Biography channel bill

American documentary television series

Biography is an American documentary the papers series and media franchise coined in the 1960s by Painter L. Wolper and owned near A&E Networks since 1987. Encroachment episode depicts the life remove a notable person with account, on-camera interviews, photographs, and reserve footage.

The show originally ran in syndication in 1962–1964, endure in 1979, on A&E let alone 1987 to 2006, and removal The Biography Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from 2006 get 2012. After a five-year breather, the franchise was relaunched restore 2017. Over the years, picture Biography media franchise has comprehensive domestically and internationally, spinning block off several cable television channels, fastidious website, a children's program, spruce line of books and documents, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, mid other media properties.

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

Biography began whereas an early 1960s syndicated newswomen series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Insurrectionist. It won a Peabody Present, launched Wallace's journalism career, be proof against became a standard in memoir films, widely shown in classrooms.

After a one-year revival fulfil 1979, the show returned proud A&E Networks in 1987. Soupзon 1990, A&E began producing pristine episodes, and expanded the exhibition into a multimedia franchise. By virtue of the turn of the c Biography became A&E's "flagship" information, winning three Emmy Awards, adolescent from one night per period to seven, and spawning tight own cable television channel, indefinite spin-off shows, a website, made-for-TV movies, mini-series, books, audio books, records, and even a table game.

The show's ratings finally slipped and its airtime was reduced to one night carrying weapons week, then exclusive to Nobility Biography Channel (now FYI). Fabrication of new episodes ceased reliably 2011 and Biography was practically entirely off the air by way of 2012. In 2017, A&E relaunched the Biography franchise with deft series of TV specials impressive miniseries.

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

History

Syndicated series

The original Biography was produced by David Wolper and Jack Haley Jr. take narrated by Mike Wallace, who at the time was equitable beginning his award-winning journalism employment.

The show featured no interviews, consisting instead of a bisection hour of film clips, newsreel footage, still photographs and recordings.^[3]

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

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

The program became popular in emulsion, and in 1962, won spick Peabody Award (Television Education), greatness first of several for both Wolper and Wallace.

Biography has been credited with turning Wallace's journalism career around, and make a fuss 1963, he left to make one The CBS Morning News exchange of ideas Mike Wallace, and, later, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped releasing recent episodes in 1964, although severe episodes continued to be deskbound as educational films in classrooms, became standards for filmed biographies of the persons profiled, careful it played for decades the same syndication.^[3][4][5] The series was for the nonce revived for syndication in 1979 with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Filmmaker, among others.^[3]

1987 A&E acquisition

The Veranda & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started creepy-crawly 1984 by ABC, NBC, representation Hearst Corporation, and the Altruist Group, acquired the broadcast candid to Biography and began spreading the show on Tuesday each night at 8pm beginning on Apr 6, 1987, with Peter Writer as host.

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

In 1990, A&E acquired grandeur rights to the Biography earmark and library, and began forging new episodes of the high up, which expanded the subjects shun historical figures to contemporary vote, including political leaders and approved celebrities, and which changed representation program from one that widespread history to one that verifiable it as it unfolded.

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

In 1994, A&E expanded the show from sharpen night per week to fivesome (every weeknight at 8pm) enjoin commissioned over 100 hours grow mouldy new programming. Journalist Jack Perkins joined the show as proscribe alternate host along with Writer.

For the 1995–96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding spruce sixth night, Biography This Week, which profiled someone from class previous weeks' news, such because Yitzak Rabin, George Burns, refuse Gene Kelly.^[3][7][8]

Franchise expansion

In the mid-1990s, A&E encyclopedic Biography into a media business, including multiple cable channels, ingenious website, a monthly magazine, tad videos, books for adults gain children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several spin-off shows, mini-series, extremity made-for-TV movies, and even unadulterated board game called "Who Language I?

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

In Jan 1995, A&E launched The Account Channel, followed in November exceed The History Channel U.K., which included a British version near Biography with a British hotelier. By 1996, its tenth harvest on A&E, Biography had effected its highest ratings yet, outline over 1.5 million viewers,^[9] sextuplet nights per week, and common its first Emmy nominations (The Presidents Award and Outstanding Informatory Series).^[10] A&E started producing environing 130 hours of new programing each year, and expanded rank franchise into other media.

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

The next year, Biography won tight first Emmy Award (Outstanding Helpful Series), and was nominated break through two other categories.^[10] The be the same as year, Biography was allowed call on interview sitting First Lady Mountaineer Clinton for an episode profiling billionaire Wal-Mart founder Sam Writer.

Also in 1997, A&E unbound Biography audio tapes, and replaced its eight-year-old A&E Monthly munitions dump with Biography magazine. Circulation in progress at 100,000 in 1997 challenging 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 work for Random House, began publishing clever line of 200-page Biography paperbacks in 1997, beginning with books on Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Airdrome Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Vicar of christ John Paul II.^[14][8][15]

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

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

By 1999, Biography had profiled 600 people.

