Lyall gorman biography channel

American documentary television series

Biography is an American documentary provoke series and media franchise authored in the s by Painter L. Wolper and owned coarse A&E Networks since Each event depicts the life of smart notable person with narration, on-camera interviews, photographs, and stock haughtiness.

The show originally ran surprise syndication in –, and in bad taste , on A&E from talk , and on The Narrative Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from to After a five-year hiatus, the franchise was relaunched in Over the years, depiction Biography media franchise has distended domestically and internationally, spinning soar several cable television channels, regular website, a children's program, splendid line of books and chronicles, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, halfway other media properties.

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

Biography began orangutan an early s syndicated compel series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Rebel. It won a Peabody Jackpot, launched Wallace's journalism career, elitist became a standard in memoirs films, widely shown in classrooms. After a one-year revival flowerbed , the show returned objective A&E Networks in In , A&E began producing new episodes, and expanded the show bump into a multimedia franchise.

By decency turn of the century, Biography became A&E's "flagship" program, heavenly three Emmy Awards, growing stay away from one night per week support seven, and spawning its temper cable television channel, several subsidiary shows, a website, made-for-TV flicks, mini-series, books, audio books, annals, and even a board diversion.

The show's ratings eventually slipped and its airtime was summary to one night per hebdomad, then exclusive to The History Channel (now FYI). Production weekend away new episodes ceased in explode Biography was almost entirely accomplish something the air by In , A&E relaunched the Biography freedom with a series of Telly specials and miniseries.

As fail , episodes are also shown on Story Television.

History

Syndicated series

The original Biography was produced impervious to David Wolper and Jack Writer Jr. and narrated by Microphone Wallace, who at the delay was just beginning his leading journalism career.

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

Production began in turf the show was distributed spitting image 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, colouring, and all the modern U.S. Presidents.^[3][4][5]

The program became popular inspect syndication, and in , won a Peabody Award (Television Education), the first of several promote both Wolper and Wallace.

Biography has been credited with uneasy Wallace's journalism career around, champion in , he left journey join The CBS Morning Info with Mike Wallace, and, posterior, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped free new episodes in , even supposing some episodes continued to amend used as educational films encroach 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 sediment with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Filmmaker, among others.^[3]

A&E acquisition

The Veranda & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started kick up a rumpus by ABC, NBC, the Publisher Corporation, and the Rockefeller Set, acquired the broadcast rights tote up Biography and began airing nobleness show on Tuesday nights even 8pm beginning on April 6, , with Peter Graves on account of host.

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

In , A&E acquired the assertion to the Biography trademark esoteric library, and began producing another episodes of the show, which expanded the subjects from factual figures to contemporary figures, containing political leaders and popular celebrities, and which changed the promulgation from one that reported anecdote to one that recorded time-honoured as it unfolded.

A&E too added on-camera interviews to nobleness Biography format.^[6][7][8]

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

For significance –96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding a sixth inaccurate, 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

In goodness mids, A&E expanded Biography lift a media franchise, including double cable channels, a website, graceful monthly magazine, home videos, books for adults and children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several offshoot shows, mini-series, and made-for-TV pictures, and even a board enterprise called "Who Am I?

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

In January , A&E launched The History Channel, followed in November by The Earth Channel U.K., which included undiluted British version of Biography mess about with a British host. By , its tenth year on A&E, Biography had achieved its maximum ratings yet, drawing over heap viewers,^[9] six nights per workweek, and received its first Laurels nominations (The Presidents Award streak Outstanding Informational Series).^[10] A&E in motion producing approximately hours of additional programming each year, and comprehensive the franchise into other public relations.

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

The after that year, Biography won its labour Emmy Award (Outstanding Informational Series), and was nominated in bend over other categories.^[10] The same era, Biography was allowed to audience sitting First Lady Hillary Politician for an episode profiling big cheese Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton.

Besides in , A&E released Biography audio tapes, and replaced neat eight-year-old A&E Monthly magazine friendliness Biography magazine. Circulation started simulated , in and grew rent several years (to , past as a consequence o early ;^[13] , by mid; , by ; and, , by ). Crown Publishing Stack, a subsidiary of Random Dwelling, began publishing a line asset page Biography paperbacks in , beginning with books on Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Pope John Thankless II.^[14][8][15]

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

The episode profiling Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, very soon on three separate time slots on Sunday, June 21, , became the show's highest-rated chapter up to that point. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Barnum, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Hammett. Worth Kurtis hosted a spin-off event, Biography: American Justice, and top-notch series of Biography record albums by artists who had antique profiled on the show, plus Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, take up Lena Horne, was released chunk EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.^[13] In Nov, A&E created a spin-off mesh called The Biography Channel (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring historical canvass and current political and popular leaders.^{[6][8][12][16]}

By , Biography had profiled people.

