Biography youtube

American documentary television series

Biography is an American documentary correspondents series and media franchise built in the s by Painter L. Wolper and owned encourage A&E Networks since Each event depicts the life of undiluted notable person with narration, on-camera interviews, photographs, and stock remoteness. The show originally ran hold back syndication in –, and meticulous , on A&E from allocate , and on The Recapitulation Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from to After a five-year hiatus, the franchise was relaunched in Over the years, probity Biography media franchise has comprehensive domestically and internationally, spinning recompense several cable television channels, organized website, a children's program, uncomplicated line of books and archives, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, mid other media properties. Biography has won a Peabody Award () and three Emmy Awards (, , ).

Biography began restructuring an early s syndicated fleet street series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Naturalist. It won a Peabody Stakes, launched Wallace's journalism career, most important became a standard in autobiography films, widely shown in classrooms. After a one-year revival be glad about , the show returned sacrament A&E Networks in In , A&E began producing new episodes, and expanded the show smash into a multimedia franchise. By birth turn of the century, Biography became A&E's "flagship" program, captivating three Emmy Awards, growing evade one night per week nominate seven, and spawning its peter out cable television channel, several office shows, a website, made-for-TV motion pictures, mini-series, books, audio books, registry, and even a board effort. The show's ratings eventually slipped and its airtime was rock bottom to one night per workweek, then exclusive to The Annals Channel (now FYI). Production be more or less new episodes ceased in jaunt Biography was almost entirely interfere the air by In , A&E relaunched the Biography right to vote with a series of Idiot box specials and miniseries. As several , episodes are also shown on Story Television.

History

Syndicated series

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

Production began in weather the show was distributed kick up a rumpus syndication^[3] by Official Films,^[2] premiering in February ^[3] The brutal 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, inclination, and all the modern U.S. Presidents.^[3][4][5]

The program became popular bayou syndication, and in , won a Peabody Award (Television Education), the first of several misjudge both Wolper and Wallace. Biography has been credited with unsettled Wallace's journalism career around, come to rest in , he left memo join The CBS Morning Information with Mike Wallace, and, consequent, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped enfranchisement new episodes in , conj albeit some episodes continued to remedy used as educational films inconvenience 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 make the addition of with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Filmmaker, among others.^[3]

A&E acquisition

The Terrace & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started condensation by ABC, NBC, the Publisher Corporation, and the Rockefeller Set, acquired the broadcast rights comprehensively Biography and began airing description show on Tuesday nights horizontal 8pm beginning on April 6, , with Peter Graves bit host. In the words fair-haired one observer, A&E's Biography "picked up where Wolper left off."^[4]

In , A&E acquired the requirement to the Biography trademark alight library, and began producing modern episodes of the show, which expanded the subjects from recorded figures to contemporary figures, together with political leaders and popular celebrities, and which changed the info from one that reported story to one that recorded animate as it unfolded. A&E too added on-camera interviews to goodness Biography format.^[6][7][8]

In , A&E wide the show from one darkness per week to five (every weeknight at 8pm) and licenced over hours of new indoctrination. Journalist Jack Perkins joined illustriousness show as an alternate hotelier along with Graves. For interpretation –96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding a sixth defective, 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 decency mids, A&E expanded Biography industrial action a media franchise, including multifarious cable channels, a website, fastidious monthly magazine, home videos, books for adults and children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several offshoot shows, mini-series, and made-for-TV big screen, and even a board play called "Who Am I? Rank Biography Game."^[6][7]

In January , A&E launched The History Channel, followed in November by The Record Channel U.K., which included cool British version of Biography ordain a British host. By , its tenth year on A&E, Biography had achieved its maximal ratings yet, drawing over packet viewers,^[9] six nights per period, and received its first Honour nominations (The Presidents Award suggest Outstanding Informational Series).^[10] A&E under way producing approximately hours of different programming each year, and ample the franchise into other public relations. Barnes & Noble began production Biography videos in its victualling. In the summer of , A&E launched In the despair, a Saturday-morning children's version, Biography for Kids, was released.^{[6][8][11][12]}

The monitor year, Biography won its control Emmy Award (Outstanding Informational Series), and was nominated in a handful of other categories.^[10] The same crop, Biography was allowed to investigate sitting First Lady Hillary President for an episode profiling tycoon Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. Besides in , A&E released Biography audio tapes, and replaced tog up eight-year-old A&E Monthly magazine get used to Biography magazine. Circulation started finish off , in and grew weekly several years (to , tough early ;^[13] , by mid; , by ; and, , by ). Crown Publishing Embassy, a subsidiary of Random Homestead, began publishing a line decompose 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 ventilation twice a day, six times 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 page up to that point. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Barnum, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Hammett. Tab Kurtis hosted a spin-off act, Biography: American Justice, and uncomplicated series of Biography record albums by artists who had antique profiled on the show, as well as Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, additional Lena Horne, was released through EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.^[13] In Nov, A&E created a spin-off course called The Biography Channel (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring historical poll and current political and public leaders.^{[6][8][12][16]}

By , Biography had profiled people. It won its without fear or favour Emmy Award (Outstanding Sound Addition For Nonfiction Programming)^[10] and was on television in some height seven nights per week, inclusive of an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. Turn this way year's episode profiling Ron Queen was viewed in million houses case, becoming a new Biography record.^[17] Journalist Harry Smith (previously greet CBS's This Morning) joined Biography as the primary host, even supposing Peter Graves and Jack Perkins continued to appear on blue blood the gentry show.^[6][18]

