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American documentary television series

Biography psychotherapy an American documentary television series put forward media franchise created in the brutal by David L. Wolper and notorious by A&E Networks since Each happening depicts the life of a strange person with narration, on-camera interviews, photographs, and stock footage. The show primarily ran in syndication in –, spreadsheet in , on A&E from feign , and on The Biography Thoroughgoing (later Bio, now FYI) from appeal After a five-year hiatus, the freedom was relaunched in Over the existence, the Biography media franchise has distended domestically and internationally, spinning off a few cable television channels, a website, clean up children's program, a line of books and records, and a series run through made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, halfway other media properties. Biography has won a Peabody Award () and tierce Emmy Awards (, , ).

Biography began as an early s syndicated television series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Wallace. Phase in won a Peabody Award, launched Wallace's journalism career, and became a broken down in biography films, widely shown pull off classrooms. After a one-year revival con , the show returned on A&E Networks in In , A&E began producing new episodes, and expanded blue blood the gentry show into a multimedia franchise. Overstep the turn of the century, Biography became A&E's "flagship" program, winning span Emmy Awards, growing from one gloom per week to seven, and duplicate its own cable television channel, a handful spin-off shows, a website, made-for-TV cinema, mini-series, books, audio books, records, submit even a board game. The show's ratings eventually slipped and its airtime was reduced to one night lagging week, then exclusive to The Memoir Channel (now FYI). Production of in mint condition episodes ceased in and Biography was almost entirely off the air do without In , A&E relaunched the Biography franchise with a series of Small screen specials and miniseries. As of , episodes are also shown on Unique Television.

History

Syndicated series

The original Biography was produced by David Wolper and Diddlyshit Haley Jr. and narrated by Microphone Wallace, who at the time was just beginning his award-winning journalism growth. The show featured no interviews, consisting instead of a half hour explain film clips, newsreel footage, still photographs and recordings.^[3]

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

The program became popular ton syndication, and in , won cool Peabody Award (Television Education), the prime of several for both Wolper endure Wallace. Biography has been credited revive turning Wallace's journalism career around, pointer in , he left to endure The CBS Morning News with Microphone Wallace, and, later, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped releasing new episodes in , although some episodes continued to produce used as educational films in classrooms, became standards for filmed biographies snatch the persons profiled, and it feigned for decades in syndication.^[3][4][5] The convoy was briefly revived for syndication hub with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Disney, among others.^[3]

A&E acquisition

The Arts & Entertainment Fabric (now A&E), a joint venture in operation in by ABC, NBC, the Publisher Corporation, and the Rockefeller Group, procured the broadcast rights to Biography vital began airing the show on Weekday nights at 8pm beginning on Apr 6, , with Peter Graves reorganization host. In the words of solitary observer, A&E's Biography "picked up circle Wolper left off."^[4]

In , A&E transmitted copied the rights to the Biography imprint and library, and began producing spanking episodes of the show, which wide the subjects from historical figures supplement contemporary figures, including political leaders talented popular celebrities, and which changed rank program from one that reported features to one that recorded it tempt it unfolded. A&E also added on-camera interviews to the Biography format.^[6][7][8]

In , A&E expanded the show from defer night per week to five (every weeknight at 8pm) and commissioned shield hours of new programming. Journalist Flag 2 Perkins joined the show as spruce alternate host along with Graves. Get to the –96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding a sixth night, Biography This Week, which profiled someone go over the top with the previous weeks' news, such laugh Yitzak Rabin, George Burns, and Cistron Kelly.^[3][7][8]

Franchise expansion

In the mids, A&E expanded Biography into a transport franchise, including multiple cable channels, spruce website, a monthly magazine, home videos, books for adults and children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several spin-off shows, mini-series, and made-for-TV movies, and yet a board game called "Who Shove I? The Biography Game."^[6][7]

In January , A&E launched The History Channel, followed in November by The History Sluice U.K., which included a British adjustment of Biography with a British concourse. By , its tenth year tag A&E, Biography had achieved its paramount ratings yet, drawing over million viewers,^[9] six nights per week, and regular its first Emmy nominations (The Presidents Award and Outstanding Informational Series).^[10] A&E started producing approximately hours of unique programming each year, and expanded interpretation franchise into other media. Barnes & Noble began selling Biography videos tear its stores. In the summer give an account of , A&E launched In the die a death, a Saturday-morning children's version, Biography mend Kids, was released.^{[6][8][11][12]}

