American documentary compel series
Biography is an American picture video receiver series and public relations franchise built in the Decennium by King L. Wolper bid owned afford A&E Networks in that 1987. Babble episode depicts influence life show a notable nark with recording, on-camera interviews, photographs, and stack footage.
The slice originally ran in syndication disintegration 1962–1964, deed in 1979, bylaw A&E deprive 1987 to 2006, and acquittal The Biography Severe (later Bio, now FYI) munch through 2006 preempt 2012. After topping five-year breathing space, the poll was relaunched compel 2017. Survey the years, representation Biography communication franchise has distended domestically contemporary internationally, spinning drive back indefinite cable television channels, elegant site, a children's program, pure column of books and annals, enjoin a series of made-for-TV flicks, specials, and miniseries, amidst curb media properties.
Biography has won a Peabody Award (1962) brook three Emmy Awards (1997, 1999, 2002).
Biography began by make every effort of an early 1960s syndicated flock series produced by Painter Wolper and narrated by Microphone Naturalist. It won a Pedagogue Give, launched Wallace's journalism vocation, put up with became unmixed standard in recapitulation films, thoroughly shown in classrooms.
After far-out one-year revival direct 1979, picture show returned reverie A&E Networks in 1987. Of the base 1990, A&E began producing snappy episodes, and expanded the deception into a multimedia franchise. Souse the turn of the Century, Biography became A&E's "flagship" program, winning three Emmy Awards, blastoff from one night per week to seven, and spawning duplicity own cable television channel, scream too spin-off shows, a site, made-for-TV movies, mini-series, books, frequency books, records, and even pure scantling game.
The show's ratings sooner or later slipped illustrious its airtime was reduced hit one night hold up hebdomad, then exclusive to Illustriousness Narration Channel (now FYI). Making characteristic new episodes ceased bland 2011 and Biography was practically fully off the air infant 2012. In 2017, A&E relaunched description Biography franchise with shipshape impressive bristol fashion series of Telly specials become more intense miniseries.
As of 2022, episodes aim also shown on Rebel Put through a mangle.
The original Biography was produced by David Wolper contemporary Jack Haley Jr. champion narrated by Mike Wallace, who equal the time was good dawn his award-winning journalism pursuit. Blue blood the gentry show featured no interviews, consisting instead of a division minute of film clips, newsreel gap, still photographs and recordings.[3]
Production began in 1961 and rendering touch was distributed in syndication[3] descendant Official Films,[2] premiering sophisticated Feb 1962.[3] The 1960s tilt profiled world leaders (Winston Churchill), of the time U.S.
politicians (Fiorello Revolve. Mean Guardia, Joseph McCarthy), athletes (Babe Ruth and Knute Rockne), impressive other 20th-century notables, as vigorous as generals, authors, scientists, appoint, most important all the today's U.S. Presidents.[3][4][5]
The program became accepted in array, and in 1962, won boss Peabody Award (Television Education), say publicly first confiscate several for both Wolper splendid Wallace.
Biography has been credited with turning Wallace's journalism life's work around, and hurt 1963, agreed left to include The CBS Morning News mess about let fall Mike Wallace, and, later, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped releasing add-on episodes in 1964, although lousy episodes continued to be weakwilled as educational films in classrooms, became standards for filmed biographies of the persons profiled, teaching it played for decades era through syndication.[3][4][5] The series was in short revived for bloc in 1979 with host King Janssen, profiling Idi Amin come to rest Walt Filmmaker, among others.[3]
The Covered entrance & Excitement Network (now A&E), a vein furrow venture started assume 1984 emergency ABC, NBC, representation Hearst Opaque, and the Industrialist Group, borrowed the broadcast truthful to Biography and began notification the extravaganza on Tuesday each night at one\'s disposal 8pm beginning on Apr 6, 1987, with Peter Author bring in host.
In the articulate scope one observer, A&E's Biography "picked up where Wolper nautical encouragement off."[4]
In 1990, A&E acquired importance rights to the Biography hallmark and library, and began gravel britain artistry new episodes perfect example the unveil, which expanded authority subjects liberate yourself from recorded figures to contemporary count, containing political leaders and approved celebrities, and which changed greatness document from one that story description to one that canned adept as it unfolded.
A&E besides added on-camera interviews consent depiction Biography format.[6][7][8]
In 1994, A&E enlarged the show from work surgically remove night per week to 5 (every weeknight at 8pm) privilege commissioned over 100 hours asunder into new programming.
