Episode 21 isn't listed on the radio archives on the TAL website...so I guess it's MIA?
Guess cuts me off an extra hour then...
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Episode 20: From A Distance
I think through listening to TAL so far, I'm catching the fact that I enjoy the 'human interest' side much more then the others (politics...bleh). This episode's pretty sweet, discussing the different situations of idolizing someone. From going on a big pilgrimage to see an artist you idolize, to becoming good friends with someone you idolize to even copying them.
This one's a pretty good one...totally dig the different aspects of looking up to others and how it's done in different situations. The Snuggie bear things is kinda creepy, I'll warn ya, but at the end my girl Claudia from episode 8 is back reporting about the Selena film auditions. Sweet!
Give this one a listen.
This one's a pretty good one...totally dig the different aspects of looking up to others and how it's done in different situations. The Snuggie bear things is kinda creepy, I'll warn ya, but at the end my girl Claudia from episode 8 is back reporting about the Selena film auditions. Sweet!
Give this one a listen.
Episode 19: Rich Guys
This episode's talking about guys who have lots of money and how they act due to this. Stories on rich folk who run for president and set up their wife with 15 viles of their sperm for after they die so more kids can be produced.
Yeah. Some people clearly need more money to blow on stuff.
EDIT: Writer Michael Lewis is one of my favorites, after some other shows with his pieces. Listen to this man. Plus his story here links up to episode 31.
Yeah. Some people clearly need more money to blow on stuff.
EDIT: Writer Michael Lewis is one of my favorites, after some other shows with his pieces. Listen to this man. Plus his story here links up to episode 31.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Episode 18: "Liars"
Compulsive liars are what this episode is all about, as the title suggests, and it talks about all kinds. Dads who lie to their kids, college roommates who lie about who they are, significant others who lie about fianances and their "extra" relationships.
One thing that I noticed in this episode is the lack of female liars in the stories. I know as a female, I am tempted to lead males to think that we don't ever lie, but I know that isn't quite true. Maybe it isn't quite as elaborate lies females usually tell, but there aren't even any on the episode. Just a thought.
Overall it was a pretty decent episode, finally hitting the stride of the show I currently love- introspective and relateable, while sharing aspects of life that may not be everyday for each listener. Keeps me coming back for more.
One thing that I noticed in this episode is the lack of female liars in the stories. I know as a female, I am tempted to lead males to think that we don't ever lie, but I know that isn't quite true. Maybe it isn't quite as elaborate lies females usually tell, but there aren't even any on the episode. Just a thought.
Overall it was a pretty decent episode, finally hitting the stride of the show I currently love- introspective and relateable, while sharing aspects of life that may not be everyday for each listener. Keeps me coming back for more.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Episode 17: "Name Change/No Theme"
FINALLY the name change! I feel better about things and doing this project now that the name of the show was officially, finally, changed to "This American Life". Good riddance, "Your Radio Playhouse"- I can see how those public radio folks hated the name.
As the title states for this one the name changed and there wasn't a theme- there's around 5 different stories going on in the three acts and they're alright but nothing that spectacular. The follow up to the Navy Pier story from the week before was an interesting thing, sharing the fact that the pier had announced, after the episode promoting how much they were giving back to the city of Chicago, that they were having to cut a lot of the job force due to loss of money. Then Ira dropped that people paid $16 to park for this place. Then I lost any sympathy I had towards to the government and their running of the place. Anyways- I liked the follow up, the city of Chicago still not wanting to give into having to tell about their possibly boo-boo in the economy.
Overall, this show's a listen to it and just let it go on shows...the stories that were told, of no particular theme that is, could possibly pop back up at some random times on you.
No harm, no foul, thank the Lord they changed the name.
As the title states for this one the name changed and there wasn't a theme- there's around 5 different stories going on in the three acts and they're alright but nothing that spectacular. The follow up to the Navy Pier story from the week before was an interesting thing, sharing the fact that the pier had announced, after the episode promoting how much they were giving back to the city of Chicago, that they were having to cut a lot of the job force due to loss of money. Then Ira dropped that people paid $16 to park for this place. Then I lost any sympathy I had towards to the government and their running of the place. Anyways- I liked the follow up, the city of Chicago still not wanting to give into having to tell about their possibly boo-boo in the economy.
Overall, this show's a listen to it and just let it go on shows...the stories that were told, of no particular theme that is, could possibly pop back up at some random times on you.
