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For other uses, see This Is Your Life (disambiguation).

This Is Your Life was a television documentary series hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards. Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt in one fashion or another to " Document " reality Ralph Livingstone Edwards ( June 13, 1913 &ndash November 16, 2005) was an American radio and television host and producer It originally aired in the United States from 1952 to 1961, and again in 1972 on NBC. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's It originated as a radio show airing from 1948 to 1952 on NBC Radio. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's A version of it had a very long run in the United Kingdom starting in 1955, and another version is still running in Australia. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. It has also been broadcast from time to time in New Zealand. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island

Contents

The concept

The format of the show was simple: the host would surprise someone (usually a celebrity or public figure, occasionally an ordinary citizen) and, consulting his "red book", conduct a biography of the subject in a television studio. The subject would be presented with family members and old friends, reunited with old acquaintances, and often shed a tear when a personal tragedy was recounted.

The 1950s edition of the show was aired live before a theater audience. The celebrity guests were ambushed by Ralph Edwards and confronted by the microphone and cameras. They made their way to the studio during the first commercial break. Most of the honorees quickly got over their initial shock and enjoyed meeting bygone friends again. Pioneer movie producer Mack Sennett's response was typical: he hated being caught off-guard, but as the tribute progressed he relaxed, and by the end of the show he was quite pleased with the experience. Mack Sennett ( January 17, 1880 &ndash November 5, 1960) was an Academy Award -winning director and was known as the innovator

Advance planning for the broadcast meant that, inevitably, certain celebrities would know in advance about the surprise. Carl Reiner later admitted that he knew beforehand about his appearance. Carl Reiner (born March 20, 1922) is an American Actor, Film director, producer, Writer and Comedian

Some celebrities were unpleasantly surprised. Angie Dickinson refused to appear,[1] and Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy was angered by being "tricked" into what would be the team's only American television appearance on December 1, 1954. Angie Dickinson (born September 30, 1931) is a Golden Globe -winning American television and Film actress, perhaps Laurel and Hardy were the popular American -based comedy team of thin British-born Stan Laurel (1890-1965 and heavy American-born Oliver Hardy (1892-1957 Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) The meticulous Laurel later said, "[Oliver Hardy] and I were always planning to do something on TV. But we never dreamed that we would make our television debut on an unrehearsed network program. . . I was damned if I was going to put on a free show for them," although he mellowed in later years when so many viewers told him how much they enjoyed the show. Lowell Thomas was probably the most hostile and annoyed on-air guest. Lowell Jackson Thomas ( April 6, 1892 &ndash August 29, 1981) was an American Writer, broadcaster, and When host Ralph Edwards tried to assure him that he would enjoy what was to come, Thomas replied, "I doubt that very much. "

Attempted revivals

Edwards would revive the series twice in syndication, the first one with Edwards again as host and in 1983 with Joseph Campanella. Joseph Campanella (born November 21, 1933 in New York City) is an Emmy -nominated American character actor who has appeared in over 200 TV and Both failed to capture the magic of the original series, mostly due to the series being filmed or taped and in the case of the '71-'72 version some stations that aired it gave away the surprise elements in ads and promos for the show.

In November 2005, ABC announced that it was developing a new version of the show, to be hosted by Regis Philbin. The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network. Regis Francis Xavier Philbin (born August 25, 1931) is an Emmy Award -winning American Television personality and occasional Actor Coincidentally, the show's creator, Ralph Edwards, died not long after the announcement was made. In August 2006, Philbin decided not to renew his contract with the show (he was committed to hosting America's Got Talent on NBC), and ABC is considering moving forward with another host. America's Got Talent is an American The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's [2] [3]

In May 2007, on the popular television series American Idol, Sir Trevor McDonald presented Simon Cowell with the infamous red book. American Idol, with the full title American Idol The Search for a Superstar for the first season only is an American reality-competition Sir Trevor McDonald OBE (born George McDonald on 16 August 1939 is a Trinidadian -born British Journalist and Television presenter } Simon Phillip Cowell (born October 7 1959 is an English artist-and-repertoire ("A&R" executive and Television personality / producer The full version of the revived show was broadcast on Saturday June 2nd on British television.

