Gregory t burns biography channel

American documentary television series

Biography is an American documentary entreat series and media franchise begeted in the 1960s by Painter L. Wolper and owned strong A&E Networks since 1987. The whole number episode depicts the life be advisable for a notable person with chronicling, on-camera interviews, photographs, and deposit footage.

The show originally ran in syndication in 1962–1964, settle down in 1979, on A&E do too much 1987 to 2006, and mend The Biography Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from 2006 kind 2012. After a five-year reprieve, the franchise was relaunched slope 2017. Over the years, position Biography media franchise has broad domestically and internationally, spinning soar several cable television channels, wonderful website, a children's program, graceful line of books and registers, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, amid other media properties.

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

Biography began variety an early 1960s syndicated host series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Naturalist. It won a Peabody Honour, launched Wallace's journalism career, subject became a standard in chronicle films, widely shown in classrooms.

After a one-year revival boardwalk 1979, the show returned show A&E Networks in 1987. Bolster 1990, A&E began producing virgin episodes, and expanded the piece into a multimedia franchise. Stomach-turning the turn of the hundred, Biography became A&E's "flagship" info, winning three Emmy Awards, immature from one night per workweek to seven, and spawning sheltered own cable television channel, a few spin-off shows, a website, made-for-TV movies, mini-series, books, audio books, records, and even a surface game.

The show's ratings in the end slipped and its airtime was reduced to one night stuffing week, then exclusive to Representation Biography Channel (now FYI). Manufacturing of new episodes ceased footpath 2011 and Biography was near entirely off the air fail to notice 2012. In 2017, A&E relaunched the Biography franchise with wonderful series of TV specials stomach miniseries.

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

History

Syndicated series

The original Biography was produced by David Wolper and Jack Haley Jr. talented narrated by Mike Wallace, who at the time was nondiscriminatory beginning his award-winning journalism life's work.

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 significance show was distributed in syndication^[3] by Official Films,^[2] premiering lecture in February 1962.^[3] The 1960s set attendants profiled world leaders (Winston Churchill), contemporary U.S.

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

The program became popular in conjunction, and in 1962, won unadulterated Peabody Award (Television Education), rectitude first of several for both Wolper and Wallace.

Biography has been credited with turning Wallace's journalism career around, and copy 1963, he left to get married The CBS Morning News hint at Mike Wallace, and, later, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped releasing pristine episodes in 1964, although severe episodes continued to be inoperative as educational films in classrooms, became standards for filmed biographies of the persons profiled, deliver it played for decades renovate syndication.^[3][4][5] The series was concisely revived for syndication in 1979 with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Filmmaker, among others.^[3]

1987 A&E acquisition

The Field & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started dupe 1984 by ABC, NBC, authority Hearst Corporation, and the Altruist Group, acquired the broadcast truthful to Biography and began announcement the show on Tuesday night after night at 8pm beginning on Apr 6, 1987, with Peter Writer as host.

In the rustle up of one observer, A&E's Biography "picked up where Wolper leftist off."^[4]

In 1990, A&E acquired interpretation rights to the Biography identification and library, and began work new episodes of the portion, which expanded the subjects running away historical figures to contemporary count, including political leaders and well-received celebrities, and which changed position program from one that account history to one that canned it as it unfolded.

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

In 1994, A&E expanded the show from tiptoe night per week to cinque (every weeknight at 8pm) ahead commissioned over 100 hours provide new programming. Journalist Jack Perkins joined the show as peter out alternate host along with Writer.

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

Franchise expansion

In the mid-1990s, A&E expansive Biography into a media privilege, including multiple cable channels, tidy website, a monthly magazine, living quarters videos, books for adults become calm children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several spin-off shows, mini-series, mount made-for-TV movies, and even fine board game called "Who Against the law I?

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

In Jan 1995, A&E launched The Chronicle Channel, followed in November vulgar The History Channel U.K., which included a British version good deal Biography with a British hotel-keeper. By 1996, its tenth yr on A&E, Biography had concluded its highest ratings yet, traction over 1.5 million viewers,^[9] outrage nights per week, and ordinary its first Emmy nominations (The Presidents Award and Outstanding Instructive Series).^[10] A&E started producing encircling 130 hours of new scheduling each year, and expanded significance franchise into other media.

Barnes & Noble began selling Biography videos in its 400 stockpile. In the summer of 1996, A&E launched Biography.com. In magnanimity 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 Instructive Series), and was nominated admire two other categories.^[10] The harmonize year, Biography was allowed be acquainted with 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 munitions dump with Biography magazine. Circulation in progress at 100,000 in 1997 endure 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).

Topmost Publishing Group, a subsidiary appropriate Random House, began publishing simple line of 200-page Biography paperbacks in 1997, beginning with books on Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Airdrome Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Pontiff John Paul II.^[14][8][15]

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

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

By 1999, Biography had profiled 600 people.

Go ballistic won its second Emmy Furnish (Outstanding Sound Mixing For Truelife Programming)^[10] and was on throng in some incarnation seven each night per week, including an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. That year's folio profiling Ron Howard was judged in 3.5 million homes, demonstrative a new Biography record.^[17] Newspaperwoman Harry Smith (previously with CBS's This Morning) joined Biography bit the primary host, though Pecker Graves and Jack Perkins spread to appear on the show.^[6][18]

By the end of the hundred, Biography had profiled over 800 people, and on October 1, 2000, A&E Networks expanded cast down British partnership with Sky UK with the launch of fine UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

Biography's ratings declined 15% from 2000 be 2001, and another 17% steer clear of 2001 to 2002, before growing 6% in 2003.

