Patenti a&e biography

American documentary television series

Biography recap an American documentary television series gain media franchise created in the Decennary by David L. Wolper and notorious by A&E Networks since 1987. In receipt of episode depicts the life of clean up notable person with narration, on-camera interviews, photographs, and stock footage. The put into words originally ran in syndication in 1962–1964, and in 1979, on A&E cause the collapse of 1987 to 2006, and on Excellence Biography Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from 2006 to 2012. After on the rocks five-year hiatus, the franchise was relaunched in 2017. Over the years, nobleness Biography media franchise has expanded domestically and internationally, spinning off several telex cable television channels, a website, a beginner program, a line of books put up with records, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, among strike media properties. Biography has won spick Peabody Award (1962) and three Accolade Awards (1997, 1999, 2002).

Biography began as an early 1960s syndicated the wire series produced by David Wolper presentday narrated by Mike Wallace. It won a Peabody Award, launched Wallace's journalism career, and became a standard play a role biography films, widely shown in classrooms. After a one-year revival in 1979, the show returned on A&E Networks in 1987. In 1990, A&E began producing new episodes, and expanded ethics show into a multimedia franchise. Hunk the turn of the century, Biography became A&E's "flagship" program, winning triad Emmy Awards, growing from one of the night per week to seven, and double its own cable television channel, not too spin-off shows, a website, made-for-TV big screen, mini-series, books, audio books, records, gift even a board game. The show's ratings eventually slipped and its airtime was reduced to one night go rotten week, then exclusive to The Curriculum vitae Channel (now FYI). Production of fresh episodes ceased in 2011 and Biography was almost entirely off the rush by 2012. In 2017, A&E relaunched the Biography franchise with a apartment of TV specials and miniseries. Pass for of 2022, episodes are also shown on Story Television.

History

Syndicated series

The another Biography was produced by David Wolper and Jack Haley Jr. and narrated by Mike Wallace, who at prestige time was just beginning his to the front journalism career. The show featured clumsy interviews, consisting instead of a one-half hour of film clips, newsreel separate, still photographs and recordings.^[3]

Production began confine 1961 and the show was come about in syndication^[3] by Official Films,^[2] premiering in February 1962.^[3] The 1960s programme profiled world leaders (Winston Churchill), concurrent U.S. politicians (Fiorello H. La Guardia, Joseph McCarthy), athletes (Babe Ruth most recent Knute Rockne), and other 20th-century notables, including generals, authors, scientists, actors, additional all the modern U.S. Presidents.^[3][4][5]

The syllabus became popular in syndication, and pull 1962, won a Peabody Award (Television Education), the first of several leverage both Wolper and Wallace. Biography has been credited with turning Wallace's journalism career around, and in 1963, oversight left to join The CBS Farewell News with Mike Wallace, and, afterwards, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped releasing additional episodes in 1964, although some episodes continued to be used as helpful films in classrooms, became standards sponsor filmed biographies of the persons profiled, and it played for decades interleave syndication.^[3][4][5] The series was briefly redux for syndication in 1979 with mass David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin predominant Walt Disney, among others.^[3]

1987 A&E acquisition

The Arts & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started in 1984 by ABC, NBC, the Hearst Association, and the Rockefeller Group, acquired say publicly broadcast rights to Biography and began airing the show on Tuesday in the night at 8pm beginning on April 6, 1987, with Peter Graves as inactive. In the words of one looker-on, A&E's Biography "picked up where Wolper left off."^[4]

In 1990, A&E acquired grandeur rights to the Biography trademark station library, and began producing new episodes of the show, which expanded ethics subjects from historical figures to concomitant figures, including political leaders and usual celebrities, and which changed the info from one that reported history persist at one that recorded it as litigation unfolded. A&E also added on-camera interviews to the Biography format.^[6][7][8]

In 1994, A&E expanded the show from one nighttime per week to five (every weeknight at 8pm) and commissioned over Cardinal hours of new programming. Journalist Flag 2 Perkins joined the show as representative alternate host along with Graves. Pull out the 1995–96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding a sixth night, Biography This Week, which profiled someone strange the previous weeks' news, such importance Yitzak Rabin, George Burns, and Cistron Kelly.^[3][7][8]

Franchise expansion

In the mid-1990s, A&E expanded Biography into a travel ormation technol franchise, including multiple cable channels, pure 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 plane a board game called "Who Thing I? The Biography Game."^[6][7]

In January 1995, A&E launched The History Channel, followed in November by The History Interim U.K., which included a British narration of Biography with a British crush. By 1996, its tenth year end A&E, Biography had achieved its maximal ratings yet, drawing over 1.5 gazillion viewers,^[9] six nights per week, ground received its first Emmy nominations (The Presidents Award and Outstanding Informational Series).^[10] A&E started producing approximately 130 noontide of new programming each year, good turn expanded the franchise into other publicity. Barnes & Noble began selling Biography videos in its 400 stores. Import the summer of 1996, A&E launched Biography.com. In the fall, a Saturday-morning children's version, Biography for Kids, was released.^{[6][8][11][12]}

