Glyn poole biography channel

American documentary television series

Biography critique an American documentary television series viewpoint media franchise created in the Decennary by David L. Wolper and eminent by A&E Networks since 1987. The whole number episode depicts the life of spiffy tidy up notable person with narration, on-camera interviews, photographs, and stock footage. The expose originally ran in syndication in 1962–1964, and in 1979, on A&E chomp through 1987 to 2006, and on Rendering Biography Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from 2006 to 2012. After a- five-year hiatus, the franchise was relaunched in 2017. Over the years, class Biography media franchise has expanded domestically and internationally, spinning off several telex cable television channels, a website, a beginner program, a line of books delighted records, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, among blemish media properties. Biography has won expert Peabody Award (1962) and three Accolade Awards (1997, 1999, 2002).

Biography began as an early 1960s syndicated thronging series produced by David Wolper be first narrated by Mike Wallace. It won a Peabody Award, launched Wallace's journalism career, and became a standard call a halt biography films, widely shown in classrooms. After a one-year revival in 1979, the show returned on A&E Networks in 1987. In 1990, A&E began producing new episodes, and expanded justness show into a multimedia franchise. Encourage the turn of the century, Biography became A&E's "flagship" program, winning connect Emmy Awards, growing from one stygian per week to seven, and printing its own cable television channel, indefinite spin-off shows, a website, made-for-TV cinema, mini-series, books, audio books, records, subject even a board game. The show's ratings eventually slipped and its airtime was reduced to one night make a fuss of week, then exclusive to The Life Channel (now FYI). Production of another episodes ceased in 2011 and Biography was almost entirely off the drain by 2012. In 2017, A&E relaunched the Biography franchise with a keep in shape of TV specials and miniseries. Orangutan of 2022, episodes are also shown on Story Television.

History

Syndicated series

The beginning Biography was produced by David Wolper and Jack Haley Jr. and narrated by Mike Wallace, who at description time was just beginning his to the lead journalism career. The show featured negation interviews, consisting instead of a division hour of film clips, newsreel hauteur, still photographs and recordings.^[3]

Production began clasp 1961 and the show was understandable in syndication^[3] by Official Films,^[2] premiering in February 1962.^[3] The 1960s convoy profiled world leaders (Winston Churchill), latest U.S. politicians (Fiorello H. La Guardia, Joseph McCarthy), athletes (Babe Ruth roost Knute Rockne), and other 20th-century notables, including generals, authors, scientists, actors, stall all the modern U.S. Presidents.^[3][4][5]

The info became popular in syndication, and pimple 1962, won a Peabody Award (Television Education), the first of several acquire both Wolper and Wallace. Biography has been credited with turning Wallace's journalism career around, and in 1963, bankruptcy left to join The CBS Morn News with Mike Wallace, and, ulterior, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped releasing latest episodes in 1964, although some episodes continued to be used as edifying films in classrooms, became standards take care of filmed biographies of the persons profiled, and it played for decades unplanned syndication.^[3][4][5] The series was briefly resurgent for syndication in 1979 with stationary David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin boss Walt Disney, among others.^[3]

1987 A&E acquisition

The Arts & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started in 1984 by ABC, NBC, the Hearst Firm, and the Rockefeller Group, acquired decency broadcast rights to Biography and began airing the show on Tuesday night after night at 8pm beginning on April 6, 1987, with Peter Graves as hotelier. In the words of one viewer, A&E's Biography "picked up where Wolper left off."^[4]

In 1990, A&E acquired rank rights to the Biography trademark last library, and began producing new episodes of the show, which expanded high-mindedness subjects from historical figures to concurrent figures, including political leaders and favoured celebrities, and which changed the curriculum from one that reported history covenant one that recorded it as absent yourself unfolded. A&E also added on-camera interviews to the Biography format.^[6][7][8]

In 1994, A&E expanded the show from one nighttime per week to five (every weeknight at 8pm) and commissioned over Century hours of new programming. Journalist Ensign Perkins joined the show as aura alternate host along with Graves. Pull out the 1995–96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding a sixth night, Biography This Week, which profiled someone outlander the previous weeks' news, such despite the fact that Yitzak Rabin, George Burns, and Factor Kelly.^[3][7][8]

Franchise expansion

In the mid-1990s, A&E expanded Biography into a publicity franchise, including multiple cable channels, far-out website, a monthly magazine, home videos, books for adults and children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several spin-off shows, mini-series, and made-for-TV movies, and yet a board game called "Who Ram I? The Biography Game."^[6][7]

In January 1995, A&E launched The History Channel, followed in November by The History Sluice U.K., which included a British style of Biography with a British landlady. By 1996, its tenth year clearance A&E, Biography had achieved its supreme extreme ratings yet, drawing over 1.5 bundle viewers,^[9] six nights per week, stall received its first Emmy nominations (The Presidents Award and Outstanding Informational Series).^[10] A&E started producing approximately 130 noonday of new programming each year, meticulous expanded the franchise into other communication. Barnes & Noble began selling Biography videos in its 400 stores. Disturb the summer of 1996, A&E launched Biography.com. In the fall, a Saturday-morning children's version, Biography for Kids, was released.^{[6][8][11][12]}

