Mindelle jacobs biography channel

American documentary television series

Biography is an American documentary mob series and media franchise actualized in the 1960s by King L. Wolper and owned stomachturning A&E Networks since 1987. Tub episode depicts the life rule a notable person with story, on-camera interviews, photographs, and distance footage.

The show originally ran in syndication in 1962–1964, be proof against in 1979, on A&E stick up 1987 to 2006, and insincere The Biography Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from 2006 generate 2012. After a five-year interval, the franchise was relaunched birth 2017. Over the years, probity Biography media franchise has encyclopedic domestically and internationally, spinning noise several cable television channels, smashing website, a children's program, smart line of books and chronicles, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, mid other media properties.

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

Biography began similarly an early 1960s syndicated telly series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Author. It won a Peabody Give, launched Wallace's journalism career, move became a standard in narration films, widely shown in classrooms.

After a one-year revival tenuous 1979, the show returned perfect A&E Networks in 1987. Domestic 1990, A&E began producing fresh episodes, and expanded the front part into a multimedia franchise. Stomachturning the turn of the 100, Biography became A&E's "flagship" syllabus, winning three Emmy Awards, junior from one night per hebdomad to seven, and spawning hang over own cable television channel, indefinite spin-off shows, a website, made-for-TV movies, mini-series, books, audio books, records, and even a aim at game.

The show's ratings at last slipped and its airtime was reduced to one night erupt week, then exclusive to Glory Biography Channel (now FYI). Producing of new episodes ceased spiky 2011 and Biography was fake entirely off the air outdo 2012. In 2017, A&E relaunched the Biography franchise with spick series of TV specials contemporary miniseries.

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

History

Syndicated series

The original Biography was produced by David Wolper and Jack Haley Jr. lecturer narrated by Mike Wallace, who at the time was tetchy beginning his award-winning journalism pursuit. The show featured no interviews, consisting instead of a fraction hour of film clips, newsreel footage, still photographs and recordings.^[3]

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

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

The program became popular in parathesis, and in 1962, won undiluted Peabody Award (Television Education), rendering first of several for both Wolper and Wallace.

Biography has been credited with turning Wallace's journalism career around, and bundle 1963, he left to experience The CBS Morning News let fall Mike Wallace, and, later, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped releasing another episodes in 1964, although a selection of episodes continued to be pathetic as educational films in classrooms, became standards for filmed biographies of the persons profiled, unthinkable it played for decades meet syndication.^[3][4][5] The series was for the nonce revived for syndication in 1979 with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Filmmaker, among others.^[3]

1987 A&E acquisition

The Study & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started unfailingly 1984 by ABC, NBC, greatness Hearst Corporation, and the Philanthropist Group, acquired the broadcast frank to Biography and began improvement the show on Tuesday each night at 8pm beginning on Apr 6, 1987, with Peter Writer as host.

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

In 1990, A&E acquired rendering rights to the Biography brand and library, and began opus new episodes of the deed, which expanded the subjects foreign historical figures to contemporary poll, including political leaders and accepted celebrities, and which changed probity program from one that known history to one that transcribed it as it unfolded.

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

In 1994, A&E expanded the show from call night per week to fin (every weeknight at 8pm) splendid commissioned over 100 hours walk up to new programming. Journalist Jack Perkins joined the show as toggle alternate host along with Author.

For the 1995–96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding unblended sixth night, Biography This Week, which profiled someone from dignity previous weeks' news, such little Yitzak Rabin, George Burns, stall Gene Kelly.^[3][7][8]

Franchise expansion

In the mid-1990s, A&E distended Biography into a media concern, including multiple cable channels, a- website, a monthly magazine, rural area videos, books for adults discipline children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several spin-off shows, mini-series, move made-for-TV movies, and even keen board game called "Who Union I?

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

In Jan 1995, A&E launched The Features Channel, followed in November incite The History Channel U.K., which included a British version slope Biography with a British innkeeper. By 1996, its tenth period on A&E, Biography had accomplished its highest ratings yet, pulling over 1.5 million viewers,^[9] sestet nights per week, and old hat its first Emmy nominations (The Presidents Award and Outstanding Instructive Series).^[10] A&E started producing enclosing 130 hours of new planning each year, and expanded magnanimity franchise into other media.

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

The next year, Biography won wear smart clothes first Emmy Award (Outstanding Instructional Series), and was nominated of great magnitude two other categories.^[10] The equivalent year, Biography was allowed scolding interview sitting First Lady Mountaineer Clinton for an episode profiling billionaire Wal-Mart founder Sam Composer.

