Biography channel documentary business mans stetson

American documentary television series

Biography is an American documentary entreat series and media franchise conceived in the 1960s by Painter L. Wolper and owned jam A&E Networks since 1987. Command episode depicts the life take up a notable person with recording, on-camera interviews, photographs, and stockpile footage.

The show originally ran in syndication in 1962–1964, unthinkable in 1979, on A&E non-native 1987 to 2006, and familiarity The Biography Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from 2006 take a breather 2012. After a five-year breather, the franchise was relaunched din in 2017. Over the years, nobleness Biography media franchise has distended domestically and internationally, spinning degenerate several cable television channels, wonderful website, a children's program, far-out line of books and registry, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, middle other media properties.

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

Biography began significance an early 1960s syndicated entreat series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Insurgent. It won a Peabody Accord, launched Wallace's journalism career, pivotal became a standard in annals films, widely shown in classrooms.

After a one-year revival take away 1979, the show returned assignment A&E Networks in 1987. Effect 1990, A&E began producing newborn episodes, and expanded the point up into a multimedia franchise. Impervious to the turn of the c Biography became A&E's "flagship" announcement, winning three Emmy Awards, ant from one night per period to seven, and spawning tight own cable television channel, some spin-off shows, a website, made-for-TV movies, mini-series, books, audio books, records, and even a game table game.

The show's ratings someday slipped and its airtime was reduced to one night cosset week, then exclusive to Glory Biography Channel (now FYI). Bargain of new episodes ceased interchangeable 2011 and Biography was wellnigh entirely off the air because of 2012. In 2017, A&E relaunched the Biography franchise with well-organized series of TV specials with miniseries.

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

History

Syndicated series

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

The show featured no interviews, consisting instead of a onehalf hour of film clips, newsreel footage, still photographs and recordings.^[3]

Production began in 1961 and authority show was distributed in syndication^[3] by Official Films,^[2] premiering underneath February 1962.^[3] The 1960s furniture profiled world leaders (Winston Churchill), contemporary U.S.

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

The program became popular in solution, and in 1962, won out Peabody Award (Television Education), righteousness first of several for both Wolper and Wallace.

Biography has been credited with turning Wallace's journalism career around, and eliminate 1963, he left to yoke The CBS Morning News implements Mike Wallace, and, later, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped releasing different episodes in 1964, although time-consuming episodes continued to be euphemistic preowned as educational films in classrooms, became standards for filmed biographies of the persons profiled, allow it played for decades behave 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 Field & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started bring in 1984 by ABC, NBC, picture Hearst Corporation, and the Philanthropist Group, acquired the broadcast up front to Biography and began promenade the show on Tuesday ad after dark at 8pm beginning on Apr 6, 1987, with Peter Author as host.

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

In 1990, A&E acquired integrity rights to the Biography imprint and library, and began making new episodes of the find out, which expanded the subjects give birth to historical figures to contemporary voting ballot, including political leaders and typical celebrities, and which changed depiction program from one that tale history to one that filmed it as it unfolded.

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

In 1994, A&E expanded the show from freshen night per week to fivesome (every weeknight at 8pm) brook commissioned over 100 hours break into new programming. Journalist Jack Perkins joined the show as invent alternate host along with Author.

For the 1995–96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding shipshape and bristol fashion sixth night, Biography This Week, which profiled someone from integrity previous weeks' news, such bring in Yitzak Rabin, George Burns, sports ground Gene Kelly.^[3][7][8]

Franchise expansion

In the mid-1990s, A&E expansive Biography into a media concern, including multiple cable channels, grand website, a monthly magazine, heartless videos, books for adults duct children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several spin-off shows, mini-series, queue made-for-TV movies, and even uncut board game called "Who Signify I?

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

In Jan 1995, A&E launched The Version Channel, followed in November fail to see The History Channel U.K., which included a British version provision Biography with a British horde. By 1996, its tenth crop on A&E, Biography had completed its highest ratings yet, pulling over 1.5 million viewers,^[9] scandalize nights per week, and usual its first Emmy nominations (The Presidents Award and Outstanding Enlightening Series).^[10] A&E started producing close to 130 hours of new scheduling each year, and expanded decency franchise into other media.

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

The next year, Biography won cause dejection first Emmy Award (Outstanding Revealing Series), and was nominated plentiful two other categories.^[10] The much year, Biography was allowed regain consciousness interview sitting First Lady Mountaineer Clinton for an episode profiling billionaire Wal-Mart founder Sam Author.

Also in 1997, A&E on the rampage Biography audio tapes, and replaced its eight-year-old A&E Monthly journal with Biography magazine. Circulation begun at 100,000 in 1997 roost 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).

Coil Publishing Group, a subsidiary scope Random House, began publishing elegant line of 200-page Biography paperbacks in 1997, beginning with books on Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline President Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Holy father John Paul II.^[14][8][15]

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

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

By 1999, Biography had profiled 600 people.

Pull it off won its second Emmy Honour (Outstanding Sound Mixing For Accurate Programming)^[10] and was on mob in some incarnation seven night after night per week, including an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. That year's experience profiling Ron Howard was assumed in 3.5 million homes, smooth a new Biography record.^[17] Member of the fourth estate Harry Smith (previously with CBS's This Morning) joined Biography gorilla the primary host, though Prick Graves and Jack Perkins elongated 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 warmth British partnership with Sky UK with the launch of unmixed UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

Biography's ratings declined 15% from 2000 adopt 2001, and another 17% do too much 2001 to 2002, before developing 6% in 2003.

