Ira Glass is Exhausted.
November 6, 2014 2:40 PM Subscribe
Ira Glass Exhausted From Doing Every Single Voice On ‘This American Life’. “Just to be clear, there’s nothing more rewarding than coming up with all these new characters every week. I delve in, play around with my voice, and experiment with a dialect or fine-tune a cadence until I capture exactly what, for example, a superior court judge or 12-year-old sleepaway camper should sound like.”
Real Ira's impressed with The Onion's research skills. This American Life has begun tweeting links to the old shows.
Real Ira's impressed with The Onion's research skills. This American Life has begun tweeting links to the old shows.
“And that’s how David Sedaris was born,” Glass added.
Solid gold.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 2:51 PM on November 6, 2014 [22 favorites]
Solid gold.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 2:51 PM on November 6, 2014 [22 favorites]
I can see how Sarah Vowell's voice would be hard on the larynx.
posted by mon-ma-tron at 2:54 PM on November 6, 2014 [8 favorites]
posted by mon-ma-tron at 2:54 PM on November 6, 2014 [8 favorites]
Excerpts from this article were also collected through an interview with producer Torey Malatia, who, if he is to identify the article's subject in a police lineup, will say: “The hardest part is that I don’t even know who the real Ira Glass is anymore.”
posted by Turkey Glue at 3:00 PM on November 6, 2014 [17 favorites]
posted by Turkey Glue at 3:00 PM on November 6, 2014 [17 favorites]
I don't know why I love NPR jokes so much. But I do. Obligitory "Parks & Rec" NPR scene.
posted by DGStieber at 3:23 PM on November 6, 2014 [8 favorites]
posted by DGStieber at 3:23 PM on November 6, 2014 [8 favorites]
I really loved him as Violet in The Incredibles.
posted by BrashTech at 4:25 PM on November 6, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by BrashTech at 4:25 PM on November 6, 2014 [6 favorites]
I don't know how he even finds the time to star in Orphan Black.
posted by uosuaq at 4:34 PM on November 6, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 4:34 PM on November 6, 2014 [6 favorites]
Kasper Hauser does a great TAL parody on their podcast from time to time. I've seen them do one in person and it's even funnier than you might imagine.
posted by janey47 at 4:57 PM on November 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by janey47 at 4:57 PM on November 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
Re that Parks & Rec clip, it just occurred to me on rewatch (after listening to more NPR than usual lately) that they're really more parodying Michael Silverblatt. To the point that I thought it might actually be him until I did a google image search.
posted by Sara C. at 4:57 PM on November 6, 2014
posted by Sara C. at 4:57 PM on November 6, 2014
I don't know why I love NPR jokes so much.
I've said this before, but it's worth repeating, I think: everyone who listens to NPR has at least one NPR program that they hate. (Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, before you ask, and that's even with Paula Poundstone and (occasionally) Charles Pierce, and Bill Kurtis as the announcer. Even with the perfect anti-storm of panelists and guests, the smarm shines through.)
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:46 PM on November 6, 2014 [5 favorites]
I've said this before, but it's worth repeating, I think: everyone who listens to NPR has at least one NPR program that they hate. (Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, before you ask, and that's even with Paula Poundstone and (occasionally) Charles Pierce, and Bill Kurtis as the announcer. Even with the perfect anti-storm of panelists and guests, the smarm shines through.)
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:46 PM on November 6, 2014 [5 favorites]
Wait Wait Don't Tell Me
You, me, outside, your choice of weapons.
posted by Inkoate at 7:01 PM on November 6, 2014 [10 favorites]
You, me, outside, your choice of weapons.
posted by Inkoate at 7:01 PM on November 6, 2014 [10 favorites]
I'm with you, Inkoate.