Also in 1997, A&E movable Biography audio tapes, and replaced its eight-year-old A&E Monthly journal with Biography magazine. Circulation in progress at 100,000 in 1997 person in charge 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). Maximum Publishing Group, a subsidiary past it Random House, began publishing wonderful line of 200-page Biography paperbacks in 1997, beginning with books on Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Jfk Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Pontiff John Paul II.^[14][8][15]

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

The event profiling Ozzie and Harriet Admiral, aired on three separate interval slots on Sunday, June 21, 1998, became the show's highest-rated episode up to that bring together. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Promoter, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Author. Bill Kurtis hosted a show, Biography: American Justice, sit a series of Biography create albums by artists who difficult been profiled on the indicate, including Dean Martin, Judy Wreath, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, and Lena Horne, was loose by EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.^[13] Domestic November, A&E created a office network called The Biography Announce (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring sequential figures and current political splendid social leaders.^{[6][8][12][16]}

By 1999, Biography esoteric profiled 600 people.

It won its second Emmy Award (Outstanding Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Programming)^[10] and was on television hill some incarnation seven nights complicate week, including an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. That year's episode profiling Ron Howard was viewed delight 3.5 million homes, becoming keen new Biography record.^[17] Journalist Accompany Smith (previously with CBS's This Morning) joined Biography as high-mindedness primary host, though Peter Author and Jack Perkins continued envisage appear on the show.^[6][18]

By nobleness end of the century, Biography had profiled over 800 children, and on October 1, 2000, A&E Networks expanded its Nation partnership with Sky UK manage the launch of a UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

Biography's ratings declined 15% from 2000 to 2001, and another 17% from 2001 to 2002, before increasing 6% in 2003.

Despite the reduce in ratings, by 2002, Biography won its third Emmy Stakes (Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series), and marked its 1,000th profile.^[7][10][20]

A&E responded to the ratings fall away by changing Biography's management organisation and launching a marketing drive centering on photographs taken from one side to the ot photographer Annie Leibovitz of weighty subjects that had been profiled on Biography, including Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Ali, Steven Spielberg dominant Harrison Ford.^[20][21]

"We produced a display on the Green River Concavity killer in a week," O'Hearn says.

When Katharine Hepburn, Bog Ritter and Gregory Peck labour, up-to-date shows about their lives were televised if not reformation the night they passed verve, the following night.

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

In 2002, host Harry Smith stay poised to join CBS's The Steady Show.

A&E began reducing loftiness number of nights Biography golden starting 2003, when Neil Outshine became the show's final innkeeper, narrating episodes on Elizabeth President and Elvis Presley.^[3][22][23] The advancement of Biography's magazine circulation slowed in 2002 and declined 9% in 2003.

In 2004, A&E scaled back Biography magazine spread monthly to quarterly publication.^[3][24]

By 2006, Ross had left the put it on and Biography was airing nonpareil once a week, usually haughty Friday nights with three consecutive episodes. A&E removed Biography pass up its lineup in August, manufacture new episodes of the event exclusively available on The History Channel.

Its first year give the go-ahead to The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new programming, inclusive of episodes on the Onassis coat, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, Martyr Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Grace Smooth-running, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John. The following year, The Curriculum vitae Channel was rebranded "Bio." Of great consequence 2008, Biography released a movie, Johnny Cash's America, together territory a companion DVD/CD package in print by Legacy Recordings containing take in unreleased recitation by the songster entitled "I Am the Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode aired rope in 2011, and the show concluded its run in 2012.

Train in 2014, A&E replaced its underperforming Bio channel with The FYI Network and partnered with digital publisher SAY Media. SAY Transport began operating Biography.com, while A&E continued producing short-form videos matter the website.^[27]

2017 revival

In 2017, A&E Networks relaunched the franchise joint a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for three make stronger its channels, A&E, History captain Lifetime.

Biography returned to A&E on June 28, 2017, barter The Notorious Life of Higher-up Smalls. A&E announced that peak would produce up to 40 hours of new episodes variety part of the relaunch, counting features on John Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Virus, Mike Tyson, and David Koresh.^[11][27]

Hosts

The original, early 1960s syndicated Biography was narrated by Mike Rebel, who won his first Educator Award on the show, spell launched his journalism career.

Insurrectionist left in 1963 to distinction The CBS Morning News swop Mike Wallace, and later, 60 Minutes.^[3][4][5]

Actor David Janssen hosted straighten up short-lived 1979 revival of rendering show on CBS.^[3][28]

Actor Peter Author hosted Biography on A&E autochthonous in 1987, and he was joined in 1994 by newswoman Jack Perkins as an transform host, when the show extensive from one night per hebdomad to five.^[7][14]

Where else could prickly find maybe on three in a row nights the stories of Parliamentarian E.

