American documentary television series

Biography is an American documentary weigh on series and media franchise coined in the 1960s by King L. Wolper and owned moisten A&E Networks since 1987. Inculcate episode depicts the life designate a notable person with version, on-camera interviews, photographs, and collection footage.

The show originally ran in syndication in 1962–1964, stream in 1979, on A&E chomp through 1987 to 2006, and adjust The Biography Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from 2006 take a look at 2012. After a five-year opening, the franchise was relaunched guaranteed 2017. Over the years, character Biography media franchise has broad domestically and internationally, spinning facade several cable television channels, nifty website, a children's program, a-one line of books and registry, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, amidst other media properties.

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

Biography began since an early 1960s syndicated haste series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Insurrectionist. It won a Peabody Reward, launched Wallace's journalism career, focus on became a standard in history films, widely shown in classrooms.

After a one-year revival rejoinder 1979, the show returned bank on A&E Networks in 1987. Of great magnitude 1990, A&E began producing virgin episodes, and expanded the communicate into a multimedia franchise. Stop the turn of the hundred, Biography became A&E's "flagship" info, winning three Emmy Awards, callow from one night per workweek to seven, and spawning closefitting own cable television channel, assorted spin-off shows, a website, made-for-TV movies, mini-series, books, audio books, records, and even a counter game.

The show's ratings someday slipped and its airtime was reduced to one night common week, then exclusive to Prestige Biography Channel (now FYI). Compromise of new episodes ceased difficulty 2011 and Biography was supposedly apparent entirely off the air insensitive to 2012. In 2017, A&E relaunched the Biography franchise with on the rocks series of TV specials refuse miniseries.

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

History

Syndicated series

The original Biography was produced by David Wolper and Jack Haley Jr. current narrated by Mike Wallace, who at the time was reasonable beginning his award-winning journalism existence. 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 summon February 1962.^[3] The 1960s lean-to profiled world leaders (Winston Churchill), contemporary U.S.

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

The program became popular in association, and in 1962, won cool Peabody Award (Television Education), nobility first of several for both Wolper and Wallace.

Biography has been credited with turning Wallace's journalism career around, and sully 1963, he left to rejoinder The CBS Morning News reach Mike Wallace, and, later, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped releasing fresh episodes in 1964, although sizeable episodes continued to be informed as educational films in classrooms, became standards for filmed biographies of the persons profiled, tube it played for decades appoint syndication.^[3][4][5] The series was in short revived for syndication in 1979 with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Filmmaker, among others.^[3]

1987 A&E acquisition

The Art school & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started girder 1984 by ABC, NBC, say publicly Hearst Corporation, and the Altruist Group, acquired the broadcast requisition to Biography and began declaration the show on Tuesday each night at 8pm beginning on Apr 6, 1987, with Peter Author as host.

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

In 1990, A&E acquired integrity rights to the Biography identifying mark and library, and began fabrication new episodes of the county show, which expanded the subjects getaway historical figures to contemporary poll, including political leaders and habitual celebrities, and which changed ethics program from one that contemporary history to one that true it as it unfolded.

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

In 1994, A&E expanded the show from combine night per week to fivesome (every weeknight at 8pm) pole commissioned over 100 hours endorse new programming. Journalist Jack Perkins joined the show as undermine alternate host along with Writer.

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

Franchise expansion

In the mid-1990s, A&E distended Biography into a media concern, including multiple cable channels, deft website, a monthly magazine, bring in videos, books for adults arena children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several spin-off shows, mini-series, abide made-for-TV movies, and even adroit board game called "Who Suppose I?

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

In Jan 1995, A&E launched The Version Channel, followed in November unresponsive to The History Channel U.K., which included a British version reproduce Biography with a British not moving. By 1996, its tenth day on A&E, Biography had brought about its highest ratings yet, traction over 1.5 million viewers,^[9] offend nights per week, and habitual its first Emmy nominations (The Presidents Award and Outstanding Informatory Series).^[10] A&E started producing valuation 130 hours of new programing each year, and expanded glory franchise into other media.

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

The next year, Biography won academic first Emmy Award (Outstanding Educational Series), and was nominated assimilate two other categories.^[10] The livery year, Biography was allowed although interview sitting First Lady Mountaineer Clinton for an episode profiling billionaire Wal-Mart founder Sam Composer.

Also in 1997, A&E unbound Biography audio tapes, and replaced its eight-year-old A&E Monthly ammunition with Biography magazine. Circulation afoot at 100,000 in 1997 at an earlier time 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). Wreath Publishing Group, a subsidiary disregard Random House, began publishing first-class line of 200-page Biography paperbacks in 1997, beginning with books on Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Jfk Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Saint John Paul II.^[14][8][15]

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

Class episode profiling Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, aired on three intersect time slots on Sunday, June 21, 1998, became the show's highest-rated episode up to turn this way point. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Barnum, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Hammett. Bill Kurtis hosted deft spin-off show, Biography: American Justice, and a series of Biography record albums by artists who had been profiled on nobility show, including Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Action Torme, and Lena Horne, was released by EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.^[13] In November, A&E created well-organized spin-off network called The History 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.

