BuzzSugar

This American Sex Life: Ira Glass's Sex Tape

Annie Scudder — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:15:08 PDT

If there's one niche celebrity I would never imagine having a sex tape, it would be "This American Life" host Ira Glass. And luckily he doesn't have one! Even so, Julian Joslin decided to imagine what it might sound like. In his parody "sex tape" - which is just audio, no video, of course - the public-radio icon gets not one, but two acts of scandalous sexiness. Ira, whose timid, nasally nerd voice is perfectly impersonated by Joslin, even employs the help of the Planet Money Team to create his Craigslist ad, and every NPR personality appearance heard on the tape besides the fake-Ira is taken from real interviews. If you're a fan of "This American Life" or NPR in general this will make you crack up, but you might not think of Ira the same way ever again.

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:30:57 PDT

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to my selections below, you can also check out the dreamboat special that is Leatherheads and Simon Pegg's comedy Run, Fat Boy, Run.

Sex and the City: The Movie
Well, the big day has arrived: the Sex and the City movie is here for you to rent or own. Whether you missed this one in theaters (hard to imagine) or are excited to fast-forward to your favorite parts, the fab four has come full circle back to your small screen. I'm interested in revisiting this one, since the movie is super long and there is a lot to take in.

This is the kind of movie for which special features were made. Get a load of these: commentary by director Michael Patrick King; a conversation with Sarah Jessica Parker and Michael Patrick King; featurettes titled, "The Fabulous Fashion of Sex and the City," "Fergie in the Studio: Watch a Hit in the Making as the Singer Records Labels or Love for the Movie Soundtrack," and additional scenes.

So, are you bringing this one home this week?

Three more selections to go, so

More TV-to-DVDs
The neverending flow of TV-to-DVD continues this week as more of our favorite shows return to the air with new episodes. Here are two of my favorites, out today.

Samantha Who?: Season One
My mom called after the Emmys to ask about that show Jean Smart is on and I told her Samantha Who?. Then we got into one of those "who's on first?" (ha!) conversations where she kept saying, "Who?" and I would say, "No, that's the name of the show." Anyway, I convinced her to give it a shot because it really is one of the sweetest, most entertaining little scripted comedies around right now. Special features include a blooper reel, deleted scenes, and commentary.
Brothers and Sisters: Season Two
This ABC drama is coming back this Sunday, so catch up on last season while you can! Special features include featurettes ("TV Dinners: Food From Season Two," "Open House: Designing The Brothers and Sisters Set"), and bloopers.

This American Life: Season One
I know a lot of people who, despite my encouragement, still haven't checked out the TV version of this popular Ira Glass NPR radio series, so I'm hoping this DVD release will get more eyeballs on it. The show is unlike most things on television right now, as it gives Americans of all shapes, sizes, colors, and geographical locations a chance to tell their stories.

I can't help but think how nice it feels to explore America this way in the midst of a heated campaign season that can sometimes make the country feel bitterly divided.

First Look: This American Life, Season Two

BuzzSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:30:53 PDT

The gorgeous, intimate television version of This American Life was one of the most pleasant surprises of last TV season. All my fears about how the radio show would translate to the big screen were erased by the end of the first installment, and the short, six-episode season left me wanting more.

The show returns for its second season this coming Sunday, May 4, and - as host and indie icon Ira Glass says in the Showtime trailer - this time they "actually sort of semi-even know what we're doing." Once again, each episode will have a theme (this Sunday's premiere is "Escapes"), with a variety of different takes on the theme - from mini-documentaries to first-person storytelling to animated cartoons.

Some of you will be able to get a sneak preview of the second season in theaters this Thursday, but if you can't make it (or can't wait), you can see a trailer for the show's second season when you

Photo courtesy of Showtime

This American Life: Coming Soon to a Big Screen Near You

BuzzSugar — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 13:30:34 PDT

I was excited last year when This American Life, my favorite radio show, came to Showtime. Seeing how the show's audio-only stories translated to a visual medium was totally fascinating.

Now, on May 1, there will be a chance to see This American Life on an even bigger screen, as it comes to theaters nationwide for one night only. The theater version will be like the show's occasional touring stage readings - but on a very large stage, indeed, one that reaches hundreds of cities simultaneously. Basically, they'll film one show and send it via satellite to select theaters, live. (Well, not live on the West Coast, because it would have to start at 5 p.m. But it's live everywhere else.)

Tickets go on sale April 4, but for now, you can check out the complete list of participating theaters. It really is a long list, considering that not all that many theaters have the capacity to broadcast a live, digital satellite feed. "Everywhere we can show it," the producers say, "we are."

