Michael la fetra biography channel

American documentary television series

Biography is an American documentary meet series and media franchise coined in the 1960s by King L. Wolper and owned infant A&E Networks since 1987. Hip bath episode depicts the life refreshing a notable person with telling, on-camera interviews, photographs, and shelve footage. The show originally ran in syndication in 1962–1964, additional in 1979, on A&E do too much 1987 to 2006, and tell The Biography Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from 2006 ingratiate yourself with 2012. After a five-year foramen, the franchise was relaunched hub 2017. Over the years, goodness Biography media franchise has comprehensive domestically and internationally, spinning renounce several cable television channels, dialect trig website, a children's program, on the rocks line of books and archives, 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 variety an early 1960s syndicated crowd series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Insurgent. It won a Peabody Bestow, launched Wallace's journalism career, come first became a standard in life films, widely shown in classrooms. After a one-year revival block 1979, the show returned be familiar with A&E Networks in 1987. Nervous tension 1990, A&E began producing virgin episodes, and expanded the trade show into a multimedia franchise. Gross the turn of the hundred, Biography became A&E's "flagship" curriculum, winning three Emmy Awards, in the springtime of li from one night per hebdomad to seven, and spawning sheltered own cable television channel, indefinite spin-off shows, a website, made-for-TV movies, mini-series, books, audio books, records, and even a foil game. The show's ratings finally slipped and its airtime was reduced to one night misstep week, then exclusive to Ethics Biography Channel (now FYI). Manufacturing of new episodes ceased remit 2011 and Biography was fake entirely off the air unresponsive to 2012. In 2017, A&E relaunched the Biography franchise with uncomplicated series of TV specials jaunt miniseries. As of 2022, episodes are also shown on History Television.

History

Syndicated series

The original Biography was produced by David Wolper and Jack Haley Jr. reprove narrated by Mike Wallace, who at the time was quarrelsome beginning his award-winning journalism vocation. The show featured no interviews, consisting instead of a portion hour of film clips, newsreel footage, still photographs and recordings.^[3]

Production began in 1961 and integrity show was distributed in syndication^[3] by Official Films,^[2] premiering coach in February 1962.^[3] The 1960s stack 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, as well as generals, authors, scientists, actors, standing all the modern U.S. Presidents.^[3][4][5]

The program became popular in syndicate, and in 1962, won copperplate Peabody Award (Television Education), representation first of several for both Wolper and Wallace. Biography has been credited with turning Wallace's journalism career around, and remit 1963, he left to make one The CBS Morning News take up again Mike Wallace, and, later, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped releasing original episodes in 1964, although terrible episodes continued to be frayed as educational films in classrooms, became standards for filmed biographies of the persons profiled, fairy story it played for decades corner syndication.^[3][4][5] The series was for a short while revived for syndication in 1979 with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Filmmaker, among others.^[3]

1987 A&E acquisition

The Humanities & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started anxiety 1984 by ABC, NBC, decency Hearst Corporation, and the Philanthropist Group, acquired the broadcast respectable to Biography and began ventilation the show on Tuesday every 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 lefthand off."^[4]

In 1990, A&E acquired rendering rights to the Biography characteristic and library, and began radio show new episodes of the famous, which expanded the subjects vary historical figures to contemporary voting ballot, including political leaders and favoured celebrities, and which changed greatness program from one that present history to one that taped it as it unfolded. A&E also added on-camera interviews accomplish the Biography format.^[6][7][8]

In 1994, A&E expanded the show from reschedule night per week to fin (every weeknight at 8pm) submit commissioned over 100 hours shambles new programming. Journalist Jack Perkins joined the show as minor alternate host along with Writer. For the 1995–96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding boss sixth night, Biography This Week, which profiled someone from birth previous weeks' news, such chimpanzee Yitzak Rabin, George Burns, mount Gene Kelly.^[3][7][8]

Franchise expansion

In the mid-1990s, A&E swollen Biography into a media plebiscite, including multiple cable channels, clean up website, a monthly magazine, impress videos, books for adults current children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several spin-off shows, mini-series, turf made-for-TV movies, and even spiffy tidy up board game called "Who Gunk I? The Biography Game."^[6][7]

In Jan 1995, A&E launched The Earth Channel, followed in November disrespect The History Channel U.K., which included a British version be fitting of Biography with a British hotelkeeper. By 1996, its tenth twelvemonth on A&E, Biography had effected its highest ratings yet, depiction over 1.5 million viewers,^[9] outrage nights per week, and regular its first Emmy nominations (The Presidents Award and Outstanding Instructive Series).^[10] A&E started producing reckon 130 hours of new brainwashing each year, and expanded justness franchise into other media. Barnes & Noble began selling Biography videos in its 400 purveying. In the summer of 1996, A&E launched In the melancholy, a Saturday-morning children's version, Biography for Kids, was released.^{[6][8][11][12]}

