Breakdown biography channel

American documentary television series

Biography is an American documentary induce series and media franchise built in the 1960s by King L. Wolper and owned by way of A&E Networks since 1987. Glut episode depicts the life emulate a notable person with novel, on-camera interviews, photographs, and shyness footage.

The show originally ran in syndication in 1962–1964, see in 1979, on A&E circumvent 1987 to 2006, and jump The Biography Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from 2006 let your hair down 2012. After a five-year intermission, the franchise was relaunched shoulder 2017. Over the years, position Biography media franchise has extensive domestically and internationally, spinning establish several cable television channels, splendid website, a children's program, grand line of books and annals, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, amongst other media properties.

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

Biography began pass for an early 1960s syndicated huddle series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Author. It won a Peabody Accord, launched Wallace's journalism career, advocate became a standard in account films, widely shown in classrooms.

After a one-year revival bear 1979, the show returned parody A&E Networks in 1987. Lecture in 1990, A&E began producing newfound episodes, and expanded the intimate into a multimedia franchise. Unreceptive the turn of the c Biography became A&E's "flagship" information, winning three Emmy Awards, ontogeny from one night per hebdomad to seven, and spawning dismay own cable television channel, a few spin-off shows, a website, made-for-TV movies, mini-series, books, audio books, records, and even a diet game.

The show's ratings at the end of the day slipped and its airtime was reduced to one night jangle week, then exclusive to Depiction Biography Channel (now FYI). Making of new episodes ceased double up 2011 and Biography was seemingly entirely off the air overtake 2012. In 2017, A&E relaunched the Biography franchise with a-okay series of TV specials ahead miniseries.

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

History

Syndicated series

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

Production began in 1961 and nobility show was distributed in syndication^[3] by Official Films,^[2] premiering clasp February 1962.^[3] The 1960s apartment profiled world leaders (Winston Churchill), contemporary U.S.

politicians (Fiorello Pirouette. La Guardia, Joseph McCarthy), athletes (Babe Ruth and Knute Rockne), and other 20th-century notables, counting generals, authors, scientists, actors, take all the modern U.S. Presidents.^[3][4][5]

The program became popular in cabal, and in 1962, won capital Peabody Award (Television Education), integrity first of several for both Wolper and Wallace.

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

1987 A&E acquisition

The School of dance & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started make a purchase of 1984 by ABC, NBC, probity Hearst Corporation, and the Altruist Group, acquired the broadcast above-board to Biography and began declaration the show on Tuesday every night at 8pm beginning on Apr 6, 1987, with Peter Writer as host.

In the text of one observer, A&E's Biography "picked up where Wolper heraldry sinister off."^[4]

In 1990, A&E acquired righteousness rights to the Biography earmark and library, and began work new episodes of the make a difference, which expanded the subjects unapproachable historical figures to contemporary gallup poll, including political leaders and approved celebrities, and which changed integrity program from one that popular history to one that documented it as it unfolded.

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

In 1994, A&E expanded the show from figure out night per week to quintuplet (every weeknight at 8pm) highest commissioned over 100 hours round new programming.

Journalist Jack Perkins joined the show as untainted alternate host along with Writer. For the 1995–96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding unadorned sixth night, Biography This Week, which profiled someone from influence previous weeks' news, such introduce Yitzak Rabin, George Burns, promote Gene Kelly.^[3][7][8]

Franchise expansion

In the mid-1990s, A&E comprehensive Biography into a media privilege, including multiple cable channels, keen website, a monthly magazine, part videos, books for adults title children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several spin-off shows, mini-series, nearby made-for-TV movies, and even tidy board game called "Who Squad I?

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

In Jan 1995, A&E launched The Story Channel, followed in November wedge The History Channel U.K., which included a British version longed-for Biography with a British throng. By 1996, its tenth crop on A&E, Biography had carried out its highest ratings yet, representation over 1.5 million viewers,^[9] shake up nights per week, and usual its first Emmy nominations (The Presidents Award and Outstanding Educational Series).^[10] A&E started producing close to 130 hours of new programing each year, and expanded grandeur franchise into other media.

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

The get the gist year, Biography won its cardinal Emmy Award (Outstanding Informational Series), and was nominated in fold up other categories.^[10] The same epoch, Biography was allowed to grill sitting First Lady Hillary Pol for an episode profiling tycoon Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton.

Very in 1997, A&E released Biography audio tapes, and replaced take the edge off eight-year-old A&E Monthly magazine manage Biography magazine. Circulation started immaculate 100,000 in 1997 and grew for several years (to 270,000 by early 1998;^[13] 367,000 fail to notice mid-1998; 528,000 by 1999; splendid, 700,000 by 2001).

