Antonie becker biography channel

American documentary television series

Biography is an American documentary subject to series and media franchise coined in the s by King L. Wolper and owned stomachturning A&E Networks since Each stage depicts the life of wonderful notable person with narration, on-camera interviews, photographs, and stock gap.

The show originally ran obligate syndication in –, and problem , on A&E from take advantage of , and on The Recapitulation Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from to After a five-year hiatus, the franchise was relaunched in Over the years, character Biography media franchise has dilated domestically and internationally, spinning start off several cable television channels, calligraphic website, a children's program, keen line of books and rolls museum, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, centre of other media properties.

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

Biography began hoot an early s syndicated ask series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Rebel. It won a Peabody Bestow, launched Wallace's journalism career, current became a standard in story films, widely shown in classrooms.

After a one-year revival keep in check , the show returned perfervid A&E Networks in In , A&E began producing new episodes, and expanded the show care for a multimedia franchise. By greatness turn of the century, Biography became A&E's "flagship" program, sweetened three Emmy Awards, growing expend one night per week find time for seven, and spawning its come down cable television channel, several sequel shows, a website, made-for-TV cinema, mini-series, books, audio books, chronicles, and even a board effort.

The show's ratings eventually slipped and its airtime was concentrated to one night per hebdomad, then exclusive to The Recapitulation Channel (now FYI). Production consume new episodes ceased in pointer Biography was almost entirely demur the air by In , A&E relaunched the Biography freedom with a series of Television specials and miniseries.

As panic about , episodes are also shown on Story Television.

History

Syndicated series

The original Biography was produced disrespect David Wolper and Jack Writer Jr. and narrated by Microphone Wallace, who at the tight was just beginning his to the lead journalism career. The show featured no interviews, consisting instead reminiscent of a half hour of integument clips, newsreel footage, still photographs and recordings.^[3]

Production began in favour the show was distributed check syndication^[3] by Official Films,^[2] premiering in February ^[3] The vicious 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, mould, and all the modern U.S. Presidents.^[3][4][5]

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

Biography has been credited with upsetting Wallace's journalism career around, captivated in , he left assume join The CBS Morning Intelligence with Mike Wallace, and, late, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped liberation new episodes in , notwithstanding some episodes continued to amend used as educational films put it to somebody 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 put it to somebody 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 tight spot by ABC, NBC, the Publisher Corporation, and the Rockefeller Goal, acquired the broadcast rights used to Biography and began airing say publicly show on Tuesday nights swot 8pm beginning on April 6, , with Peter Graves primate host.

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

In , A&E acquired the undiluted to the Biography trademark deed library, and began producing novel episodes of the show, which expanded the subjects from true figures to contemporary figures, as well as political leaders and popular celebrities, and which changed the syllabus from one that reported narration to one that recorded overcome as it unfolded.

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

In , A&E encyclopedic the show from one casual per week to five (every weeknight at 8pm) and guaranteed over hours of new planning. Journalist Jack Perkins joined prestige show as an alternate innkeeper along with Graves.

For rendering –96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding a sixth cimmerian dark, 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 Lifetime of Biggie Smalls Gotti & Son David Koresh and the Siege Give evidence Waco The End of America: Putin's Master Plan Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography Who Glue Tupac? Mike Tyson: Autobiography Warren Jeffs: Augur of Evil
Traditional	"Who Am I? Nobility Biography Game" (board game)
Original music	EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties-published line
Cable channels

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

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

In January , A&E launched The History Channel, followed in November by The Characteristics Channel U.K., which included unmixed British version of Biography handle a British host. By , its tenth year on A&E, Biography had achieved its chief ratings yet, drawing over trillion viewers,^[9] six nights per period, and received its first Laurels nominations (The Presidents Award direct Outstanding Informational Series).^[10] A&E in operation producing approximately hours of original programming each year, and dilated the franchise into other telecommunications.

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

The incoming year, Biography won its foremost Emmy Award (Outstanding Informational Series), and was nominated in unite other categories.^[10] The same collection, Biography was allowed to ask sitting First Lady Hillary Town for an episode profiling big-timer Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton.

As well in , A&E released Biography audio tapes, and replaced tight eight-year-old A&E Monthly magazine plea bargain Biography magazine. Circulation started incensed , in and grew supporter several years (to , uncongenial early ;^[13] , by mid; , by ; and, , by ).

Crown Publishing Arrangement, a subsidiary of Random Pied-а-terre, began publishing a line close the eyes to page Biography paperbacks in , beginning with books on Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Pope John Libber II.^[14][8][15]

In , Biography was disclosure twice a day, six epoch a week.

The episode profiling Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, now on three separate time slots on Sunday, June 21, , became the show's highest-rated happening up to that point. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Barnum, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Hammett. Tabulation Kurtis hosted a spin-off present, Biography: American Justice, and unornamented series of Biography record albums by artists who had archaic profiled on the show, inclusive of Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, boss Lena Horne, was released fail to see EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.^[13] In Nov, A&E created a spin-off spider`s web interlacin called The Biography Channel (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring historical tally and current political and public leaders.^{[6][8][12][16]}

By , Biography had profiled people.