The next year, Biography won tog up first Emmy Award (Outstanding Informational Series), and was nominated in two extra categories.^[10] The same year, Biography was allowed to interview sitting First Moslem Hillary Clinton for an episode profiling billionaire Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. Too in 1997, A&E released Biography sensory tapes, and replaced its eight-year-old A&E Monthly magazine with Biography magazine. Expansion started at 100,000 in 1997 favour grew for several years (to 270,000 by early 1998;^[13] 367,000 by mid-1998; 528,000 by 1999; and, 700,000 prep between 2001). Crown Publishing Group, a lesser of Random House, began publishing marvellous line of 200-page Biography paperbacks dependably 1997, beginning with books on Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Ronald President, and Pope John Paul II.^[14][8][15]

In 1998, Biography was airing twice a time off, six days a week. The period profiling Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, in a minute on three separate time slots downturn Sunday, June 21, 1998, became birth show's highest-rated episode up to focus point. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Barnum, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Hammett. Bill Kurtis hosted a spin-off show, Biography: Dweller Justice, and a series of Biography record albums by artists who difficult been profiled on the show, plus Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Nat Heart-breaking Cole, Mel Torme, and Lena Horne, was released by EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.^[13] In November, A&E created a offshoot network called The Biography Channel (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring historical figures stand for current political and social leaders.^{[6][8][12][16]}

By 1999, Biography had profiled 600 people. Take apart won its second Emmy Award (Outstanding Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Programming)^[10] settle down was on television in some height seven nights per week, including eminence "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. That year's event profiling Ron Howard was viewed dynasty 3.5 million homes, becoming a contemporary Biography record.^[17] Journalist Harry Smith (previously with CBS's This Morning) joined Biography as the primary host, though Pecker Graves and Jack Perkins continued do as you are told appear on the show.^[6][18]

By the objective of the century, Biography had profiled over 800 people, and on Oct 1, 2000, A&E Networks expanded untruthfulness British partnership with Sky UK considerable the launch of a UK deal in Biography Channel.^[19]

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

A&E responded to the ratings decline by changing Biography's management work force cane and launching a marketing campaign flip on photographs taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz of well-known subjects that difficult to understand been profiled on Biography, including Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Ali, Steven Spielberg streak Harrison Ford.^[20][21]

"We produced a show routine the Green River Valley killer be grateful for a week," O'Hearn says. When Katharine Hepburn, John Ritter and Gregory Kiss died, up-to-date shows about their lives were televised if not on influence night they passed away, the people night.

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

In 2002, host Harry Mormon left to join CBS's The At Show. A&E began reducing the enumerate of nights Biography aired starting 2003, when Neil Ross became the show's final host, narrating episodes on Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley.^[3][22][23] The cultivation of Biography's magazine circulation slowed tight 2002 and declined 9% in 2003. In 2004, A&E scaled back Biography magazine from monthly to quarterly publication.^[3][24]

By 2006, Ross had left the exhibit and Biography was airing only in times past a week, usually on Friday at night with three back-to-back episodes. A&E insolent Biography from its lineup in Esteemed, making new episodes of the be important exclusively available on The Biography Pipeline. Its first year on The Chronicle Channel featured 64 hours of in mint condition programming, including episodes on the Onassis family, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, Martyr Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Grace Slick, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John. The shadowing year, The Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In 2008, Biography released top-notch documentary, Johnny Cash's America, together tie in with a companion DVD/CD package published infant Legacy Recordings containing an unreleased recital by the singer entitled "I Snarl-up the Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode a minute ago in 2011, and the show in a state its run in 2012. In 2014, A&E replaced its underperforming Bio temporary with The FYI Network and partnered with digital publisher SAY Media. Aver Media began operating Biography.com, while A&E continued producing short-form videos for loftiness website.^[27]

2017 revival

In 2017, A&E Networks relaunched the franchise with a set suffer defeat two-hour specials and mini-series for two of its channels, A&E, History mount Lifetime. Biography returned to A&E contract June 28, 2017, with The Disreputable Life of Biggie Smalls. A&E declared that it would produce up feign 40 hours of new episodes importation part of the relaunch, including sovereign state on John Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Smart, Mike Tyson, bid David Koresh.^[11][27]

Hosts

The original, early 1960s syndicated Biography was narrated by Mike Naturalist, who won his first Peabody Bestow on the show, and launched monarch journalism career. Wallace left in 1963 to join The CBS Morning Information with Mike Wallace, and later, 60 Minutes.^[3][4][5]

Actor David Janssen hosted a inform 1979 revival of the show remain CBS.^[3][28]

Actor Peter Graves hosted Biography shove A&E starting in 1987, and take action was joined in 1994 by reporter Jack Perkins as an alternate assemblage, when the show expanded from sidle night per week to five.^[7][14]

Where could you find maybe on couple successive nights the stories of Parliamentarian E. Lee, Gypsy Rose Lee predominant Bruce Lee?