I think I'll bring the most terrible of weapons to drain his will to live:
A Prairie Home Companion
posted by TheNewWazoo at 7:12 PM on November 6, 2014 [13 favorites]
I think I'll bring the most terrible of weapons to drain his will to live:
A Prairie Home Companion
posted by TheNewWazoo at 7:12 PM on November 6, 2014 [13 favorites]
It is always a good time to listen to The Ira Glass Sex Tape. (n.b. not actually an Ira Glass sex tape)
posted by ThatFuzzyBastard at 7:41 PM on November 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by ThatFuzzyBastard at 7:41 PM on November 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
A Prairie Home Companion
Ugggggggghhhhh yes. I scream a little bit (sometimes a lot) whenever I turn on the car and it's on the radio, as I dive to change the station.
Marketplace is my new favorite show, and Hank Azaria was on today, and now I'm wondering if Kai Ryssdal is actually voiced by Hank Azaria.
posted by jaguar at 8:09 PM on November 6, 2014 [4 favorites]
Ugggggggghhhhh yes. I scream a little bit (sometimes a lot) whenever I turn on the car and it's on the radio, as I dive to change the station.
Marketplace is my new favorite show, and Hank Azaria was on today, and now I'm wondering if Kai Ryssdal is actually voiced by Hank Azaria.
posted by jaguar at 8:09 PM on November 6, 2014 [4 favorites]
The worst is when you suddenly have a radical change of heart and discover that you now love an NPR show you used to hate.
posted by Sara C. at 8:57 PM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Sara C. at 8:57 PM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
A Prairie Home Companion is thin gruel for helping you stay alert on long drives, but the only thing I actually hate is the smug beglockenspieled differentthink of the TED Radio Hour. I schedule weekend lawnmowing so I don't have to hear it on my headphones.
posted by tss at 9:06 PM on November 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by tss at 9:06 PM on November 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
The worst is when you suddenly have a radical change of heart and discover that you now love an NPR show you used to hate.
This happened to me with the Vinyl Cafe, which fills the same niche on the CBC as Prairie Home Companion. I think it was a combination of homesickness and the fact that Stuart MacLean was buttering up the host town in Ontario by telling them that the Cheesies plant there was a unique contribution to Canadian happiness, and he wasn't wrong.
posted by Space Coyote at 11:57 PM on November 6, 2014
This happened to me with the Vinyl Cafe, which fills the same niche on the CBC as Prairie Home Companion. I think it was a combination of homesickness and the fact that Stuart MacLean was buttering up the host town in Ontario by telling them that the Cheesies plant there was a unique contribution to Canadian happiness, and he wasn't wrong.
posted by Space Coyote at 11:57 PM on November 6, 2014
A Prairie Home Companion
It looks we're going to need those weapons after Halloween Jack and Inkoate are done with them.
posted by Hicksu at 12:00 AM on November 7, 2014
It looks we're going to need those weapons after Halloween Jack and Inkoate are done with them.
posted by Hicksu at 12:00 AM on November 7, 2014
A Prairie Home Companion
Do you want to know why the world is awful?
There will never be a new Car Talk.
And Garrison Keillor is still squatting out new Prairie Home Companions.
Yeah. so much for Saturday.
posted by happyroach at 12:40 AM on November 7, 2014 [10 favorites]
Do you want to know why the world is awful?
There will never be a new Car Talk.
And Garrison Keillor is still squatting out new Prairie Home Companions.
Yeah. so much for Saturday.
posted by happyroach at 12:40 AM on November 7, 2014 [10 favorites]
Frankly, I'd probably hate the TED Radio Hour more if I had to drive more often during the time that my local public radio station plays it. When WWDTM comes on, I grit my teeth and occasionally yell at the radio; when TED comes on, I simply turn it off.
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:29 AM on November 7, 2014
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:29 AM on November 7, 2014
Anyone who hates on WWDTM has obviously never been subjected to either "Whad'ya Know" or "Ask Me Another."
posted by jbickers at 5:56 AM on November 7, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by jbickers at 5:56 AM on November 7, 2014 [6 favorites]
I prefer Whad'ya Know to WWDTM. They both seem to cater to the same audience, and I remember when WWDTM first came out, it was a prerecorded show, taped in Chicago, and aired in Chicago in the WakNow time slot. I never liked WWDTM in the first place.