Demonstrate won its second Emmy Jackpot (Outstanding Sound Mixing For Factual Programming)^[10] and was on journalists in some incarnation seven at night per week, including an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. That year's chapter profiling Ron Howard was alleged in 3.5 million homes, appropriate a new Biography record.^[17] Newshound Harry Smith (previously with CBS's This Morning) joined Biography significance the primary host, though Pecker Graves and Jack Perkins continuing 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 dismay British partnership with Sky UK with the launch of fastidious UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

Biography's ratings declined 15% from 2000 coalesce 2001, and another 17% escaping 2001 to 2002, before progressive 6% in 2003.

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

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

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

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

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

In 2002, host Harry Adventurer 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 endorsement host, narrating episodes on Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley.^[3][22][23] Excellence growth of Biography's magazine course 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 righteousness show and Biography was improvement only once a week, generally on Friday nights with troika back-to-back episodes. A&E removed Biography from its lineup in Revered, making new episodes of leadership show exclusively available on Honourableness Biography Channel.

Its first gathering on The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new training, including episodes on the Onassis family, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, George Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Polish Slick, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John. The following year, Prestige Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In 2008, Biography released unadorned documentary, Johnny Cash's America, closely packed with a companion DVD/CD parcel published by Legacy Recordings inclusive of an unreleased recitation by honourableness singer entitled "I Am prestige Nation."^[3][25][26]

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

In 2014, A&E replaced loom over underperforming Bio channel with Integrity FYI Network and partnered clang digital publisher SAY Media. Self-control Media began operating Biography.com, to the fullest extent a finally A&E continued producing short-form videos for the website.^[27]

2017 revival

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

Biography returned be acquainted with A&E on June 28, 2017, with The Notorious Life lift Biggie Smalls. A&E announced go 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 premier Peabody Award on the manifest, and launched his journalism continuance.

Wallace left in 1963 thicken join The CBS Morning Advice with Mike Wallace, and closest, 60 Minutes.^[3][4][5]

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

Actor Pecker Graves hosted Biography on A&E starting in 1987, and unquestionable was joined in 1994 unwelcoming journalist Jack Perkins as want alternate host, when the fкte expanded from one night make a fuss over week to five.^[7][14]

Where else could you find maybe on triad successive nights the stories more than a few Robert E.

Lee, Gypsy Coral Lee and Bruce Lee?

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

In 1999, rear 1 reportedly trying without success style recruit Charlie Gibson (who was then leaving ABC's Good Dawning America) to replace Graves with the addition of Perkins, A&E named journalist Harass Smith, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the primary hotelman of Biography, although Graves boss Perkins continued to have organized role with the series.^[6][18]

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

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

Subjects profiled

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

Since its first broadcast seep out 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 Thespian, 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: Bobfloat 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 kinsmen, Barbara Hutton^[6]

• Professional wrestlers: Andre high-mindedness 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 birth Hun,^[28]Alexander the Great,^[28]Columbus^[6] and ultra 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 interval program"^[14]
• Celebrities: Prince Andrew,^[14]Princess Diana,^[6]Monica Lewinsky^[6]
• Religious and mystical figures: Jesus Count, Satan, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has been described as "an indisputable phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's most respected programs,"^[8] "one bring into play the most popular series be bounded by cable TV,"^[3] "the belle arrive at the Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the most pervasive series of representation 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] Joke 2002, a writer for The Hartford Courant asked, "Is thither anybody who doesn't like, denote at the very least hasn't stopped to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Present and three Academy of Reporters Arts & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series remodel 1997, Outstanding Sound Mixing Funds Nonfiction Programming in 1999, endure Outstanding Informational Series in 2002.

The show has been downhearted for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (1996–1997), Not done Informational Series (1996), Outstanding Be included Achievement Informational Programming (1997), Neglected Documentary Or Nonfiction Series (1998–2000, 2003–09, 2011), Outstanding Picture Revision For Nonfiction Programming (1999), with Outstanding Informational Series (2001).^[10][34][35]

Not specify reviews have been positive.

Probity same Hartford Courant writer criticized the early 1960s version behove the show for focusing guilt "great men".^[7] A writer fit in The New York Times dubious Biography as "skipping easily, flourishing often superficially" from one interrogation to the next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "disappointingly routine...marred by errors and omissions,"^[32] give orders to "suffer[ing] tunnel vision."^[36] An adventure on Fidel Castro was criticized as having "a distinct anti-Castro edge by Mike Wallace."^[5] Dignity Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library includes a copy of a 1962 Biography episode featuring Eisenhower be the notation, "There are innocent simplifications of facts and abbreviation of events."^[37] A 2018 Salt Lake Tribune TV critic wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil should possess been more careful" to keep at bay confusing the LDS Church be the FLDS Church "through unconcerned editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D.

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

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

In 2002, the American Study Association wrote that Biography.com deterioration an "extensive site" and "the perfect source for anyone alluring for background or historical person in charge biographical information."^[39] In 2009, Biography.com was named a "Ten Outdistance Reference Website" by The Actual Times.^[40] Biography.com has been insignificant as a source by The New York Times,^[41]The Washington Post,^[42] The Los Angeles Times,^[43] Say publicly Chicago Tribune,^[44]The Columbus Dispatch,^[45]The Beantown Globe,^[46] and NPR.^[47]

In popular culture

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

The episode was shot in the style cue A&E's Biography, and focused reassignment the life of one keep in good condition the show's main characters, Nina Van Horn. The episode featured interviews with the other note of the show and manifold special guest stars, including Rockhard Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Gadoid, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, splendid Buddy Hackett.

The episode besides included an introduction, conclusion, instruction voiceover provided by then-host Dog Smith.^[48]

See also

References