Biography

Biography that airs on A&E network has been basically it's main show since it's inception in 1987 and their best and most looked forward to show every week. So much so that A&E has a spin off channel the Biography channel to air all of their old episodes of this show, that's how highly in demand the show is to the viewers.

Biography of any show on TV is the best show at chronicling the life of celebrities whether they be political, acting, sports, or other field of work. You get the best view of what made them who they are today short of reading an autobiography book about them.

They tend to interview people close to them or their peers to give their perspective on the subject of that episode.

Biography is exactly the right word to describe this A&E series, which was hosted by various artists over its run. Every episode I have seen was well researched and interesting, but on a series that takes on a new subject every week, one's interest will depend on how much one cares to learn about a particular person, who can range from actors, writers, directors, or even military & political figures, etc.

Many episodes are included as extras on various DVDs from Fox Films, so one can see portraits of Henry Fonda, Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison, Linda Darnell, Vincent Price, among others. If the show can make people you didn't think you'd care about worthy of viewing, you know it's doing something right!

I have watched a handful of these A&E Network "Biographies," and enjoyed them all. For a show that lasts only about 45 minutes, it's amazing how much information they give about a person

I couldn't find the episode about artist Jackson Pollock listed above, so I'll review it briefly here.

One thing this show did is that it verified how accurate the movie, "Pollock," was, which is unusual. Usually films take a lot of license when dealing with history but this A&E show pretty much was right in line with what I saw on the Ed Harris film of 2000. In fact, Harris is among the interviewees here and seems to have a lot of knowledge about this famous painter. Harris, who paints himself, and the rest of the contributors all have their theories on what made Pollock act the way he did.

About 60 percent of this documentary talks about Pollock's up-and-down life and about 40 percent about his artwork. His life, generally, was a disaster, in large part to his drinking disorder. The man was a drunk, from an early age right to his death in which he got blitzed and then smashed his car into a tree. His best art work - by far, as it is pointed out here, was the three-year period in which he was stone sober.

The drinking also brought out a loud and obnoxious personality in a man who normally was very quiet and reserved. Overall, he was not a nice guy and his faults far outweighed his good points. Kudos for "Biography" to at least show that. It also gives him tribute, too, however, for his accomplishments and tries to be sympathetic at times concerning why he acted poorly.

Speaking of sympathy, much of that in this TV show goes out to Lee Krasner, the artist who loved Pollock and sacrificed a part of her career to boost his reputation. She comes out of this looking like a nice lady who put up with a lot of grief for a man she adored.

Anyway, if you're interested in this famous painter, whom Life Magazine once asked, "Is This The Greatest Painter In America?," I would rent the movie. It has all of this info of this A&E show in it, plus a lot more and seems to be an accurate portrayal of the controversial artist.

When I find that I want to know about the life or career of a famous person then, I always know the show to turn to that is "Biography" on A&E. For many years from Monday till Friday at 8PM this A&E show has kept many of us updated and taught us history lessons about the life and times both showing the good and bad of our favorite movie stars and politicians. "Biography" is very informative, educational, and makes great entertainment also.

Anyone who can portray herself so brilliantly in a movie of such brilliance should be applauded. I can't make it more evident the awe and respect I have for Patty Duke. She is beautifull inside and out and also actually looks like my Mom did alot.

I would have to give it away to tell you how this movie helped me. The Call Me Anna book also is brilliant. Please join me in one hurrah for anyone who is willing, as an actor or actress, to go public on such an area of sensitive and stigmatic a subject.