The UK version

Main article: This Is Your Life (UK TV series)

The show was adapted in several countries, including the United Kingdom, where it was launched in 1955 on the BBC and was presented by Eamonn Andrews (who also ended up being the first "victim"). This Is Your Life is a television documentary series airing in the United Kingdom originally on BBC Television, and now ITV. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Eamonn Andrews, CBE (hon ( 19 December, 1922 &ndash 5 November, 1987) was an Irish born Television presenter It ended in 1964 when Eamonn Andrews moved to ABC, but it was revived on ITV (produced by Thames Television) in 1969, and Michael Aspel (himself a "victim" in 1980) became presenter after Andrews died in 1987. Eamonn Andrews, CBE (hon ( 19 December, 1922 &ndash 5 November, 1987) was an Irish born Television presenter Associated British Corporation (otherwise known as ABC Television or ABC Weekend Television) was one of a number of commercial television companies set up in the 1950s Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent Thames Television was a licencee of the British ITV television network covering London and parts of the surrounding counties Michael Terence Aspel OBE (born 12 January 1933) is an English Journalist and Television presenter. It returned to the BBC in 1994, though it was still produced independently by Thames Television, and was axed in 2003. The show made its return on the ITV Network in June 2007, produced by SMG Productions and ITV Productions. SMG Productions is the network television production arm of the STV Group plc, and incorporates Ginger Productions. Granada Productions is one of Europe 's leading commercial television production and distribution companies One notable difference to previous UK runs is that the programme's subject was trailed in advance.

The Australian version

In Australia, the show was aired on the Nine Network on Thursday nights for a relatively short annual season. The Nine Network, or Channel Nine, is an Australian television network based in Willoughby, a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney It began in 1975 on the Seven Network, hosted by Michael Willesee. The Seven Network is an Australian television network, owned by the Seven Media Group. Michael Willesee (born June 29 1942) is an Australian television presenter Subsequent seasons were compered by Digby Wolfe (1976) and Roger Climpson (1977 - 1980). Roger Climpson OAM (born October 18 1931) is a British -born Australian newsreader, best known for his time at Seven The program was re-launched on the Nine Network in 1995, hosted by Mike Munro. Michael Munro (born April 12, 1952) is an Australian television presenter

The New Zealand version

Thirty-eight New Zealanders have been honoured in the New Zealand version of the show, which has been broadcast on and off since 1984[1] on Television New Zealand's Channel One. Television New Zealand (TVNZ is a state-owned television broadcasting corporation in New Zealand. It was originally hosted by Bob Parker (1984-1996), but more recent episodes have been presented by Paul Holmes (1996-2000) and Paul Henry (2007). Bob Parker (1953-) is a former television host and current mayor of Christchurch, New Zealand. Paul Holmes may refer to Paul Holmes (broadcaster (born 1950 New Zealand radio and television broadcaster Paul Holmes (politician Paul Henry is a New Zealand radio and television broadcaster He was born in 1960 in Auckland, and in 1971 moved with his mother to Bristol England where he finished Most recently, extreme sports pioneer A. J. Hackett was honoured, on 6 November 2007. Alan John "A J" Hackett (born 1958 is a New Zealand entrepreneur who popularised the Extreme sport of Bungee jumping. Other recent recipients have included Mark Inglis (who lost his legs on Mt Cook in 1982), the subject of an episode that was broadcast on 5 June 2007, and former All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu, who was honoured in a show that aired on 9 April 2007. Mark Joseph Inglis ( ONZM, September 27[[ 959]] is a Mountaineer, Researcher, Winemaker and Motivational speaker The All Blacks are New Zealand's national team in Rugby union, the country's National sport. Jonah Tali Lomu, MNZM (born 12 May 1975 is a New Zealand Rugby union footballer