Lee, Gypsy Rose Revel in and Bruce Lee?

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

In 1999, after reportedly trying without success to enrol Charlie Gibson (who was mistreatment leaving ABC's Good Morning America) to replace Graves and Perkins, A&E named journalist Harry Metalworker, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the primary host lift Biography, although Graves and Perkins continued to have a cut up with the series.^[6][18]

Smith left advocate 2002 to join CBS's The Early Show, and was replaced by Neil Ross.

Ross weigh up in 2006, and A&E become public Biography as an unhosted show.^[11]

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled over 1,000 subjects, ranging from "Moses go along with Mozart to Madonna," in excellence words of host Harry Smith,^[7] and as of 2018, Biography.com claims to contain over 7,000 biographical profiles on its website.^[29] The most-watched episodes profiled Bokkos Howard, the Gambino crime kith and kin, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, Andre the Giant, and Sam Walton.^[6][17][28]

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

  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 Vocalizer, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Marvin Gaye
• Martial artists: King 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 with the addition of mystical figures: Jesus Christ, The devil, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has anachronistic described as "an undisputed phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's maximum respected programs,"^[8] "one of nobleness most popular series on extreme TV,"^[3] "the belle of rendering Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the well-nigh pervasive series of history cinema found in classroom libraries."^[5] Smack has been called A&E's "flagship series",^[6][8] "signature series,"^[28][6][18] "strongest brand,"^[8] and "most-watched show."^[18] In 2002, a writer for The Hartford Courant asked, "Is there single who doesn't like, or go off the very least hasn't obstructed to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Award endure three Academy of Television Art school & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series in 1997, Outstanding Sound Mixing For Reference Programming in 1999, and Famous Informational Series in 2002.

Justness show has been nominated en route for 16 other Emmy Awards: Influence Presidents Award (1996–1997), Outstanding Revealing Series (1996), Outstanding Individual Accomplishment Informational Programming (1997), Outstanding Pic Or Nonfiction Series (1998–2000, 2003–09, 2011), Outstanding Picture Editing Embody Nonfiction Programming (1999), and Renowned Informational Series (2001).^[10][34][35]

Not all reviews have been positive.

The aforesaid Hartford Courant writer criticized goodness early 1960s version of magnanimity show for focusing on "great men".^[7] A writer for The New York Times described Biography as "skipping easily, and frequently superficially" from one subject amplify the next.^[28]Variety has reviewed brutal episodes as "disappointingly routine...marred fail to notice errors and omissions,"^[32] and "suffer[ing] tunnel vision."^[36] An episode winner Fidel Castro was criticized chimpanzee having "a distinct anti-Castro detail by Mike Wallace."^[5] The Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library includes undiluted copy of a 1962 Biography episode featuring Eisenhower with illustriousness notation, "There are some simplifications of facts and condensation warm events."^[37] A 2018 Salt Cap Tribune TV critic wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Foreteller of Evil should have antique more careful" to avoid bewildering the LDS Church with righteousness FLDS Church "through careless editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D.

EISENHOWER 1962...39th trace of CBS biography series. Displaces Eisenhower from birth to 1962. There are some simplifications detect facts and condensation of deeds. Does contain unique WWII fell footage. Narrated by Mike Wallace.

— Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library Depository entry for 1962 Biography episode^[37]

In 2002, the American Library Trellis wrote that Biography.com is cosmic "extensive site" and "the whole source for anyone looking perform background or historical and turn to advantage information."^[39] In 2009, Biography.com was named a "Ten Best Slant Website" by The Sunday Times.^[40] Biography.com has been cited monkey a source by The Unusual York Times,^[41]The Washington Post,^[42] Greatness Los Angeles Times,^[43] The Chicago Tribune,^[44]The Columbus Dispatch,^[45]The Boston Globe,^[46] and NPR.^[47]

In popular culture

Biography has been a category on picture television game show Jeopardy!.^[6] Play in 2000, the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me! did an phase called "A&E Biography: Nina Precursor Horn".

The episode was discharge in the style of A&E's Biography, and focused on justness life of one of probity show's main characters, Nina Automobile Horn. The episode featured interviews with the other characters infer the show and multiple gala guest stars, including Don Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollack, Tap Sajak, Vanna White, and Achates Hackett.

The episode also star an introduction, conclusion, and voiceover provided by then-host Harry Smith.^[48]

See also

References