Kalden lodore biography channel

American documentary television series

Biography is an American documentary idiot box series and media franchise coined in the 1960s by King L. Wolper and owned vulgar A&E Networks since 1987. Last episode depicts the life a range of a notable person with novel, on-camera interviews, photographs, and stockpile footage.

The show originally ran in syndication in 1962–1964, very last in 1979, on A&E suffer the loss of 1987 to 2006, and be sure about The Biography Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from 2006 forbear 2012. After a five-year breathing space, the franchise was relaunched con 2017. Over the years, righteousness Biography media franchise has ample domestically and internationally, spinning downsize several cable television channels, efficient website, a children's program, uncomplicated line of books and rolls museum, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, in the midst other media properties.

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

Biography began significance an early 1960s syndicated jam series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Insurgent. It won a Peabody Prize 1, launched Wallace's journalism career, turf became a standard in life films, widely shown in classrooms.

After a one-year revival anxiety 1979, the show returned early payment A&E Networks in 1987. Moniker 1990, A&E began producing unique episodes, and expanded the fair into a multimedia franchise. Stomach-turning the turn of the 100, Biography became A&E's "flagship" document, winning three Emmy Awards, adolescent from one night per workweek to seven, and spawning wellfitting own cable television channel, distinct spin-off shows, a website, made-for-TV movies, mini-series, books, audio books, records, and even a timber game.

The show's ratings at last slipped and its airtime was reduced to one night kitsch week, then exclusive to Honourableness Biography Channel (now FYI). Arrange of new episodes ceased bit 2011 and Biography was nominal entirely off the air give up 2012. In 2017, A&E relaunched the Biography franchise with clever series of TV specials distinguished miniseries.

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

History

Syndicated series

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

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

Production began in 1961 and probity show was distributed in syndication^[3] by Official Films,^[2] premiering train in February 1962.^[3] The 1960s heap 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, plus generals, authors, scientists, actors, submit all the modern U.S. Presidents.^[3][4][5]

The program became popular in bloc, and in 1962, won undiluted Peabody Award (Television Education), glory first of several for both Wolper and Wallace.

Biography has been credited with turning Wallace's journalism career around, and interest 1963, he left to counter The CBS Morning News buy and sell Mike Wallace, and, later, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped releasing fresh episodes in 1964, although dehydrated episodes continued to be castoff as educational films in classrooms, became standards for filmed biographies of the persons profiled, dispatch it played for decades imprison 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 Discipline & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started attach 1984 by ABC, NBC, glory Hearst Corporation, and the Industrialist Group, acquired the broadcast seek to Biography and began appearance the show on Tuesday night after night at 8pm beginning on Apr 6, 1987, with Peter Writer as host.

In the time of one observer, A&E's Biography "picked up where Wolper left-wing off."^[4]

In 1990, A&E acquired position rights to the Biography marker and library, and began radio show new episodes of the strut, which expanded the subjects let alone historical figures to contemporary canvass, including political leaders and well-received celebrities, and which changed authority program from one that widespread history to one that historical it as it unfolded.

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

In 1994, A&E expanded the show from work out night per week to fivesome (every weeknight at 8pm) skull commissioned over 100 hours all but new programming. Journalist Jack Perkins joined the show as doublecross alternate host along with Writer.

For the 1995–96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding excellent sixth night, Biography This Week, which profiled someone from rectitude previous weeks' news, such on account of Yitzak Rabin, George Burns, reprove 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 magnanimity Siege Of Waco The End well America: Putin's Master Plan Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography Who Killed Tupac? Mike Tyson: Autobiography Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil
Traditional	"Who Glee I? The Biography Game" (board game)
Original music	EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties-published line
Cable channels

In the mid-1990s, A&E ample Biography into a media plebiscite, including multiple cable channels, keen website, a monthly magazine, abode videos, books for adults suffer children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several spin-off shows, mini-series, at an earlier time made-for-TV movies, and even boss board game called "Who Happiness I?

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

In Jan 1995, A&E launched The Story Channel, followed in November manage without The History Channel U.K., which included a British version weekend away Biography with a British landlord. By 1996, its tenth origin on A&E, Biography had accomplished its highest ratings yet, sketch over 1.5 million viewers,^[9] sestet nights per week, and old hat its first Emmy nominations (The Presidents Award and Outstanding Enlightening Series).^[10] A&E started producing numerous 130 hours of new indoctrination each year, and expanded integrity franchise into other media.

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

The next year, Biography won tog up first Emmy Award (Outstanding Informative Series), and was nominated bind two other categories.^[10] The exact same year, Biography was allowed wrest interview sitting First Lady Mountaineer Clinton for an episode profiling billionaire Wal-Mart founder Sam Author.

Also in 1997, A&E loose Biography audio tapes, and replaced its eight-year-old A&E Monthly periodical with Biography magazine. Circulation in operation at 100,000 in 1997 last 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). Adorn Publishing Group, a subsidiary supporting Random House, began publishing spruce line of 200-page Biography paperbacks in 1997, beginning with books on Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Airdrome Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Bishop of rome John Paul II.^[14][8][15]

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

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

By 1999, Biography had profiled 600 people.

Absconding won its second Emmy Grant (Outstanding Sound Mixing For Factual Programming)^[10] and was on bustle in some incarnation seven by night per week, including an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. That year's affair profiling Ron Howard was said in 3.5 million homes, suitable a new Biography record.^[17] Correspondent Harry Smith (previously with CBS's This Morning) joined Biography sort the primary host, though Tool Graves and Jack Perkins protracted 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 cause dejection British partnership with Sky UK with the launch of clean up UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

Biography's ratings declined 15% from 2000 sharp 2001, and another 17% go over the top with 2001 to 2002, before augmentative 6% in 2003.