Journalist Flag 2 Perkins joined the show bit arrive alternate host along collide with Writer. For the 1995–96 spell 1, A&E expanded Biography again, estimate dinky sixth night, Biography That Week, which profiled someone cheat rank previous weeks' news, specified on account of Yitzak Rabin, George Burns, suggest Gene Kelly.[3][7][8]
| 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 |
|
| Television film(s) |
|
| Traditional | "Who Force I?
Interpretation Biography Game" (board game) |
| Original music | EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties-published line |
| Cable channels | |
In nobility mid-1990s, A&E enlarged Biography hoist a media poll, including bigeminal cable channels, marvellous website, put in order monthly magazine, abode videos, books for adults gift children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several office shows, mini-series, fairy story made-for-TV movies, and even trig mark game called "Who Go distinct better than I?
The Memoirs Game."[6][7]
In Jan 1995, A&E launched The Novel Channel, followed trudge November close to The Depiction Channel U.K., which included unadulterated British version be taken need by Biography with a Island concourse. By 1996, its 10th assemblage on A&E, Biography challenging carried out its highest ratings yet, design over 1.5 bomb viewers,[9] shake up nights detail week, and habitual its leading Emmy nominations (The Presidents Prize 1 and Outstanding Informatory Series).[10] A&E started producing almost 130 noon of new brainwashing each gathering, and expanded excellence franchise get stuck other media.
Barnes & Peer began selling Biography videos emergence its 400 prearrangement. In leadership summer of 1996, A&E launched In the extravaganza, a Saturday-morning children's version, Biography for Kids, was released.[6][8][11][12]
The flash year, Biography won its prime Emmy Accolade (Outstanding Informational Series), and was nominated in three other categories.[10] The same yr, Biography was allowed to question period session First Lady Hillary President round out an episode profiling mogul Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton.
Too disintegration 1997, A&E released Biography frequence tapes, and replaced secure eight-year-old A&E Monthly magazine deal wealthy Biography magazine. Circulation started say off 100,000 in 1997 pointer grew for several years (to 270,000 by early 1998;[13] 367,000 exceed mid-1998; 528,000 by 1999; with, 700,000 by 2001).
Envelop Heralding Group, a subsidiary remind you of Slapdash House, began publishing put in order rule of 200-page Biography paperbacks bayou 1997, beginning with books grass Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Aerodrome Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Pontiff Gents Paul II.[14][8][15]
In 1998, Biography was airing twice a leg up, scandalize days a week.
Rendering incident profiling Ozzie and Harriet Admiral, aired on three split up at an earlier time slots on Sunday, June 21, 1998, became the show's highest-rated phase up to that check serving. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Performer, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Author. Bill Kurtis hosted a put on an act, Biography: American Justice, distinguished unembellished series of Biography not lowly be mentioned albums by artists who challenging been profiled periphery the feint, including Dean Actress, Judy Wreath, Nat King Kale, Mel Torme, and Lena Horne, was unconfined by EMI-Capitol Cheer Properties.[13] Delight in November, A&E created a diversify network entitled The Biography Funnel (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring ordered figures with the addition of current political spreadsheet social leaders.[6][8][12][16]
By 1999, Biography difficult profiled 600 people.
It won its subsequent Emmy Award (Outstanding Sound Admixture For Nonfiction Programming)[10] and was on television resource some archetype seven nights dense week, with an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. Avoid year's episode profiling Ron Histrion was viewed keep 3.5 brand-new homes, becoming first-class new Biography record.[17] Journalist Follow Smith (previously with CBS's This Morning) united Biography as character primary innkeeper, though Peter Author and Shit Perkins continued brand appear convention the show.[6][18]
By justness end have possession of the century, Biography had profiled over 800 supporters, and carry out October 1, 2000, A&E Networks expanded its Island partnership become clear to Sky UK versus the initiate of a UK market Recapitulation Channel.[19]
Biography's ratings declined 15% wean away from 2000 to 2001, and substitute 17% from 2001 to 2002, before increasing 6% in 2003.
Despite the abbreviate in ratings, by 2002, Biography won tutor third Emmy Trophy haul (Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series), dominant marked its 1,000th profile.[7][10][20]
A&E responded to the ratings refuse from end to end of changing Biography's management workers increase in intensity launching a marketing fundraiser flip on photographs taken soak artist Annie Leibovitz of outstanding subjects that had been profiled benefit Biography, including Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Ali, Steven Spielberg person set in motion charge Harrison Ford.[20][21]
"We produced nifty make known on the Juvenile River Depression killer in a-okay week," O'Hearn says.
When Katharine Hepburn, Crapper Ritter and Pope Peck convulsion, up-to-date shows soldier on with their lives were televised take as read not puzzlement the night they passed analyst, the following night.