The next year, Biography won take the edge off first Emmy Award (Outstanding Informational Series), and was nominated in two overpower categories.^[10] The same year, Biography was allowed to interview sitting First Muslim Hillary Clinton for an episode profiling billionaire Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. As well in 1997, A&E released Biography frequency tapes, and replaced its eight-year-old A&E Monthly magazine with Biography magazine. Course started at 100,000 in 1997 lecturer grew for several years (to 270,000 by early 1998;^[13] 367,000 by mid-1998; 528,000 by 1999; and, 700,000 invitation 2001). Crown Publishing Group, a aiding of Random House, began publishing pure line of 200-page Biography paperbacks wrench 1997, beginning with books on Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Ronald President, and Pope John Paul II.^[14][8][15]

In 1998, Biography was airing twice a dowry, six days a week. The occurrence profiling Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, very soon on three separate time slots educate Sunday, June 21, 1998, became greatness show's highest-rated episode up to stroll point. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Barnum, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Hammett. Bill Kurtis hosted a spin-off show, Biography: Indweller Justice, and a series of Biography record albums by artists who confidential been profiled on the show, with Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Nat Suggestion Cole, Mel Torme, and Lena Horne, was released by EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.^[13] In November, A&E created a subdivision network called The Biography Channel (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring historical figures be first current political and social leaders.^{[6][8][12][16]}

By 1999, Biography had profiled 600 people. Dishonour won its second Emmy Award (Outstanding Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Programming)^[10] increase in intensity was on television in some bodying forth seven nights per week, including break off "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. That year's phase profiling Ron Howard was viewed have as a feature 3.5 million homes, becoming a in mint condition Biography record.^[17] Journalist Harry Smith (previously with CBS's This Morning) joined Biography as the primary host, though Cock Graves and Jack Perkins continued shut appear on the show.^[6][18]

By the bound of the century, Biography had profiled over 800 people, and on Oct 1, 2000, A&E Networks expanded tight British partnership with Sky UK run off with the launch of a UK bazaar Biography Channel.^[19]

Biography's ratings declined 15% be different 2000 to 2001, and another 17% from 2001 to 2002, before augmentative 6% in 2003. Despite the cut in ratings, by 2002, Biography won its third Emmy Award (Outstanding Flick or Nonfiction Series), and marked disloyalty 1,000th profile.^[7][10][20]

A&E responded to the ratings decline by changing Biography's management workers and launching a marketing campaign toss on photographs taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz of well-known subjects that esoteric been profiled on Biography, including Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Ali, Steven Spielberg dominant Harrison Ford.^[20][21]

"We produced a show relationship the Green River Valley killer divulge a week," O'Hearn says. When Katharine Hepburn, John Ritter and Gregory Abrasion died, up-to-date shows about their lives were televised if not on dignity night they passed away, the next night.

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

In 2002, host Harry Economist left to join CBS's The Inauspicious Show. A&E began reducing the release of nights Biography aired starting 2003, when Neil Ross became the show's final host, narrating episodes on Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley.^[3][22][23] The sequence of Biography's magazine circulation slowed implement 2002 and declined 9% in 2003. In 2004, A&E scaled back Biography magazine from monthly to quarterly publication.^[3][24]

By 2006, Ross had left the well-known and Biography was airing only previously a week, usually on Friday every night with three back-to-back episodes. A&E refrigerate Biography from its lineup in Sedate, making new episodes of the act exclusively available on The Biography Inlet. Its first year on The History Channel featured 64 hours of recent programming, including episodes on the Onassis family, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, Martyr Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Grace Slick, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John. The pursuing year, The Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In 2008, Biography released skilful documentary, Johnny Cash's America, together greet a companion DVD/CD package published moisten Legacy Recordings containing an unreleased tutoring by the singer entitled "I Sketch the Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode golden in 2011, and the show in tears its run in 2012. In 2014, A&E replaced its underperforming Bio point with The FYI Network and partnered with digital publisher SAY Media. Constraint Media began operating Biography.com, while A&E continued producing short-form videos for justness website.^[27]

2017 revival

In 2017, A&E Networks relaunched the franchise with a set go rotten two-hour specials and mini-series for several of its channels, A&E, History skull Lifetime. Biography returned to A&E backward June 28, 2017, with The Obvious Life of Biggie Smalls. A&E declared that it would produce up style 40 hours of new episodes variety part of the relaunch, including constitution on John Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Smart, Mike Tyson, near David Koresh.^[11][27]

Hosts

The original, early 1960s syndicated Biography was narrated by Mike Rebel, who won his first Peabody Trophy haul on the show, and launched potentate journalism career. Wallace left in 1963 to join The CBS Morning Facts with Mike Wallace, and later, 60 Minutes.^[3][4][5]

Actor David Janssen hosted a decaying 1979 revival of the show running CBS.^[3][28]

Actor Peter Graves hosted Biography plus A&E starting in 1987, and recognized was joined in 1994 by newsman Jack Perkins as an alternate assemblage, when the show expanded from work out night per week to five.^[7][14]

Where added could you find maybe on unite successive nights the stories of Parliamentarian E. Lee, Gypsy Rose Lee streak Bruce Lee?

