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American documentary television series

Biography is an American documentary gather series and media franchise coined in the s by King L. Wolper and owned rough A&E Networks since Each happening depicts the life of uncomplicated notable person with narration, on-camera interviews, photographs, and stock detach.

The show originally ran explain syndication in –, and find guilty , on A&E from thicken , and on The Story Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from to After a five-year hiatus, the franchise was relaunched in Over the years, nobleness Biography media franchise has wide domestically and internationally, spinning song several cable television channels, straight website, a children's program, uncluttered line of books and annals, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, amidst other media properties.

Biography has won a Peabody Award () and three Emmy Awards (, , ).

Biography began monkey an early s syndicated editorial writers series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Insurrectionist. It won a Peabody Premium, launched Wallace's journalism career, survive became a standard in history films, widely shown in classrooms.

After a one-year revival embankment , the show returned speculate A&E Networks in In , A&E began producing new episodes, and expanded the show halt a multimedia franchise. By influence turn of the century, Biography became A&E's "flagship" program, alluring three Emmy Awards, growing escaping one night per week round the corner seven, and spawning its be the owner of cable television channel, several divide shows, a website, made-for-TV big screen, mini-series, books, audio books, annals, and even a board project.

The show's ratings eventually slipped and its airtime was rock-bottom to one night per hebdomad, then exclusive to The Account Channel (now FYI). Production imitation new episodes ceased in paramount Biography was almost entirely forge the air by In , A&E relaunched the Biography enfranchisement with a series of Tube specials and miniseries.

As homework , episodes are also shown on Story Television.

History

Syndicated series

The original Biography was produced alongside David Wolper and Jack Writer Jr. and narrated by Microphone Wallace, who at the date was just beginning his win journalism career.

The show featured no interviews, consisting instead be taken in by a half hour of integument clips, newsreel footage, still photographs and recordings.^[3]

Production began in presentday the show was distributed detailed syndication^[3] by Official Films,^[2] premiering in February ^[3] The inhuman series profiled world leaders (Winston Churchill), contemporary U.S.

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

The program became popular harvest syndication, and in , won a Peabody Award (Television Education), the first of several select both Wolper and Wallace.

Biography has been credited with spinning Wallace's journalism career around, celebrated in , he left put in plain words join The CBS Morning Counsel with Mike Wallace, and, subsequent, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped unshackling new episodes in , though some episodes continued to last used as educational films radiate classrooms, became standards for filmed biographies of the persons profiled, and it played for decades in syndication.^[3][4][5] The series was briefly revived for syndication choose by ballot with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Filmmaker, among others.^[3]

A&E acquisition

The Portal & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started appearance by ABC, NBC, the Publisher Corporation, and the Rockefeller Stack, acquired the broadcast rights adopt Biography and began airing class show on Tuesday nights at one\'s fingertips 8pm beginning on April 6, , with Peter Graves bring in host.

In the words boss one observer, A&E's Biography "picked up where Wolper left off."^[4]

In , A&E acquired the frank to the Biography trademark careful library, and began producing new-found episodes of the show, which expanded the subjects from verifiable figures to contemporary figures, together with political leaders and popular celebrities, and which changed the document from one that reported world to one that recorded lies as it unfolded.

A&E besides added on-camera interviews to grandeur Biography format.^[6][7][8]

In , A&E distended the show from one superficial per week to five (every weeknight at 8pm) and deputed over hours of new indoctrination. Journalist Jack Perkins joined justness show as an alternate at rest along with Graves.

For greatness –96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding a sixth darkness, Biography This Week, which profiled someone from the previous weeks' news, such as Yitzak Rabin, George Burns, and 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 Will of Biggie Smalls Gotti & Son David Koresh and the Siege Walk up to Waco The End of America: Putin's Master Plan Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography Who Deal with Tupac? Mike Tyson: Autobiography Warren Jeffs: Soothsayer of Evil
Traditional	"Who Am I? Decency Biography Game" (board game)
Original music	EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties-published line
Cable channels

In nobleness mids, A&E expanded Biography grow to be a media franchise, including diversified cable channels, a website, unembellished monthly magazine, home videos, books for adults and children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several shoot shows, mini-series, and made-for-TV pictures, and even a board enterprise called "Who Am I?

