Watching Showtime

In the season finale of This American Life, the crew tackles a few stories of unexpected results. In the end, not only are the people they’re interviewing changed, but some of the crew is as well.

The “prelude” of sorts delves into a group of scientists who discover a way to erase memory in rats. After isolating a drug that can erase what they believe to be every single memory of an animal, they publish their findings. Popular interest soon piques, and the scientists begin to receive mail … although not hate mail as one might expect. Instead, it’s mail from people suffering, whether it be from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) or horrific childhoods. These people want to know when human trials of the drug will begin, and are volunteering their brains. Shocking to the scientists, they don’t quite know how to react and are at times moved to tears by the stories.

The crew then moves on to a pig farm in Iowa to discuss genetically engineered pork products. With our food becoming more and more genetically engineered each year, the show wanted to find out what it was like for these farmers. Instead, their story ended up being about how genetically altering animals actually has removed some of the elements these same scientists are now looking to add to the very same. One crew member is so disturbed by what he sees he becomes a vegetarian. Don’t be misled, however, as this is not a PETA-style attack on the industry. Rather, it takes a unique look at how genetically engineering our animals has affected the farmers.

Finally, the group travels to Chicago, to visit a hot dog stand where the customers and workers engage in a nightly verbal battle bordering on abuse. With Chicago being one of the more racially charged cities in America (and one of the more racially-segregated) there is a lot to be said for a hot dog stand in the “white side of town” with an almost all-black crew. The crew exchanges insults with the patrons that range from simple humorous banter to a much more graphic and attacking side of the coin after the bars begin to close. Racial slurs are tossed around, and I’m betting fights break out on occasion. The crew gets some amazing footage, and at the end of the day learns the people working there wouldn’t trade their jobs … the money (mostly tips) can put a kid through Northwestern!

Sad to see this season come to a close, I’m excited that the series has been picked up for a second season. Hopefully with more episodes! For now, I’ll resign myself to listening to Ira Glass and his radio version of the show on NPR.

Showtime, This American Life, Ira Glass