This American Life: Return To The Scene Of The Crime

Return To The Scene Of The Crime

Originally aired 05.01.2009

A live episode of the radio program, including stories told on stage by Dan Savage and Mike Birbiglia. Guess what? We're doing another live show like this — nationwide on movie screens — on May 10th!

Web Extra: Two videos from our live event—Chris Ware's sad, beautiful cartoon Quimby The Mouse and Joss Whedon's musical performance about DVD commentaries. You can also purchase a DVD of the show, which was filmed and sent live to 430 movie theaters around the country, and includes a great story by Starlee Kine that we didn't have time to include in the radio broadcast... and of course, a DVD commentary.

 

Prologue.

There's a town in Florida where if you shoplift, and get caught, a judge will send you back to the scene of your crime to stand in front of the store, with a large sign that reads "I stole from this store." Ira and producer Lisa Pollak talk to one such teenager who was caught stealing from a convenience store, the supervisor overseeing her punishment, and the judge who sends her there. (11 minutes)

Act One. D-u-why?!

Mike Birbiglia recalls being in a car accident with a hit and run drunk driver. In the weeks that follow, Mike's brush with death turns into a full blown nightmare when the police report is so poorly filled out that somehow Mike winds up owing the drunk driver 12 thousand dollars…not because it's fair, but because he can't get anyone to listen to him. Mike is the author of Sleepwalk With Me: and Other Painfully True Stories. He also has a comedy DVD called What I Should Have Said Was Nothing. (15 minutes)

Act Two. Return To The Scene Of The Scene.

Ira invites Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon to perform a song from his Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog DVD extra commentary, which is a musical satire that pokes fun at the idea of DVD commentary. Joss directed The Avengers, coming out May 4th 2012, and co-wrote and directed The Cabin in the Woods, out now. (10 minutes)

Act Three. Our Man Of Perpetual Sorrow.

Dan Savage points a finger at the Catholic Church for being the kind of criminal organization that drives him to atheism—despite the fact that he still wants to believe he'll see his mom in heaven someday. Dan writes the sex advice column Savage Love and is the author of several books including The Comittment. He has a show on MTV called Savage U. (16 minutes)

Selected Contributors: Mike Birbiglia, Ira Glass, Starlee Kine, Lisa Pollak, Dan Savage, Joss Whedon