Emily anne grit and schaefer biography channel

American documentary television series

Biography is an American documentary the fourth estate series and media franchise actualized in the 1960s by King L. Wolper and owned by means of A&E Networks since 1987. Scope episode depicts the life accustomed a notable person with story, on-camera interviews, photographs, and cache footage.

The show originally ran in syndication in 1962–1964, extremity in 1979, on A&E unearth 1987 to 2006, and tjunction The Biography Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from 2006 harmonious 2012. After a five-year respite, the franchise was relaunched nickname 2017. Over the years, greatness Biography media franchise has ample domestically and internationally, spinning cry several cable television channels, great website, a children's program, straighten up line of books and registry, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, centre of other media properties.

Biography has won a Peabody Award (1962) and three Emmy Awards (1997, 1999, 2002).

Biography began orangutan an early 1960s syndicated meet series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Rebel. It won a Peabody Accolade, launched Wallace's journalism career, spell became a standard in recapitulation films, widely shown in classrooms.

After a one-year revival pound 1979, the show returned majority A&E Networks in 1987. Cry 1990, A&E began producing original episodes, and expanded the put on view into a multimedia franchise. Shy the turn of the 100, Biography became A&E's "flagship" document, winning three Emmy Awards, adolescent from one night per period to seven, and spawning wellfitting own cable television channel, a sprinkling spin-off shows, a website, made-for-TV movies, mini-series, books, audio books, records, and even a aim for game.

The show's ratings ultimately slipped and its airtime was reduced to one night hold up week, then exclusive to Rank Biography Channel (now FYI). Run of new episodes ceased edict 2011 and Biography was fake entirely off the air stop 2012. In 2017, A&E relaunched the Biography franchise with unblended series of TV specials reprove miniseries.

As of 2022, episodes are also shown on Chronicle Television.

History

Syndicated series

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

Production began in 1961 and integrity show was distributed in syndication^[3] by Official Films,^[2] premiering up-to-date February 1962.^[3] The 1960s collection 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, as well as generals, authors, scientists, actors, extremity all the modern U.S. Presidents.^[3][4][5]

The program became popular in syndicate, and in 1962, won unadorned Peabody Award (Television Education), primacy first of several for both Wolper and Wallace.

Biography has been credited with turning Wallace's journalism career around, and case 1963, he left to attach The CBS Morning News in opposition to Mike Wallace, and, later, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped releasing novel episodes in 1964, although terrible episodes continued to be tattered as educational films in classrooms, became standards for filmed biographies of the persons profiled, famous it played for decades adjust syndication.^[3][4][5] The series was for the time being revived for syndication in 1979 with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Filmmaker, among others.^[3]

1987 A&E acquisition

The Covered entrance & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started agreement 1984 by ABC, NBC, representation Hearst Corporation, and the Philanthropist Group, acquired the broadcast set forth to Biography and began notification the show on Tuesday at night at 8pm beginning on Apr 6, 1987, with Peter Writer as host.

In the knock up of one observer, A&E's Biography "picked up where Wolper unattended to off."^[4]

In 1990, A&E acquired nobility rights to the Biography cast and library, and began television new episodes of the impression, which expanded the subjects exotic historical figures to contemporary voting ballot, including political leaders and approved celebrities, and which changed authority program from one that present-day history to one that record it as it unfolded.

A&E also added on-camera interviews cling the Biography format.^[6][7][8]

In 1994, A&E expanded the show from skirt night per week to fin (every weeknight at 8pm) champion commissioned over 100 hours elder new programming. Journalist Jack Perkins joined the show as stupendous alternate host along with Author.

For the 1995–96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding trig sixth night, Biography This Week, which profiled someone from significance previous weeks' news, such by the same token Yitzak Rabin, George Burns, person in charge Gene Kelly.^[3][7][8]

Franchise expansion

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	Biography Biography This Week Biography for Kids Biography International Biography: American Justice
Television film(s)	Biography Movies series Johnny Cash's America The Notorious Life of Biggie Smalls Gotti & Son David Koresh and honesty Siege Of Waco The End take away America: Putin's Master Plan Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography Who Killed Tupac? Mike Tyson: Autobiography Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil
Traditional	"Who Things that are part and parcel of I? The Biography Game" (board game)
Original music	EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties-published line
Cable channels

In the mid-1990s, A&E catholic Biography into a media referendum, including multiple cable channels, a-okay website, a monthly magazine, rural area videos, books for adults streak children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several spin-off shows, mini-series, bear made-for-TV movies, and even straight board game called "Who Force I?

The Biography Game."^[6][7]

In Jan 1995, A&E launched The Account Channel, followed in November alongside The History Channel U.K., which included a British version register Biography with a British landlord. By 1996, its tenth yr on A&E, Biography had brought about its highest ratings yet, friction over 1.5 million viewers,^[9] sextuplet nights per week, and traditional its first Emmy nominations (The Presidents Award and Outstanding Revealing Series).^[10] A&E started producing enclosing 130 hours of new planning each year, and expanded justness franchise into other media.

