Harvin and meyer radon biography channel

American documentary television series

Biography is an American documentary exert pressure series and media franchise built in the s by King L. Wolper and owned unused A&E Networks since Each sheet depicts the life of skilful notable person with narration, on-camera interviews, photographs, and stock stretch.

The show originally ran take away syndication in –, and dwell in , on A&E from gap , and on The Memoirs Channel (later Bio, now FYI) from to After a five-year hiatus, the franchise was relaunched in Over the years, description Biography media franchise has distended domestically and internationally, spinning outset several cable television channels, clever website, a children's program, straight line of books and archives, and a series of made-for-TV movies, specials, and miniseries, betwixt other media properties.

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

Biography began in that an early s syndicated supervisor series produced by David Wolper and narrated by Mike Author. It won a Peabody Premium, launched Wallace's journalism career, tell off became a standard in chronicle films, widely shown in classrooms.

After a one-year revival pry open , the show returned cosmos A&E Networks in In , A&E began producing new episodes, and expanded the show affect a multimedia franchise. By rectitude turn of the century, Biography became A&E's "flagship" program, captivating three Emmy Awards, growing disseminate one night per week round on seven, and spawning its put your feet up cable television channel, several subdivision shows, a website, made-for-TV motion pictures, mini-series, books, audio books, documents, and even a board amusement.

The show's ratings eventually slipped and its airtime was rockbottom to one night per hebdomad, then exclusive to The Memoir Channel (now FYI). Production simulated new episodes ceased in person in charge Biography was almost entirely enhance the air by In , A&E relaunched the Biography dealership with a series of Television specials and miniseries.

As identical , episodes are also shown on Story Television.

History

Syndicated series

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

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

Production began in post the show was distributed require syndication^[3] by Official Films,^[2] premiering in February ^[3] The tough 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, dramatis personae, and all the modern U.S. Presidents.^[3][4][5]

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

Biography has been credited with seasick Wallace's journalism career around, instruction in , he left give confidence join The CBS Morning Rumour with Mike Wallace, and, late, 60 Minutes. Biography stopped free new episodes in , even though some episodes continued to adjust used as educational films accumulate 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 pop into with host David Janssen, profiling Idi Amin and Walt Filmmaker, among others.^[3]

A&E acquisition

The Music school & Entertainment Network (now A&E), a joint venture started tight spot by ABC, NBC, the Publisher Corporation, and the Rockefeller Company, acquired the broadcast rights come close to Biography and began airing position show on Tuesday nights try to be like 8pm beginning on April 6, , with Peter Graves rightfully host.

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

In , A&E acquired the be entitled to to the Biography trademark mushroom library, and began producing in mint condition episodes of the show, which expanded the subjects from ordered figures to contemporary figures, together with political leaders and popular celebrities, and which changed the syllabus from one that reported depiction to one that recorded stop off as it unfolded.

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

In , A&E extensive the show from one slapdash per week to five (every weeknight at 8pm) and endorsed over hours of new indoctrination. Journalist Jack Perkins joined rendering show as an alternate jam along with Graves.

For rendering –96 season, A&E expanded Biography again, adding a sixth hours of darkness, 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 class mids, A&E expanded Biography bump into a media franchise, including manifold cable channels, a website, clever monthly magazine, home videos, books for adults and children, audiobooks, music CDs, CD-ROMs, several diverge shows, mini-series, and made-for-TV flicks, and even a board affair called "Who Am I?

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

In January , A&E launched The History Channel, followed in November by The Anecdote Channel U.K., which included great British version of Biography cotton on a British host. By , its tenth year on A&E, Biography had achieved its maximal ratings yet, drawing over mint viewers,^[9] six nights per workweek, and received its first Accolade nominations (The Presidents Award delighted Outstanding Informational Series).^[10] A&E in operation producing approximately hours of another programming each year, and enlarged the franchise into other routes.

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

The support year, Biography won its cheeriness Emmy Award (Outstanding Informational Series), and was nominated in cardinal other categories.^[10] The same epoch, Biography was allowed to grill sitting First Lady Hillary Politician for an episode profiling baron Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton.

Further in , A&E released Biography audio tapes, and replaced closefitting eight-year-old A&E Monthly magazine accommodate Biography magazine. Circulation started separate , in and grew sponsor several years (to , incite early ;^[13] , by mid; , by ; and, , by ). Crown Publishing Fly-by-night, a subsidiary of Random Dwellingplace, began publishing a line pray 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 times 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 chapter up to that point. A&E released Biography Movies, featuring subjects such as P.T. Barnum, Lillian Hellman, and Dashiell Hammett. Worth Kurtis hosted a spin-off feat, Biography: American Justice, and splendid series of Biography record albums by artists who had back number profiled on the show, with Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, status Lena Horne, was released newborn EMI-Capitol Entertainment Properties.^[13] In Nov, A&E created a spin-off meshing called The Biography Channel (now Bio Channel/FYI) featuring historical tally and current political and general leaders.^{[6][8][12][16]}

By , Biography had profiled people.

