The original cheetah enjoying his retirement
This American Life is one of the most celebrated speech radio shows to be found on any network anywhere. If you are a subscriber you will know that there is something about the perfectly paced stories, the use of first person narration (emphatically feeling like storytime for grown-ups) and the excellent use of music (often from America’s best alternative bands) that feels right. Unlike other radio documentaries found elsewhere the stories never feel too dense, and the conversational tone set by presenter Ira Glass means that his world feels warmly familiar.
A couple of weeks ago was #350. The theme was human resources exploring the uneasy interactions between humans and their institutions. This show is separated into three different acts telling different stories: the prologue has Ira talking to a human resources specialist about how to fire people; act one examines ‘The Rubber Room’, where US teachers go when they are suspended; act two looks at the conspiracy behind American real estate (TAL often appeals to the Trot inside us all), but the real magic comes in act 3.
The final act sees reporter reporter Charles Siebert talk to Ira about retirement homes for chimps. Apparently there are thousands of retired entertainment and medical industry monkeys in sipping cocktails and playing crazy golf all over the States. I was very pleased to hear that those previously engaged in the medical industry love endless reruns of E.R. and House on the telly. That factling, and much more chimp retirement trivia, means that I will be dining out on this item for WEEKS.
Listen to this episode here or, if you haven’t done so already subscribe here.
Tags: Charles Siebert, Chimp retirement, Ira Glass, Public Radio & NPR, This American Life
My synopsis:
Prologue- what IS that man’s accent? Kind of Texan/Aussie/British hybrid, obviously indicative of necessary split personality to actually carry out his job.
Act I- in summary, a Guantanamo for teachers. But, if you KNOW you’re in the ‘Rubber Room’, why don’t you just leave?? I particularly liked the phrases ‘personality conflict’ & ‘feeling hostile’. Am definitely going to use those in the future.
Act II- is Obama aware of this?
Act III- I liked that cloud song. Was that Ira singing it? He has SUCH a strange voice. Also, Charles needs to to learn how to say ‘human’, it’s not ‘uman’. ‘Inculturated’ is my new favourite word.
Excellent breakdown of the linguistics ms smith. Highly culturated of you.