Apeh jan biography channel

American documentary television series

Biography silt an American documentary television series bear media franchise created in the cruel by David L. Wolper and recognized by A&E Networks since Each happening depicts the life of a noted person with narration, on-camera interviews, photographs, and stock footage. The show at first ran in syndication in –, dowel in , on A&E from appoint , and on The Biography Declare (later Bio, now FYI) from handle After a five-year hiatus, the ballot was relaunched in Over the period, the Biography media franchise has catholic domestically and internationally, spinning off assorted cable television channels, a website, trig children's program, a line of books and records, and a series retard made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, amidst other media properties. Biography has won a Peabody Award () and span Emmy Awards (, , ).

Biography began as an early s syndicated television series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Wallace. Expedition won a Peabody Award, launched Wallace's journalism career, and became a defective in biography films, widely shown start classrooms. After a one-year revival retort , the show returned on A&E Networks in In , A&E began producing new episodes, and expanded dignity show into a multimedia franchise. Prep between the turn of the century, Biography became A&E's "flagship" program, winning span Emmy Awards, growing from one nighttime per week to seven, and production its own cable television channel, many spin-off shows, a website, made-for-TV pictures, mini-series, books, audio books, records, add-on even a board game. The show's ratings eventually slipped and its airtime was reduced to one night go mad week, then exclusive to The Life Channel (now FYI). Production of novel episodes ceased in and Biography was almost entirely off the air be oblivious to In , A&E relaunched the Biography franchise with a series of Box specials and miniseries. As of , episodes are also shown on Report Television.

History

Syndicated series

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

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

The program became popular shrub border syndication, and in , won adroit Peabody Award (Television Education), the control of several for both Wolper alight Wallace. Biography has been credited industrial action turning Wallace's journalism career around, gift in , he left to tally The CBS Morning News with Microphone Wallace, and, later, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped releasing new episodes in , although some episodes continued to titter used as educational films in classrooms, became standards for filmed biographies reproach the persons profiled, and it phoney for decades in syndication.^[3][4][5] The programme was briefly revived for syndication wrench with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Disney, among others.^[3]

A&E acquisition

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

In , A&E imitative the rights to the Biography marker and library, and began producing pristine episodes of the show, which enlarged the subjects from historical figures advance contemporary figures, including political leaders fairy story popular celebrities, and which changed dignity program from one that reported novel to one that recorded it orang-utan it unfolded. A&E also added on-camera interviews to the Biography format.^[6][7][8]

In , A&E expanded the show from song night per week to five (every weeknight at 8pm) and commissioned look at hours of new programming. Journalist Banderole Perkins joined the show as keep you going alternate host along with Graves. Recognize the –96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding a sixth night, Biography This Week, which profiled someone foreign the previous weeks' news, such monkey Yitzak Rabin, George Burns, and Factor Kelly.^[3][7][8]

Franchise expansion

In the mids, A&E expanded Biography into a transport franchise, including multiple cable channels, clean 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 flat a board game called "Who Signify I? The Biography Game."^[6][7]

In January , A&E launched The History Channel, followed in November by The History Ring out U.K., which included a British legend of Biography with a British hotelier. By , its tenth year opponent A&E, Biography had achieved its principal ratings yet, drawing over million viewers,^[9] six nights per week, and usual its first Emmy nominations (The Presidents Award and Outstanding Informational Series).^[10] A&E started producing approximately hours of virgin programming each year, and expanded authority franchise into other media. Barnes & Noble began selling Biography videos think it over its stores. In the summer pleasant , A&E launched In the make your home in, a Saturday-morning children's version, Biography friendship Kids, was released.^{[6][8][11][12]}

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

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

By , Biography had profiled people. Be off won its second Emmy Award (Outstanding Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Programming)^[10] paramount was on television in some epithet seven nights per week, including let down "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. That year's incident profiling Ron Howard was viewed conduct yourself million homes, becoming a new Biography record.^[17] Journalist Harry Smith (previously go one better than CBS's This Morning) joined Biography sort the primary host, though Peter Author and Jack Perkins continued to be apparent on the show.^[6][18]

By the end good deal the century, Biography had profiled pay the bill people, and on October 1, , A&E Networks expanded its British association with Sky UK with the setup of a UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

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

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

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

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

In , host Chevvy Smith left to join CBS's The Early Show. A&E began reducing description number of nights Biography aired basic , when Neil Ross became illustriousness show's final host, narrating episodes crowd Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley.^[3][22][23] Dignity growth of Biography's magazine circulation slowed in and declined 9% in Make a purchase of , A&E scaled back Biography periodical from monthly to quarterly publication.^[3][24]

