Ira GlassI can hardly contain my excitement. Next week, next Sunday, I'll be in a theater in Chicago with my two (podcast) idols: Ira Glass and Dan Savage. Every year This American Life puts on a live show in Chicago and invites a few of its favourite contributors. Inviting Dan was a no-brainer: He's intelligent, too attractive for radio (like Ira), and a Chicago native.
Alas, my motivations for visiting Chicago aren't purely based on seeing (read: sleeping with) my favourite Jew/Catholic pair since Ben Stiller and Edward Norton in the underrated "Keeping the Faith." I'm thinking about attending graduate school in the windy city. Columbia College has a Arts Management MA that has caught my eye. Visiting Chicago to see if I could make it my home for at least a couple of years is also a no-brainer. Chicago has magnificent architecture, a very vibrant and prestigeous art scene, and a number of America's top universities. Columbia College is not, as far as I know, among them; however, my GPA will not be getting me in to the Art Institute in this lifetime. Also, I a came across a guidebook to Chicago's numerous impressive murals at Balfour recently. Awesome, I totally dig murals.
Anyway, back to what's important: the beauty of Ira Glass. For a few months, loyally tun
ing into the show every week, I was under the impression that Ira was in his early 30s, maybe even 35 or so. Then I tuned into this interview with him by Charlie Rose, and much to my shock and horror, Ira was nearly 50! There went my wedding plans...The interview, by the way, is fantastic. He talks alot about his apprehension to make a This American Life television show because he wasn't sure if the stories he likes to cover would benefit from visuals. Further, he was afraid that having to only cover stories that would be improved on television would draw them away from their original purpose. He concludes, of course, that the radio show and television show are two completely separate entities, not to be compared. I have yet to the see the television show. More required viewing to add to my list.
it's edward NORTON, not edward newton, silly!
ReplyDeletei agree, that movie is totally underrated. we should watch it together sometime.
also, ira glass's wikipedia page has some pretty interesting information about his personal life. like how he was a GIANT DICK when he broke up with this cartoonist chick. he gave her a watch and basically told her she was too boring for him.
i'm so jealous that you're going to chicago!! you should definitely go to columbia so i can come visit you in chi city.