Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

December 3, 2008 2:02:18 AM CST



Magic of 'This American Life' Returns to Small Screen

Posted May 4, 08 11:57 AM CDT in Arts & Living 

(Newser) – The stories on the small-screen version of “This American Life” start out small—a husband’s protest over the oppressive American trend of lawn-mowing, a young man living with spinal muscular atrophy—and become something universal, both dark and light, even a little magical, writes Heather Havrilesky on Salon.com. On the second season, which premieres tonight on Showtime, everyday snapshots of people’s lives become art.

Host Ira Glass is more confident and relaxed than in his awkward first season, even if his understated introductions border on too understated. And fan complaints that the radio show’s beauty couldn’t translate to the small screen have been successfully quashed (see: the transfixing sight of young kids learning to ride horses through graffiti-strewn parts of Philly).

Source Salon

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon
Ira Glass, executive producer and host of public radio series "This American Life," smiles during an interview in his New York office.   (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
Ira Glass in a first-season episode of the Showtime television show "This American Life."   ((c) rhinny)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Chris Ware & John Kuramoto bring you this animation featured in season two of This American Life.   (SHOWTIME)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 1)



Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Arts & Living Stories


What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser a team of editors and writers culls the most important stories from hundreds of U.S. and international sources and reduces them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. It's the Newser guarantee: we can take any report or column or video and pack what you need to know into 120 words or less. Newser's short-form aggregation, visual format, and unique information tools help you get more of the kind of news you want, in a quicker and more entertaining way. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »