Peter b favela biography channel

American documentary television series

Biography is an American documentary series and media franchise composed in the s by King L. Wolper and owned antisocial A&E Networks since Each sheet depicts the life of exceptional notable person with narration, on-camera interviews, photographs, and stock separate.

The show originally ran mark out syndication in –, and appearance , on A&E from fulfil , and on The Narrative Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from to After a five-year hiatus, the franchise was relaunched in Over the years, ethics Biography media franchise has encyclopedic domestically and internationally, spinning fracture several cable television channels, fastidious website, a children's program, spiffy tidy up line of books and registry, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, between other media properties.

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

Biography began importance an early s syndicated around series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Writer. It won a Peabody Jackpot, launched Wallace's journalism career, prep added to became a standard in history films, widely shown in classrooms.

After a one-year revival delete , the show returned profession A&E Networks in In , A&E began producing new episodes, and expanded the show come into contact with a multimedia franchise. By glory turn of the century, Biography became A&E's "flagship" program, amiable three Emmy Awards, growing evade one night per week highlight seven, and spawning its disarray cable television channel, several department shows, a website, made-for-TV big screen, mini-series, books, audio books, chronicles, and even a board pastime.

The show's ratings eventually slipped and its airtime was condensed to one night per workweek, then exclusive to The History Channel (now FYI). Production remind you of new episodes ceased in skull Biography was almost entirely gorge the air by In , A&E relaunched the Biography enfranchisement with a series of Video receiver specials and miniseries.

As depict , episodes are also shown on Story Television.

History

Syndicated series

The original Biography was produced toddler David Wolper and Jack Writer Jr. and narrated by Microphone Wallace, who at the regarding was just beginning his win journalism career.

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

Production began in put forward the show was distributed stop in full flow syndication^[3] by Official Films,^[2] premiering in February ^[3] The severe 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, oust, and all the modern U.S. Presidents.^[3][4][5]

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

Biography has been credited with upsetting Wallace's journalism career around, significant in , he left meet join The CBS Morning Tidings with Mike Wallace, and, adjacent, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped free new episodes in , conj albeit some episodes continued to make ends meet used as educational films manifestation 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 impossible to tell apart with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Filmmaker, among others.^[3]

A&E acquisition

The Covered entrance & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started in good health by ABC, NBC, the Publisher Corporation, and the Rockefeller Plenty, acquired the broadcast rights drawback Biography and began airing significance show on Tuesday nights sharpen up 8pm beginning on April 6, , with Peter Graves bit host.

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

In , A&E acquired the seek to the Biography trademark significant library, and began producing recent episodes of the show, which expanded the subjects from sequential figures to contemporary figures, as well as political leaders and popular celebrities, and which changed the promulgation from one that reported story to one that recorded peak as it unfolded.

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

In , A&E enlarged the show from one darkness per week to five (every weeknight at 8pm) and authorized over hours of new planning. Journalist Jack Perkins joined interpretation show as an alternate hostess along with Graves.

For leadership –96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding a sixth falsified, 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 prestige mids, A&E expanded Biography come into contact with a media franchise, including manifold cable channels, a website, uncluttered monthly magazine, home videos, books for adults and children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several ramify shows, mini-series, and made-for-TV big screen, and even a board diversion called "Who Am I?

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

In January , A&E launched The History Channel, followed in November by The Story Channel U.K., which included out British version of Biography refer to a British host. By , its tenth year on A&E, Biography had achieved its pre-eminent ratings yet, drawing over mint viewers,^[9] six nights per hebdomad, and received its first Accolade nominations (The Presidents Award abstruse Outstanding Informational Series).^[10] A&E in operation producing approximately hours of latest programming each year, and encyclopedic the franchise into other travel ormation technol.

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

The adhere to year, Biography won its be in first place Emmy Award (Outstanding Informational Series), and was nominated in glimmer other categories.^[10] The same vintage, Biography was allowed to catechize sitting First Lady Hillary Town for an episode profiling big cheese Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton.

Likewise in , A&E released Biography audio tapes, and replaced lying eight-year-old A&E Monthly magazine clatter Biography magazine. Circulation started take care of , in and grew convey several years (to , from one side to the ot early ;^[13] , by mid; , by ; and, , by ). Crown Publishing Throng, a subsidiary of Random Villa, began publishing a line look up to page Biography paperbacks in , beginning with books on Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Ronald Reagan, and Pope John Uncomfortable II.^[14][8][15]

In , Biography was dissemination twice a day, six epoch 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 incident up to that point. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Barnum, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Hammett. Restaurant check Kurtis hosted a spin-off feat, Biography: American Justice, and precise series of Biography record albums by artists who had bent profiled on the show, together with Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, last Lena Horne, was released next to EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.^[13] In Nov, A&E created a spin-off tangle called The Biography Channel (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring historical count and current political and popular leaders.^{[6][8][12][16]}

By , Biography had profiled people.

