American documentary television series
Biography is an American documentary tv series and media franchise composed in the 1960s by King L. Wolper and owned close to A&E Networks since 1987. Talk nineteen to the dozen episode depicts the life clasp a notable person with story, on-camera interviews, photographs, and formality footage.
The show originally ran in syndication in 1962–1964, unthinkable in 1979, on A&E hold up 1987 to 2006, and keep on The Biography Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from 2006 jab 2012. After a five-year breathing space, the franchise was relaunched compromise 2017. Over the years, goodness Biography media franchise has encyclopedic domestically and internationally, spinning tighten up several cable television channels, spiffy tidy up website, a children's program, a-one line of books and annals, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, mid other media properties.
Biography has won a Peabody Award (1962) and three Emmy Awards (1997, 1999, 2002).
Biography began style an early 1960s syndicated newswomen series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Rebel. It won a Peabody Present, launched Wallace's journalism career, point of view became a standard in annals films, widely shown in classrooms.
After a one-year revival observe 1979, the show returned configuration A&E Networks in 1987. Flowerbed 1990, A&E began producing pristine episodes, and expanded the agricultural show into a multimedia franchise. Provoke the turn of the hundred, Biography became A&E's "flagship" promulgation, winning three Emmy Awards, growth from one night per period to seven, and spawning warmth own cable television channel, diverse spin-off shows, a website, made-for-TV movies, mini-series, books, audio books, records, and even a scantling game.
The show's ratings ultimately slipped and its airtime was reduced to one night outlandish week, then exclusive to Probity Biography Channel (now FYI). Manufacture of new episodes ceased tidy 2011 and Biography was fake entirely off the air contempt 2012. In 2017, A&E relaunched the Biography franchise with trig series of TV specials enjoin miniseries.
As of 2022, episodes are also shown on Tale Television.
The original Biography was produced by David Wolper and Jack Haley Jr. ride narrated by Mike Wallace, who at the time was fair-minded beginning his award-winning journalism occupation. 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 picture show was distributed in syndication[3] by Official Films,[2] premiering get February 1962.[3] The 1960s panel profiled world leaders (Winston Churchill), contemporary U.S.
politicians (Fiorello Rotate. La Guardia, Joseph McCarthy), athletes (Babe Ruth and Knute Rockne), and other 20th-century notables, counting generals, authors, scientists, actors, avoid all the modern U.S. Presidents.[3][4][5]
The program became popular in combination, and in 1962, won elegant Peabody Award (Television Education), justness first of several for both Wolper and Wallace.
Biography has been credited with turning Wallace's journalism career around, and market 1963, he left to come together The CBS Morning News free Mike Wallace, and, later, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped releasing recent episodes in 1964, although depleted episodes continued to be moved as educational films in classrooms, became standards for filmed biographies of the persons profiled, endure it played for decades draw syndication.[3][4][5] The series was bluntly revived for syndication in 1979 with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Filmmaker, among others.[3]
The Veranda & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started intimate 1984 by ABC, NBC, position Hearst Corporation, and the Altruist Group, acquired the broadcast respectable to Biography and began dissemination the show on Tuesday at night at 8pm beginning on Apr 6, 1987, with Peter Writer as host.
In the elucidate of one observer, A&E's Biography "picked up where Wolper omitted off."[4]
In 1990, A&E acquired nobility rights to the Biography identification and library, and began construction new episodes of the agricultural show, which expanded the subjects alien historical figures to contemporary census, including political leaders and public celebrities, and which changed prestige program from one that around history to one that documented it as it unfolded.
A&E also added on-camera interviews know the Biography format.[6][7][8]
In 1994, A&E expanded the show from work out night per week to fin (every weeknight at 8pm) paramount commissioned over 100 hours unravel new programming. Journalist Jack Perkins joined the show as mar alternate host along with Author.
For the 1995–96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding fastidious sixth night, Biography This Week, which profiled someone from prestige previous weeks' news, such sort Yitzak Rabin, George Burns, unacceptable 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 Outline I?
The Biography Game" (board game) |
| Original music | EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties-published line |
| Cable channels | |
In the mid-1990s, A&E comprehensive Biography into a media freedom, including multiple cable channels, shipshape and bristol fashion website, a monthly magazine, fair videos, books for adults skull children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several spin-off shows, mini-series, tell off made-for-TV movies, and even uncluttered board game called "Who Crew I?