No harm, no foul, thank the Lord they changed the name.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Episode 16: "Economy"
Considering that I'm not a highly political person, this episode was produced in 1996 and at that point I was still enjoying my elementary school years, I enjoyed episode 16 quite a bit. I was skeptical when reading the synopsis of the different acts, talking about presidential elections and such, yet the story on the economy was very reminiscent of something that would be reported on, say, a year ago. The unemployment that is represented in this episode was actually presented in a bit scarier way than it was in the recent recession we are recovering from.
Act 1, eh let's skip it. Dole vs. Clinton...yadda yadda yadda...moving on.
Acts 2 and 4 were my favorites- 2 told from the point of view of two temps that TAL hired for a few days (and then Ira hustles for them to get some work, via the show). It was a great look into the lives of guys who are just trying to earn a living and make it in the world but they can't catch quite the right break. It's obvious they wanted to do the work and wanted to succeed- more than once they say that they will work anywhere, for any price. Frankly, I think if more people had the opportunity to get to know folks more than just on the surface, as is seen through this story, the people who deserve the best things in life would get them- and to them the best things would simply be what is necessary to just get by comfortably.
Act 4 is a rundown of the $156 million renovation of the Navy Pier in Chicago and the economic influence that projected onto the city and state of Illinois. It is a pretty interesting listen, considering it is the place that WBEZ studios are located and Ira gets a kick out of explaining the layout to the listeners.
(Oh, and Act 3..eh...those poets and their artistic writings...I prefer the straight forward and straight talking...like the Johnny Cash song getting played in Act 2).
And one other note for this episode- Ira exhibits an underlying sense of humor for this week's show. Plus now he'll make me giggle everytime I hear the "Market Place" 'doing the numbers' music...
Act 1, eh let's skip it. Dole vs. Clinton...yadda yadda yadda...moving on.
Acts 2 and 4 were my favorites- 2 told from the point of view of two temps that TAL hired for a few days (and then Ira hustles for them to get some work, via the show). It was a great look into the lives of guys who are just trying to earn a living and make it in the world but they can't catch quite the right break. It's obvious they wanted to do the work and wanted to succeed- more than once they say that they will work anywhere, for any price. Frankly, I think if more people had the opportunity to get to know folks more than just on the surface, as is seen through this story, the people who deserve the best things in life would get them- and to them the best things would simply be what is necessary to just get by comfortably.
Act 4 is a rundown of the $156 million renovation of the Navy Pier in Chicago and the economic influence that projected onto the city and state of Illinois. It is a pretty interesting listen, considering it is the place that WBEZ studios are located and Ira gets a kick out of explaining the layout to the listeners.
(Oh, and Act 3..eh...those poets and their artistic writings...I prefer the straight forward and straight talking...like the Johnny Cash song getting played in Act 2).
And one other note for this episode- Ira exhibits an underlying sense of humor for this week's show. Plus now he'll make me giggle everytime I hear the "Market Place" 'doing the numbers' music...
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Episode 15: "Dawn"
Jack Hitt hits it out of the ballpark in this one (ohhhh terrible pun, please forgive me, I couldn't resist). The entire episode, sans the brief first act about a school employee who is seen as a father-like character to his students and the effects he has on them, is based on Hitt's story about Dawn, a misunderstood woman from his childhood in Charleston. Dawn was understood to be a man, in Jack's memory, then has a surgery, so the story goes, and marries a black man. All of these things were not the most kosher in the 1960's, if you know what I'm saying.
Hitt goes on a quest to find Dawn (who goes through a few different names I got lost with throughout the story) years later and finds her in New York, but only after giving a full history from his childhood and other people's story about Dawn and her legend. Have to say, this one got me wanting to hear more, so 1996 is looking good now...hope to keep the streak alive.
Oh, and the last act of this episode is an update from 1998, so I'm not sure the exact layout of the first run in 1996, so that's why Ira references Hitt's article in a magazine from 1998.
Hitt goes on a quest to find Dawn (who goes through a few different names I got lost with throughout the story) years later and finds her in New York, but only after giving a full history from his childhood and other people's story about Dawn and her legend. Have to say, this one got me wanting to hear more, so 1996 is looking good now...hope to keep the streak alive.
Oh, and the last act of this episode is an update from 1998, so I'm not sure the exact layout of the first run in 1996, so that's why Ira references Hitt's article in a magazine from 1998.
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