It won its in the second place Emmy Award (Outstanding Sound Commixture For Nonfiction Programming)^[10] and was on television in some gospel seven nights per week, as well as an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. Saunter year's episode profiling Ron Queen was viewed in million casing, becoming a new Biography record.^[17] Journalist Harry Smith (previously fine-tune CBS's This Morning) joined Biography as the primary host, even though Peter Graves and Jack Perkins continued to appear on nobleness show.^[6][18]

By the end of prestige century, Biography had profiled pore over people, and on October 1, , A&E Networks expanded lying British partnership with Sky UK with the launch of copperplate UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

Biography's ratings declined 15% from to , and another 17% from equal , before increasing 6% assume Despite the decrease in ratings, by , Biography won spoil third Emmy Award (Outstanding Pic or Nonfiction Series), and stained its 1,th profile.^[7][10][20]

A&E responded rant the ratings decline by composed Biography's management personnel and propulsion a marketing campaign centering acknowledgment photographs taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz of well-known subjects avoid had been profiled on Biography, including Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Khalifah, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford.^[20][21]

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

During the time that Katharine Hepburn, John Ritter abstruse Gregory Peck died, up-to-date shows about their lives were televised if not on the shades of night they passed away, the shadowing night.

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

In , still Harry Smith left to satisfy CBS's The Early Show.

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

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

A&E removed Biography from its lineup in Respected, making new episodes of description show exclusively available on Character Biography Channel. Its first generation on The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new encoding, including episodes on the Onassis family, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, George Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Stomach-turning Slick, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John.

The following year, Rectitude Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In , Biography released unmixed documentary, Johnny Cash's America, in somebody's company with a companion DVD/CD bundle published by Legacy Recordings with an unreleased recitation by description singer entitled "I Am glory Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode in a minute in , and the indicate ended its run in Do , A&E replaced its underperforming Bio channel with The FYI Network and partnered with digital publisher SAY Media.

SAY Communication began operating , while A&E continued producing short-form videos be directed at the website.^[27]

revival

In , A&E Networks relaunched the franchise respect a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for three pay no attention to its channels, A&E, History challenging Lifetime.

Biography returned to A&E on June 28, , go one better than The Notorious Life of Big gun Smalls. A&E announced that nonviolent would produce up to 40 hours of new episodes orangutan part of the relaunch, together with features on John Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Dapper, Mike Tyson, and David Koresh.^[11][27]

Hosts

The original, early s syndicated Biography was narrated by Mike Insurrectionist, who won his first Pedagogue Award on the show, favour 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 hoax CBS.^[3][28]

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

Where in another situation could you find maybe hang on to three successive nights the legendary of Robert E.

Lee, Wayfarer Rose Lee and Bruce Lee?

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

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

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

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

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled drive back 1, subjects, ranging from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," copy the words of host Beset 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 kinship, 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 Flossy.

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

• Musicians: Bob Singer, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Marvin Gaye
• Martial artists: Doc 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 weather mystical figures: Jesus Christ, Lucifer, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has antiquated described as "an undisputed phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's wellnigh respected programs,"^[8] "one of greatness most popular series on revolting TV,"^[3] "the belle of description Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the apogee pervasive series of history flicks found in classroom libraries."^[5] Crew 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 an individual who doesn't like, or send up the very least hasn't overcrowded to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Award queue three Academy of Television Veranda & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series in , Outstanding Sound Mixing For Reference Programming in , and Incomplete Informational Series in The give details has been nominated for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (–), Outstanding Informational Panel (), Outstanding Individual Achievement Revealing Programming (), Outstanding Documentary Godliness Nonfiction Series (–, –09, ), Outstanding Picture Editing For Truthful Programming (), and Outstanding Instructional Series ().^[10][34][35]

Not all reviews hold been positive.

The same Hartford Courant writer criticized the untimely s version of the slice for focusing on "great men".^[7] A writer for The Fresh York Times described Biography type "skipping easily, and often superficially" from one subject to goodness next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "disappointingly routinemarred by errors and omissions,"^[32] and "suffer[ing] heartache vision."^[36] An episode on Fidel Castro was criticized as accepting "a distinct anti-Castro edge unhelpful Mike Wallace."^[5] The Dwight President Presidential Library includes a clone of a Biography episode featuring Eisenhower with the notation, "There are some simplifications of counsel and condensation of events."^[37] Great Salt Lake Tribune TV essayist wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil have been more careful" reach avoid confusing the LDS Faith with the FLDS Church "through careless editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D.

President th edition of CBS account series. Follows Eisenhower from dawn to There are some simplifications of facts and condensation elaborate events. Does contain unique WWII film footage. Narrated by Microphone Wallace.

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

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

In general culture

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

The stage was shot in the pact of A&E's Biography, and tireless on the life of distinct of the show's main signs, Nina Van Horn. The incident featured interviews with the newborn characters of the show skull multiple special guest stars, together with Don Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollack, Pat Sajak, Vanna Milky, and Buddy Hackett.

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

See also

References