This American Life (2007–2012) User Reviews

Resembles the radio show to a T!

[bobscott · 9/10 · 10 April 2007]

Being a fan of NPR's "This American Life" for so many years, I couldn't wait to see this show from the moment I heard about it. Just like the radio show, the television series finds fascination in the mundane, tells the stories that might otherwise never be told. And with each story, perhaps, you might gain a little insight into what makes different people tick.

Ira Glass's narration is always just enough, never overbearing, and the presentation is visually very artistic. The soundtrack accompanying the narration and interviews is just as fitting as it is on the radio show, and it really just makes a great transition from radio to television.

If you enjoy creative documentary-style storytelling, this is certainly a show you'll enjoy.

This show is a real breath of fresh air and should be seen by all.

[kempedmonds · 9/10 · 22 April 2007]

This show is awesome. I am Canadian and simply as a great story teller Ira Glasser is awesome. I never heard the radio show and have since downloaded the volumes in their entirety to learn while working out/running/taking the bus/anything with the MP3 player... WICKED! WATCH IT!

Torrent Away.

After enjoying the first episode, the story of a man and his bull told more passionately and deeply than I could have ever imagined. I would recommend that everyone try and watch this show. by any means necessary. This show is available through various online sources.

A Long Time Fan Wasn't Disappointed

[Chloepatra_bites_asp · 9/10 · 23 March 2009]

Even though there have been over 375 shows, I have heard many of them over and over again and the stories haunt me for days, they are so poignant and thought provoking and timeless. I don't wish to sound hyperbolic, but I think the show has deepened my appreciation for almost everything.

This American Life focuses on stories that tend to fly below the radar, stories that you'll never hear anywhere else. As another commenter explained, Ira Glass finds the remarkable in the mundane, the beauty in everyday experiences, but he also finds the wacky stories that rarely happen and the real stories that should have been told but aren't.

The TV show retells many of the stories originally told in the radio show, which may disappoint if you were expecting new stories. Ira Glass' deep respect for his interview subject's individual viewpoints, his insightful commentary, and his careful editing couples beautifully with some of the most gorgeous cinematography I have ever seen in a documentary. Most of the episodes have kept the radio show format of telling multiple stories on a single theme, although a few of the shows only focus upon a single story because of time restraints.

Another commenter wrote that this TV show is like a "reality show". I have never seen a reality show that respects it's subjects or empathizes with them like this, nor one that explores the types of stories that Ira Glass brings to his audience. Perhaps she was responding to how raw the emotions are on the TV show, a feature that is fully present on the radio show, but it hits home so much harder when you see the expressions on the faces of the storytellers as they talk about their experiences. To me, it is honest and empathetic, and your heart breaks with them. It's beautiful.

The first season of This American Life is available on Amazon Unbox for instant play and it only costs about two dollars per episode, so try it out. It's instant gratification for less than a latte. Each week's radio show may be streamed from the TAL website for free.

See Comments

[CarlyMorris · 8/10 · 22 September 2007]

This American life has always been an interesting piece of Americana. I have been listening for years. The music they select is always of the most interesting nature. I always liked Jim Ward Morris' work when it was played on the radio and I'm glad to see their still using his work from the album, "Ten Instrumentals for Film and Radio"

I will say that it's too bad that Ira Glass has altered it from it's original nature: a showing various American lives from the their perspective. It seems like Ira has gotten a little too excited about TV and now he's doing a reality show.

I say it's aces for the music, and it's alright for TV, but it's original honesty and empathy have been lost.

Worthless people shouldn't live

[Conor_Waters · 1/10 · 2 August 2022]

I was thinking about how much these people should not live since they seem to be destined to die soon. How many people enjoyed watching these idiots? If you did, it's probably because you are insane, or this is your direct kin.