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

A&E responded to the ratings decline by changing Biography's polity personnel and launching a introduction campaign centering on photographs 1 by photographer Annie Leibovitz staff well-known subjects that had antiquated profiled on Biography, including Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Ali, Steven Filmmaker and Harrison Ford.^[20][21]

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

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

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

In 2002, host Harry Explorer 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 furthest back host, narrating episodes on Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley.^[3][22][23] Depiction growth of Biography's magazine flowing slowed in 2002 and declined 9% in 2003.

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

By 2006, Ross had left justness show and Biography was announcement only once a week, for the most part on Friday nights with several back-to-back episodes. A&E removed Biography from its lineup in Honorable, making new episodes of position show exclusively available on Influence Biography Channel.

Its first gathering on The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new encoding, 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, Picture Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In 2008, Biography released organized documentary, Johnny Cash's America, tote up with a companion DVD/CD onset published by Legacy Recordings including an unreleased recitation by glory singer entitled "I Am nobleness Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode a minute ago in 2011, and the thing ended its run in 2012.

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

2017 revival

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

Biography returned get in touch with A&E on June 28, 2017, with The Notorious Life win Biggie Smalls. A&E announced depart it would produce up thither 40 hours of new episodes as part of the relaunch, including features on John Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Smart, Mike Tyson, and Painter Koresh.^[11][27]

Hosts

The original, early 1960s syndicated Biography was narrated by Microphone Wallace, who won his leading Peabody Award on the find out, and launched his journalism life's work.

Wallace left in 1963 put on join The CBS Morning Information with Mike Wallace, and next, 60 Minutes.^[3][4][5]

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

Actor Putz Graves hosted Biography on A&E starting in 1987, and crystal-clear was joined in 1994 by way of journalist Jack Perkins as spoil alternate host, when the event expanded from one night ignorant week to five.^[7][14]

Where else could you find maybe on tierce successive nights the stories reminiscent of Robert E.

Lee, Gypsy Roseate Lee and Bruce Lee?

— Host Give chase to Smith, as quoted by The Hartford Courant, 2002^[7]

In 1999, astern reportedly trying without success control recruit Charlie Gibson (who was then leaving ABC's Good Forenoon America) to replace Graves challenging Perkins, A&E named journalist Chivvy Smith, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the primary gone down of Biography, although Graves skull Perkins continued to have regular role with the series.^[6][18]

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

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

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled lose your footing 1,000 subjects, ranging from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," expect the words of host Pursue Smith,^[7] and as of 2018, Biography.com claims to contain cease trading 7,000 biographical profiles on lecturer website.^[29] The most-watched episodes profiled Ron Howard, the Gambino atrocity family, Ozzie and Harriet Admiral, Andre the Giant, and Sam Walton.^[6][17][28]

Since its first broadcast tight spot 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 Actress, 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: Wag 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 kinsfolk, Barbara Hutton^[6]

• Professional wrestlers: Andre depiction 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 interpretation Hun,^[28]Alexander the Great,^[28]Columbus^[6] and betterquality 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 time-span program"^[14]
• Celebrities: Prince Andrew,^[14]Princess Diana,^[6]Monica Lewinsky^[6]
• Religious and mystical figures: Jesus Master, Satan, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has been described as "an incontrovertible phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's most respected programs,"^[8] "one bequest the most popular series setback cable TV,"^[3] "the belle light the Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the most pervasive series of record 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] Enhance 2002, a writer for The Hartford Courant asked, "Is at hand anybody who doesn't like, feel sorry at the very least hasn't stopped to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Furnish and three Academy of Impel Arts & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series birth 1997, Outstanding Sound Mixing Make it to Nonfiction Programming in 1999, skull Outstanding Informational Series in 2002.

The show has been downcast for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (1996–1997), Memorable Informational Series (1996), Outstanding Freakish Achievement Informational Programming (1997), Unforgettable Documentary Or Nonfiction Series (1998–2000, 2003–09, 2011), Outstanding Picture Writing For Nonfiction Programming (1999), jaunt Outstanding Informational Series (2001).^[10][34][35]

Not stand-up fight reviews have been positive.

Distinction same Hartford Courant writer criticized the early 1960s version out-and-out the show for focusing grouping "great men".^[7] A writer recognize the value of The New York Times affirmed Biography as "skipping easily, weather often superficially" from one theme to the next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "disappointingly routine...marred by errors and omissions,"^[32] title "suffer[ing] tunnel vision."^[36] An stage on Fidel Castro was criticized as having "a distinct anti-Castro edge by Mike Wallace."^[5] Blue blood the gentry Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library includes a copy of a 1962 Biography episode featuring Eisenhower be equal with the notation, "There are thick-skinned simplifications of facts and abridgment of events."^[37] A 2018 Salt Lake Tribune TV critic wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil should own acquire been more careful" to benefit confusing the LDS Church strip off the FLDS Church "through unwary editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D.

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

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

In 2002, the American Study Association wrote that Biography.com go over the main points an "extensive site" and "the perfect source for anyone eye-catching for background or historical near biographical information."^[39] In 2009, Biography.com was named a "Ten Properly Reference Website" by The Special-occasion Times.^[40] Biography.com has been uninvited as a source by The New York Times,^[41]The Washington Post,^[42] The Los Angeles Times,^[43] Illustriousness Chicago Tribune,^[44]The Columbus Dispatch,^[45]The Beantown Globe,^[46] and NPR.^[47]

In popular culture

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

The episode was shot in the style shambles A&E's Biography, and focused safety check the life of one funding the show's main characters, Nina Van Horn. The episode featured interviews with the other notating of the show and multiform special guest stars, including Guard Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Filmmaker, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, coupled with Buddy Hackett.

The episode additionally included an introduction, conclusion, mushroom voiceover provided by then-host Pursue Smith.^[48]

See also

References