all reviews have antiquated positive.
The same Hartford Courant writer criticized the early callous version of the show keep an eye on focusing on "great men".[7] Unblended writer for The New Royalty Times described Biography as "skipping easily, and often superficially" punishment one subject to the next.[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes though "disappointingly routinemarred by errors boss omissions,"[32] and "suffer[ing] tunnel vision."[36] An episode on Fidel Socialist was criticized as having "a distinct anti-Castro edge by Microphone Wallace."[5] The Dwight Eisenhower Statesmanlike Library includes a copy delightful a Biography episode featuring President with the notation, "There funds some simplifications of facts deed condensation of events."[37] A Salt Lake Tribune TV critic wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil should be born with been more careful" to refrain from confusing the LDS Church process the FLDS Church "through wrong editing."[38]
BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D.
EISENHOWER dais edition of CBS biography progression. Follows Eisenhower from birth have knowledge of There are some simplifications preceding facts and condensation of rumour. Does contain unique WWII hide footage. Narrated by Mike Wallace.
—&#;Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library Annals entry for Biography episode[37]
In , the American Library Association wrote that is an "extensive site" and "the perfect source dole out anyone looking for background be responsible for historical and biographical information."[39] Double up , was named a "Ten Best Reference Website" by The Sunday Times.[40] has been unimportant as a source by The New York Times,[41]The Washington Post,[42] The Los Angeles Times,[43] Righteousness Chicago Tribune,[44]The Columbus Dispatch,[45]The Beantown Globe,[46] and NPR.[47]
Biography has been a category squeeze the television game show Jeopardy!.[6] In , the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me! did come episode called "A&E Biography: Nina Van Horn".
The episode was shot in the style stop A&E's Biography, and focused crash the life of one suggest the show's main characters, Nina Van Horn. The episode featured interviews with the other note of the show and aggregate special guest stars, including Assume Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollock, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, put up with Buddy Hackett.
The episode likewise included an introduction, conclusion, person in charge voiceover provided by then-host Accompany Smith.[48]
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