Prior to that, the last This Is Your Life programme in New Zealand was broadcast in September 2000. The subject of that episode was the great New Zealand runner, Peter Snell. Peter George Snell DCNZM, OBE (born December 17 1938 in Opunake) is a former New Zealand athlete Previous subjects of the show have included prominent figures in sports (such as John Walker, Sir Peter Blake, Mark Todd, Lance Cairns and Colin Meads), the arts (like Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, who also once appeared on the British edition of the show, Dame Malvina Major, Rob Guest, Rowena Jackson and Sir Howard Morrison), politics (e. Politicians John Walker (Virginia (1744&ndash1809 US Senator public official and soldier John Walker (Missouri politician (1770–1838 Peter Blake may refer to Peter Blake (artist Peter Blake (yachtsman Peter Blake (actor Peter Mark Todd may refer to Mark Todd (politician (born 1954 British Labour Party Member of Parliament 1997&mdashpresent Mark Todd (equestrian Bernard Lance Cairns (born October 10, 1949 in Picton New Zealand) is a former All-rounder who played for the New Zealand cricket team Colin Earl Meads, DCNZM, MBE (born 3 June 1936 in Cambridge New Zealand) nicknamed "Pinetree" is a former New Zealand Rugby union Dame Kiri Janette Te Kanawa, ONZ, DBE, AC (ˈkiri ˈtɛ ˈkɑːnəwə born Dame Malvina Lorraine Major PCNZM DBE (born 28 January, 1943) was born in Hamilton New Zealand into a large musical family Rowena Othlie Jackson MBE (born 1926 is a New Zealand Prima ballerina. Sir Howard Morrison, OBE (born 18 August, 1935, New Zealand) is a New Zealand entertainer of British and Māori ancestry g. Sonja Davies and Dame Catherine Tizard), broadcasting (like Sir Geoffrey Cox, Nola Luxford, Selwyn Toogood and Davina Whitehouse), literature (Barbara Ewing and A. Sonja Davies ONZ ( November 11, 1923 &ndash June 12, 2005) was a New Zealand trade unionist peace campaigner and Member Dame Catherine Anne Tizard, ONZ, GCMG, GCVO, DBE, QSO (née MacLean) (born April 4, 1931) was Nola Luxford ( December 24, 1901 - October 10, 1994) was a New Zealand born Film actress of the silent film era Selwyn Toogood ( 4 April[[ 916]] &ndash 27 February 2001) was a New Zealand Radio and Television personality Davina Whitehouse OBE ( 16 December 1912 - 25 December 2002) was a stage film and television actress acclaimed in both her native Barbara Ewing (born 1944 is a New Zealand Film and Television actress and novellist K. Grant), science (Brian Harold Mason and William Pickering) and the military (Johnny Checketts and Charles Upham). Brian Harold Mason (born 1917 is one of the pioneers in the study of Meteorites. William Pickering may refer to William Pickering (governor (1798–1873 Republican governor of Washington territory 1862&ndash1866 William Wing Commander John "Johnny" Milne Checketts DSO DFC ( 20 February 1912 - 23 April 2006) was a Captain Charles Hazlitt Upham, VC and Bar (21 September 1908 – 22 November 1994 was a New Zealand soldier who earned the Victoria Cross The show has also featured iconic New Zealanders such as mountaineer and explorer Sir Edmund Hillary and Maori activist Dame Whina Cooper. Sir Edmund Percival Hillary, KG, ONZ, KBE (20 July 1919 &ndash 11 January 2008 was a New Zealand mountaineer and explorer This article discusses the Māori people of New Zealand For their language see Māori language, and for other meanings see Māori (disambiguation. Dame Whina Cooper' ONZ DBE, ( 9 December, 1895 - March 26 1994) was born Hohewhina Te Wake, daughter of Heremia Te

Spoofs

References

  1. ^ Armor Archerd: This is Angie Dickinson's Life, 16 November 2005
  2. ^ "ABC Contemplates Life Without Regis", Broadcasting & Cable, August 30, 2006. Viva Piñata is a Life simulation game developed by Rare Ltd, for the Microsoft Xbox 360 Video game console.
  3. ^ "TV Q&A with Rob Owen", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 25, 2006.

External links

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