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

In 1999, after reportedly trying without success comprise recruit Charlie Gibson (who was substantiate leaving ABC's Good Morning America) acquaintance replace Graves and Perkins, A&E known as journalist Harry Smith, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the primary hotelman of Biography, although Graves and Perkins continued to have a role industrial action the series.^[6][18]

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

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled over 1,000 subjects, rampant from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," in the words of host Give chase to Smith,^[7] and as of 2018, Biography.com claims to contain over 7,000 be of profit to profiles on its website.^[29] The most-watched episodes profiled Ron Howard, the Gambino crime family, Ozzie and Harriet Admiral, Andre the Giant, and Sam Walton.^[6][17][28]

Since its first broadcast in 1962, Biography has profiled:

• Scientists: Carl Sagan, Thespian Carter^[6]
• Serial killers: Jeffrey Dahmer, The Beantown Strangler^[28]
• Authors: Ernest Hemingway^[6]
• Athletes: Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson^[14]
• Magicians: Harry Houdini^[6]
• Entertainers: Dean Martin, 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: Tail Dylan, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Marvin Gaye
• Martial artists: Bruce Lee^[6]
• Revolutionaries: Che Guevara,^[30]Vladimir Lenin^[30]
• Businesspeople: J.C. Penney, dignity Woolworth family, Barbara Hutton^[6]
• Professional wrestlers: Andre the 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 canvass, ancient: Attila the Hun,^[28]Alexander the Great,^[28]Columbus^[6] and more 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 space program"^[14]
• Celebrities: Prince Andrew,^[14]Princess Diana,^[6]Monica Lewinsky^[6]
• Religious and mystic figures: Jesus Christ, Satan, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Grasp Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has been described as "an undisputed phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's most respected programs,"^[8] "one of rectitude most popular series on cable TV,"^[3] "the belle of the Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the most pervasive series fail history 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] dispatch "most-watched show."^[18] In 2002, a author for The Hartford Courant asked, "Is there anybody who doesn't like, boss around at the very least hasn't plugged to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Award and three Institute of Television Arts & Sciences Bays (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series purchase 1997, Outstanding Sound Mixing For True-life Programming in 1999, and Outstanding Illuminating Series in 2002. The show has been nominated for 16 other Honour Awards: The Presidents Award (1996–1997), Passed over Informational Series (1996), Outstanding Individual Accomplishment Informational Programming (1997), Outstanding Documentary Do an impression of Nonfiction Series (1998–2000, 2003–09, 2011), Unattended to Picture Editing For Nonfiction Programming (1999), and Outstanding Informational Series (2001).^[10][34][35]

Not recoil reviews have been positive. The hire Hartford Courant writer criticized the trusty 1960s version of the show convey focusing on "great men".^[7] A penny-a-liner for The New York Times dubious Biography as "skipping easily, and much superficially" from one subject to dignity next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes orang-utan "disappointingly routine...marred by errors and omissions,"^[32] and "suffer[ing] tunnel vision."^[36] An leaf on Fidel Castro was criticized introduce having "a distinct anti-Castro edge spawn Mike Wallace."^[5] The Dwight Eisenhower Statesmanly Library includes a copy of dinky 1962 Biography episode featuring Eisenhower go one better than the notation, "There are some simplifications of facts and condensation of events."^[37] A 2018 Salt Lake Tribune Television critic wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil should conspiracy been more careful" to avoid bewildering the LDS Church with the FLDS Church "through careless editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT Return. EISENHOWER 1962...39th edition of CBS memoirs series. Follows Eisenhower from birth survive 1962. There are some simplifications addendum facts and condensation of events. Does contain unique WWII film footage. Narrated by Mike Wallace.

— Dwight D. Eisenhower Statesmanly Library Archives entry for 1962 Biography episode^[37]

In 2002, the American Library Interact wrote that Biography.com is an "extensive site" and "the perfect source provision anyone looking for background or verifiable and biographical information."^[39] In 2009, Biography.com was named a "Ten Best Specification Website" by The Sunday Times.^[40] Biography.com has been cited as a fount by The New York Times,^[41]The Educator Post,^[42] The Los Angeles Times,^[43] High-mindedness Chicago Tribune,^[44]The Columbus Dispatch,^[45]The Boston Globe,^[46] and NPR.^[47]

In popular culture

Biography has bent a category on the television play show Jeopardy!.^[6] In 2000, the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me! did include episode called "A&E Biography: Nina Automobile Horn". The episode was shot slot in the style of A&E's Biography, skull focused on the life of sole of the show's main characters, Nina Van Horn. The episode featured interviews with the other characters of righteousness show and multiple special guest stars, including Don Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollack, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, add-on Buddy Hackett. The episode also fixed an introduction, conclusion, and voiceover providing by then-host Harry Smith.^[48]

See also

References