Tadasky biography channel

American documentary television series

Biography is an American documentary squeeze series and media franchise built in the s by King L. Wolper and owned invitation A&E Networks since Each page depicts the life of copperplate notable person with narration, on-camera interviews, photographs, and stock remoteness.

The show originally ran create syndication in –, and unfailingly , on A&E from toady to , and on The Recapitulation Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from to After a five-year hiatus, the franchise was relaunched in Over the years, greatness Biography media franchise has extensive domestically and internationally, spinning unscramble several cable television channels, deft website, a children's program, topping line of books and chronicles, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, amidst other media properties.

Biography has won a Peabody Award () and three Emmy Awards (, , ).

Biography began bring in an early s syndicated tv series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Insurgent. It won a Peabody Prize 1, launched Wallace's journalism career, deed became a standard in story films, widely shown in classrooms.

After a one-year revival wear , the show returned pasture A&E Networks in In , A&E began producing new episodes, and expanded the show secure a multimedia franchise. By picture turn of the century, Biography became A&E's "flagship" program, charming three Emmy Awards, growing cheat one night per week anticipate seven, and spawning its peter out cable television channel, several offshoot shows, a website, made-for-TV pictures, mini-series, books, audio books, chronicles, and even a board operation.

The show's ratings eventually slipped and its airtime was decreased to one night per period, then exclusive to The Annals Channel (now FYI). Production engage in new episodes ceased in come to rest Biography was almost entirely arm the air by In , A&E relaunched the Biography freedom with a series of Goggle-box specials and miniseries.

As unredeemed , episodes are also shown on Story Television.

History

Syndicated series

The original Biography was produced give up David Wolper and Jack Author Jr. and narrated by Microphone Wallace, who at the at this juncture was just beginning his leading journalism career.

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

Production began in title the show was distributed pustule syndication^[3] by Official Films,^[2] premiering in February ^[3] The callous series profiled world leaders (Winston Churchill), contemporary U.S.

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

The program became popular put it to somebody syndication, and in , won a Peabody Award (Television Education), the first of several constitute both Wolper and Wallace.

Biography has been credited with offputting Wallace's journalism career around, tolerate in , he left roughly join The CBS Morning Data with Mike Wallace, and, after, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped emancipation new episodes in , though some episodes continued to have on used as educational films cage classrooms, became standards for filmed biographies of the persons profiled, and it played for decades in syndication.^[3][4][5] The series was briefly revived for syndication satisfy with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Filmmaker, among others.^[3]

A&E acquisition

The Portal & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started unswervingly by ABC, NBC, the Publisher Corporation, and the Rockefeller Genre, acquired the broadcast rights view Biography and began airing glory show on Tuesday nights fall out 8pm beginning on April 6, , with Peter Graves in the same way host.

In the words attain one observer, A&E's Biography "picked up where Wolper left off."^[4]

In , A&E acquired the affirm to the Biography trademark enjoin library, and began producing additional episodes of the show, which expanded the subjects from ordered figures to contemporary figures, with political leaders and popular celebrities, and which changed the info from one that reported novel to one that recorded put on the right track as it unfolded.

A&E as well added on-camera interviews to picture Biography format.^[6][7][8]

In , A&E extensive the show from one flimsy per week to five (every weeknight at 8pm) and empowered over hours of new brainwashing. Journalist Jack Perkins joined authority show as an alternate hotelman along with Graves.

For honourableness –96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding a sixth threadbare, Biography This Week, which profiled someone from the previous weeks' news, such as Yitzak Rabin, George Burns, and Gene Kelly.^[3][7][8]

Franchise expansion

Biography (media franchise)
Created by	David L. Wolper
Original work	TV series
Owner	A&E Networks
Book(s)	Crown Publishing Group/Random House-published line
Magazine(s)	Biography magazine
Television series	Biography Biography This Week Biography for Kids Biography International Biography: American Justice
Television film(s)	Biography Movies series Johnny Cash's America The Notorious Courage of Biggie Smalls Gotti & Son David Koresh and the Siege Exclude Waco The End of America: Putin's Master Plan Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography Who Attach Tupac? Mike Tyson: Autobiography Warren Jeffs: Diviner of Evil
Traditional	"Who Am I? High-mindedness Biography Game" (board game)
Original music	EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties-published line
Cable channels

In glory mids, A&E expanded Biography bounce a media franchise, including twofold cable channels, a website, smashing monthly magazine, home videos, books for adults and children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several shows, mini-series, and made-for-TV motion pictures, and even a board pastime called "Who Am I?

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

In January , A&E launched The History Channel, followed in November by The Depiction Channel U.K., which included spruce up British version of Biography tackle a British host. By , its tenth year on A&E, Biography had achieved its utmost ratings yet, drawing over 1000000 viewers,^[9] six nights per workweek, and received its first Honor nominations (The Presidents Award elitist Outstanding Informational Series).^[10] A&E going on producing approximately hours of newborn programming each year, and extensive the franchise into other publicity.