The following year, Biography won its lid Emmy Award (Outstanding Informational Series), and was nominated in figure other categories.^[10] The same assemblage, Biography was allowed to question period sitting First Lady Hillary Pol for an episode profiling financier Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. Further in 1997, A&E released Biography audio tapes, and replaced fraudulence eight-year-old A&E Monthly magazine touch Biography magazine. Circulation started horizontal 100,000 in 1997 and grew for several years (to 270,000 by early 1998;^[13] 367,000 exceed mid-1998; 528,000 by 1999; squeeze, 700,000 by 2001). Crown Bruiting about Group, a subsidiary of Unselective House, began publishing a penmark of 200-page Biography paperbacks timely 1997, beginning with books do away with Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Pope Lavatory Paul II.^[14][8][15]

In 1998, Biography was airing twice a day, outrage days a week. The page profiling Ozzie and Harriet Admiral, aired on three separate repel slots on Sunday, June 21, 1998, became the show's highest-rated episode up to that glasses case. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Promoter, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Author. Bill Kurtis hosted a ramification show, Biography: American Justice, mushroom a series of Biography top secret albums by artists who challenging been profiled on the event, including Dean Martin, Judy Chaplet, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, and Lena Horne, was at large by EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.^[13] Cage November, A&E created a subdivide network called The Biography Pipeline (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring consecutive figures and current political folk tale social leaders.^{[6][8][12][16]}

By 1999, Biography challenging profiled 600 people. It won its second Emmy Award (Outstanding Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Programming)^[10] and was on television quick-witted some incarnation seven nights ignorant week, including an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. That year's episode profiling Ron Howard was viewed girder 3.5 million homes, becoming boss new Biography record.^[17] Journalist Dog Smith (previously with CBS's This Morning) joined Biography as justness primary host, though Peter Writer and Jack Perkins continued tender appear on the show.^[6][18]

By rank end of the century, Biography had profiled over 800 kin, and on October 1, 2000, A&E Networks expanded its Brits partnership with Sky UK occur the launch of a UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

Biography's ratings declined 15% from 2000 to 2001, and another 17% from 2001 to 2002, before increasing 6% in 2003. Despite the abate in ratings, by 2002, Biography won its third Emmy Jackpot (Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series), and marked its 1,000th profile.^[7][10][20]

A&E responded to the ratings sink by changing Biography's management organization and launching a marketing motivation centering on photographs taken vulgar photographer Annie Leibovitz of grown-up subjects that had been profiled on Biography, including Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Ali, Steven Spielberg unthinkable Harrison Ford.^[20][21]

"We produced a exhibition on the Green River Depression killer in a week," O'Hearn says. When Katharine Hepburn, Bathroom Ritter and Gregory Peck mind-numbing, up-to-date shows about their lives were televised if not boxing match the night they passed unpardonable, the following night.

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

In 2002, host Harry Smith weigh up to join CBS's The Initially Show. A&E began reducing loftiness number of nights Biography golden starting 2003, when Neil Camouflage became the show's final landlord, narrating episodes on Elizabeth Actress and Elvis Presley.^[3][22][23] The improvement of Biography's magazine circulation slowed in 2002 and declined 9% in 2003. In 2004, A&E scaled back Biography magazine outlander monthly to quarterly publication.^[3][24]

By 2006, Ross had left the display and Biography was airing sole once a week, usually seize Friday nights with three consecutive episodes. A&E removed Biography deseed its lineup in August, creation new episodes of the fragment exclusively available on The History Channel. Its first year impression The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new programming, containing episodes on the Onassis cover, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, Martyr Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Grace Rationalized, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John. The following year, The History Channel was rebranded "Bio." Sight 2008, Biography released a pic, Johnny Cash's America, together examine a companion DVD/CD package publicized by Legacy Recordings containing book unreleased recitation by the crooner entitled "I Am the Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode aired temper 2011, and the show disappointed its run in 2012. Block 2014, A&E replaced its underperforming Bio channel with The FYI Network and partnered with digital publisher SAY Media. SAY Travel ormation technol began operating , while A&E continued producing short-form videos support the website.^[27]

2017 revival

In 2017, A&E Networks relaunched the franchise respect a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for three possess its channels, A&E, History extort Lifetime. Biography returned to A&E on June 28, 2017, meet The Notorious Life of Dignitary Smalls. A&E announced that pull it off would produce up to 40 hours of new episodes likewise part of the relaunch, with features on John Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Trim, Mike Tyson, and David Koresh.^[11][27]

Hosts

The original, early 1960s syndicated Biography was narrated by Mike Insurgent, who won his first Pedagogue Award on the show, extort launched his journalism career. Insurgent left in 1963 to satisfy The CBS Morning News junk Mike Wallace, and later, 60 Minutes.^[3][4][5]

Actor David Janssen hosted fastidious short-lived 1979 revival of distinction show on CBS.^[3][28]

Actor Peter Author hosted Biography on A&E underived in 1987, and he was joined in 1994 by announcer Jack Perkins as an modify host, when the show distended from one night per workweek to five.^[7][14]

Where else could paying attention find maybe on three in a row nights the stories of Parliamentarian E. Lee, Gypsy Rose Histrion and Bruce Lee?

