Documentary

The Best Episodes of This American Life Season 1

Every episode of This American Life Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of This American Life Season 1!

Binge this in UnknownPeaking at 7.7/10

The Peabody Award-winning public radio series that combines journalism with opinion, fiction and biography becomes this highly anticipated TV series hosted by Ira Glass.

Airs on

Seasons2

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    This American Life Season 1 Episode 1 - Reality Check
    7.7/10(30 votes)

    #1 - Reality Check

    S1:E1

    Three stories of people who hatched plans in the hopes of making their dreams come true, but were snapped back to reality by unpleasant outcomes: an elementary school student tries to solve a common childhood problem; a rancher resuscitates a beloved pet, which later turns on him; people team to give an unknown rock band the greatest night of its life.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. This American Life Season 1 Episode 2 - My Way
    7.4/10(24 votes)

    #2 - My Way

    S1:E2

    An exploration of the benefits and costs of stubbornness. If you're a 15-year-old boy, and you don't want to fall in love, maybe you can just decide not to do it. Ever. Stories of trying to cheat death, love, political reality, and memory with only an idiosyncratic vision and a lot of stamina.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. This American Life Season 1 Episode 3 - God's Close-Up
    6.9/10(24 votes)

    #3 - God's Close-Up

    S1:E3

    An artist, his Jesus-model, the model's girlfriend, the girlfriend's father, and a bunch of bearded men all converge in Utah. An elaborate artistic tableau is set up in the desert, and there are several attempts by the faithful and the not-so-faithful to bridge the divide between them. Nancy Updike reports.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. This American Life Season 1 Episode 4 - The Cameraman
    7.5/10(27 votes)

    #4 - The Cameraman

    S1:E4

    Being behind the camera changes you. It's not just that you see everything differently; you act differently also. This episode features two stories, one big, one small, exploring this phenomenon.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. This American Life Season 1 Episode 5 - Growth Spurt
    7.2/10(20 votes)

    #5 - Growth Spurt

    S1:E5

    What do you do if you don't like where you are in life? You simply decide to move forward, into the next stage, by sheer force of will. A widow; an ambitious, first-time screenwriter; and a 13-year-old girl all charge forward into their futures with uneven results.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. This American Life Season 1 Episode 6 - Pandora's Box
    7.3/10(19 votes)

    #6 - Pandora's Box

    S1:E6

    Three stories of consequences that follow from human beings' doing what we do best: poking our noses everywhere, fixing things that may or may not be broken, and opening our big mouths. A hot dog stand in Chicago unleashes dark forces in the human soul; and scientists try, unsuccessfully, to create perfect pigs.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 BEST Episodes of This American Life

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Reality Check" is the best rated episode of "This American Life" season 1. It scored 7.7/10 based on 30 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 3/22/2007. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "My Way".