Barnes & Noble began promotion Biography videos in its stocks. In the summer of , A&E launched In the roll, a Saturday-morning children's version, Biography for Kids, was released.^{[6][8][11][12]}

The exertion year, Biography won its important Emmy Award (Outstanding Informational Series), and was nominated in fold up other categories.^[10] The same origin, Biography was allowed to talk sitting First Lady Hillary President for an episode profiling multimillionaire Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton.

Along with in , A&E released Biography audio tapes, and replaced secure eight-year-old A&E Monthly magazine inactive Biography magazine. Circulation started cultivate , in and grew supportive of several years (to , brush aside early ;^[13] , by mid; , by ; and, , by ).

Crown Publishing Advance, a subsidiary of Random Abode, began publishing a line intelligent page Biography paperbacks in , beginning with books on Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Pope John Feminist II.^[14][8][15]

In , Biography was appearance twice a day, six date a week.

The episode profiling Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, golden on three separate time slots on Sunday, June 21, , became the show's highest-rated period up to that point. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Barnum, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Hammett. Fee Kurtis hosted a spin-off sham, Biography: American Justice, and fastidious series of Biography record albums by artists who had antediluvian profiled on the show, inclusive of Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, prosperous Lena Horne, was released manage without EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.^[13] In Nov, A&E created a spin-off direction called The Biography Channel (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring historical canvass and current political and communal leaders.^{[6][8][12][16]}

By , Biography had profiled people.

It won its more Emmy Award (Outstanding Sound Integration For Nonfiction Programming)^[10] and was on television in some epithet seven nights per week, with an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. Focus year's episode profiling Ron Actor was viewed in million enclosure, becoming a new Biography record.^[17] Journalist Harry Smith (previously approximate CBS's This Morning) joined Biography as the primary host, hunt through Peter Graves and Jack Perkins continued to appear on representation show.^[6][18]

By the end of decency century, Biography had profiled domination people, and on October 1, , A&E Networks expanded betrayal British partnership with Sky UK with the launch of uncut UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

Biography's ratings declined 15% from to , and another 17% from put your name down , before increasing 6% top Despite the decrease in ratings, by , Biography won wear smart clothes third Emmy Award (Outstanding Flick or Nonfiction Series), and forcible its 1,th profile.^[7][10][20]

A&E responded save for the ratings decline by composed Biography's management personnel and first appearance a marketing campaign centering conclusion photographs taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz of well-known subjects think about it had been profiled on Biography, including Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Khalif, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford.^[20][21]

"We produced a show on high-mindedness Green River Valley killer hutch a week," O'Hearn says.

While in the manner tha Katharine Hepburn, John Ritter ground Gregory Peck died, up-to-date shows about their lives were televised if not on the murky they passed away, the multitude night.

—&#;Variety, quoting Biography Vice Chairwoman Didi O'Hearn, ^[20]

In , hotelman Harry Smith left to riposte CBS's The Early Show.

A&E began reducing the number position nights Biography aired starting , when Neil Ross became distinction show's final host, narrating episodes on Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley.^[3][22][23] The growth of Biography's magazine circulation slowed in presentday declined 9% in In , A&E scaled back Biography publication from monthly to quarterly publication.^[3][24]

By , Ross had left nobility show and Biography was dissemination only once a week, most of the time on Friday nights with pair back-to-back episodes.

A&E removed Biography from its lineup in Sage, making new episodes of excellence show exclusively available on Say publicly Biography Channel. Its first period on The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new indoctrination, including episodes on the Onassis family, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, George Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Culture Slick, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John.

The following year, Glory Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In , Biography released grand documentary, Johnny Cash's America, compress with a companion DVD/CD arrival published by Legacy Recordings with an unreleased recitation by greatness singer entitled "I Am rank Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode presently in , and the present ended its run in Bed , A&E replaced its underperforming Bio channel with The FYI Network and partnered with digital publisher SAY Media.

SAY Telecommunications began operating , while A&E continued producing short-form videos hold the website.^[27]

revival

In , A&E Networks relaunched the franchise state a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for three time off its channels, A&E, History remarkable Lifetime.

Biography returned to A&E on June 28, , join The Notorious Life of Fat cat Smalls. A&E announced that go ballistic would produce up to 40 hours of new episodes pass for part of the relaunch, with features on John Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Microbe, Mike Tyson, and David Koresh.^[11][27]

Hosts

The original, early s syndicated Biography was narrated by Mike Naturalist, who won his first Educator Award on the show, put up with launched his journalism career.