I grew to like PHC more after I moved away from MN. And Garrison Keillor seems pleasant enough, though there is an uncanny resemblance to Dwight Schrute from The Office.
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:50 AM on November 7, 2014
I grew to like PHC more after I moved away from MN. And Garrison Keillor seems pleasant enough, though there is an uncanny resemblance to Dwight Schrute from The Office.
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:50 AM on November 7, 2014
Yes, but can he pull of the Diane Rehm voice?
posted by charred husk at 6:52 AM on November 7, 2014
posted by charred husk at 6:52 AM on November 7, 2014
Everyone knows that RadioLab is the worst thing to happen to the Radio. And Labs.
posted by sparklemotion at 7:01 AM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by sparklemotion at 7:01 AM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
I prefer Whad'ya Know to WWDTM.
Michael Feldman has his moments, and I do tend to listen whenever it isn't pre-empted by the Hobart and Wm Smith football game coverage (grr), but a little too often Whad'ya Know doggedly sticks with something that isn't working and an excruciating interview or failing comedy bit goes on for a long, long. long time. At those times Whad'ya Know is pretty hard to take. But when Feldman is on his game, it's pretty great.
or "Ask Me Another."
Entertains me enough to listen to the podcast walking to/from work or mowing the lawn. They really need not to be afraid to have harder puzzles. I sometimes feel like they're pandering a bit to the lazy Brooklyn hipsters who come to the shows. And Ophira Eisenberg needs to stop referring to herself as "IT pretty" - it was kind of amusing once or twice, but yikes after the tenth time it's just sounding like some desperate self-hating humble brag tic.
posted by aught at 7:15 AM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Michael Feldman has his moments, and I do tend to listen whenever it isn't pre-empted by the Hobart and Wm Smith football game coverage (grr), but a little too often Whad'ya Know doggedly sticks with something that isn't working and an excruciating interview or failing comedy bit goes on for a long, long. long time. At those times Whad'ya Know is pretty hard to take. But when Feldman is on his game, it's pretty great.
or "Ask Me Another."
Entertains me enough to listen to the podcast walking to/from work or mowing the lawn. They really need not to be afraid to have harder puzzles. I sometimes feel like they're pandering a bit to the lazy Brooklyn hipsters who come to the shows. And Ophira Eisenberg needs to stop referring to herself as "IT pretty" - it was kind of amusing once or twice, but yikes after the tenth time it's just sounding like some desperate self-hating humble brag tic.
posted by aught at 7:15 AM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Everyone knows that RadioLab is the worst thing to happen to the Radio. And Labs.
It's funny how polarizing RadioLab is. The people who like it love it but the people who don't really seem to deeply hate it. I don't think I've met someone who's just okay or doesn't really care for it.
posted by Sangermaine at 8:28 AM on November 7, 2014
It's funny how polarizing RadioLab is. The people who like it love it but the people who don't really seem to deeply hate it. I don't think I've met someone who's just okay or doesn't really care for it.
posted by Sangermaine at 8:28 AM on November 7, 2014
It's funny how polarizing RadioLab is. The people who like it love it but the people who don't really seem to deeply hate it. I don't think I've met someone who's just okay or doesn't really care for it.
And that proves that sound design is a an art form and the Tony's should re-instate awards for it.
posted by edbles at 8:33 AM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
And that proves that sound design is a an art form and the Tony's should re-instate awards for it.
posted by edbles at 8:33 AM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
I think I'm most impressed with him doing "Fred Armisen" doing him. So many layers.
posted by queensissy at 8:41 AM on November 7, 2014
posted by queensissy at 8:41 AM on November 7, 2014
Anyone who hates on WWDTM has obviously never been subjected to either "Whad'ya Know" or "Ask Me Another."
Incorrect. WWDTM is a blight on the the landscape of quiz shows, and Ask Me Another is delightful and full of Jonathan Coulton. I recommend the episode where the Frozen writers are on to start.
Alternately we could just all agree on different strokes for different folks.
posted by edbles at 8:41 AM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Incorrect. WWDTM is a blight on the the landscape of quiz shows, and Ask Me Another is delightful and full of Jonathan Coulton. I recommend the episode where the Frozen writers are on to start.