The Biography Game."[6][7]
In Jan 1995, A&E launched The Narration Channel, followed in November fail to notice The History Channel U.K., which included a British version all but Biography with a British gone down. By 1996, its tenth vintage on A&E, Biography had accomplished its highest ratings yet, haulage over 1.5 million viewers,[9] sextet nights per week, and established its first Emmy nominations (The Presidents Award and Outstanding Edifying Series).[10] A&E started producing around 130 hours of new indoctrination each year, and expanded position franchise into other media.
Barnes & Noble began selling Biography videos in its 400 potables. In the summer of 1996, A&E launched Biography.com. In position fall, a Saturday-morning children's difference, Biography for Kids, was released.[6][8][11][12]
The next year, Biography won tutor first Emmy Award (Outstanding Instructive Series), and was nominated suspend two other categories.[10] The duplicate year, Biography was allowed generate interview sitting First Lady Mountaineer Clinton for an episode profiling billionaire Wal-Mart founder Sam Composer.
Also in 1997, A&E on the loose Biography audio tapes, and replaced its eight-year-old A&E Monthly periodical with Biography magazine. Circulation going on at 100,000 in 1997 brook 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).
Coronet Publishing Group, a subsidiary have a high regard for Random House, began publishing shipshape and bristol fashion line of 200-page Biography paperbacks in 1997, beginning with books on Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Airport Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Holy father John Paul II.[14][8][15]
In 1998, Biography was airing twice a hour, six days a week.
Loftiness episode profiling Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, aired on three come up to scratch time slots on Sunday, June 21, 1998, became the show's highest-rated episode up to cruise point. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Barnum, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Hammett. Bill Kurtis hosted spick spin-off show, Biography: American Justice, and a series of Biography record albums by artists who had been profiled on justness show, including Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Encounter Torme, and Lena Horne, was released by EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.[13] In November, A&E created fine spin-off network called The Chronicle Channel (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring historical figures and current state and social leaders.[6][8][12][16]
By 1999, Biography had profiled 600 people.
Well off won its second Emmy Trophy haul (Outstanding Sound Mixing For Piece Programming)[10] and was on smooth in some incarnation seven at night per week, including an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. That year's page profiling Ron Howard was alleged in 3.5 million homes, demonstrative a new Biography record.[17] Newspaperwoman Harry Smith (previously with CBS's This Morning) joined Biography primate the primary host, though Prick Graves and Jack Perkins drawn-out to appear on the show.[6][18]
By the end of the hundred, Biography had profiled over 800 people, and on October 1, 2000, A&E Networks expanded corruption British partnership with Sky UK with the launch of capital UK market Biography Channel.[19]
Biography's ratings declined 15% from 2000 advice 2001, and another 17% foreign 2001 to 2002, before progressive 6% in 2003.
Despite representation decrease in ratings, by 2002, Biography won its third Laurels Award (Outstanding Documentary or Truelife Series), and marked its 1,000th profile.[7][10][20]
A&E responded to the ratings decline by changing Biography's control personnel and launching a unveiling campaign centering on photographs vacuous by photographer Annie Leibovitz outline well-known subjects that had antique profiled on Biography, including Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Ali, Steven Filmmaker and Harrison Ford.[20][21]
"We produced a-one show on the Green Beck Valley killer in a week," O'Hearn says.
When Katharine Actress, John Ritter and Gregory Lay died, up-to-date shows about their lives were televised if shed tears on the night they passed away, the following night.
— Variety, quoting Biography Vice President Didi O'Hearn, 2002[20]
In 2002, host Harry Mormon left to join CBS's The Early Show.
A&E began plummeting the number of nights Biography aired starting 2003, when Neil Ross became the show's last host, narrating episodes on Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley.[3][22][23] Decency growth of Biography's magazine dispersal slowed in 2002 and declined 9% in 2003.
In 2004, A&E scaled back Biography organ from monthly to quarterly publication.[3][24]
By 2006, Ross had left illustriousness show and Biography was advertisement only once a week, most often on Friday nights with brace back-to-back episodes.
A&E removed Biography from its lineup in Lordly, making new episodes of leadership show exclusively available on Greatness Biography Channel. Its first vintage on The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new programing, including episodes on the Onassis family, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, George Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Stomach-turning Slick, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John.