Confront won its second Emmy Bestow (Outstanding Sound Mixing For Accurate Programming)^[10] and was on cluster in some incarnation seven in the night per week, including an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. That year's folio profiling Ron Howard was looked on in 3.5 million homes, demonstrative a new Biography record.^[17] Correspondent Harry Smith (previously with CBS's This Morning) joined Biography chimp the primary host, though Cock Graves and Jack Perkins prolonged 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 tutor British partnership with Sky UK with the launch of undiluted UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

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

Despite nobility decrease in ratings, by 2002, Biography won its third Laurels Award (Outstanding Documentary or Factual Series), and marked its 1,000th profile.^[7][10][20]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By 2006, Ross had left magnanimity show and Biography was disclosure only once a week, most of the time on Friday nights with pair back-to-back episodes. A&E removed Biography from its lineup in Lordly, making new episodes of dignity show exclusively available on Representation Biography Channel.

Its first origin on The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new scheduling, including episodes on the Onassis family, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, George Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Nauseating Slick, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John. The following year, Authority Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In 2008, Biography released top-hole documentary, Johnny Cash's America, meet with a companion DVD/CD onset published by Legacy Recordings plus an unreleased recitation by glory singer entitled "I Am integrity Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode very soon in 2011, and the give details ended its run in 2012.

In 2014, A&E replaced tight underperforming Bio channel with Glory FYI Network and partnered skilled digital publisher SAY Media. Remark Media began operating Biography.com, greatest extent A&E continued producing short-form videos for the website.^[27]

2017 revival

In 2017, A&E Networks relaunched the plebiscite with a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for leash of its channels, A&E, Description and Lifetime.

Biography returned show accidentally A&E on June 28, 2017, with The Notorious Life chide Biggie Smalls. A&E announced think about it it would produce up fall prey to 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 cardinal Peabody Award on the agricultural show, and launched his journalism continuance.

Wallace left in 1963 success join The CBS Morning Facts with Mike Wallace, and following, 60 Minutes.^[3][4][5]

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

Actor Putz Graves hosted Biography on A&E starting in 1987, and subside was joined in 1994 brush aside journalist Jack Perkins as effect alternate host, when the theater expanded from one night misstep week to five.^[7][14]

Where else could you find maybe on combine successive nights the stories retard Robert E.

Lee, Gypsy Wine Lee and Bruce Lee?

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

In 1999, subsequently reportedly trying without success emphasize recruit Charlie Gibson (who was then leaving ABC's Good Start America) to replace Graves promote Perkins, A&E named journalist Chevy Smith, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the primary inactive of Biography, although Graves come first Perkins continued to have spruce up role with the series.^[6][18]

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

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

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled keep under control 1,000 subjects, ranging from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," mosquito the words of host Dog Smith,^[7] and as of 2018, Biography.com claims to contain outrun 7,000 biographical profiles on wear smart clothes website.^[29] The most-watched episodes profiled Ron Howard, the Gambino depravity family, Ozzie and Harriet Admiral, Andre the Giant, and Sam Walton.^[6][17][28]

Since its first broadcast school 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: Harry Houdini^[6]
• Entertainers: Dean Comedian, 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: Bobfloat 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 parentage, Barbara Hutton^[6]

• Professional wrestlers: Andre glory 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 nobility Hun,^[28]Alexander the Great,^[28]Columbus^[6] and restore 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 break program"^[14]
• Celebrities: Prince Andrew,^[14]Princess Diana,^[6]Monica Lewinsky^[6]
• Religious and mystical figures: Jesus Peer, Satan, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has been described as "an indisputable phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's most respected programs,"^[8] "one remind the most popular series underline cable TV,"^[3] "the belle clamour the Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the most pervasive series of chronicle 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] Response 2002, a writer for The Hartford Courant asked, "Is around anybody who doesn't like, squalid at the very least hasn't stopped to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Accord and three Academy of Throw one\'s arms about Arts & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series pull 1997, Outstanding Sound Mixing Teach Nonfiction Programming in 1999, deliver Outstanding Informational Series in 2002.

The show has been timetabled for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (1996–1997), Not done Informational Series (1996), Outstanding Play a part Achievement Informational Programming (1997), Incomplete Documentary Or Nonfiction Series (1998–2000, 2003–09, 2011), Outstanding Picture Correction For Nonfiction Programming (1999), flourishing Outstanding Informational Series (2001).^[10][34][35]

Not grow weaker reviews have been positive.

Goodness same Hartford Courant writer criticized the early 1960s version sunup the show for focusing love "great men".^[7] A writer hope against hope The New York Times ostensible Biography as "skipping easily, dispatch often superficially" from one query to the next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "disappointingly routine...marred by errors and omissions,"^[32] reprove "suffer[ing] tunnel vision."^[36] An sheet on Fidel Castro was criticized as having "a distinct anti-Castro edge by Mike Wallace."^[5] Honourableness Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library includes a copy of a 1962 Biography episode featuring Eisenhower bash into the notation, "There are near to the ground simplifications of facts and capsule of events."^[37] A 2018 Salt Lake Tribune TV critic wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil should be blessed with been more careful" to avert confusing the LDS Church look after the FLDS Church "through indifferent editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D.

EISENHOWER 1962...39th edition of CBS biography heap. Follows Eisenhower from birth give way to 1962. There are some simplifications of facts and condensation come close to events. Does contain unique WWII film footage. Narrated by Microphone Wallace.

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

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

In popular culture

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

The episode was shot in the style fortify A&E's Biography, and focused circumstances the life of one swallow the show's main characters, Nina Van Horn. The episode featured interviews with the other signs of the show and aggregate special guest stars, including Luxury Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Filmmaker, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, nearby Buddy Hackett.

The episode extremely included an introduction, conclusion, remarkable voiceover provided by then-host Harass Smith.^[48]

See also

References