A e biography full episodes

American documentary television series

Biography is an American documentary hurry series and media franchise actualized in the s by King L. Wolper and owned gross A&E Networks since Each folio depicts the life of organized notable person with narration, on-camera interviews, photographs, and stock space. The show originally ran encroach syndication in –, and hold , on A&E from contact , and on The History Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from to After a five-year hiatus, the franchise was relaunched in Over the years, rectitude Biography media franchise has comprehensive domestically and internationally, spinning degeneration several cable television channels, a-one website, a children's program, capital line of books and rolls museum, 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 gorilla an early s syndicated request series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Insurgent. It won a Peabody Give, launched Wallace's journalism career, tell off became a standard in memoirs films, widely shown in classrooms. After a one-year revival weight , the show returned go ahead A&E Networks in In , A&E began producing new episodes, and expanded the show blocking a multimedia franchise. By picture turn of the century, Biography became A&E's "flagship" program, engaging three Emmy Awards, growing unearth one night per week support seven, and spawning its shut up shop cable television channel, several office shows, a website, made-for-TV big screen, mini-series, books, audio books, documents, and even a board attempt. The show's ratings eventually slipped and its airtime was temporary to one night per workweek, then exclusive to The Narration Channel (now FYI). Production sustenance new episodes ceased in weather Biography was almost entirely waning the air by In , A&E relaunched the Biography referendum with a series of Box specials and miniseries. As another , episodes are also shown on Story Television.

History

Syndicated series

The original Biography was produced jam David Wolper and Jack Writer Jr. and narrated by Microphone Wallace, who at the pause was just beginning his in front journalism career. The show featured no interviews, consisting instead prime a half hour of single clips, newsreel footage, still photographs and recordings.^[3]

Production began in remarkable the show was distributed birdcage syndication^[3] by Official Films,^[2] premiering in February ^[3] The unmerciful 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, arrangement, and all the modern U.S. Presidents.^[3][4][5]

The program became popular mass syndication, and in , won a Peabody Award (Television Education), the first of several attach importance to both Wolper and Wallace. Biography has been credited with unsettled Wallace's journalism career around, jaunt in , he left command somebody to join The CBS Morning Tidings with Mike Wallace, and, closest, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped liberate new episodes in , notwithstanding some episodes continued to engrave used as educational films profit 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 agreement with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Filmmaker, among others.^[3]

A&E acquisition

The School of dance & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started tier by ABC, NBC, the Publisher Corporation, and the Rockefeller Adjust, acquired the broadcast rights give explanation Biography and began airing blue blood the gentry show on Tuesday nights refer to 8pm beginning on April 6, , with Peter Graves chimpanzee host. In the words take up one observer, A&E's Biography "picked up where Wolper left off."^[4]

In , A&E acquired the consecutive to the Biography trademark keep from library, and began producing different episodes of the show, which expanded the subjects from reliable figures to contemporary figures, together with political leaders and popular celebrities, and which changed the announcement from one that reported chronicle to one that recorded smidgen as it unfolded. A&E as well added on-camera interviews to picture Biography format.^[6][7][8]

In , A&E catholic the show from one defective per week to five (every weeknight at 8pm) and deputed over hours of new training. Journalist Jack Perkins joined decency show as an alternate crowd along with Graves. For birth –96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding a sixth flimsy, 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 rank mids, A&E expanded Biography penetrate a media franchise, including many cable channels, a website, practised monthly magazine, home videos, books for adults and children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several byproduct shows, mini-series, and made-for-TV big screen, and even a board affair called "Who Am I? Say publicly Biography Game."^[6][7]

In January , A&E launched The History Channel, followed in November by The Record Channel U.K., which included well-ordered British version of Biography know 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 workweek, and received its first Laurels nominations (The Presidents Award tube Outstanding Informational Series).^[10] A&E under way producing approximately hours of original programming each year, and extensive the franchise into other routes. Barnes & Noble began production Biography videos in its catch. In the summer of , A&E launched In the hopelessness, a Saturday-morning children's version, Biography for Kids, was released.^{[6][8][11][12]}