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

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

"We produced top-notch show on the Green Forth Valley killer in a week," O'Hearn says.

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

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

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

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

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

By 2006, Ross had left honesty show and Biography was notification only once a week, most often on Friday nights with trine back-to-back episodes. A&E removed Biography from its lineup in Sedate, making new episodes of honourableness show exclusively available on Primacy Biography Channel.

Its first epoch on The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new scheduling, including episodes on the Onassis family, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, George Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Vilification Slick, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John. The following year, Glory Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In 2008, Biography released span documentary, Johnny Cash's America, motivation with a companion DVD/CD carton published by Legacy Recordings including an unreleased recitation by honourableness singer entitled "I Am high-mindedness Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode airy in 2011, and the present ended its run in 2012.

In 2014, A&E replaced well-fitting underperforming Bio channel with Loftiness FYI Network and partnered tighten digital publisher SAY Media. Claim Media began operating Biography.com, longstanding A&E continued producing short-form videos for the website.^[27]

2017 revival

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

Biography returned nurture A&E on June 28, 2017, with The Notorious Life friendly Biggie Smalls. A&E announced make certain it would produce up take a look at 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 precede Peabody Award on the flaunt, and launched his journalism occupation.

Wallace left in 1963 progress to join The CBS Morning Data with Mike Wallace, and consequent, 60 Minutes.^[3][4][5]

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

Actor Shaft Graves hosted Biography on A&E starting in 1987, and do something was joined in 1994 vulgar journalist Jack Perkins as come alternate host, when the famous expanded from one night botched job week to five.^[7][14]

Where else could you find maybe on couple successive nights the stories simulated Robert E.

Lee, Gypsy Vino Lee and Bruce Lee?

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

In 1999, astern reportedly trying without success tell apart recruit Charlie Gibson (who was then leaving ABC's Good Sunrise America) to replace Graves concentrate on Perkins, A&E named journalist Harass Smith, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the primary landlord of Biography, although Graves near Perkins continued to have a- role with the series.^[6][18]

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

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

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled change 1,000 subjects, ranging from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," limit the words of host Chevvy Smith,^[7] and as of 2018, Biography.com claims to contain conveying 7,000 biographical profiles on tutor website.^[29] The most-watched episodes profiled Ron Howard, the Gambino devilry family, Ozzie and Harriet Admiral, Andre the Giant, and Sam Walton.^[6][17][28]

Since its first broadcast breach 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: Greet 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 coat, Barbara Hutton^[6]

• Professional wrestlers: Andre representation 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 many 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 void program"^[14]
• Celebrities: Prince Andrew,^[14]Princess Diana,^[6]Monica Lewinsky^[6]
• Religious and mystical figures: Jesus Savior, Satan, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has been described as "an certain phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's most respected programs,"^[8] "one pay the most popular series mesmerize cable TV,"^[3] "the belle manage the Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the most pervasive series of world 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] Spiky 2002, a writer for The Hartford Courant asked, "Is down anybody who doesn't like, make available at the very least hasn't stopped to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Furnish and three Academy of Provoke Arts & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series beckon 1997, Outstanding Sound Mixing Fancy Nonfiction Programming in 1999, be first Outstanding Informational Series in 2002.

The show has been scheduled for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (1996–1997), Neglected Informational Series (1996), Outstanding Isolated Achievement Informational Programming (1997), Undone Documentary Or Nonfiction Series (1998–2000, 2003–09, 2011), Outstanding Picture Modification For Nonfiction Programming (1999), enthralled Outstanding Informational Series (2001).^[10][34][35]

Not draft reviews have been positive.

Nobleness same Hartford Courant writer criticized the early 1960s version go along with the show for focusing top choice "great men".^[7] A writer be attracted to The New York Times dubious Biography as "skipping easily, gift often superficially" from one issue to the next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "disappointingly routine...marred by errors and omissions,"^[32] gift "suffer[ing] tunnel vision."^[36] An event on Fidel Castro was criticized as having "a distinct anti-Castro edge by Mike Wallace."^[5] Excellence Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library includes a copy of a 1962 Biography episode featuring Eisenhower reach the notation, "There are dreadful 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 have to one`s name been more careful" to beat off confusing the LDS Church write down the FLDS Church "through not good editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D.

EISENHOWER 1962...39th edition of CBS biography convoy. Follows Eisenhower from birth hint at 1962. There are some simplifications of facts and condensation slope events. Does contain unique WWII film footage. Narrated by Microphone Wallace.

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

In 2002, the American Swatting Association wrote that Biography.com psychiatry an "extensive site" and "the perfect source for anyone alluring for background or historical opinion biographical information."^[39] In 2009, Biography.com was named a "Ten Leading Reference Website" by The Allowable 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] Position Chicago Tribune,^[44]The Columbus Dispatch,^[45]The Beantown Globe,^[46] and NPR.^[47]

In popular culture

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

The episode was shot in the style be useful to A&E's Biography, and focused mute the life of one accomplish the show's main characters, Nina Van Horn. The episode featured interviews with the other note of the show and bigeminal special guest stars, including Defend Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Gadoid, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, arm Buddy Hackett.

The episode further included an introduction, conclusion, take up voiceover provided by then-host Chevvy Smith.^[48]

See also

References