Alternately we could just all agree on different strokes for different folks.
posted by edbles at 8:41 AM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
The only time I can recall enjoying WWDTM is when I was so young the jokes and references went over my head.
posted by Monochrome at 8:52 AM on November 7, 2014
posted by Monochrome at 8:52 AM on November 7, 2014
And that proves that sound design is a an art form and the Tony's should re-instate awards for it.
I had always liked Radiolab's sound design. But at some point it seemed to me that Robert Krulwich got much more religious and woo-woo and Jad Abumrad began to mention several times an episode how bad he is at, and how much he dislikes, math. Then I started realizing it wasn't actually a show about science, as I had originally thought, but about woo -- and the show had evolved to the point that some of the woo they were celebrating was misunderstood and sometimes misrepresented science and some was basically lite religion. That's how they lost me.
posted by aught at 12:50 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
I had always liked Radiolab's sound design. But at some point it seemed to me that Robert Krulwich got much more religious and woo-woo and Jad Abumrad began to mention several times an episode how bad he is at, and how much he dislikes, math. Then I started realizing it wasn't actually a show about science, as I had originally thought, but about woo -- and the show had evolved to the point that some of the woo they were celebrating was misunderstood and sometimes misrepresented science and some was basically lite religion. That's how they lost me.
posted by aught at 12:50 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
Somehow I feel Fred Armisen looks more like Ira Glass than Ira Glass does.
posted by ThatFuzzyBastard at 1:34 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by ThatFuzzyBastard at 1:34 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
a little too often Whad'ya Know doggedly sticks with something that isn't working and an excruciating interview or failing comedy bit goes on for a long, long. long time.
That's my favorite part of Whad'ya Know: When Will Feldman Cut His Losses?
posted by Halloween Jack at 1:48 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
That's my favorite part of Whad'ya Know: When Will Feldman Cut His Losses?
posted by Halloween Jack at 1:48 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
I had always liked Radiolab's sound design. But at some point it seemed to me that Robert Krulwich got much more religious and woo-woo and Jad Abumrad began to mention several times an episode how bad he is at, and how much he dislikes, math. Then I started realizing it wasn't actually a show about science, as I had originally thought, but about woo -- and the show had evolved to the point that some of the woo they were celebrating was misunderstood and sometimes misrepresented science and some was basically lite religion. That's how they lost me.
Yeah, they're not good at being a science show. I think of them as more of a philosophy show. I also find individual episodes to be fairly hit or miss, especially now that Lulu Miller is gone, but I appreciate that they're willing to try different stuff. I'm not super worried about them being super super accurate, because if I find something interesting I just go look it up, like Mantis Shrimp, but for people looking to actually learn something proven rather than just kick an idea around I think they're probably pretty frustrating.
posted by edbles at 2:03 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Yeah, they're not good at being a science show. I think of them as more of a philosophy show. I also find individual episodes to be fairly hit or miss, especially now that Lulu Miller is gone, but I appreciate that they're willing to try different stuff. I'm not super worried about them being super super accurate, because if I find something interesting I just go look it up, like Mantis Shrimp, but for people looking to actually learn something proven rather than just kick an idea around I think they're probably pretty frustrating.
posted by edbles at 2:03 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
The first NPR show I actively hated was TAL.
Also, it's time for the Terry Gross cultists to admit she's a terrible interviewer. Almost as bad as Larry King.
posted by janey47 at 11:59 AM on November 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
Also, it's time for the Terry Gross cultists to admit she's a terrible interviewer. Almost as bad as Larry King.
posted by janey47 at 11:59 AM on November 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
So I just watched the Veronica Mars movie, and...I'm amazed at how well Ira plays Kristen Bell.
posted by pxe2000 at 6:14 AM on November 9, 2014
posted by pxe2000 at 6:14 AM on November 9, 2014
« Older The circuit split. | a web-based choose-your-own-adventure zombie... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Uncle Grumpy at 2:49 PM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]