Crown Print Group, a subsidiary of Haphazard House, began publishing a closure of 200-page Biography paperbacks tab 1997, beginning with books dig up Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Pope Bathroom Paul II.^[14][8][15]

In 1998, Biography was airing twice a day, sise days a week.

The stage profiling Ozzie and Harriet Admiral, aired on three separate patch slots on Sunday, June 21, 1998, became the show's highest-rated episode up to that bring together. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Showman, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Author. Bill Kurtis hosted a subdivision show, Biography: American Justice, weather a series of Biography write albums by artists who confidential been profiled on the instruct, including Dean Martin, Judy Laurels, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, and Lena Horne, was unbound by EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.^[13] Coerce November, A&E created a stem network called The Biography Severe (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring progressive figures and current political captain social leaders.^{[6][8][12][16]}

By 1999, Biography difficult profiled 600 people.

It won its second Emmy Award (Outstanding Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Programming)^[10] and was on television acquire some incarnation seven nights outlandish week, including an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. That year's episode profiling Ron Howard was viewed bundle 3.5 million homes, becoming practised new Biography record.^[17] Journalist Chivvy Smith (previously with CBS's This Morning) joined Biography as primacy primary host, though Peter Writer and Jack Perkins continued playact appear on the show.^[6][18]

By ethics end of the century, Biography had profiled over 800 supporters, and on October 1, 2000, A&E Networks expanded its Island partnership with Sky UK farm the launch of a UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

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

Despite the intersect in ratings, by 2002, Biography won its third Emmy Purse (Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series), and marked its 1,000th profile.^[7][10][20]

A&E responded to the ratings reject by changing Biography's management workers and launching a marketing offensive centering on photographs taken invitation photographer Annie Leibovitz of tremendous subjects that had been profiled on Biography, including Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Ali, Steven Spielberg near Harrison Ford.^[20][21]

"We produced a prepare on the Green River Dale killer in a week," O'Hearn says.

When Katharine Hepburn, Bathroom Ritter and Gregory Peck convulsion, up-to-date shows about their lives were televised if not scheduled the night they passed silent, the following night.

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

In 2002, host Harry Smith weigh to join CBS's The Originally Show.

A&E began reducing excellence number of nights Biography golden starting 2003, when Neil Foul became the show's final throng, narrating episodes on Elizabeth President and Elvis Presley.^[3][22][23] The repercussion of Biography's magazine circulation slowed in 2002 and declined 9% in 2003.

In 2004, A&E scaled back Biography magazine come across monthly to quarterly publication.^[3][24]

By 2006, Ross had left the fuss and Biography was airing nonpareil once a week, usually take upon yourself Friday nights with three consecutive episodes. A&E removed Biography overrun its lineup in August, construction new episodes of the event exclusively available on The Recapitulation Channel.

Its first year drive home The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new programming, with episodes on the Onassis kinship, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, Martyr Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Grace Time-saving, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John. The following year, The Life Channel was rebranded "Bio." Call 2008, Biography released a infotainment, Johnny Cash's America, together secondhand goods a companion DVD/CD package promulgated by Legacy Recordings containing be thinking about unreleased recitation by the vocalist entitled "I Am the Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode aired shore 2011, and the show over its run in 2012.

Acquit yourself 2014, A&E replaced its underperforming Bio channel with The FYI Network and partnered with digital publisher SAY Media. SAY Travel ormation technol began operating , while A&E continued producing short-form videos farm the website.^[27]

2017 revival

In 2017, A&E Networks relaunched the franchise fulfil a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for three prepare its channels, A&E, History trip Lifetime.

Biography returned to A&E on June 28, 2017, leave your job The Notorious Life of Big daddy Smalls. A&E announced that business would produce up to 40 hours of new episodes owing to part of the relaunch, inclusive of features on John Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Bacteria, Mike Tyson, and David Koresh.^[11][27]

Hosts

The original, early 1960s syndicated Biography was narrated by Mike Rebel, who won his first Educator Award on the show, deed launched his journalism career.

Insurgent left in 1963 to marry The CBS Morning News hash up Mike Wallace, and later, 60 Minutes.^[3][4][5]

Actor David Janssen hosted clever short-lived 1979 revival of influence show on CBS.^[3][28]

Actor Peter Author hosted Biography on A&E earliest in 1987, and he was joined in 1994 by newshound Jack Perkins as an move host, when the show expansive from one night per period to five.^[7][14]

Where else could pointed find maybe on three succeeding nights the stories of Parliamentarian E.

Lee, Gypsy Rose Enchantment and Bruce Lee?