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

In 1999, after reportedly trying without success fulfill recruit Charlie Gibson (who was authenticate leaving ABC's Good Morning America) accomplish replace Graves and Perkins, A&E baptized journalist Harry Smith, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the primary hotelier of Biography, although Graves and Perkins continued to have a role exchange the series.^[6][18]

Smith left in 2002 back join CBS's The Early Show, enthralled was replaced by Neil Ross. Get left in 2006, and A&E attain Biography as an unhosted show.^[11]

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled over 1,000 subjects, overall from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," in the words of host Harass Smith,^[7] and as of 2018, Biography.com claims to contain over 7,000 biography profiles on its website.^[29] The most-watched episodes profiled Ron Howard, the Gambino crime family, Ozzie and Harriet Admiral, Andre the Giant, and Sam Walton.^[6][17][28]

Since its first broadcast in 1962, Biography has profiled:

• Scientists: Carl Sagan, Actor Carter^[6]
• Serial killers: Jeffrey Dahmer, The Beantown Strangler^[28]
• Authors: Ernest Hemingway^[6]
• Athletes: Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson^[14]
• Magicians: Harry Houdini^[6]
• Entertainers: Dean Martin, 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: Shake Dylan, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Marvin Gaye
• Martial artists: Bruce Lee^[6]
• Revolutionaries: Che Guevara,^[30]Vladimir Lenin^[30]
• Businesspeople: J.C. Penney, justness Woolworth family, Barbara Hutton^[6]
• Professional wrestlers: Andre the 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 poll, ancient: Attila the Hun,^[28]Alexander the Great,^[28]Columbus^[6] and 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: Prince Andrew,^[14]Princess Diana,^[6]Monica Lewinsky^[6]
• Religious and cabbalistic figures: Jesus Christ, Satan, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Hurt somebody's feelings Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has been described as "an undisputed phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's most respected programs,"^[8] "one of dignity most popular series on cable TV,"^[3] "the belle of the Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the most pervasive series clamour history 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] lecturer "most-watched show."^[18] In 2002, a essayist for The Hartford Courant asked, "Is there anybody who doesn't like, invasion at the very least hasn't obstructed to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Award and three Establishment of Television Arts & Sciences Glory (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series fit in 1997, Outstanding Sound Mixing For Prose Programming in 1999, and Outstanding Revealing Series in 2002. The show has been nominated for 16 other Honour Awards: The Presidents Award (1996–1997), Neglected Informational Series (1996), Outstanding Individual Acquirement Informational Programming (1997), Outstanding Documentary Hovel Nonfiction Series (1998–2000, 2003–09, 2011), Passed over Picture Editing For Nonfiction Programming (1999), and Outstanding Informational Series (2001).^[10][34][35]

Not boxing match reviews have been positive. The dress Hartford Courant writer criticized the specifically 1960s version of the show resolution focusing on "great men".^[7] A novelist for The New York Times affirmed Biography as "skipping easily, and many a time superficially" from one subject to nobility next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes translation "disappointingly routine...marred by errors and omissions,"^[32] and "suffer[ing] tunnel vision."^[36] An experience on Fidel Castro was criticized little having "a distinct anti-Castro edge antisocial Mike Wallace."^[5] The Dwight Eisenhower Statesmanlike Library includes a copy of unmixed 1962 Biography episode featuring Eisenhower portray the notation, "There are some simplifications of facts and condensation of events."^[37] A 2018 Salt Lake Tribune Small screen critic wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil should fake been more careful" to avoid baffling the LDS Church with the FLDS Church "through careless editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT Cycle. EISENHOWER 1962...39th edition of CBS story series. Follows Eisenhower from birth persecute 1962. There are some simplifications pale facts and condensation of events. Does contain unique WWII film footage. Narrated by Mike Wallace.

— Dwight D. Eisenhower Statesmanly Library Archives entry for 1962 Biography episode^[37]

In 2002, the American Library Institute wrote that Biography.com is an "extensive site" and "the perfect source rag anyone looking for background or sequential and biographical information."^[39] In 2009, Biography.com was named a "Ten Best Wish Website" by The Sunday Times.^[40] Biography.com has been cited as a strategic by The New York Times,^[41]The General Post,^[42] The Los Angeles Times,^[43] Picture Chicago Tribune,^[44]The Columbus Dispatch,^[45]The Boston Globe,^[46] and NPR.^[47]

In popular culture

Biography has bent a category on the television undertaking show Jeopardy!.^[6] In 2000, the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me! did doublecross episode called "A&E Biography: Nina Front Horn". The episode was shot be grateful for the style of A&E's Biography, famous focused on the life of individual of the show's main characters, Nina Van Horn. The episode featured interviews with the other characters of nobility show and multiple special guest stars, including Don Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollack, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, stream Buddy Hackett. The episode also limited in number an introduction, conclusion, and voiceover in case by then-host Harry Smith.^[48]

See also

References