TV RCMNDTN: This American Life
Sometimes there are TV shows that are really, really good that
few people watch, and I feel compelled to draw attention to them. Now
I have a blog to power that drawing. I drew attention to Arrested
Development sans-blog and it, single-handed, pushed the show's
canceling back by about 4 minutes, which is like a year in TV time.
Most of you will recognize this American Life as a radio show out of NPR's Chicago Public Radio affiliate. It is the most popular podcast download on iTunes, and with good reason. Host Ira Glass has crafted a show that is genius in its storytelling and exploration of life and drama. Each week, the show picks a theme and tells a variety of stories on that theme. They are American stories, all non-fiction. Whether it be one, engrossing story or four smaller ones, they are consistently breathtaking and compelling. The show will pull you in.
The radio show is such a success, Showtime approached them to do a TV show. Radio fans decried the sacrilege of taking the show to a new medium, but the producers knew American stories could be told visually as well. The show became a half hour affair on Sunday nights. This week's was an hour show entitled John Smith. It was one of the finest crafted, most intelligent works I've ever seen. I'm forever changed.
There are times we experience something so human, we are forever changed. Whether it be the movie Schindler's List, seeing Bruce Springsteen in concert, hearing the perfect wedding toast, attending a funeral of a loved one or surfing a dream wave, we are taught something. We are moved. Tonight, I experienced one of those moments, and I'm still dazed. Tonight, I watched This American Life.
The radio show is such a success, Showtime approached them to do a TV show. Radio fans decried the sacrilege of taking the show to a new medium, but the producers knew American stories could be told visually as well. The show became a half hour affair on Sunday nights. This week's was an hour show entitled John Smith. It was one of the finest crafted, most intelligent works I've ever seen. I'm forever changed.
The show, inspired by the article "The Life of John Smith" by Laura Blumenfeld, aimed to tell the story of an American's life, from start to finish. Knowing they couldn't run cameras for 90 years and then start editing, This American Life found seven people, all named John Smith, who were at different stages in their lives, from 11-weeks-old to 79-years. By overlapping each of their struggles, their stories blend into the dreams and drama of all of us: family, aging, hopes, realities, love, longing, fear, drugs, regret, death, belonging, retirement, aspirations, learning... The precision of the storytelling will envelop and convince you you're seeing one man grow, live and die. You will see "everyman's" story. You will see your own story.
The TV show, like the radio show, is absolutely fantastic exploration of life. I can't recommend both highly enough. In particular, this TV episode, called John Smith, is worth Showtime's additional subscription fee. Watch it. It's replaying every night this week until the new episode airs on Sunday. If you don't have Showtime, download the episode online.
I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that now, hours after turning off the show, I am teary-eyed and hopeful: I miss my grandparents, I miss my childhood, I'm proud of my family, I'm reminded of my dreams, I look forward to having a curious 8-year old child someday with science projects, I'm scared of aging...
I'm telling you. This is some show. HAWT action [hot ak-shuh
n].
The TV show, like the radio show, is absolutely fantastic exploration of life. I can't recommend both highly enough. In particular, this TV episode, called John Smith, is worth Showtime's additional subscription fee. Watch it. It's replaying every night this week until the new episode airs on Sunday. If you don't have Showtime, download the episode online.
I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that now, hours after turning off the show, I am teary-eyed and hopeful: I miss my grandparents, I miss my childhood, I'm proud of my family, I'm reminded of my dreams, I look forward to having a curious 8-year old child someday with science projects, I'm scared of aging...
I'm telling you. This is some show. HAWT action [hot ak-shuhn]. Join the HAWTaction reader group on Facebook.
Wow, did you watch a tv show or do ecstacy?
My goodness. Powerful stuff.
I'm the best blogger ever.
- JLF
I've never heard of this show! I think I'll have to give it a try!
Good TV RCMNDTN!
For more of the most awesome show of all time: http://www.thisamericanlife.org
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