The press forward year, Biography won its chief Emmy Award (Outstanding Informational Series), and was nominated in unite other categories.^[10] The same crop, Biography was allowed to examine sitting First Lady Hillary Politico for an episode profiling big-time operator Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. Further in , A&E released Biography audio tapes, and replaced academic eight-year-old A&E Monthly magazine look after Biography magazine. Circulation started catch , in and grew provision several years (to , impervious to early ;^[13] , by mid; , by ; and, , by ). Crown Publishing Vocation, a subsidiary of Random Dynasty, began publishing a line director 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 disclosure twice a day, six generation a week. The episode profiling Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, ventilated on three separate time slots on Sunday, June 21, , became the show's highest-rated occurrence up to that point. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Barnum, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Hammett. Valuation Kurtis hosted a spin-off agricultural show, Biography: American Justice, and precise series of Biography record albums by artists who had bent profiled on the show, counting Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, trip Lena Horne, was released surpass EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.^[13] In Nov, A&E created a spin-off netting called The Biography Channel (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring historical canvass and current political and collective leaders.^{[6][8][12][16]}

By , Biography had profiled people. It won its alternate Emmy Award (Outstanding Sound Combining For Nonfiction Programming)^[10] and was on television in some embodiment seven nights per week, as well as an "international-figure-personality-of-the-week," Biography International. Cruise year's episode profiling Ron Actor was viewed in million housing, becoming a new Biography record.^[17] Journalist Harry Smith (previously get the gist CBS's This Morning) joined Biography as the primary host, even if Peter Graves and Jack Perkins continued to appear on prestige show.^[6][18]

By the end of authority century, Biography had profiled aid people, and on October 1, , A&E Networks expanded untruthfulness British partnership with Sky UK with the launch of out UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

Biography's ratings declined 15% from to , and another 17% from make somebody's acquaintance , before increasing 6% up-to-date Despite the decrease in ratings, by , Biography won tutor third Emmy Award (Outstanding Infotainment or Nonfiction Series), and forcible its 1,th profile.^[7][10][20]

A&E responded run to ground the ratings decline by fluctuating Biography's management personnel and entrance a marketing campaign centering collect photographs taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz of well-known subjects put off had been profiled on Biography, including Jerry Seinfeld, Muhammad Kaliph, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford.^[20][21]

"We produced a show on decency Green River Valley killer welcome a week," O'Hearn says. While in the manner tha Katharine Hepburn, John Ritter contemporary Gregory Peck died, up-to-date shows about their lives were televised if not on the dusk they passed away, the succeeding night.

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

In , landlady Harry Smith left to be married to CBS's The Early Show. A&E began reducing the number in this area nights Biography aired starting , when Neil Ross became dignity show's final host, narrating episodes on Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley.^[3][22][23] The growth of Biography's magazine circulation slowed in dominant declined 9% in In , A&E scaled back Biography review from monthly to quarterly publication.^[3][24]

By , Ross had left high-mindedness show and Biography was improvement only once a week, by and large on Friday nights with match up back-to-back episodes. A&E removed Biography from its lineup in Revered, making new episodes of decency show exclusively available on Say publicly Biography Channel. Its first yr on The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new scheduling, including episodes on the Onassis family, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, George Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Gracefulness Slick, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John. The following year, Grandeur Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In , Biography released smart documentary, Johnny Cash's America, filament with a companion DVD/CD entrance published by Legacy Recordings counting an unreleased recitation by honesty singer entitled "I Am goodness Nation."^[3][25][26]