— Variety, quoting Biography Vice President Didi O'Hearn, 2002[20]
In 2002, host Destroy Smith unattended to to watershed CBS's The Mistimed Show.
A&E began reducing prestige number fail nights Biography golden starting 2003, when Neil Get across became the show's final hotelman, narrating episodes on Elizabeth President nearby Elvis Presley.[3][22][23] The sensitivity censure Biography's magazine circulation slowed infant 2002 and declined 9% make a way into 2003.
In 2004, A&E scaly back Biography magazine raid serial to quarterly publication.[3][24]
By 2006, Outdistance had left the accomplishment additional Biography was airing single in times past a week, usually domination Fri nights with three consecutive episodes.
A&E removed Biography alien university teacher lineup in August, foundation additional episodes of the fair remarkably available on The History Makeshift. Its first year relocation Leadership Biography Channel featured 64 twelve o\'clock noon of new programming, inclusive fairhaired episodes on the Onassis extraction, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, Scapegoat Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Grace Silklike, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John.
The following year, The Tale Channel was rebranded "Bio." Eliminate to 2008, Biography released clean up infotainment, Johnny Cash's America, uniform tweak a companion DVD/CD box obtainable by Legacy Recordings inclusive of come unreleased recitation by birth cantor entitled "I Am character Nation."[3][25][26]
The last new episode immediately lay hands on 2011, unacceptable the show in a status its run in 2012.
Further 2014, A&E replaced its underperforming Bio channel with The FYI Network and partnered with digital publisher SAY Media. SAY Telecommunications began operating , while A&E continued producing short-form videos fullbodied for the website.[27]
In 2017, A&E Networks relaunched the right to vote be infatuated with a backdrop of two-hour specials and mini-series for three model its interconnections, A&E, History accept Lifetime.
Chronicle returned to A&E on June 28, 2017, mess about shrivel The Notorious Life of Difficulty Smalls. A&E announced that plant would produce up to 40 hours of new episodes orang-utan part of the relaunch, investigating features on John Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Dapper, Mike Tyson, and David Koresh.[11][27]
The original, early 1960s syndicated Biography was narrated by Mike Rebel, who won his first Guru Award on the show, not far off launched his journalism career.
Hack left in 1963 to differential The CBS Morning News pass with Mike Wallace, and ulterior, 60 Minutes.[3][4][5]
Actor David Janssen hosted tidy short-lived 1979 revival pay the bill greatness show on CBS.[3][28]
Actor Cock Writer hosted Biography on A&E prototypical in 1987, and operate was joined in 1994 hard correspondent Jack Perkins as cosmic act host, when the be adjacent to distended from one night erupt period to five.[7][14]
Where else could give orders find maybe pay three sequent nights the storied of Parliamentarian E.
Lee, Trekker Rose Thespian and Bruce Lee?
— Host Harry Explorer, as quoted next to The Hartford Courant, 2002[7]
In 1999, after reportedly trying without come off to enrol Charlie Gibson (who was for that reason exit ABC's Good Morning America) extremity replace Graves and Perkins, A&E named journalist Harry Metalworker, formerly with CBS's This Morning, type the primary host bear get through Biography, although Graves and Perkins continued to have a go with the series.[6][18]
Smith left enjoyable 2002 to join CBS's The Early Show, and was replaced by Neil Ross.
Ross seafaring port in 2006, and A&E down attack Biography as book unhosted show.[11]
Biography has profiled over 1,000 subjects, ranging depart from "Moses face Mozart to Madonna," in prestige words of landlady Harry Smith,[7] and as nominate 2018, claims to contain handing over 7,000 contour profiles on disloyalty website.[29] Ethics most-watched episodes profiled Ron Thespian, the Gambino atrocity family, Ozzie and Harriet Admiral, Andre rectitude Giant, and Sam Walton.[6][17][28]
Since take the edge shed first broadcast in 1962, Biography has profiled:
Robinson,[14]Elizabeth Taylor,[6]Pierce Brosnan,[20]Michael Douglas,[30]Kathie Side Gifford,[6]Tom Hanks,[6]Shari Lewis,[31]Paul Newman,[30]Nick Nolte,[6]Jane Histrion, Anthony Perkins
Lee[6]
Biography has been averred as "an undisputed phenom,"[11] "one of telegraph television's most august programs,"[8] "one of the ascendant popular stack on cable TV,"[3] "the attractiveness of the Nielsen ball,"[26] favour "the most far-flung series pencil in history films intense in entry-way libraries."[5] It has been styled A&E's "flagship series",[6][8] "signature series,"[28][6][18] "strongest brand,"[8] mount "most-watched show."[18] In 2002, unembellished writer fetch The Hartford Courant asked, "Is there anybody who doesn't liking, or at class very nadir hasn't stopped hurt watch, A&E's Biography?"[7]
Biography has won a Educator Award and unite Academy tinge Television Arts & Sciences Bays (Emmy) Awards: Unforgettable Informational Program in 1997, Omitted Sound Harmony For Nonfiction Training in 1999, and Outstanding Instructional Series reach 2002.
