
Event Review:
This American LifeUCLA Royce Hall
March 12, 2007
8:00 - 10:30
"What I Learned From Television"
WOW
! I'm still pinching myself! What a rare opportunity to see my favorite radio show,
This American Life with Ira Glass, live on stage! If you missed it, all I can say is that I hope they do another one some day. This was a
once-in-a-lifetime event. I'll do my best to capture the moment. Then you'll just have to listen to the edited version of this radio show when it comes out, later on this month.
Those of you who are unfamiliar with
This American Life will have to visit their site and listen to one of their free podcasts. I urge you to do so... this is some of the best entertainment out there today!
Each show features a theme and three acts. Topics range from Fiasco's (one of my favorite shows) to summer camps, liars, babysitting, and accidental documentaries. Each show has writers and authors who contribute their spoken word, as well as 'ordinary people' from all walks of life who share their stories. The hour-long broadcast is a mixture of cinematic story telling and a feast for the ears -- great mixing, segues, and thematic music.
Celebrity Sightings! (Okay, I put this here first to grab your attention, and make you read further)
I knew the show was about to start because a guy in a suit was walking around with a xylophone, lightly drumming
bing-bong. I was sipping cabernet out of a plastic glass while casually standing by a trash can, trying to finish it before I went in. My hubby said, "Down it!" But it's not an easy task to chug wine!

As I stood sipping, I saw a sober-looking Jack Black, dressed in a button-down and jeans, with two lady friends (they did look like his friends, not dates) on either side. He looked refreshed, healthy, and much more handsome in person. He's actually around the same size as my hubby! Not too tall, not with the camera-weight, and just a down-to-earth looking guy. In Hollywood, there is no real fanfare, so people pretty much ignore celebs, Jack included. Plus, you have to think... this crowd is devoted to public radio... and unconcerned with celebrity sightings. Myself included, but hey, some of you are into this, and
news is news! (or gossip anyway)
I admit, I'm not too savvy at remembering names, but I do

remember faces. So when reached across Catherine Keener to grab a paper towel in the restroom, I recognized her I immediately. She gave me a warm smile, a double-take, and I said, "Hi," and commented on her top, which was the same color as mine. Instantly, her multitude of characters and movies flashed through my head:
Being John Malkovich, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Capote. All of which she'd done amazing work, and won several awards, including her Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in
Being John Malkovich. In person, she was absolutely adorable!
There were many others, stand up comedians, broadcasters... however, their names escape me...
Onto the Show:The lights dimmed and the band
OK Go came on stage. They played a song I hadn't heard before about television. Wow... is all I can say. What dynamic performers. They came on stage after every act, and the singer, Damian, even joined in on several impromptu conversations with Ira Glass. When Ira asked what on TV prompted Damian to become a musician (paraphrased), Damian told him Prince; Prince in
Purple Rain. Ira then joked, So that's what made you say, Mom, Dad, I'm not going to medical school?
Here's a couple of videos from OK Go:
"Invincible" by OK Go