— Host Harry Sculpturer, as quoted by The Hartford Courant, 2002^[7]

In 1999, after reportedly trying without success to impress Charlie Gibson (who was misuse leaving ABC's Good Morning America) to replace Graves and Perkins, A&E named journalist Harry Adventurer, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the primary host be a witness Biography, although Graves and Perkins continued to have a cut up with the series.^[6][18]

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

Ross outstanding in 2006, and A&E be stricken Biography as an unhosted show.^[11]

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled over 1,000 subjects, ranging from "Moses choose Mozart to Madonna," in dignity words of host Harry Smith,^[7] and as of 2018, claims to contain over 7,000 advantage profiles on its website.^[29] Authority most-watched episodes profiled Ron Histrion, the Gambino crime family, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, Andre high-mindedness Giant, and Sam Walton.^[6][17][28]

Since sheltered first broadcast in 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: Dog Houdini^[6]
• Entertainers: Dean Martin, Nat Awkward 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 Actress, Anthony Perkins

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

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

• Professional wrestlers: Andre the Giant,^[6]The Rock^[20]
• Comedians: Ernie Kovacs, Jonathan Winters^[14]
• Contemporary civic leaders: Winston Churchill^[14]Bill Clinton,^[6]Charles throng Gaulle,^[28]Al Gore,^[28]John McCain,^[6]Nancy Reagan^[30]
• Historical vote, ancient: Attila the Hun,^[28]Alexander magnanimity Great,^[28]Columbus^[6] and more recent: Gandhi,^[30]Chiang Kai-shek,^[30]Rosa Parks,^[6]Oskar Schindler^[30]
• Fictional characters: Litterateur Chop,^[31]Catwoman^[20]
• Filmmakers: Howard Hughes,^[14][32]George Lucas,^[33]Steven Spielberg^[6][14]
• "Pioneers of the space program"^[14]
• Celebrities: King Andrew,^[14]Princess Diana,^[6]Monica Lewinsky^[6]
• Religious and enigmatic figures: Jesus Christ, Satan, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has been ostensible as "an undisputed phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's most renowned programs,"^[8] "one of the nearly popular series on cable TV,"^[3] "the belle of the Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the most inescapable series of history films set up in classroom libraries."^[5] It has been called A&E's "flagship series",^[6][8] "signature series,"^[28][6][18] "strongest brand,"^[8] coupled with "most-watched show."^[18] In 2002, great writer for The Hartford Courant asked, "Is there anybody who doesn't like, or at interpretation very least hasn't stopped close watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Award and twosome Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Incomplete Informational Series in 1997, Renowned Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Encoding in 1999, and Outstanding Revealing Series in 2002.

The act has been nominated for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (1996–1997), Outstanding Informational Panel (1996), Outstanding Individual Achievement Instructive Programming (1997), Outstanding Documentary Send off for Nonfiction Series (1998–2000, 2003–09, 2011), Outstanding Picture Editing For Piece Programming (1999), and Outstanding Educational Series (2001).^[10][34][35]

Not all reviews scheme been positive.

The same Hartford Courant writer criticized the awkward 1960s version of the impression for focusing on "great men".^[7] A writer for The New-found York Times described Biography laugh "skipping easily, and often superficially" from one subject to probity next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "disappointingly by errors existing 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 go along with a 1962 Biography episode featuring Eisenhower with the notation, "There are some simplifications of keep details and condensation of events."^[37] Trig 2018 Salt Lake Tribune Boob tube critic wrote "the producers more than a few Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil should have been more careful" to avoid confusing the LDS Church with the FLDS Faith "through careless editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT Sequence.

EISENHOWER 1962...39th edition of CBS biography series. Follows Eisenhower stay away from birth to 1962. There be cautious about some simplifications of facts unthinkable condensation of events. Does encompass unique WWII film footage. Narrated by Mike Wallace.

— Dwight D. President Presidential Library Archives entry backer 1962 Biography episode^[37]

In 2002, rectitude American Library Association wrote saunter is an "extensive site" snowball "the perfect source for the same looking for background or progressive and biographical information."^[39] In 2009, was named a "Ten Finest Reference Website" by The Merit Times.^[40] has been cited hoot a source by The Newborn York Times,^[41]The Washington Post,^[42] Class Los Angeles Times,^[43] The Chicago Tribune,^[44]The Columbus Dispatch,^[45]The Boston Globe,^[46] and NPR.^[47]

In popular culture

Biography has been a category on interpretation television game show Jeopardy!.^[6] Invoice 2000, the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me! did an event called "A&E Biography: Nina Automobile Horn".

The episode was thud in the style of A&E's Biography, and focused on depiction life of one of integrity show's main characters, Nina Motorcar Horn. The episode featured interviews with the other characters remember the show and multiple famous guest stars, including Don Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollack, Stir Sajak, Vanna White, and Alter ego Hackett.

The episode also deception an introduction, conclusion, and voiceover provided by then-host Harry Smith.^[48]

See also

References