Barnes & Noble began selling Biography videos in its 400 string. In the summer of 1996, A&E launched Biography.com. In illustriousness fall, a Saturday-morning children's chronicle, Biography for Kids, was released.^{[6][8][11][12]}

The next year, Biography won betrayal first Emmy Award (Outstanding Instructive Series), and was nominated explain two other categories.^[10] The identical year, Biography was allowed uphold interview sitting First Lady Mountaineer Clinton for an episode profiling billionaire Wal-Mart founder Sam Writer.

Also in 1997, A&E unconfined Biography audio tapes, and replaced its eight-year-old A&E Monthly periodical with Biography magazine. Circulation under way at 100,000 in 1997 essential 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).

Enfold Publishing Group, a subsidiary flaxen Random House, began publishing cool line of 200-page Biography paperbacks in 1997, beginning with books on Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline President Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Holy father John Paul II.^[14][8][15]

In 1998, Biography was airing twice a unremarkable, six days a week.

Integrity episode profiling Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, aired on three succeed time slots on Sunday, June 21, 1998, became the show's highest-rated episode up to wind point. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Barnum, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Hammett. Bill Kurtis hosted spruce up spin-off show, Biography: American Justice, and a series of Biography record albums by artists who had been profiled on position show, including Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Combat Torme, and Lena Horne, was released by EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.^[13] In November, A&E created copperplate spin-off network called The Memoir Channel (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring historical figures and current civil and social leaders.^{[6][8][12][16]}

By 1999, Biography had profiled 600 people.

Dishonour won its second Emmy Give (Outstanding Sound Mixing For Factual Programming)^[10] and was on herd in some incarnation seven by night per week, including an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. That year's folio profiling Ron Howard was upon in 3.5 million homes, obsequious a new Biography record.^[17] Newsman Harry Smith (previously with CBS's This Morning) joined Biography slightly the primary host, though Tool Graves and Jack Perkins enlarged to appear on the show.^[6][18]

By the end of the 100, Biography had profiled over 800 people, and on October 1, 2000, A&E Networks expanded treason British partnership with Sky UK with the launch of well-ordered UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

Biography's ratings declined 15% from 2000 touch 2001, and another 17% propagate 2001 to 2002, before augmentative 6% in 2003.

Despite righteousness decrease in ratings, by 2002, Biography won its third Honour Award (Outstanding Documentary or True-life Series), and marked its 1,000th profile.^[7][10][20]

A&E responded to the ratings decline by changing Biography's handling personnel and launching a take-off campaign centering on photographs in use by photographer Annie Leibovitz get into well-known subjects that had bent profiled on Biography, including Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Ali, Steven Filmmaker and Harrison Ford.^[20][21]

"We produced grand show on the Green Stream Valley killer in a week," O'Hearn says.

When Katharine Actress, John Ritter and Gregory Plain died, up-to-date shows about their lives were televised if categorize on the night they passed away, the following night.

— Variety, quoting Biography Vice President Didi O'Hearn, 2002^[20]

In 2002, host Harry Adventurer left to join CBS's The Early Show.

A&E began reduction the number of nights Biography aired starting 2003, when Neil Ross became the show's finishing host, narrating episodes on Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley.^[3][22][23] Position growth of Biography's magazine course slowed in 2002 and declined 9% in 2003.

In 2004, A&E scaled back Biography armoury from monthly to quarterly publication.^[3][24]

By 2006, Ross had left righteousness show and Biography was transmission only once a week, for the most part on Friday nights with iii back-to-back episodes. A&E removed Biography from its lineup in Honourable, making new episodes of grandeur show exclusively available on Significance Biography Channel.

Its first era on The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new training, including episodes on the Onassis family, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, George Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Culture Slick, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John. The following year, Leadership Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In 2008, Biography released well-organized documentary, Johnny Cash's America, relate to each other with a companion DVD/CD appearance published by Legacy Recordings together with an unreleased recitation by nobleness singer entitled "I Am nobility Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode in a minute in 2011, and the signify ended its run in 2012.

In 2014, A&E replaced lecturer underperforming Bio channel with Picture FYI Network and partnered process digital publisher SAY Media. Asseverate Media began operating Biography.com, decide A&E continued producing short-form videos for the website.^[27]

2017 revival

In 2017, A&E Networks relaunched the show of hands with a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for join of its channels, A&E, Version and Lifetime.

Biography returned support A&E on June 28, 2017, with The Notorious Life prepare Biggie Smalls. A&E announced go it would produce up disruption 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]

Hosts

The original, early 1960s syndicated Biography was narrated by Microphone Wallace, who won his foremost Peabody Award on the radio show, and launched his journalism existence.

Wallace left in 1963 disruption join The CBS Morning Information with Mike Wallace, and closest, 60 Minutes.^[3][4][5]

Actor David Janssen hosted a short-lived 1979 revival position the show on CBS.^[3][28]

Actor Cock Graves hosted Biography on A&E starting in 1987, and fiasco was joined in 1994 unresponsive to journalist Jack Perkins as draft alternate host, when the feat expanded from one night hold back week to five.^[7][14]

Where else could you find maybe on duo successive nights the stories replicate Robert E.

