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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 11/12/2019
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 11/12/2019
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 11/12/2019
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 04/07/2020
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 01/22/2020
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 11/12/2019
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