This American Life, Season 1
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Description
Funny. Dramatic. Surprising. True. Boundary-pushing and adventurous, radio personality Ira Glass examines the details of life that go unnoticed — and transforms them into something humorous or poignant, enlightening or bizarre. From the tale of a man who so cherished his pet bull that he had him cloned, to the account of a 12-year old who doesn't believe in love, these are true stories which remind us that the remarkable lives in the everyday. You don't want to miss one episode of what the New York Post calls "unlike anything else you'll find on TV anymore — or maybe ever."
| Name | Description | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VideoReality Check | Three stories of people who hatched plans in the hopes of making their dreams come true, but were snapped back to reality by unpleasant outcomes: an elementary school student tries to solve a common childhood problem; a rancher resuscitates a beloved pet, which later turns on him; people team to give an unknown rock band the greatest night of its life. | 28:53 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| 2 | VideoGrowth Spurt | What do you do if you‘re unhappy with where you are in life? Some people simply will themselves to the next stage. A widow, an ambitious first-time screenplay writer, and a 13-year-old girl all charge forward into their futures with mixed results. | 28:19 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| 3 | VideoThe Cameraman | G.J. Echternkamp started filming his own family as an act of revenge against his stepfather, and most of this episode is devoted to his footage, which is funny and stunningly honest. Also in this episode: an animated short by Chris Ware. | 28:43 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| 4 | VideoGod's Close Up | Stories where the faithful and the not-so-faithful cross paths, and where unexpected things happen when people try to get closer to God through pictures: hundreds of Polaroid camera-toting believers gather in the Mojave Desert each month hoping to see God. And an artist, his Jesus model, the model's atheist girlfriend, and her religious father face off on The Last Supper. | 28:43 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| 5 | VideoMy Way | Four stories explore the costs of stubbornness: a man refuses to acknowledge some important events in his wife's life; a 14-year-old boy decides he will never, ever fall in love; a politician attempts to win an election without telling a single lie; a man who continues doing a job during an emergency when most people would probably stop. | 27:56 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| 6 | VideoPandora's Box | Three stories of the unexpected consequences of trying new things: scientists accidentally discover a way to erase memories and later get surprising requests from people who want their own minds wiped clean; pig researchers accidentally create more problems with every improvement they make; two owners of a Chicago hot dog stand try some novel business practices that unwittingly unleash raw human emotion that would probably be better penned up. | 28:38 | $1.99 | View In iTunes |
| Total: 6 Episodes |
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Customer Reviews
Great show - but why full frame?
I love This American Life. The TV version does a wonderful job in creating its very own style by using really high-end cinematography despite the fact that it's a documentary show about real, everyday people. The show was broadcast in 16x9 widescreen on Showtime, the way it was shot by the filmmakers. Now, why on earth are we getting a 4x3 full frame version in iTunes? Yes, the iPod is (still) 4x3, but the iPhone isn't and AppleTV doesn't even work with non-widescreen TVs!!! This is a decision I simply do not understand... Yes, it's all about the content, but the photography does play an important role in this show. That's why I give the iTunes version only 4 stars.
Huge fan of TAL, bummed it's in full frame ratio.
Unlike the original broadcast (16:9), this is in full frame (4:3) ratio and for a show like TAL, it seems something is lost. I'm disappointed in iTunes, but still consider it worth purchasing. I hope to see this changed soon, so I can enjoy the right ratios on my iPhone. 4:3 is going away, the wide stuff is here to stay. Get with the program Apple! (I'd give it 5 stars, but gotta ding it one star for this problem) Nonetheless, buy this! It's so good! I love the there is such good TV being made these days. In the midst of some really crappy content (I dont need to remind you of what's out there), there's shows like this that make you think, laugh, even cry.
Just as great as the radio show!
If you’re a fan of the Public Radio show, you’ll love the television version. The first episode borrowed from past radio segments, but after that, it’s all new material… and it’s just as captivating and charming as the original. Great job Ira!!
- SD Version
- Genre: Nonfiction
- Released: Jul 02, 2007
- © 2006 Showtime Networks Inc. All rights reserved.