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

By the end of greatness century, Biography had profiled excessively people, and on October 1, , A&E Networks expanded close-fitting British partnership with Sky UK with the launch of elegant UK market Biography Channel.^[19]

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

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

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

Like that which Katharine Hepburn, John Ritter extremity Gregory Peck died, up-to-date shows about their lives were televised if not on the dimness they passed away, the adjacent night.

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

In , inactive Harry Smith left to converge CBS's The Early Show.

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

By , Ross had left dignity show and Biography was broadcasting only once a week, most often on Friday nights with triad back-to-back episodes.

A&E removed Biography from its lineup in Revered, making new episodes of grandeur show exclusively available on Say publicly Biography Channel. Its first period on The Biography Channel featured 64 hours of new indoctrination, including episodes on the Onassis family, Jamie Oliver, Russell Simmons, George Lopez, Anthony Hopkins, Bring into disrepute Slick, Elmore Leonard and Olivia Newton-John.

The following year, Nobility Biography Channel was rebranded "Bio." In , Biography released unornamented documentary, Johnny Cash's America, congregate with a companion DVD/CD box published by Legacy Recordings inclusive of an unreleased recitation by leadership singer entitled "I Am interpretation Nation."^[3][25][26]

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

SAY Travel ormation technol began operating , while A&E continued producing short-form videos tend the website.^[27]

revival

In , A&E Networks relaunched the franchise be in connection with a set of two-hour specials and mini-series for three faux its channels, A&E, History explode Lifetime.

Biography returned to A&E on June 28, , wrestle The Notorious Life of Big wheel Smalls. A&E announced that innards would produce up to 40 hours of new episodes by the same token part of the relaunch, together with features on John Gotti, Tupac Shakur, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Bacteria, Mike Tyson, and David Koresh.^[11][27]

Hosts

The original, early s syndicated Biography was narrated by Mike Author, who won his first Pedagogue Award on the show, captain launched his journalism career.

Writer 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 respectability CBS.^[3][28]

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

Where added could you find maybe fib three successive nights the n of Robert E.

Lee, Roma Rose Lee and Bruce Lee?

—&#;Host Harry Smith, as quoted get ahead of 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 Writer and Perkins, A&E named hack Harry Smith, previously with CBS's This Morning, as the preeminent host of Biography, although Writer and Perkins continued to fake a role with the series.^[6][18]

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

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

Subjects profiled

Biography has profiled skim 1, subjects, ranging from "Moses to Mozart to Madonna," talk to the words of host Pursue 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 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 Ill-defined.

  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 Vocaliser, 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 boss mystical figures: Jesus Christ, The devil, Nostradamus^[6]
• Lawyers: Ken Starr^[6]

Reception

Biography has archaic described as "an undisputed phenom,"^[11] "one of cable television's swell respected programs,"^[8] "one of depiction most popular series on telex cable TV,"^[3] "the belle of justness Nielsen ball,"^[26] and "the pinnacle pervasive series of history movies found in classroom libraries."^[5] Suggest 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 rhyme who doesn't like, or calm the very least hasn't crammed to watch, A&E's Biography?"^[7]

Biography has won a Peabody Award ride three Academy of Television Music school & Sciences Awards (Emmy) Awards: Outstanding Informational Series in , Outstanding Sound Mixing For Accurate Programming in , and Renowned Informational Series in The discover has been nominated for 16 other Emmy Awards: The Presidents Award (–), Outstanding Informational Playoff (), Outstanding Individual Achievement Instructional Programming (), Outstanding Documentary Manifestation Nonfiction Series (–, –09, ), Outstanding Picture Editing For Prose Programming (), and Outstanding Instructive Series ().^[10][34][35]

Not all reviews be endowed with been positive.

The same Hartford Courant writer criticized the perfectly s version of the exhibition for focusing on "great men".^[7] A writer for The Fresh York Times described Biography because "skipping easily, and often superficially" from one subject to class next.^[28]Variety has reviewed some episodes as "disappointingly routinemarred by errors and omissions,"^[32] and "suffer[ing] sorrowfulness vision."^[36] An episode on Fidel Castro was criticized as getting "a distinct anti-Castro edge beside Mike Wallace."^[5] The Dwight President Presidential Library includes a mock of a Biography episode featuring Eisenhower with the notation, "There are some simplifications of make a note and condensation of events."^[37] Spick Salt Lake Tribune TV connoisseur wrote "the producers of Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil obligated to have been more careful" be adjacent to avoid confusing the LDS Religion with the FLDS Church "through careless editing."^[38]

BIOGRAPHY: DWIGHT D.

Ike th edition of CBS memoirs series. Follows Eisenhower from initiation to There are some simplifications of facts and condensation precision events. Does contain unique WWII film footage. Narrated by Microphone Wallace.

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

In , the American Library Rouse wrote that is an "extensive site" and "the perfect pitch for anyone looking for training or historical and biographical information."^[39] In , was named trig "Ten Best Reference Website" alongside The Sunday Times.^[40] has back number cited as a source contempt 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 favourite culture

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

The event was shot in the understanding of A&E's Biography, and steadfast on the life of edge your way of the show's main symbols, Nina Van Horn. The event featured interviews with the extra characters of the show crucial multiple special guest stars, containing Don Henley, Jerry Hall, Sydney Pollack, Pat Sajak, Vanna Milky, and Buddy Hackett.

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

See also

References