Biography (TV series)
2334351
215953402
2008-05-30T12:36:39Z
24.214.217.175
{{Infobox Television |
| show_name = Biography |
| image = [[Image:Roy Rogers Biography.jpg|150px|{{deletable image-caption|1=Tuesday, 11 March 2008}}]] |
| caption =
| rating = [[TV-G]] or TV-PG (depending on who/what's profiled) |
| format = [[Non-fiction]] |
| runtime = 60-120 minutes |
| creator = [[CBS News]] |
| starring = |
| country = {{USA}} |
| network = [[CBS]] <br> [[A&E Network|A&E]] <br> [[The Biography Channel]] |
| first_aired = [[1962]] |
| last_aired = present |
| num_episodes = |
}}
'''''Biography''''' is a [[documentary television series]]. Originally produced by [[CBS]] in 1962 and hosted by [[Mike Wallace (journalist)|Mike Wallace]], the [[A&E Network]] later re-ran it and has produced new episodes since [[1987 in television|1987]]. The series has featured biographies on such people as [[Elvis Presley]], [[Plácido Domingo]], [[Pope John Paul II]], [[Enrico Caruso]], [[Diego Rivera]], [[Mick Foley]], [[Mao Zedong]], and [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]], and fictional characters like [[The Phantom]], [[Superman]], and [[Santa Claus]]. The program ended up profiling enough figures, that in [[1999]] A&E spun the program off into an entire network, [[The Biography Channel]].
Initially, most of the episodes featured the life stories of historical figures or present political or social leaders. After a few years, however, the show began producing episodes on figures from [[pop culture]]. This move away from purely intellectual subject matter has been criticized by some.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Gildemeister
| first = Christopher
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = What Your Kids are Discovering on Discovery Channel
| work =
| publisher = [[Parents Television Council]]
| date = 2006-10-16
| url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/culturewatch/2006/1016.asp
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2007-07-30 }}</ref> However, the original Wallace series also featured pop culture figures; in fact, the very first episode discussed the life of baseball icon [[Babe Ruth]]. In addition, the series has recently covered figures in the business and technology world, such as [[Sam Walton]], founder of [[Wal-Mart]], and [[Sergey Brin]] and [[Larry Page]], founders of [[Google]].
At one point, the show aired up to six times weekly in prime time, but recently has been cut back to only once a week, usually on Friday nights. A&E canceled ''Biography'' after August 2006, making the show exclusively available on The Biography Channel.<ref>Dempsey, John. [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117944601?categoryid=14&cs=1 "'Biography' rewrite"] - [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] - June 4 2006</ref> However, A&E currently continues airing the series Saturday and Sunday mornings.<ref>[http://www.aetv.com/search/schedule.do?keywords=biography&Search.x=0&Search.y=0 Schedule search for ''"Biography"'' airings] - [[A&E]]</ref> Usually, the network has focused on people within the [[popular culture]] field for its weekend morning broadcasts, but it continues to show ''Biography'' episodes covering figures outside of the popular culture field, such as [[business]] figures [[J.C. Penney]], [[Wal-Mart]] founder [[Sam Walton]], [[Wendy's]] founder [[Dave Thomas]], [[KFC]] founder [[Colonel Sanders]], and [[Home Depot]] founders [[Bernie Marcus]] and [[Arthur Blank]], as well as [[journalist]] [[Meredith Vieira]].
''Biography'' has been hosted by [[Peter Graves (actor)|Peter Graves]], [[Jack Perkins]], [[Karen Hughes]], and [[Harry Smith]]. Since Smith's departure in [[2003]], the show has been done in [[voice-over]] by [[Neil Ross]].
The [[Canada|Canadian]] television comedy series ''[[Liocracy]]'' was a parody of ''Biography''. That program, in fact, was originally titled ''Liography'' until the producers of ''Biography'' threatened an [[intellectual property]] infringement lawsuit.
The basic format for ''Biography'' was copied by other networks for more focused genres, such as [[VH1]]'s ''[[Behind The Music]]'' and [[E!]]'s ''[[True Hollywood Story]]''.
==See also==
*[[The Biography Channel]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.aetv.com/biography/index.jsp Official site on A&E]
*[http://www.biography.com/ The Biography Channel]
*{{imdb title|id=0092322|title=Biography}}
{{bio-documentary-stub}}
[[Category:Biography Channel shows]]
[[Category:1980s American television series]]
[[Category:1990s American television series]]
[[Category:2000s American television series]]
[[Category:Biography]]
[[Category:1987 television series debuts]]
[[Category:American documentary television series]]
[[Category:Citytv network shows]]
[[Category:A&E shows]]