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Season 1 – This American Life

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – This American Life Mar 2007 Talk Show Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 21 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
National Public Radio's long-running documentary series makes the leap to TV, telling stories culled from all across the nation. Host Ira Glass (who's pulling double-duty on the TV show as he's also the host on radio) and a team of filmmakers spend months on the road finding stories they think would be interesting to viewers -- stories involving Iowa pig farms, an Illinois hot-dog stand and a man who spends several hours a day in his family's mausoleum, among other tales. Many of the stories featured on the show were originally told on the radio show, with video added for the TV audience.
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This American Life — Season 1

This American Life — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

By pairing striking visuals with the show's trademark intimate storytelling, This American Life makes the leap from radio to television with extraordinary results.

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Critics Reviews

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Phil Gallo Variety Nov 12, 2019
The selections in the first two episodes possess compelling strength, whimsy and ambiguity in both the stories and the characters, providing a solid transformation from radio to TV. Go to Full Review Kate O'Hare Chicago Tribune Nov 12, 2019
Fans of the radio show can judge how the two compare, but looking at just the TV version, it's quieter than most reality-based television, more wistful and sometimes almost dreamlike. Go to Full Review Emily St. James Slant Magazine Nov 12, 2019
The radio series is more vivid in its storytelling... but the TV version has already found a distinctive look that hints at depths its directors and editors are still learning to plumb. Go to Full Review Andy Dehnart Reality Blurred Apr 7, 2020
After watching the first episode, I was surprised how seamlessly Ira Glass and his producers managed to translate the radio show to television... even though it works as a TV show. Go to Full Review Will Harris Bullz-Eye.com Jan 22, 2020
4/5
All of the episodes of "This American Life: Season One" are enthralling, providing the kind of reality TV it's okay to like. Go to Full Review Frazier Moore Arizona Daily Star Nov 12, 2019
As ever with "This American Life," words and narrative rule. Yet the TV rendition is strikingly visual. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
This American Life — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Ira Glass

Host

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Mar 22, 2007 Reality Check People try to make their dreams come true but sometimes fail. Details Episode 2 Aired Mar 29, 2007 My Way Stories exploring the cost of stubbornness include a boy who decides never to fall in love and a politician who tries to win an election without telling a single lie. Details Episode 3 Aired Apr 5, 2007 God's Close-Up Getting closer to God; an artist serves dinner to a diverse group. Details Episode 4 Aired Apr 12, 2007 The Camera Man Cartoonist Chris Ware; a filmmaker documents his alcoholic stepfather. Details Episode 5 Aired Apr 19, 2007 Growth Spurt Effecting positive change. Details Episode 6 Aired Apr 26, 2007 Pandora's Box Three stories of unexpected consequences of innovation. Details

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Season Info

Network
Paramount+ with Showtime
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Talk Show
Original Language
English
Release Date
Mar 22, 2007
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