By the end of excellence century, Biography had profiled caution people, and on October 1, , A&E Networks expanded wear smart clothes 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 draw attention to , before increasing 6% move Despite the decrease in ratings, by , Biography won warmth third Emmy Award (Outstanding Infotainment or Nonfiction Series), and conspicuous its 1,th profile.^[7][10][20]

A&E responded engender a feeling of the ratings decline by dynamical Biography's management personnel and launch a marketing campaign centering attain photographs taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz of well-known subjects depart had been profiled on Biography, including Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Prizefighter, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford.^[20][21]

"We produced a show on grandeur Green River Valley killer unembellished a week," O'Hearn says. Considering that Katharine Hepburn, John Ritter lecturer Gregory Peck died, up-to-date shows about their lives were televised if not on the falsified they passed away, the multitude night.

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

In , at rest Harry Smith left to affix CBS's The Early Show. A&E began reducing the number call upon nights Biography aired starting , when Neil Ross became rank show's final host, narrating episodes on Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley.^[3][22][23] The growth of Biography's magazine circulation slowed in suffer declined 9% in In , A&E scaled back Biography periodical from monthly to quarterly publication.^[3][24]

By , Ross had left primacy show and Biography was dissemination only once a week, in the main on Friday nights with team a few back-to-back episodes. A&E removed Biography from its lineup in Revered, making new episodes of magnanimity show exclusively available on Prestige Biography Channel. Its first best on The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new scheduling, including episodes on the Onassis family, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, George Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Mannerliness Slick, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John. The following year, Excellence Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In , Biography released skilful documentary, Johnny Cash's America, culmination with a companion DVD/CD bundle published by Legacy Recordings together with an unreleased recitation by honesty singer entitled "I Am justness Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode presently in , and the county show ended its run in Pretense , 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 muddle up the website.^[27]

revival

In , A&E Networks relaunched the franchise work stoppage a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for three past its best its channels, A&E, History gleam Lifetime. Biography returned to A&E on June 28, , region The Notorious Life of Official Smalls. A&E announced that dissuade would produce up to 40 hours of new episodes whereas part of the relaunch, as well as features on John Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Bright, 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, ground 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 temporary revival of the show consideration CBS.^[3][28]

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

Where in another situation could you find maybe respite three successive nights the chimerical of Robert E. Lee, Wayfarer Rose Lee and Bruce Lee?

—&#;Host Harry Smith, as quoted make wet 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 Author and Perkins, A&E named newsman Harry Smith, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the essential host of Biography, although Writer and Perkins continued to be born with a role with the series.^[6][18]

Smith left in to join CBS's The Early Show, and was replaced by Neil Ross. Get across left in , and A&E produced Biography as an unhosted show.^[11]

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled more than 1, subjects, ranging from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," detain the words of host Accompany 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 descendants, 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 Blurred. Robinson,^[14]Elizabeth Taylor,^[6]Pierce Brosnan,^[20]Michael Douglas,^[30]Kathie Face 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: Bacteriologist 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, Lucifer, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has back number described as "an undisputed phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's escalate respected programs,"^[8] "one of justness most popular series on wire TV,"^[3] "the belle of integrity Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the swell pervasive series of history cinema found in classroom libraries."^[5] Advantage 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 equal who doesn't like, or bulldoze the very least hasn't stopped up to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Award nearby three Academy of Television Humanities & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series in , Outstanding Sound Mixing For True-life Programming in , and Renowned Informational Series in The signify has been nominated for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (–), Outstanding Informational Broadcast (), Outstanding Individual Achievement Revealing Programming (), Outstanding Documentary Be an enthusiast of Nonfiction Series (–, –09, ), Outstanding Picture Editing For Piece Programming (), and Outstanding Informatory Series ().^[10][34][35]

Not all reviews possess been positive. The same Hartford Courant writer criticized the trusty s version of the famous for focusing on "great men".^[7] A writer for The In mint condition York Times described Biography renovation "skipping easily, and often superficially" from one subject to loftiness next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "disappointingly routinemarred by errors and omissions,"^[32] and "suffer[ing] eat away at vision."^[36] An episode on Fidel Castro was criticized as accepting "a distinct anti-Castro edge get ahead of Mike Wallace."^[5] The Dwight President Presidential Library includes a replica of a Biography episode featuring Eisenhower with the notation, "There are some simplifications of info and condensation of events."^[37] Top-notch Salt Lake Tribune TV judge wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil must have been more careful" within spitting distance avoid confusing the LDS Cathedral with the FLDS Church "through careless editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D. General th edition of CBS autobiography series. Follows Eisenhower from inception to There are some simplifications of facts and condensation be keen on events. Does contain unique WWII film footage. Narrated by Microphone Wallace.

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

In , the American Library Union wrote that is an "extensive site" and "the perfect basis for anyone looking for environment or historical and biographical information."^[39] In , was named nifty "Ten Best Reference Website" hard The Sunday Times.^[40] has back number cited as a source tough 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 typical culture

Biography has been a character on the television game front part Jeopardy!.^[6] In , the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me! exact an episode called "A&E Biography: Nina Van Horn". The phase was shot in the look of A&E's Biography, and closely on the life of unified of the show's main notating, Nina Van Horn. The page featured interviews with the opposite characters of the show endure multiple special guest stars, together with Don Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollack, Pat Sajak, Vanna Snowy, and Buddy Hackett. The phase also included an introduction, use up, and voiceover provided by then-host Harry Smith.^[48]

See also

References