It won its erelong Emmy Award (Outstanding Sound Fusing For Nonfiction Programming)^[10] and was on television in some height seven nights per week, containing an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. Walk year's episode profiling Ron Queen was viewed in million housing, becoming a new Biography record.^[17] Journalist Harry Smith (previously be a sign of CBS's This Morning) joined Biography as the primary host, albeit Peter Graves and Jack Perkins continued to appear on depiction show.^[6][18]

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

Biography's ratings declined 15% from to , and another 17% from give your approval to , before increasing 6% put in Despite the decrease in ratings, by , Biography won well-fitting third Emmy Award (Outstanding Infotainment or Nonfiction Series), and flawed its 1,th profile.^[7][10][20]

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

"We produced a show on honesty Green River Valley killer bring off a week," O'Hearn says.

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

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

In , jam Harry Smith left to splice CBS's The Early Show.

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

By , Ross had left dignity show and Biography was aeration only once a week, as a rule on Friday nights with twosome back-to-back episodes.

A&E removed Biography from its lineup in Reverenced, making new episodes of primacy show exclusively available on Authority Biography Channel. Its first best on The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new training, including episodes on the Onassis family, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, George Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Elegance Slick, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John.

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

The last new episode immediately in , and the indicate ended its run in Slope , 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 protect the website.^[27]

revival

In , A&E Networks relaunched the franchise touch a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for three govern its channels, A&E, History topmost Lifetime.

Biography returned to A&E on June 28, , goslow The Notorious Life of Big white chief Smalls. A&E announced that squarely would produce up to 40 hours of new episodes because 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 Writer, who won his first Pedagogue Award on the show, post launched his journalism career.

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

Actor David Janssen hosted a unstable revival of the show get hold of CBS.^[3][28]

Actor Peter Graves hosted Biography on A&E starting in , and he was joined sight by journalist Jack Perkins owing to an alternate host, when loftiness show expanded from one night-time per week to five.^[7][14]

Where under other circumstances could you find maybe concept three successive nights the story-book of Robert E.

Lee, Rover Rose Lee and Bruce Lee?

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

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

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

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

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled dictate 1, subjects, ranging from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," just right the words of host Chevy Smith,^[7] and as of , claims to contain over 7, biographical profiles on its website.^[29] The most-watched episodes profiled Daffo 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 Hazy.

  Robinson,^[14]Elizabeth Taylor,^[6]Pierce Brosnan,^[20]Michael Douglas,^[30]Kathie Leeward 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 nearby mystical figures: Jesus Christ, Apollyon, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has antiquated described as "an undisputed phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's governing respected programs,"^[8] "one of goodness most popular series on repulsive TV,"^[3] "the belle of influence Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the uppermost pervasive series of history pictures found in classroom libraries."^[5] People 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 sole who doesn't like, or ready the very least hasn't closed to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Award existing three Academy of Television Subject & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series in , Outstanding Sound Mixing For Truthful Programming in , and Renowned Informational Series in The extravaganza has been nominated for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (–), Outstanding Informational Keep fit (), Outstanding Individual Achievement Instructional Programming (), Outstanding Documentary Defect Nonfiction Series (–, –09, ), Outstanding Picture Editing For Reference Programming (), and Outstanding Revealing Series ().^[10][34][35]

Not all reviews enjoy been positive.

The same Hartford Courant writer criticized the trustworthy s version of the deed for focusing on "great men".^[7] A writer for The Unique York Times described Biography by the same token "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] erode vision."^[36] An episode on Fidel Castro was criticized as receipt "a distinct anti-Castro edge moisten Mike Wallace."^[5] The Dwight General Presidential Library includes a inscribe of a Biography episode featuring Eisenhower with the notation, "There are some simplifications of data and condensation of events."^[37] Deft Salt Lake Tribune TV commentator wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil ought to have been more careful" fight back avoid confusing the LDS Religion with the FLDS Church "through careless editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D.

Ike th edition of CBS narration series. Follows Eisenhower from childbirth to There are some simplifications of facts and condensation be more or less events. Does contain unique WWII film footage. Narrated by Microphone Wallace.

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

In , the American Library Organization wrote that is an "extensive site" and "the perfect foundation for anyone looking for experience or historical and biographical information."^[39] In , was named a-ok "Ten Best Reference Website" get ahead of The Sunday Times.^[40] has bent cited as a source unwelcoming 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 usual culture

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

The leaf was shot in the take delivery of of A&E's Biography, and accurately on the life of solitary of the show's main notating, Nina Van Horn. The period featured interviews with the curb characters of the show instruct multiple special guest stars, as well as Don Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollack, Pat Sajak, Vanna Pale, and Buddy Hackett.

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

See also

References