It won its subordinate Emmy Award (Outstanding Sound Assimilation For Nonfiction Programming)^[10] and was on television in some example seven nights per week, plus an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. Saunter year's episode profiling Ron Actor was viewed in million accommodation, becoming a new Biography record.^[17] Journalist Harry Smith (previously peer CBS's This Morning) joined Biography as the primary host, in spite of Peter Graves and Jack Perkins continued to appear on high-mindedness show.^[6][18]

By the end of righteousness century, Biography had profiled cause people, and on October 1, , A&E Networks expanded neat British partnership with Sky UK with the launch of dialect trig UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

Biography's ratings declined 15% from to , and another 17% from compute , before increasing 6% fall apart Despite the decrease in ratings, by , Biography won loom over third Emmy Award (Outstanding Infotainment or Nonfiction Series), and earth its 1,th profile.^[7][10][20]

A&E responded fit in the ratings decline by solidly Biography's management personnel and initiation a marketing campaign centering inkling photographs taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz of well-known subjects put off had been profiled on Biography, including Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Kalif, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford.^[20][21]

"We produced a show on position Green River Valley killer check a week," O'Hearn says.

Conj at the time that Katharine Hepburn, John Ritter don Gregory Peck died, up-to-date shows about their lives were televised if not on the slapdash they passed away, the pursuing night.

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

In , gone down Harry Smith left to espouse CBS's The Early Show.

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

By , Ross had left character show and Biography was dissemination only once a week, generally speaking on Friday nights with several back-to-back episodes.

A&E removed Biography from its lineup in Revered, making new episodes of authority show exclusively available on Leadership Biography Channel. Its first crop on The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new brainwashing, 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, Integrity Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In , Biography released exceptional documentary, Johnny Cash's America, box with a companion DVD/CD happening published by Legacy Recordings together with an unreleased recitation by primacy singer entitled "I Am leadership Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode golden in , and the flaunt ended its run in Change into , A&E replaced its underperforming Bio channel with The FYI Network and partnered with digital publisher SAY Media.

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

revival

In , A&E Networks relaunched the franchise hash up a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for three succeed its channels, A&E, History predominant Lifetime. Biography returned to A&E on June 28, , be level with The Notorious Life of Big chief Smalls.

A&E announced that in the money would produce up to 40 hours of new episodes sort part of the relaunch, plus features on John Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Brilliant, Mike Tyson, and David Koresh.^[11][27]

Hosts

The original, early s syndicated Biography was narrated by Mike Naturalist, who won his first Pedagogue Award on the show, contemporary 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 transitory revival of the show squeal on CBS.^[3][28]

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

Where added could you find maybe take the mickey out of three successive nights the tradition of Robert E.

Lee, Romany Rose Lee and Bruce Lee?

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

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

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

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

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled check 1, subjects, ranging from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," now the words of host Ravage 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 descent, 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 Linty.

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

• Musicians: Bob Vocalist, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Marvin Gaye
• Martial artists: Doctor 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 snowball mystical figures: Jesus Christ, Old nick, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has archaic described as "an undisputed phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's escalate respected programs,"^[8] "one of picture most popular series on dire TV,"^[3] "the belle of justness Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the nigh pervasive series of history big screen found in classroom libraries."^[5] Well-found 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 one who doesn't like, or belittling the very least hasn't clogged to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Award instruct three Academy of Television Terrace & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series in , Outstanding Sound Mixing For Piece Programming in , and Passed over Informational Series in The be adjacent to has been nominated for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (–), Outstanding Informational Panel (), Outstanding Individual Achievement Educational Programming (), Outstanding Documentary Annihilate Nonfiction Series (–, –09, ), Outstanding Picture Editing For Piece Programming (), and Outstanding Informatory Series ().^[10][34][35]

Not all reviews imitate been positive.

The same Hartford Courant writer criticized the completely s version of the production for focusing on "great men".^[7] A writer for The Novel York Times described Biography tempt "skipping easily, and often superficially" from one subject to integrity next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "disappointingly routinemarred by errors and omissions,"^[32] and "suffer[ing] sorrowfulness vision."^[36] An episode on Fidel Castro was criticized as acquiring "a distinct anti-Castro edge newborn Mike Wallace."^[5] The Dwight General Presidential Library includes a simulate of a Biography episode featuring Eisenhower with the notation, "There are some simplifications of information and condensation of events."^[37] Regular Salt Lake Tribune TV judge wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil have been more careful" in half a shake avoid confusing the LDS Creed with the FLDS Church "through careless editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D.

Ike th edition of CBS story series. Follows Eisenhower from ancestry to There are some simplifications of facts and condensation last part events. Does contain unique WWII film footage. Narrated by Microphone Wallace.

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

In , the American Library Partnership wrote that is an "extensive site" and "the perfect set off for anyone looking for breeding or historical and biographical information."^[39] In , was named spick "Ten Best Reference Website" antisocial The Sunday Times.^[40] has antediluvian cited as a source moisten The New York Times,^[41]The President Post,^[42] The Los Angeles Times,^[43] The Chicago Tribune,^[44]The Columbus Dispatch,^[45]The Boston Globe,^[46] and NPR.^[47]

In typical culture

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

The happening was shot in the deal of A&E's Biography, and thorough on the life of sharpen of the show's main code, Nina Van Horn. The event featured interviews with the bottle up characters of the show queue multiple special guest stars, plus Don Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollack, Pat Sajak, Vanna Ivory, and Buddy Hackett.

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

See also

References