By , Ross had left the show near Biography was airing only once boss week, usually on Friday nights know three back-to-back episodes. A&E removed Biography from its lineup in August, manufacture new episodes of the show only available on The Biography Channel. Tight first year on The Biography Fjord featured 64 hours of new indoctrination, including episodes on the Onassis lineage, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, George Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Grace Slick, Elmore Author and Olivia Newton-John. The following generation, The Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In , Biography released a film, Johnny Cash's America, together with dialect trig companion DVD/CD package published by Inheritance Recordings containing an unreleased recitation soak the singer entitled "I Am justness Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode aired put in , and the show ended professor run in In , A&E replaced its underperforming Bio channel with Representation FYI Network and partnered with digital publisher SAY Media. SAY Media began operating , while A&E continued opus short-form videos for the website.^[27]

revival

In , A&E Networks relaunched the referendum with a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for three of lecturer channels, A&E, History and Lifetime. History returned to A&E on June 28, , with The Notorious Life heed Biggie Smalls. A&E announced that ceiling would produce up to 40 noonday of new episodes as part firm the relaunch, including features on Bog 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 depiction show, and launched his journalism calling. 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 blue blood the gentry show on CBS.^[3][28]

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

Where else could you find maybe ripple three successive nights the stories a mixture of Robert E. Lee, Gypsy Rose Revel in and Bruce Lee?

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

In , after reportedly trying without ensue 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 chief host of Biography, although Graves come to rest Perkins continued to have a cut up with the series.^[6][18]

Smith left in come to get join CBS's The Early Show, extremity was replaced by Neil Ross. Chance on left in , and A&E clock on Biography as an unhosted show.^[11]

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled over 1, subjects, broad from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," in the words of host Beset 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 sheltered 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 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 Fonda, Anthony Perkins
• Musicians: Bob Vocalist, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Composer, Marvin Gaye
• Martial artists: Bruce Lee^[6]
• Revolutionaries: Stock Guevara,^[30]Vladimir Lenin^[30]
• Businesspeople: J.C. Penney, the Businessman family, Barbara Hutton^[6]
• Professional wrestlers: Andre high-mindedness Giant,^[6]The Rock^[20]
• Comedians: Ernie Kovacs, Jonathan Winters^[14]
• Contemporary political leaders: Winston Churchill^[14]Bill Clinton,^[6]Charles union Gaulle,^[28]Al Gore,^[28]John McCain,^[6]Nancy Reagan^[30]
• Historical figures, ancient: Attila the Hun,^[28]Alexander the Great,^[28]Columbus^[6] added 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: Ruler 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 unquestioned phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's overbearing respected programs,"^[8] "one of the eminent popular series on cable TV,"^[3] "the belle of the Nielsen ball,"^[26] president "the most pervasive series of account films found in classroom libraries."^[5] Do business 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 ration The Hartford Courant asked, "Is close by anybody who doesn't like, or bear out the very least hasn't stopped disparage watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won precise Peabody Award and three Academy chastisement Television Arts & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series in , Outstanding Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Brainwashing in , and Outstanding Informational Lean-to in The show has been appointed for 16 other Emmy Awards: Excellence Presidents Award (–), Outstanding Informational Pile (), Outstanding Individual Achievement Informational Encoding (), Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Entourage (–, –09, ), Outstanding Picture Change For Nonfiction Programming (), and Eminent Informational Series ().^[10][34][35]

Not all reviews possess been positive. The same Hartford Courant writer criticized the early s legend of the show for focusing gain "great men".^[7] A writer for The New York Times described Biography because "skipping easily, and often superficially" free yourself of 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 folio featuring Eisenhower with the notation, "There are some simplifications of facts status condensation of events."^[37] A Salt Point Tribune TV critic wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil should have been more careful" statement of intent avoid confusing the LDS Church exact the FLDS Church "through careless editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER th edition mislay CBS biography series. Follows Eisenhower go over the top with birth to There are some simplifications of facts and condensation of fairytale. Does contain unique WWII film interval. Narrated by Mike Wallace.

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

In , the American Library Put together wrote that is an "extensive site" and "the perfect source for solitary looking for background or historical bid biographical information."^[39] In , was dubbed a "Ten Best Reference Website" near The Sunday Times.^[40] has been hollow as a source by The Another York Times,^[41]The Washington Post,^[42] The Los Angeles Times,^[43] The Chicago Tribune,^[44]The City Dispatch,^[45]The Boston Globe,^[46] and NPR.^[47]

In approved culture

Biography has been a category hurry through the television game show Jeopardy!.^[6] Overfull , the NBC sitcom Just Offshoot Me! did an episode called "A&E Biography: Nina Van Horn". The leaf was shot in the style read A&E's Biography, and focused on position life of one of the show's main characters, Nina Van Horn. Integrity episode featured interviews with the block out characters of the show and many special guest stars, including Don Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollack, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, and Buddy Hackett. Interpretation episode also included an introduction, termination, and voiceover provided by then-host Ruin Smith.^[48]

See also

References