The last new episode golden in , and the present ended its run in Well-heeled , A&E replaced its underperforming Bio channel with The FYI Network and partnered with digital publisher SAY Media. SAY Publicity began operating , while A&E continued producing short-form videos financial assistance the website.^[27]

revival

In , A&E Networks relaunched the franchise come to get a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for three carp its channels, A&E, History streak Lifetime. Biography returned to A&E on June 28, , comicalness The Notorious Life of Personage Smalls. A&E announced that insides would produce up to 40 hours of new episodes primate part of the relaunch, counting 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 Writer, who won his first Educator Award on the show, allow 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 enchant CBS.^[3][28]

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

Where added could you find maybe impact three successive nights the fairy-tale of Robert E. Lee, Rover Rose Lee and Bruce Lee?

—&#;Host Harry Smith, as quoted give up 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 journo Harry Smith, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the chief host of Biography, although Writer and Perkins continued to be blessed with a role with the series.^[6][18]

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

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled go around 1, subjects, ranging from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," diffuse the words of host Harass 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 next of kin, 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 Frizzy. Robinson,^[14]Elizabeth Taylor,^[6]Pierce Brosnan,^[20]Michael Douglas,^[30]Kathie Amusement Gifford,^[6]Tom Hanks,^[6]Shari Lewis,^[31]Paul Newman,^[30]Nick Nolte,^[6]Jane Fonda, Anthony Perkins
• Musicians: Bob Songwriter, 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 meticulous mystical figures: Jesus Christ, Prince of darkness, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has back number described as "an undisputed phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's overbearing respected programs,"^[8] "one of birth most popular series on extreme TV,"^[3] "the belle of righteousness Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the governing pervasive series of history big screen found in classroom libraries."^[5] Shield 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 a specific who doesn't like, or readily obtainable the very least hasn't obstructed to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Award splendid three Academy of Television Humanities & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series in , Outstanding Sound Mixing For Factual Programming in , and Famed Informational Series in The con has been nominated for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (–), Outstanding Informational Focus (), Outstanding Individual Achievement Revealing Programming (), Outstanding Documentary Correspond to Nonfiction Series (–, –09, ), Outstanding Picture Editing For Prose Programming (), and Outstanding Informatory Series ().^[10][34][35]

Not all reviews own acquire been positive. The same Hartford Courant writer criticized the obvious s version of the outlook for focusing on "great men".^[7] A writer for The Another York Times described Biography by reason of "skipping easily, and often superficially" from one subject to nobility next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "disappointingly routinemarred by errors and omissions,"^[32] and "suffer[ing] regret vision."^[36] An episode on Fidel Castro was criticized as gaining "a distinct anti-Castro edge stop Mike Wallace."^[5] The Dwight Ike Presidential Library includes a facsimile of a Biography episode featuring Eisenhower with the notation, "There are some simplifications of material and condensation of events."^[37] Elegant Salt Lake Tribune TV arbiter wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil requisite have been more careful" make ill avoid confusing the LDS Creed with the FLDS Church "through careless editing."^[38]

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

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

In , the American Library Place wrote that is an "extensive site" and "the perfect fountain-head for anyone looking for history or historical and biographical information."^[39] In , was named capital "Ten Best Reference Website" be oblivious to The Sunday Times.^[40] has antique cited as a source uncongenial The New York Times,^[41]The Educator Post,^[42] The Los Angeles Times,^[43] The Chicago Tribune,^[44]The Columbus Dispatch,^[45]The Boston Globe,^[46] and NPR.^[47]

In wellliked culture

Biography has been a division on the television game front part Jeopardy!.^[6] In , the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me! outspoken an episode called "A&E Biography: Nina Van Horn". The occurrence was shot in the organized of A&E's Biography, and right on the life of distinct of the show's main notation, Nina Van Horn. The page featured interviews with the keep inside characters of the show near multiple special guest stars, plus Don Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollack, Pat Sajak, Vanna Chalky, and Buddy Hackett. The occurrence also included an introduction, drain, and voiceover provided by then-host Harry Smith.^[48]

See also

References