Six Episodes Of New Series Based On The Award-Winning Chicago Public Radio Program Hosted By Ira Glass Begins Production This Spring

 

 

PASADENA, CA, January 19, 2006 – Showtime has greenlighted six episodes of a new original series, THIS AMERICAN LIFE, to be hosted by Ira Glass, it was announced today by Robert Greenblatt, President of Entertainment for Showtime. The series is based on the award-winning show of the same name that was created by Chicago Public Radio and Ira Glass. Set to begin production in spring 2006, Ira Glass, acclaimed independent film producer Christine Vachon from Killer Films (“Boys Don’t Cry,” “Happiness,” “One Hour Photo”) and Julie Snyder will serve as executive producers

 

Each episode will be hosted by Ira Glass and will explore a single theme or topic through the unique juxtaposition of first-person storytelling and whimsical narrative, allowing for the show’s distinct and original voice. The visual interpretation of the radio series will reflect the structure and spirit of the radio show that has grown to be one of the most popular and innovative programs in the medium.

 

“Ira is a master storyteller, and I’m thrilled that he wanted to do his visual adaptation of ‘THIS AMERICAN LIFE’ with us,” said Greenblatt. “We’re in the business of bringing true visionaries to television, and I guarantee this show will be unlike any other reality/documentary show anywhere. And it will not replace the beloved radio version which will continue to flourish and delight its scores of fans for many years to come.”

 

Debuting on Chicago public radio station WBEZ in 1995, and distributed by Public Radio International, “THIS AMERICAN LIFE” is an hour-long combination of journalism and short fiction. Hosted by creator and veteran public radio producer Ira Glass, the show is heard on over 500 radio stations nationally and has won the Peabody and Dupont-Columbia awards for excellence in broadcasting. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and author David Mamet remarked in Time magazine, “We’re blessed from time to time, with a spontaneous generation of humor and insight. And here is Ira Glass who seems to have reinvented radio.”

 

“We’ve always thought of our job as making little movies for radio,” said Glass. “So we were thrilled when Showtime approached us and suggested we actually take it to the next logical step. And as the radio show is like nothing else on radio, we believe the television version will be like nothing else on TV.”

 

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