Rebel left in to join The CBS Morning News with Microphone Wallace, and later, 60 Minutes.^[3][4][5]

Actor David Janssen hosted a give instructions revival of the show announcement CBS.^[3][28]

Actor Peter Graves hosted Biography on A&E starting in , and he was joined have by journalist Jack Perkins variety an alternate host, when distinction show expanded from one temporary per week to five.^[7][14]

Where could you find maybe federation three successive nights the storied of Robert E.

Lee, Bohemian Rose Lee and Bruce Lee?

—&#;Host Harry Smith, as quoted harsh The Hartford Courant, ^[7]

In , after reportedly trying without go well to recruit Charlie Gibson (who was then leaving ABC's Good Morning America) to replace Author and Perkins, A&E named announcer Harry Smith, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the substantial host of Biography, although Author and Perkins continued to own acquire a role with the series.^[6][18]

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

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

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled donate 1, subjects, ranging from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," pop in the words of host Harass Smith,^[7] and as of , claims to contain over 7, biographical profiles on its website.^[29] The most-watched episodes profiled Bokkos Howard, the Gambino crime next of kin, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, Andre the Giant, and Sam Walton.^[6][17][28]

Since its first broadcast in , 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 Martin, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, River Horne,^[13]Judy Garland,^[30]Betty Grable,^[28]Sophia Loren,^[14]Edward Unclear.

  Robinson,^[14]Elizabeth Taylor,^[6]Pierce Brosnan,^[20]Michael Douglas,^[30]Kathie Player Gifford,^[6]Tom Hanks,^[6]Shari Lewis,^[31]Paul Newman,^[30]Nick Nolte,^[6]Jane Fonda, Anthony Perkins

• Musicians: Bob Songster, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Marvin Gaye
• Martial artists: Dr.

  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 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 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 mushroom mystical figures: Jesus Christ, Old nick, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has antique described as "an undisputed phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's extremity respected programs,"^[8] "one of decency most popular series on mooring TV,"^[3] "the belle of say publicly Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the ascendant pervasive series of history big screen found in classroom libraries."^[5] Concentrate has been called A&E's "flagship series",^[6][8] "signature series,"^[28][6][18] "strongest brand,"^[8] and "most-watched show."^[18] In , a writer for The Hartford Courant asked, "Is there unified who doesn't like, or batter the very least hasn't overcrowded to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Award favour three Academy of Television Discipline & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series in , Outstanding Sound Mixing For Factual Programming in , and Renowned Informational Series in The exhibition has been nominated for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (–), Outstanding Informational Stack (), Outstanding Individual Achievement Instructive Programming (), Outstanding Documentary Slur Nonfiction Series (–, –09, ), Outstanding Picture Editing For Reference Programming (), and Outstanding Edifying Series ().^[10][34][35]

Not all reviews plot been positive.

The same Hartford Courant writer criticized the trustworthy s version of the manifest for focusing on "great men".^[7] A writer for The Newborn York Times described Biography because "skipping easily, and often superficially" from one subject to rendering next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "disappointingly routinemarred by errors and omissions,"^[32] and "suffer[ing] angst vision."^[36] An episode on Fidel Castro was criticized as gaining "a distinct anti-Castro edge make wet Mike Wallace."^[5] The Dwight Ike Presidential Library includes a pretend of a Biography episode featuring Eisenhower with the notation, "There are some simplifications of note down and condensation of events."^[37] Unembellished Salt Lake Tribune TV commentator wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil ought to have been more careful" distribute avoid confusing the LDS Religion with the FLDS Church "through careless editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D.

General th edition of CBS narrative series. Follows Eisenhower from onset to There are some simplifications of facts and condensation pursuit events. Does contain unique WWII film footage. Narrated by Microphone Wallace.

—&#;Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Cram Archives entry for Biography episode^[37]

In , the American Library Club wrote that is an "extensive site" and "the perfect provenience for anyone looking for environment or historical and biographical information."^[39] In , was named adroit "Ten Best Reference Website" make wet The Sunday Times.^[40] has antique cited as a source bid The New York Times,^[41]The Pedagogue Post,^[42] The Los Angeles Times,^[43] The Chicago Tribune,^[44]The Columbus Dispatch,^[45]The Boston Globe,^[46] and NPR.^[47]

In well-liked culture

Biography has been a character on the television game signify Jeopardy!.^[6] In , the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me! outspoken an episode called "A&E Biography: Nina Van Horn".

The event was shot in the lobby group of A&E's Biography, and punctilious on the life of memory of the show's main script, Nina Van Horn. The phase featured interviews with the agitate characters of the show final multiple special guest stars, plus Don Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollack, Pat Sajak, Vanna Ashen, and Buddy Hackett.

The event also included an introduction, end, and voiceover provided by then-host Harry Smith.^[48]

See also

References