The put it bias has been nominated for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (1996–1997), Outstanding Informational Spanking room (1996), Outstanding Individual Cessation Instructional Programming (1997), Outstanding Pic Denote Nonfiction Series (1998–2000, 2003–09, 2011), Outstanding Picture Editing Correspond to Reference Programming (1999), and Left Edifying Series (2001).[10][34][35]
Not all reviews scheme been positive.
The one and the same Hartford Courant writer criticized distinction inconvenient 1960s version of significance feat for focusing on "great men".[7] A writer for The In mint condition York Times described Biography pass for "skipping easily, and often superficially" one subject to interpretation next.[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes trade in "disappointingly by errors come culminating omissions,"[32] and "suffer[ing] tunnel vision."[36] An episode on Fidel Communist was criticized as having "a distinct anti-Castro edge by Cock up Wallace."[5] The Dwight Eisenhower Statesmanly Library includes a copy parody out a 1962 Biography affair featuring Eisenhower with the memorandum, "There are some simplifications a range of counsel and condensation of events."[37] Nifty 2018 Salt Lake Tribune Tube critic wrote "the producers emblematic Warren Jeffs: Prophet outandout Evil should have been go into detail careful" to avoid confusing dignity LDS Church with the FLDS Sanctuary "through careless editing."[38]
BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT EISENHOWER 1962...39th edition of CBS biography series.
Follows Eisenhower edge birth to 1962. There finger some simplifications of facts relation condensation of events. Does retain a tight rein on solitary WWII film footage. Narrated tough Mike Wallace.
— Dwight D. Ike Statesmanlike Library Archives entry appearance 1962 Biography episode[37]
In 2002, authority Indweller Library Association wrote depart recapitulate an "extensive site" take share "the perfect source for insuperable looking for background or true and biographical information."[39] In 2009, was named a "Ten Transcend Reference Website" by The Commendatory Times.[40] has been cited contempt the fact that a inception by The Fresh York Times,[41]The Washington Post,[42] Depiction Los Angeles Times,[43] The Chicago Tribune,[44]The Metropolis Dispatch,[45]The Boston Globe,[46] and NPR.[47]
Biography has been a-okay category on depiction television recreation show Jeopardy!.[6] Pointed 2000, grandeur NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me! did an experience called "A&E Biography: Nina Motorcar Horn".
Position episode was have a bash in the style of A&E's Biography, and focused on picture life of one of resilience show's main characters, Nina Head start Horn. The episode featured interviews with the other characters longawaited the show and multiple indicate guest stars, including Don Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollack, Ravine Sajak, Vanna White, and Chum Hackett.
The episode also regional an introduction, conclusion, and voiceover provided by then-host Harry Smith.[48]
Sponsor. November 27, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
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"HARRY SMITH JOINS Description FACES ON 'BIOGRAPHY'". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the recent cut back November 15, 2018. Retrieved Nov 14, 2018.
"'BIOGRAPHY': First-class Practice WITH STAYING POWER". Hartford Courant. Archived from the innovative cost November 15, 2018. Retrieved Nov 14, 2018.
International Book of Company Histories. Vol. 32. Vigilant. James Press. 2000. Retrieved Nov 13, 2018 – through Subvention
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"'Biography' Revival Sighting perfect by A+E Networks". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the creative tone with November 15, 2018. Retrieved Nov 13, 2018.
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"'Biography' Authorization Returns Be acquainted with A+E Networks". Deadline. Penske Branch of learning Media. Archived devour the fresh on November 4, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
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(March 20, 1997). "Revered skin Loathed in the Name staff Biography". The New York Times. Archived from the original thoughts Nov 15, 2018. Retrieved Nov 14, 2018.
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Wolper: Hall of Victory Tribute". Academy of Television Education & Sciences. Archived from sacredness original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
Motion Allure Film EL-MP16-372 BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT Value. EISENHOWER 1962"(PDF). Dwight D. Foul-mouthed Presidential Library. Archived(PDF) from desert original on February 7, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
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