or


[05/04/05 - 12:00 AM]
Showtime Networks Greenlights Pilot Presentation for Chicago Public Radio's 'This American Life'

[via press release from Showtime]

Showtime Networks Greenlights Pilot Presentation For Chicago Public Radio's 'This American Life'

Creator and Host Ira Glass Along With Christine Vachon From Killer Films To Serve as Executive Producers

EUE/SCREEN GEMS to Produce Pilot Presentation For Showtime

LOS ANGELES, May 4 -- Showtime Networks has greenlit a pilot presentation for Chicago Public Radio's award-winning radio series, "This American Life," it was announced today by Robert Greenblatt, President, Entertainment, Showtime Networks, Inc. Series creator and host Ira Glass along with acclaimed independent film producer Christine Vachon from Killer Films ("Boys Don't Cry," "Happiness," "One Hour Photo") are to serve as executive producers. EUE/SCREEN GEMS will produce the pilot presentation for Showtime.

Each episode will be hosted by Ira Glass and will explore a single theme or topic through the unique juxtaposition of first-person storytelling and whimsical narrative, allowing for the show's distinct and original voice. The visual interpretation of the television series will reflect the structure and spirit of the radio show that has grown to be one of the most popular and innovative radio programs in the medium

"I'm a huge fan of Ira Glass and 'This American Life' and it took us many months to lure Ira to the network, and we all wanted to be certain that a television adaptation of this iconic show would honor its origins on radio and yet translate to a visual medium," said Greenblatt. "I think we're onto something very special here, and Showtime is honored to be part of it," he added.

Debuting on Chicago public radio station WBEZ in 1995, and distributed by Public Radio International, "This American Life," the show is an hour-long combination of journalism and short fiction. Hosted by creator and veteran public radio producer Ira Glass, the show is heard on over 500 radio stations nationally and has won the Peabody and Dupont-Columbia awards for excellence in broadcasting. David Mamet, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and author has remarked in Time magazine, "We're blessed, from time to time, with a spontaneous generation of humor and insight. And here is Ira Glass who seems to have reinvented radio."

The radio show will continue weekly production while the pilot presentation is shot and edited. "We'll work on the pilot tape on weeks the radio show has a rerun," said Ira Glass. "Also nights and weekends," Glass added. "Our goal is that if it becomes a TV series, we'll be able to keep the radio program on the air."

Glass continued, "We've always thought of our job as making little movies for radio. So we were thrilled when Showtime approached us and suggested we actually take it to the next logical step. And as the radio show sounds like nothing else on radio, we believe the television version will be like nothing else on TV."

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom Inc., owns the premium television networks SHOWTIME(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL(TM) and FLIX(R), as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME(R) TOO(TM), SHOWTIME(R) SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME(R), SHOWTIME BEYOND(R), SHOWTIME NEXT(R), SHOWTIME WOMEN(R), SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE(R) and TMC xtra. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD(R), SHOWTIME ON DEMAND(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND(TM) and FLIX ON DEMAND. SNI operates and manages the premium television network SUNDANCE CHANNEL(R), which is a venture between NBC Universal, Robert Redford, and Showtime Networks Inc. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME(R) PPV. Additionally, the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME is available in Turkey through a joint venture with UK-based Zone Vision.

SOURCE Showtime Networks
Web Site: http://www.SHO.com





  [may 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· THIS AMERICAN LIFE (SHOWTIME)





[02/11/25 - 11:08 AM]
Karl Ravech, David Cone, Eduardo Perez and Buster Olney Return for Fourth Season as ESPN "Sunday Night Baseball" Broadcast Team
The 36th season of "Sunday Night Baseball" begins on March 30, when the San Diego Padres host the Atlanta Braves at 7 p.m. ET.

[02/11/25 - 11:04 AM]
Paramount+ to Exclusively Premiere "Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party" on Tuesday, March 11
The news marks the first time the fully restored version of the classic '80s documentary from legendary and Academy Award-winning director Cameron Crowe will be widely available to a global audience.

[02/11/25 - 11:01 AM]
"The Day of the Jackal" Becomes Peacock's Most-Watched New Original Drama Series
Viewership of the series in its first 75 days has surpassed that of any other original drama series in the same timeframe.

[02/11/25 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Starz Releases Gripping Trailer for Season Four of Its Hit Series "Power Book III: Raising Kanan"
Season three of "Power Book III: Raising Kanan" averaged over 9M viewers per episode, hitting a high compared to the prior season.

[02/11/25 - 10:00 AM]
"Beyond the Gates: Welcome to the Neighborhood," An "Entertainment Tonight" Five-Part Behind-the-Scenes Special, to Air Monday, Feb. 17 Through Friday, Feb. 21 on CBS
The five-part news special, hosted by Kevin Frazier and comedian and television host Sheryl Underwood, airs in the week leading up to the series premiere, Monday, February 24 (2:00-3:00 PM, ET; 1:00-2:00 PM, PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+.

[02/11/25 - 09:39 AM]
First Look and Date Announcement: "Jessica Kirson: I'm the Man"
The special will premiere on Friday, April 25 and is the sixth original special in Hulu's new stand-up comedy initiative, Hularious.

[02/11/25 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Deli Boys" - Official Trailer - Hulu
When their convenience store-magnate father suddenly dies, a pair of pampered Pakistani American brothers (Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh) lose everything and are forced to reckon with their Baba's secret life of crime as they attempt to take up his mantle in the underworld.

[02/11/25 - 09:31 AM]
Dave Chappelle Named President's Award Recipient for "56th NAACP Image Awards"
Previous recipients include Usher, Gabrielle Union-Wade, Dwyane Wade, Rihanna, LeBron James, Kerry Washington, Spike Lee, Muhammad Ali, Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Shawn "JAY-Z" Carter, and Ms. Lauryn Hill.

[02/11/25 - 09:18 AM]
Showtime Original Series "Dexter: Resurrection" Adds Emmy and Golden Globe Winner Peter Dinklage
Dinklage will play the series regular role of Leon Prater, a billionaire venture capitalist.

[02/11/25 - 09:04 AM]
AXS TV Partners with Azuki's Anime.com to Present the All-New Original Series "Anime.com Hour," Premiering February 13 at 10P ET
The series puts the spotlight on two of the genre's most popular offerings, airing episodes of Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] and My Hero Academia [Season 1-2].

[02/11/25 - 09:04 AM]
Video: Official Trailer - "Doctor Odyssey" Returns Thursday, March 6 on ABC
The series returns with a two-part jaw dropping event!

[02/11/25 - 08:43 AM]
HGTV Hit Series "Married to Real Estate" Starring Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson Returns for a New Season on Wednesday, March 12, at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Home renovation power couple Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson will keep it fun and prove working with your spouse is never boring in 12 new episodes.

[02/11/25 - 07:46 AM]
Video: Disney-ESPN's Andscape Debuts Trailer for New Feature, "Memes & Nightmares," A Tribeca Film Festival Selection
"Memes & Nightmares" is a hilarious and insightful satirical film that dives into the vibrant world of NBA Twitter.

[02/11/25 - 07:29 AM]
True Crime Docuseries "The Case of Iwona Wieczorek" Makes Exclusive US Debut Thursday, February 27, 2025 on Viaplay
The true-crime documentary series delves into one of the most famous disappearances and unsolved mysteries in recent Polish history - a 19-year-old woman who went missing without a trace on a summer night near her seaport home.

[02/11/25 - 07:00 AM]
Video: "Picture This" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
In this heartfelt rom-com, struggling photographer Pia (Simone Ashley) receives a prediction: true love and career success await her in the next five dates she goes on.