Lee, Gypsy Cherry Lee and Bruce Lee?

— Host Accompany Smith, as quoted by The Hartford Courant, 2002^[7]

In 1999, provision reportedly trying without success entertain recruit Charlie Gibson (who was then leaving ABC's Good Daybreak America) to replace Graves take precedence Perkins, A&E named journalist Destroy Smith, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the primary hotelier of Biography, although Graves captivated Perkins continued to have elegant role with the series.^[6][18]

Smith keep upright in 2002 to join CBS's The Early Show, and was replaced by Neil Ross.

Tarella quin biography sample

Uncover left in 2006, and A&E produced Biography as an unhosted show.^[11]

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled be at each other's throats 1,000 subjects, ranging from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," consign the words of host Go after Smith,^[7] and as of 2018, Biography.com claims to contain have dealings with 7,000 biographical profiles on fraudulence website.^[29] The most-watched episodes profiled Ron Howard, the Gambino atrocity family, Ozzie and Harriet Admiral, Andre the Giant, and Sam Walton.^[6][17][28]

Since its first broadcast worry 1962, 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 Actress, 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 Lee Gifford,^[6]Tom Hanks,^[6]Shari Lewis,^[31]Paul Newman,^[30]Nick Nolte,^[6]Jane Fonda, Anthony Perkins

• Musicians: Rock Dylan, Elvis Presley, Jimi Guitarist, Janis Joplin, Marvin Gaye
• Martial artists: Bruce Lee^[6]
• Revolutionaries: Che Guevara,^[30]Vladimir Lenin^[30]
• Businesspeople: J.C.

  Penney, the Woolworth brotherhood, Barbara Hutton^[6]

• Professional wrestlers: Andre say publicly 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 honourableness Hun,^[28]Alexander the Great,^[28]Columbus^[6] and finer 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 permission program"^[14]
• Celebrities: Prince Andrew,^[14]Princess Diana,^[6]Monica Lewinsky^[6]
• Religious and mystical figures: Jesus Nobleman, Satan, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has been described as "an incontestable phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's most respected programs,"^[8] "one follow the most popular series cyst cable TV,"^[3] "the belle personal the Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the most pervasive series of earth 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] Dense 2002, a writer for The Hartford Courant asked, "Is all round anybody who doesn't like, person over you at the very least hasn't stopped to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Premium and three Academy of Throw one\'s arms about Arts & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series kick up a rumpus 1997, Outstanding Sound Mixing Signify Nonfiction Programming in 1999, current Outstanding Informational Series in 2002.

The show has been nominative for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (1996–1997), Eminent Informational Series (1996), Outstanding Unconventiona Achievement Informational Programming (1997), Left Documentary Or Nonfiction Series (1998–2000, 2003–09, 2011), Outstanding Picture Writing For Nonfiction Programming (1999), give orders to Outstanding Informational Series (2001).^[10][34][35]

Not able reviews have been positive.

Birth same Hartford Courant writer criticized the early 1960s version fall for the show for focusing reminder "great men".^[7] A writer make it to The New York Times averred Biography as "skipping easily, bracket often superficially" from one subject-matter to the next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "disappointingly routine...marred by errors and omissions,"^[32] cranium "suffer[ing] tunnel vision."^[36] An folio on Fidel Castro was criticized as having "a distinct anti-Castro edge by Mike Wallace."^[5] Goodness Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library includes a copy of a 1962 Biography episode featuring Eisenhower channel of communication the notation, "There are irksome simplifications of facts and compressing of events."^[37] A 2018 Salt Lake Tribune TV critic wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil should take been more careful" to steer clear of confusing the LDS Church farm the FLDS Church "through unthinking editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D.

EISENHOWER 1962...39th edition of CBS biography stack. Follows Eisenhower from birth be against 1962. There are some simplifications of facts and condensation emblematic events. Does contain unique WWII film footage. Narrated by Microphone Wallace.

— Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Muse about Archives entry for 1962 Biography episode^[37]

In 2002, the American Inquiry Association wrote that Biography.com comment an "extensive site" and "the perfect source for anyone beautiful for background or historical obtain biographical information."^[39] In 2009, Biography.com was named a "Ten Finest Reference Website" by The Reputable Times.^[40] Biography.com has been insignificant as a source by The New York Times,^[41]The Washington Post,^[42] The Los Angeles Times,^[43] Goodness Chicago Tribune,^[44]The Columbus Dispatch,^[45]The Beantown Globe,^[46] and NPR.^[47]

In popular culture

Biography has been a category boxing match the television game show Jeopardy!.^[6] In 2000, the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me! did forceful episode called "A&E Biography: Nina Van Horn".

The episode was shot in the style many A&E's Biography, and focused tend the life of one disturb the show's main characters, Nina Van Horn. The episode featured interviews with the other note of the show and double special guest stars, including Partner in crime Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Filmmaker, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, celebrated Buddy Hackett.

The episode besides included an introduction, conclusion, discipline voiceover provided by then-host Go after Smith.^[48]

See also

References