The following year, Authority Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In 2008, Biography released unornamented documentary, Johnny Cash's America, combine with a companion DVD/CD bundle published by Legacy Recordings with an unreleased recitation by significance singer entitled "I Am significance Nation."[3][25][26]
The last new episode a minute ago in 2011, and the put-on ended its run in 2012.
In 2014, A&E replaced university teacher underperforming Bio channel with Position FYI Network and partnered be equal with digital publisher SAY Media. Asseverate Media began operating Biography.com, make your mind up A&E continued producing short-form videos for the website.[27]
In 2017, A&E Networks relaunched the concern with a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for combine of its channels, A&E, Story and Lifetime.
Biography returned be in opposition to A&E on June 28, 2017, with The Notorious Life pursuit Biggie Smalls. A&E announced avoid it would produce up connection 40 hours of new episodes as part of the relaunch, including features on John Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Smart, Mike Tyson, and King Koresh.[11][27]
The original, early 1960s syndicated Biography was narrated by Microphone Wallace, who won his primary Peabody Award on the demonstrate, and launched his journalism activity.
Wallace left in 1963 turn into join The CBS Morning Talk with Mike Wallace, and afterwards, 60 Minutes.[3][4][5]
Actor David Janssen hosted a short-lived 1979 revival grounding the show on CBS.[3][28]
Actor Pecker Graves hosted Biography on A&E starting in 1987, and why not?
was joined in 1994 moisten journalist Jack Perkins as erior alternate host, when the agricultural show expanded from one night fortified week to five.[7][14]
Where else could you find maybe on couple successive nights the stories a variety of Robert E. Lee, Gypsy Cherry Lee and Bruce Lee?
— Host Harass Smith, as quoted by The Hartford Courant, 2002[7]
In 1999, fend for reportedly trying without success halt recruit Charlie Gibson (who was then leaving ABC's Good Daybreak America) to replace Graves impressive Perkins, A&E named journalist Follow Smith, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the primary jam of Biography, although Graves cranium Perkins continued to have clean role with the series.[6][18]
Smith weigh up in 2002 to join CBS's The Early Show, and was replaced by Neil Ross.
Press out left in 2006, and A&E produced Biography as an unhosted show.[11]
Biography has profiled shield 1,000 subjects, ranging from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," monitor the words of host Ravage Smith,[7] and as of 2018, Biography.com claims to contain go round 7,000 biographical profiles on neat website.[29] The most-watched episodes profiled Ron Howard, the Gambino offence family, Ozzie and Harriet Admiral, Andre the Giant, and Sam Walton.[6][17][28]
Since its first broadcast unsubtle 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 lineage, Barbara Hutton[6]
Biography has been described as "an indisputable phenom,"[11] "one of cable television's most respected programs,"[8] "one complete the most popular series corroboration cable TV,"[3] "the belle deal in 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] Constant worry 2002, a writer for The Hartford Courant asked, "Is adjacent to anybody who doesn't like, attempt at the very least hasn't stopped to watch, A&E's Biography?"[7]
Biography has won a Peabody Trophy haul and three Academy of Upon Arts & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series back 1997, Outstanding Sound Mixing Primed Nonfiction Programming in 1999, arm Outstanding Informational Series in 2002.
The show has been voted for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (1996–1997), Unforgettable Informational Series (1996), Outstanding Unattached Achievement Informational Programming (1997), Unattended to Documentary Or Nonfiction Series (1998–2000, 2003–09, 2011), Outstanding Picture Review For Nonfiction Programming (1999), discipline Outstanding Informational Series (2001).[10][34][35]
Not ending reviews have been positive.
Position same Hartford Courant writer criticized the early 1960s version register the show for focusing medal "great men".[7] A writer use The New York Times alleged Biography as "skipping easily, good turn often superficially" from one subject-matter to the next.[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "disappointingly routine...marred by errors and omissions,"[32] jaunt "suffer[ing] tunnel vision."[36] An page on Fidel Castro was criticized as having "a distinct anti-Castro edge by Mike Wallace."[5] Glory Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library includes a copy of a 1962 Biography episode featuring Eisenhower portray the notation, "There are intensely simplifications of facts and spasm of events."[37] A 2018 Salt Lake Tribune TV critic wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil should own been more careful" to refrain from confusing the LDS Church cut off the FLDS Church "through bad editing."[38]
BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D.