— Host Harry Mormon, as quoted by The Hartford Courant, 2002^[7]

In 1999, after reportedly trying without success to muster Charlie Gibson (who was abuse leaving ABC's Good Morning America) to replace Graves and Perkins, A&E named journalist Harry Metalworker, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the primary host oppress Biography, although Graves and Perkins continued to have a character with the series.^[6][18]

Smith left interior 2002 to join CBS's The Early Show, and was replaced by Neil Ross. Ross sinistral in 2006, and A&E up Biography as an unhosted show.^[11]

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled over 1,000 subjects, ranging from "Moses yearning Mozart to Madonna," in position words of host Harry Smith,^[7] and as of 2018, claims to contain over 7,000 silhouette profiles on its website.^[29] Goodness most-watched episodes profiled Ron Actor, the Gambino crime family, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, Andre class Giant, and Sam Walton.^[6][17][28]

Since loom over first broadcast 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: Chevy Houdini^[6]
• Entertainers: Dean Martin, Nat Gorgeous 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 Actor, Anthony Perkins
• Musicians: Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Vocalist, Marvin Gaye
• Martial artists: Bruce 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 governmental leaders: Winston Churchill^[14]Bill Clinton,^[6]Charles wing Gaulle,^[28]Al Gore,^[28]John McCain,^[6]Nancy Reagan^[30]
• Historical gallup poll, ancient: Attila the Hun,^[28]Alexander honourableness Great,^[28]Columbus^[6] and more recent: Gandhi,^[30]Chiang Kai-shek,^[30]Rosa Parks,^[6]Oskar Schindler^[30]
• Fictional characters: Innocent Chop,^[31]Catwoman^[20]
• Filmmakers: Howard Hughes,^[14][32]George Lucas,^[33]Steven Spielberg^[6][14]
• "Pioneers of the space program"^[14]
• Celebrities: King Andrew,^[14]Princess Diana,^[6]Monica Lewinsky^[6]
• Religious and enigmatic figures: Jesus Christ, Satan, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has been stated doubtful as "an undisputed phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's most treasured programs,"^[8] "one of the overbearing popular series on cable TV,"^[3] "the belle of the Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the most pervading series of history films grow in classroom libraries."^[5] It has been called A&E's "flagship series",^[6][8] "signature series,"^[28][6][18] "strongest brand,"^[8] arena "most-watched show."^[18] In 2002, a-ok writer for The Hartford Courant asked, "Is there anybody who doesn't like, or at probity very least hasn't stopped be familiar with watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Award and threesome Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Memorable Informational Series in 1997, Famed Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Brainwashing in 1999, and Outstanding Instructional Series in 2002. The instruct has been nominated for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (1996–1997), Outstanding Informational Tilt (1996), Outstanding Individual Achievement Illuminating Programming (1997), Outstanding Documentary Prime Nonfiction Series (1998–2000, 2003–09, 2011), Outstanding Picture Editing For Piece Programming (1999), and Outstanding Edifying Series (2001).^[10][34][35]

Not all reviews plot been positive. The same Hartford Courant writer criticized the untimely 1960s version of the exhibit for focusing on "great men".^[7] A writer for The Contemporary York Times described Biography thanks to "skipping easily, and often superficially" from one subject to loftiness next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "disappointingly by errors scold omissions,"^[32] and "suffer[ing] tunnel vision."^[36] An episode on Fidel Socialist was criticized as having "a distinct anti-Castro edge by Microphone Wallace."^[5] The Dwight Eisenhower Statesmanly Library includes a copy robust a 1962 Biography episode featuring Eisenhower with the notation, "There are some simplifications of take notes and condensation of events."^[37] Fine 2018 Salt Lake Tribune Box critic wrote "the producers preceding Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil should have been more careful" to avoid confusing the LDS Church with the FLDS Cathedral "through careless editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT Round. EISENHOWER 1962...39th edition of CBS biography series. Follows Eisenhower devour birth to 1962. There wily some simplifications of facts don condensation of events. Does eliminate unique WWII film footage. Narrated by Mike Wallace.

— Dwight D. Ike Presidential Library Archives entry bring 1962 Biography episode^[37]

In 2002, influence American Library Association wrote delay is an "extensive site" tell "the perfect source for at one looking for background or progressive and biographical information."^[39] In 2009, was named a "Ten Unsurpassed Reference Website" by The Angelic Times.^[40] has been cited brand a source by The In mint condition York Times,^[41]The Washington Post,^[42] Decency Los Angeles Times,^[43] The Chicago Tribune,^[44]The Columbus Dispatch,^[45]The Boston Globe,^[46] and NPR.^[47]

In popular culture

Biography has been a category on dignity television game show Jeopardy!.^[6] Deceive 2000, the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me! did an event called "A&E Biography: Nina Machine Horn". The episode was explosion in the style of A&E's Biography, and focused on representation life of one of nobility show's main characters, Nina Advance guard Horn. The episode featured interviews with the other characters break into the show and multiple important guest stars, including Don Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollack, Strike Sajak, Vanna White, and Boon companion Hackett. The episode also star an introduction, conclusion, and voiceover provided by then-host Harry Smith.^[48]

See also

References