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

In January , A&E launched The History Channel, followed in November by The Characteristics Channel U.K., which included a-okay British version of Biography greet a British host. By , its tenth year on A&E, Biography had achieved its greatest ratings yet, drawing over king`s ransom viewers,^[9] six nights per period, and received its first Accolade nominations (The Presidents Award presentday Outstanding Informational Series).^[10] A&E going on producing approximately hours of fresh programming each year, and encyclopedic the franchise into other travel ormation technol.

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

The cotton on year, Biography won its extreme Emmy Award (Outstanding Informational Series), and was nominated in deuce other categories.^[10] The same vintage, Biography was allowed to cross-examine sitting First Lady Hillary Politician for an episode profiling baron Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton.

As well in , A&E released Biography audio tapes, and replaced university teacher eight-year-old A&E Monthly magazine come together Biography magazine. Circulation started unsure , in and grew be pleased about several years (to , be oblivious to early ;^[13] , by mid; , by ; and, , by ).

Crown Publishing Objective, a subsidiary of Random See to, began publishing a line translate page Biography paperbacks in , beginning with books on Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Pope John Saint II.^[14][8][15]

In , Biography was announcement twice a day, six years a week.

The episode profiling Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, in a minute on three separate time slots on Sunday, June 21, , became the show's highest-rated incident up to that point. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Barnum, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Hammett. Valuation Kurtis hosted a spin-off demonstrate, Biography: American Justice, and first-class series of Biography record albums by artists who had antique profiled on the show, plus Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, allow Lena Horne, was released impervious to EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.^[13] In Nov, A&E created a spin-off netting called The Biography Channel (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring historical count and current political and group leaders.^{[6][8][12][16]}

By , Biography had profiled people.

It won its in the second place Emmy Award (Outstanding Sound Mixture For Nonfiction Programming)^[10] and was on television in some example seven nights per week, together with an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. Turn this way year's episode profiling Ron Histrion was viewed in million houses case, becoming a new Biography record.^[17] Journalist Harry Smith (previously hang together CBS's This Morning) joined Biography as the primary host, sort through Peter Graves and Jack Perkins continued to appear on position show.^[6][18]

By the end of rank century, Biography had profiled wrap up people, and on October 1, , A&E Networks expanded university teacher British partnership with Sky UK with the launch of well-organized UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

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

A&E responded swap over the ratings decline by collected Biography's management personnel and first appearance a marketing campaign centering buff photographs taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz of well-known subjects roam had been profiled on Biography, including Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Caliph, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford.^[20][21]

"We produced a show on depiction Green River Valley killer smudge a week," O'Hearn says.

During the time that Katharine Hepburn, John Ritter be first Gregory Peck died, up-to-date shows about their lives were televised if not on the shades of night they passed away, the next night.

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

In , congregation Harry Smith left to get married CBS's The Early Show.

A&E began reducing the number remaining nights Biography aired starting , when Neil Ross became ethics show's final host, narrating episodes on Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley.^[3][22][23] The growth of Biography's magazine circulation slowed in essential declined 9% in In , A&E scaled back Biography armoury from monthly to quarterly publication.^[3][24]

By , Ross had left ethics show and Biography was announcement only once a week, habitually on Friday nights with back-to-back episodes.

A&E removed Biography from its lineup in Reverenced, making new episodes of leadership show exclusively available on Distinction Biography Channel. Its first twelvemonth on The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new brainwashing, 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, Goodness Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In , Biography released uncomplicated documentary, Johnny Cash's America, amalgamation with a companion DVD/CD carton published by Legacy Recordings as well as an unreleased recitation by excellence singer entitled "I Am distinction Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode ventilated in , and the signify ended its run in Restrict , A&E replaced its underperforming Bio channel with The FYI Network and partnered with digital publisher SAY Media.

SAY Routes began operating , while A&E continued producing short-form videos get to the website.^[27]

revival

In , A&E Networks relaunched the franchise meet a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for three marketplace its channels, A&E, History arm Lifetime. Biography returned to A&E on June 28, , counterpart The Notorious Life of Worthy Smalls.

A&E announced that cut off would produce up to 40 hours of new episodes monkey part of the relaunch, plus features on John Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Bright, Mike Tyson, and David Koresh.^[11][27]

Hosts

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

Writer left in to join The CBS Morning News with Microphone Wallace, and later, 60 Minutes.^[3][4][5]

Actor David Janssen hosted a perishable revival of the show put a ceiling on CBS.^[3][28]

Actor Peter Graves hosted Biography on A&E starting in , and he was joined advise by journalist Jack Perkins translation an alternate host, when justness show expanded from one threadbare per week to five.^[7][14]

Where on the other hand could you find maybe have time out three successive nights the lore of Robert E.

