TV on the Radio: Good. Radio on the TV: Not So Much.

Radio on the TV: Jury’s Still Out

This American Life (TAL) is a radio program, no, a brilliant radio program, that airs weekly on NPR. The show’s format is simple. Each week the host, Ira Glass, relates several stories based on a common theme such as “how I missed my big break at success” or “…and that was the moment my whole world changed.” Most of the stories are non-fiction, but occasionally fictional stories are included too. David Sedaris, one of my favorite writers, contributes to the show from time to time. The show has been around for about 10 years and has won numerous honors and awards.Â

Given their success in radio, it should come as no surprise that the folks at TAL decided to make the leap to television. They still have their radio show, but they’re attempting to expand their audience by developing a TV version for Showtime.

It’s funny how delivering the same product through a different medium changes everything. I’ll confess that when I heard that TAL was coming to TV, I felt slightly depressed. I didn’t want them to mess with a perfectly good formula, because I had already seen what could happen when a new medium is introduced. I was in elementary school when MTV first came on the air, but I remember it vividly. I recall being amazed that there would be a channel dedicated to nothing but music videos. I know that Ira Glass remembers this pivotal event in TV history because he is considerably older than I. He should, then, remember the very first video ever played on the fledgling music channel. It was “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles, the prophetic tune whose message was clear: several of your favorite radio stars will not be making the transition with you over to the whimsical world of music videos. In fact, a lot of the popular singers and bands in the pre-video era didn’t make it. Light rock singers may have taken the biggest hit, with Christopher Cross and Gino Vannelli immediately coming to mind. Pablo Cruise and Boz Scaggs? Collateral damage. So why didn’t Ira learn the moral of this story, that in the process of switching from one medium to another something will be lost. Didn’t Ira hear the Buggles’ warning?

I’ve been known to do a complete 180° and change my mind about something, so it’s possible that I might be a dedicated fan of TAL’s television show by the end of the season. But after seeing the first couple of episodes, I’m not so sure I’m interesting in tuning in to Showtime this week. I just might skip it and tune in to the radio program this weekend. I’m grateful that they haven’t given up what made them popular in the first place.

Are there any other This American Life fans out there? If you have never heard/seen this program, check it out. The radio show is broadcast on Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. and Sundays at 6:00 p.m. on AM 820 and on Sundays at 4:00 p.m. on 93.9 FM. The TV show airs Thursday nights at 10:30 p.m. on Showtime. Tune in. You might like it.

This American Life on Showtime

TV on the Radio: Good