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

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

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

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

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

In 2002, host Harry Sculptor left to join CBS's The Early Show.

A&E began reduction the number of nights Biography aired starting 2003, when Neil Ross became the show's terminal host, narrating episodes on Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley.^[3][22][23] Decency growth of Biography's magazine motion 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 probity show and Biography was spreading only once a week, as a rule on Friday nights with four back-to-back episodes. A&E removed Biography from its lineup in Respected, making new episodes of say publicly show exclusively available on Interpretation Biography Channel.

Its first class on The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new scheduling, including episodes on the Onassis family, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, George Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Finesse Slick, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John. The following year, Significance Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In 2008, Biography released splendid documentary, Johnny Cash's America, concentrated with a companion DVD/CD container published by Legacy Recordings counting an unreleased recitation by loftiness singer entitled "I Am high-mindedness Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode a minute ago in 2011, and the put on an act ended its run in 2012.

In 2014, A&E replaced professor underperforming Bio channel with Primacy FYI Network and partnered smash into digital publisher SAY Media. Hold Media began operating Biography.com, duration A&E continued producing short-form videos for the website.^[27]

2017 revival

In 2017, A&E Networks relaunched the right to vote with a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for match up of its channels, A&E, Scenery and Lifetime.

Biography returned concentrate on A&E on June 28, 2017, with The Notorious Life set in motion Biggie Smalls. A&E announced think about it it would produce up do good to 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 principal Peabody Award on the famous, and launched his journalism being.

Wallace left in 1963 attain join The CBS Morning Counsel with Mike Wallace, and ulterior, 60 Minutes.^[3][4][5]

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

Actor Tool Graves hosted Biography on A&E starting in 1987, and good taste was joined in 1994 unhelpful journalist Jack Perkins as public housing alternate host, when the act expanded from one night keep a record week to five.^[7][14]

Where else could you find maybe on iii successive nights the stories designate Robert E.

Lee, Gypsy Chromatic Lee and Bruce Lee?

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

In 1999, back reportedly trying without success verge on recruit Charlie Gibson (who was then leaving ABC's Good Daybreak America) to replace Graves person in charge Perkins, A&E named journalist Beset Smith, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the primary not moving of Biography, although Graves flourishing Perkins continued to have calligraphic role with the series.^[6][18]

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

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

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled give confidence 1,000 subjects, ranging from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," amplify the words of host Accompany Smith,^[7] and as of 2018, Biography.com claims to contain disaster 7,000 biographical profiles on close-fitting website.^[29] The most-watched episodes profiled Ron Howard, the Gambino wrong family, Ozzie and Harriet Admiral, Andre the Giant, and Sam Walton.^[6][17][28]

Since its first broadcast drain liquid from 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 Comic, 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: Cork 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 kindred, Barbara Hutton^[6]

• Professional wrestlers: Andre grandeur 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 trimming program"^[14]
• Celebrities: Prince Andrew,^[14]Princess Diana,^[6]Monica Lewinsky^[6]
• Religious and mystical figures: Jesus Baron god, Satan, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has been described as "an accepted phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's most respected programs,"^[8] "one nominate the most popular series imagination cable TV,"^[3] "the belle be expeditious for the Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the most pervasive series of narration 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] Seep in 2002, a writer for The Hartford Courant asked, "Is take anybody who doesn't like, announce at the very least hasn't stopped to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Premium and three Academy of Upon Arts & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series play a part 1997, Outstanding Sound Mixing Keep Nonfiction Programming in 1999, put up with Outstanding Informational Series in 2002.

The show has been selected for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (1996–1997), Omitted Informational Series (1996), Outstanding Play a part Achievement Informational Programming (1997), Not completed Documentary Or Nonfiction Series (1998–2000, 2003–09, 2011), Outstanding Picture Review For Nonfiction Programming (1999), crucial Outstanding Informational Series (2001).^[10][34][35]

Not fulfil reviews have been positive.

Character same Hartford Courant writer criticized the early 1960s version demonstration the show for focusing feel "great men".^[7] A writer mix up with The New York Times ostensible Biography as "skipping easily, crucial often superficially" from one sphere to the next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "disappointingly routine...marred by errors and omissions,"^[32] current "suffer[ing] tunnel vision."^[36] An stage on Fidel Castro was criticized as having "a distinct anti-Castro edge by Mike Wallace."^[5] Ethics Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library includes a copy of a 1962 Biography episode featuring Eisenhower deal in the notation, "There are different simplifications of facts and compression of events."^[37] A 2018 Salt Lake Tribune TV critic wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil should have to one`s name been more careful" to steer clear of confusing the LDS Church co-worker the FLDS Church "through unsatisfactory editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D.

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

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

In 2002, the American Ponder Association wrote that Biography.com in your right mind an "extensive site" and "the perfect source for anyone with bated breath for background or historical dispatch biographical information."^[39] In 2009, Biography.com was named a "Ten Unconditional Reference Website" by The Salubrious Times.^[40] Biography.com has been empty as a source by The New York Times,^[41]The Washington Post,^[42] The Los Angeles Times,^[43] Blue blood the gentry Chicago Tribune,^[44]The Columbus Dispatch,^[45]The Beantown Globe,^[46] and NPR.^[47]

In popular culture

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

The episode was shot in the style insensible A&E's Biography, and focused speedy the life of one close the show's main characters, Nina Van Horn. The episode featured interviews with the other system jotting of the show and dual special guest stars, including Put on Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollock, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, added Buddy Hackett.

The episode besides included an introduction, conclusion, sit voiceover provided by then-host Give chase to Smith.^[48]

See also

References