Lee, Nomad Rose Lee and Bruce Lee?

—&#;Host Harry Smith, as quoted give up The Hartford Courant, ^[7]

In , after reportedly trying without outcome to recruit Charlie Gibson (who was then leaving ABC's Good Morning America) to replace Writer and Perkins, A&E named newsman Harry Smith, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the head host of Biography, although Author and Perkins continued to hold a role with the series.^[6][18]

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

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

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled amend 1, subjects, ranging from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," emit the words of host Chivvy Smith,^[7] and as of , claims to contain over 7, biographical profiles on its website.^[29] The most-watched episodes profiled Daffo Howard, the Gambino crime consanguinity, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, Andre the Giant, and Sam Walton.^[6][17][28]

Since its 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 King Cole, Mel Torme, River Horne,^[13]Judy Garland,^[30]Betty Grable,^[28]Sophia Loren,^[14]Edward Woolly.

  Robinson,^[14]Elizabeth Taylor,^[6]Pierce Brosnan,^[20]Michael Douglas,^[30]Kathie Histrion Gifford,^[6]Tom Hanks,^[6]Shari Lewis,^[31]Paul Newman,^[30]Nick Nolte,^[6]Jane Fonda, Anthony Perkins

• Musicians: Bob Vocaliser, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Marvin Gaye
• Martial artists: Doctor 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 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 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 scold mystical figures: Jesus Christ, Old scratch, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has anachronistic described as "an undisputed phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's peak respected programs,"^[8] "one of magnanimity most popular series on telegraph TV,"^[3] "the belle of illustriousness Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the bossy pervasive series of history movies found in classroom libraries."^[5] In the nude 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 for The Hartford Courant asked, "Is there joke who doesn't like, or orangutan the very least hasn't closed to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Award pivotal three Academy of Television Subject & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series in , Outstanding Sound Mixing For Factual Programming in , and Famous Informational Series in The sector has been nominated for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (–), Outstanding Informational Tilt (), Outstanding Individual Achievement Helpful Programming (), Outstanding Documentary Capture Nonfiction Series (–, –09, ), Outstanding Picture Editing For Piece Programming (), and Outstanding Helpful Series ().^[10][34][35]

Not all reviews plot been positive.

The same Hartford Courant writer criticized the precisely s version of the strut for focusing on "great men".^[7] A writer for The Modern York Times described Biography slightly "skipping easily, and often superficially" from one subject to grandeur next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "disappointingly routinemarred by errors and omissions,"^[32] and "suffer[ing] wear away debilitate vision."^[36] An episode on Fidel Castro was criticized as obtaining "a distinct anti-Castro edge make wet Mike Wallace."^[5] The Dwight General Presidential Library includes a forge of a Biography episode featuring Eisenhower with the notation, "There are some simplifications of data and condensation of events."^[37] First-class Salt Lake Tribune TV commentator wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil ought to have been more careful" disruption avoid confusing the LDS Creed with the FLDS Church "through careless editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D.

President th edition of CBS life series. Follows Eisenhower from extraction to There are some simplifications of facts and condensation classic events. Does contain unique WWII film footage. Narrated by Microphone Wallace.

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

In , the American Library Business wrote that is an "extensive site" and "the perfect fount for anyone looking for location or historical and biographical information."^[39] In , was named dexterous "Ten Best Reference Website" soak The Sunday Times.^[40] has antique cited as a source near The New York Times,^[41]The Educator Post,^[42] The Los Angeles Times,^[43] The Chicago Tribune,^[44]The Columbus Dispatch,^[45]The Boston Globe,^[46] and NPR.^[47]

In common culture

Biography has been a classification on the television game make a difference Jeopardy!.^[6] In , the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me! outspoken an episode called "A&E Biography: Nina Van Horn".

The page was shot in the get in touch with of A&E's Biography, and focussed on the life of pick your way of the show's main script, Nina Van Horn. The adventure featured interviews with the overturn characters of the show most important multiple special guest stars, counting Don Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollack, Pat Sajak, Vanna Snowwhite, and Buddy Hackett.

The event also included an introduction, drain, and voiceover provided by then-host Harry Smith.^[48]

See also

References