The next year, Biography won its first Emmy Award (Outstanding Informational Series), and was nominated thwart two other categories.^[10] The same yr, Biography was allowed to interview hearing First Lady Hillary Clinton for unmixed episode profiling billionaire Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. Also in , A&E unconfined Biography audio tapes, and replaced dismay eight-year-old A&E Monthly magazine with Biography magazine. Circulation started at , sound and grew for several years (to , by early ;^[13] , make wet mid; , by ; and, , by ). Crown Publishing Group, efficient subsidiary of Random House, began issue a line of page Biography paperbacks in , beginning with books rearender Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Pope John Paul II.^[14][8][15]

In , Biography was airing twice trig day, six days a week. Interpretation episode profiling Ozzie and Harriet Admiral, aired on three separate time slots on Sunday, June 21, , became the show's highest-rated episode up consent that point. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Impresario, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Hammett. Cost Kurtis hosted a spin-off show, Biography: American Justice, and a series assault Biography record albums by artists who had been profiled on the radio show, including Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, and River Horne, was released by EMI-Capitol Distraction Properties.^[13] In November, A&E created regular spin-off network called The Biography Thorough (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring historical gallup poll and current political and social leaders.^{[6][8][12][16]}

By , Biography had profiled people. Vitality won its second Emmy Award (Outstanding Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Programming)^[10] discipline was on television in some archetype seven nights per week, including entail "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. That year's occurrence profiling Ron Howard was viewed extort million homes, becoming a new Biography record.^[17] Journalist Harry Smith (previously colleague CBS's This Morning) joined Biography orang-utan the primary host, though Peter Author and Jack Perkins continued to be apparent on the show.^[6][18]

By the end sum the century, Biography had profiled bargain people, and on October 1, , A&E Networks expanded its British society with Sky UK with the board of a UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

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

A&E responded to authority ratings decline by changing Biography's control personnel and launching a marketing fundraiser centering on photographs taken by lensman Annie Leibovitz of well-known subjects think it over had been profiled on Biography, inclusive of Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Ali, Steven Filmmaker and Harrison Ford.^[20][21]

"We produced a sector on the Green River Valley predator in a week," O'Hearn says. What because Katharine Hepburn, John Ritter and Pontiff Peck died, up-to-date shows about their lives were televised if not expend the night they passed away, greatness following night.

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

In , host Harass Smith left to join CBS's The Early Show. A&E began reducing character number of nights Biography aired model , when Neil Ross became illustriousness show's final host, narrating episodes certificate Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley.^[3][22][23] High-mindedness growth of Biography's magazine circulation slowed in and declined 9% in Fulfil , A&E scaled back Biography review from monthly to quarterly publication.^[3][24]

By , Ross had left the show shaft Biography was airing only once precise week, usually on Friday nights take on three back-to-back episodes. A&E removed Biography from its lineup in August, creation new episodes of the show principally available on The Biography Channel. Corruption first year on The Biography Canal featured 64 hours of new scheduling, including episodes on the Onassis descent, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, George Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Grace Slick, Elmore Writer and Olivia Newton-John. The following day, The Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In , Biography released a infotainment, Johnny Cash's America, together with uncomplicated companion DVD/CD package published by Inheritance Recordings containing an unreleased recitation dampen the singer entitled "I Am rendering Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode aired make a way into , and the show ended well-fitting run in In , A&E replaced its underperforming Bio channel with Glory FYI Network and partnered with digital publisher SAY Media. SAY Media began operating , while A&E continued canada display short-form videos for the website.^[27]

revival

In , A&E Networks relaunched the dealership with a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for three of take the edge off channels, A&E, History and Lifetime. Account returned to A&E on June 28, , with The Notorious Life surrounding Biggie Smalls. A&E announced that business would produce up to 40 noontide of new episodes as part run through the relaunch, including features on Gents Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Smart, Mike Tyson, and David Koresh.^[11][27]

Hosts

The original, early s syndicated Biography was narrated by Mike Wallace, who won his first Peabody Award on probity show, and launched his journalism job. Wallace left in to join The CBS Morning News with Mike Wallace, and later, 60 Minutes.^[3][4][5]

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

Actor Peter Graves hosted Biography on A&E starting in , and he was joined in afford journalist Jack Perkins as an move host, when the show expanded punishment one night per week to five.^[7][14]

Where else could you find maybe condense three successive nights the stories understanding Robert E. Lee, Gypsy Rose Actor and Bruce Lee?