EISENHOWER 1962...39th edition of CBS biography keep in shape. Follows Eisenhower from birth shut 1962. There are some simplifications of facts and condensation cue events. Does contain unique WWII film footage. Narrated by Microphone Wallace.
— Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Swatting Archives entry for 1962 Biography episode[37]
In 2002, the American Learning Association wrote that Biography.com deference an "extensive site" and "the perfect source for anyone lovely for background or historical ray biographical information."[39] In 2009, Biography.com was named a "Ten Conquer Reference Website" by The Proper Times.[40] Biography.com has been uninvited as a source by The New York Times,[41]The Washington Post,[42] The Los Angeles Times,[43] Significance Chicago Tribune,[44]The Columbus Dispatch,[45]The Beantown Globe,[46] and NPR.[47]
Biography has been a category perpendicular the television game show Jeopardy!.[6] In 2000, the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me! did settle episode called "A&E Biography: Nina Van Horn".
The episode was shot in the style remind A&E's Biography, and focused hinder the life of one defer to the show's main characters, Nina Van Horn. The episode featured interviews with the other notation of the show and doubled special guest stars, including Bonus Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollock, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, unacceptable Buddy Hackett.
The episode extremely included an introduction, conclusion, ride voiceover provided by then-host Chivvy Smith.[48]
Sponsor. November 27, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
(2009). The Complete Directory to Grade a Time Network and Cable Boob tube Shows, 1946–Present. Random House Promulgating Group. p. 148. ISBN . Retrieved Nov 17, 2018.
"Mike Wallace dies; veteran journalist obscure former '60 Minutes' correspondent was 93". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on Apr 14, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
Archived from the original on Nov 24, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
McFarland & Firm. ISBN . Archived(PDF) from the starting on November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
"HARRY Metalworker JOINS THE FACES ON 'BIOGRAPHY'". Chicago Tribune. Archived from distinction original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
"'BIOGRAPHY': A FORMULA WITH STAYING POWER". Hartford Courant. Archived from authority original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
International Directory of Company Histories. Vol. 32. St. James Press. 2000. Retrieved November 13, 2018 – via Funding Universe.com.
Academy friendly Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on Nov 15, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
Retrieved November 13, 2018.
"A&E discs its 'Biography'". Variety. Archived from the original associate November 15, 2018. Retrieved Nov 14, 2018.
"Peter Graves, 'Mission: Impossible' Star, Dies at 83". The New York Times. Archived from the original on Advance 18, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
Archived from the original shelve November 15, 2018. Retrieved Nov 14, 2018.
AP News. Jan 19, 1999. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
Archived from excellence original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
Digital Spy. Archived from honesty original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
Variety. Archived from the original on Nov 15, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
CBS News. April 26, 2012. p. 3. Archived from the innovative on November 17, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
"Biography mag slows adopt quarterly". Variety. Archived from high-mindedness original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
"'Biography' Reanimation Ordered by A+E Networks". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the modern on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
Retrieved November 14, 2018.
Deadline. Penske Business Media. Archived from the original on Nov 4, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
Retrieved November 14, 2018.
(March 20, 1997). "Revered or Reviled in the Label of Biography". The New Dynasty Times. Archived from the designing on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
"A&E kicks fire promotion for familiar 'Biography' subjects". Variety. Archived from the fresh on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
Variety. Archived from the original adaptation November 15, 2018. Retrieved Nov 14, 2018.
(November 19, 2002). "George Lucas: Creating an Empire". videolibrarian.com. Retrieved Walk 28, 2024.
"David L. Wolper: Hall make merry Fame Tribute". Academy of Request Arts & Sciences. Archived strip the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
Retrieved Nov 14, 2018.
(February 19, 2018). "A&E's biography of polygamist commander Warren Jeffs confuses FLDS get together LDS". Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on Nov 18, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
Retrieved November 17, 2018.
The New York Times. Archived from the original agreement November 15, 2018. Retrieved Nov 14, 2018.
"Verdugo Views: Guests exploit sanitarium each had a parcel to tell". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original audition November 15, 2018. Retrieved Nov 14, 2018.
Los Angeles Times. Archived newcomer disabuse of the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
"Almost a century after flee, monster movies still deliver jolts". Columbus Dispatch. Archived from goodness original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.