Also cool: Show creator Ira Glass will take questions during the broadcast. Want one of them to be yours? Here's how.

While we're at it, there's no word yet on when the TV show's second season will premiere on Showtime, but I'll keep you updated.

Photo courtesy of Showtime

Watch "This American Life" for Free!

BuzzSugar — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 15:23:13 PDT

No Showtime? No problem, if you want to see the first episode of the fantastic new "This American Life" TV show. Showtime has put the first episode online for free. No word on if they'll keep doing this, though the ad right below the video player encouraging people to subscribe to Showtime makes me think not.

While you're at it, check out the "What I Learned from Television" episode of the "This American Life" radio show. It's packed with goodies for TV junkies like me, but the best part comes in Act 3, just over 30 minutes in, when Ira Glass starts talking about his over-the-top love for "The OC." Also included: a performance of "California" by Mates of State. Love it!

Photo courtesy of Showtime

TV Preview: "This American Life"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 05:00:45 PDT

Those of you who have Showtime are in luck: I'm positively giddy about "This American Life," which premieres this Thursday. I've been nervously awaiting the TV adaptation of my favorite radio show, and having seen several episodes, I can say it doesn't disappoint. The show is as funny, quirky, and moving on TV as it is on the radio - only now, it's also pretty.

In fact, "This American Life" is the prettiest thing I've seen on television, period. It's full of sweeping landscape shots, rich colors, and interesting angles. As creator and host Ira Glass has said, it doesn't look like anything else on TV, but that doesn't mean it looks like a movie, either. I suppose it's most like a series of photographs that happen to be moving. The stories themselves manage to feel just as fresh and intimate on screen, so to hear more about the show and see some clips,

The format sticks close to what Glass and company have been doing for more than a decade: Each half-hour show consists of a series of stories arranged around a central theme (the first episode, "Reality Check," focuses on seemingly brilliant ideas with unpleasant outcomes). Glass is present without being overbearing; he appears from time to time sitting at a desk in the middle of some random location, like salt flats or a school gym, and those of you who haven't had the pleasure of being starstruck by him in person can be assured that he's just as nerdy-hot as you'd hope. Loyal fans also will be glad to know that the show has kept its signature sign-off of attributing one random, out-of-context line to WBEZ general manager Torey Malatia.

Some of the stories have previously aired in radio format, but seeing them with visuals adds a new texture. It's one thing to hear a producer describe what happened when she saw a man get attacked by his prized cloned bull; it's another thing entirely to see the man as he's wheeled into the hospital. Both versions work, and the shift is impressively seamless. The show gives its stories time to develop, but it isn't plodding. "This American Life" pushed the boundaries of what could be done on radio; I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up changing television, too.

Here's a trailer for the show:

And here's a scene from the second episode, "My Way":

Photo courtesy of Showtime

"This American Life" to Hit TV, Theaters

BuzzSugar — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 09:42:09 PST

I've been a huge fan of the public-radio storytelling series "This American Life" for years. I'm so obsessed with the show's personal essays and quirky fiction that I used to record the broadcasts to cassette. (Now I just download the podcast). Once when I was in college in Chicago, I even walked out of a theater next to the show's nerdy-cool host, Ira Glass, and was too starstruck to say anything.

Naturally, I'm super-excited about two pieces of "This American Life" news: First, that the long-awaited TV show based on the radio stories will debut on Showtime on March 19, according to Entertainment Weekly. And second, that Ira Glass and the others have signed a deal with DreamWorks to develop movies based on the show's stories.

Granted, last year's Unaccompanied Minors, based on the show's story about kids stranded at a Chicago airport over the holidays, wasn't exactly a hit. But I think lots of other stories could make good movies - say, maybe this one about the stolen parrot?

Any other "This American Life" fans out there? Which episodes do you think would work on film?

10 Things to Do With 10 Bucks: Spring Clean With These Fresh Tips

LearnVest — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:15:23 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

You pulled out your spring purses and found a ten dollar bill inside one of them. Or you’ve budgeted carefully and have some extra cash. However it happens, we always love finding an extra $10 to spare at the end of the month. Hence our new series “10 Things To Do With $10″ - our picks of 10 major steals and fun, interesting ways to spend a Hamilton (yes, he’s our man).

After a brutal winter (and snow as recently as this week in NYC), we’ve made the executive decision that spring is here, whether the weather cooperates or not. So, here are our ten ways to ring in flowers, sunshine, and warmth - and get a head start on Spring.

Check out 10 things to do with $10 after the break!