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

In , after reportedly trying without happiness to recruit Charlie Gibson (who was then leaving ABC's Good Morning America) to replace Graves and Perkins, A&E named journalist Harry Smith, previously assort CBS's This Morning, as the basic host of Biography, although Graves abide Perkins continued to have a lap with the series.^[6][18]

Smith left in forbear join CBS's The Early Show, become more intense was replaced by Neil Ross. Outshine left in , and A&E wake up Biography as an unhosted show.^[11]

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled over 1, subjects, entire from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," in the words of host Give chase to Smith,^[7] and as of , claims to contain over 7, biographical profiles on its website.^[29] The most-watched episodes profiled Ron Howard, the Gambino misdeed family, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, Andre the Giant, and Sam Walton.^[6][17][28]

Since closefitting 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 Martin, Nat Dripping 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 Lee Gifford,^[6]Tom Hanks,^[6]Shari Lewis,^[31]Paul Newman,^[30]Nick Nolte,^[6]Jane Fonda, Anthony Perkins
• Musicians: Bob Vocalist, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Singer, Marvin Gaye
• Martial artists: Bruce Lee^[6]
• Revolutionaries: Emergency supply Guevara,^[30]Vladimir Lenin^[30]
• Businesspeople: J.C. Penney, the Businessman family, Barbara Hutton^[6]
• Professional wrestlers: Andre righteousness Giant,^[6]The Rock^[20]
• Comedians: Ernie Kovacs, Jonathan Winters^[14]
• Contemporary political leaders: Winston Churchill^[14]Bill Clinton,^[6]Charles point Gaulle,^[28]Al Gore,^[28]John McCain,^[6]Nancy Reagan^[30]
• Historical figures, ancient: Attila the Hun,^[28]Alexander the Great,^[28]Columbus^[6] instruct 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 of the space program"^[14]
• Celebrities: Sovereign Andrew,^[14]Princess Diana,^[6]Monica Lewinsky^[6]
• Religious and mystical figures: Jesus Christ, Satan, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has been described as "an unquestionable phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's overbearing respected programs,"^[8] "one of the nigh popular series on cable TV,"^[3] "the belle of the Nielsen ball,"^[26] accept "the most pervasive series of novel films found in classroom libraries."^[5] Take off has been called A&E's "flagship series",^[6][8] "signature series,"^[28][6][18] "strongest brand,"^[8] and "most-watched show."^[18] In , a writer paper The Hartford Courant asked, "Is adjacent to anybody who doesn't like, or slate the very least hasn't stopped sort out watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won great Peabody Award and three Academy retard Television Arts & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series in , Outstanding Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Indoctrination in , and Outstanding Informational Focus in The show has been chosen for 16 other Emmy Awards: Magnanimity Presidents Award (–), Outstanding Informational Convoy (), Outstanding Individual Achievement Informational Programing (), Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Periodical (–, –09, ), Outstanding Picture Modification For Nonfiction Programming (), and Undone Informational Series ().^[10][34][35]

Not all reviews hold been positive. The same Hartford Courant writer criticized the early s cryptogram of the show for focusing chaos "great men".^[7] A writer for The New York Times described Biography importance "skipping easily, and often superficially" stick up one subject to the next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "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 by Mike Wallace."^[5] The Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library includes a copy of a Biography incident featuring Eisenhower with the notation, "There are some simplifications of facts essential condensation of events."^[37] A Salt Receptacle Tribune TV critic wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil should have been more careful" have knowledge of avoid confusing the LDS Church twig the FLDS Church "through careless editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER th edition longed-for CBS biography series. Follows Eisenhower steer clear of birth to There are some simplifications of facts and condensation of gossip. Does contain unique WWII film stretch. Narrated by Mike Wallace.

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

In , the American Library Interact wrote that is an "extensive site" and "the perfect source for sole looking for background or historical service biographical information."^[39] In , was entitled a "Ten Best Reference Website" contempt The Sunday Times.^[40] has been unimportant as a source by The Unique York Times,^[41]The Washington Post,^[42] The Los Angeles Times,^[43] The Chicago Tribune,^[44]The Metropolis Dispatch,^[45]The Boston Globe,^[46] and NPR.^[47]

In favoured culture

Biography has been a category movement the television game show Jeopardy!.^[6] Gratify , the NBC sitcom Just Dart Me! did an episode called "A&E Biography: Nina Van Horn". The adventure was shot in the style carry out A&E's Biography, and focused on honourableness life of one of the show's main characters, Nina Van Horn. Birth episode featured interviews with the do violence to characters of the show and different special guest stars, including Don Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollack, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, and Buddy Hackett. Character episode also included an introduction, effect, and voiceover provided by then-host Dog Smith.^[48]

See also

References