The Ira Glass Sex Tape: Ira Glass Responds

Earlier this week we interviewed Julian Joslin on his uncanny "This American Life" parody, in which Ira Glass makes a sex tape. At the time, we wondered what would happen when the video inevitably viralled its way to Ira Glass' office. Well, the inevitable has happened, and the answer, apparently, is sadness. A cloak spun of sadness issued from the mouth of Glass himself. Here he is telling the Village Voice why he had to turn the parody off after three minutes:

His imitation of my writing and delivery are so dead-on, it was hard to keep listening and I stopped. If I had to articulate why, I think it was because hearing his version of me, made what I do on the air seem kind of dumb. And the impersonation was so good, I couldn't really pick a fight with it. So I had to decide, do I want to see myself as kind of trite and dumb? Seemed better to stop. Maybe I'll go back sometime.

No, not trite, not dumb. Just the least likely person to draft a sex tape is all. From our vantage point, it's clear Joslin did what he did out of love, and surprising a showman like Glass wasn't able to see it. And yet, reading Glass' reaction...we feel sad, and like maybe, we learned something? Good episode of "This American Life," America.

Comments

[Jadiee]

01:41 PM on 10/22/2011

That was a fantastic parody! The guy got the his diction down so well. Ira should lighten up.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

[Skyhawk]

02:19 AM on 10/20/2011

Lighten up Ira, it was funny parody.

[Max Shaw]

05:04 PM on 10/18/2011

This was funny, lighten up Ira. You know what they say about imitation..

[shylove2]

03:03 PM on 10/17/2011

If you believe in yourself who cares or are you attached to your ego....

[Cranmer1549]

02:32 PM on 10/17/2011

Come on now, Ira. Even you have to have a sense of humor!

[Squiriferous]

04:01 AM on 10/17/2011

"If I had to articulate why, I think it was because hearing his version of me, made what I do on the air seem kind of dumb."

I do believe he's finally starting to get it.

[blizzard man robot voice]

06:38 PM on 10/22/2011

So don't listen to it.

[SimonBao]

03:07 AM on 10/17/2011

Oh buck up, Ira.

Even we who love you, who love This American Life (TAL), who have listened to TAL since it premiered, even we loved that parody.

And I'll bet Terry Gross is howling. In the good way. :-)

[Rock Jocelyn]

09:09 AM on 10/20/2011

ONLY we loved the parody, Simon. Nobody else would even get it.

[f0rTyLeGz]

02:07 AM on 10/17/2011

Ira is a treasure.

[EmilyRose 85]

11:07 PM on 10/16/2011

Aww, when I read the headline, I wondered how his response could be "sad" but it really is sort of pitiful. I haven't listened to the entirety of the "sex tape" mostly just because it is really eerie. The parody is dead on and frankly plays like a real episode, not a parody (aside from the theme obviously); if it's any consolation to Glass, I suspect Joslin must be a pretty big fan of the program to hit all the little nuances he does.

[azatrox]

10:23 PM on 10/16/2011

Hmmm, seems like people are interpreting the sex tape in two ways: either as mockery or as satire/parody honoring the show. Apparently, Glass saw it as the former. I guess I assumed Glass wouldn't have taken himself so seriously. Kinda disappointing. Meh.

[Bandit29]

05:52 PM on 10/16/2011

I so enjoy This American LIfe. It is like having a friend come for a visit.

[raker]

11:11 PM on 10/17/2011

I like the idea of This American Life, but the voices of the people on the show are unlistentoable. They all sound like bored teenagers.

[hazyafternoonsunshine]

02:23 PM on 10/16/2011

Imitation is the highest form of complement. That they took the effort to do it so well just goes to show what a great entertainer you are, Ira. I love your show. You are a big reason I subscribe to my local public radio station. So suck it up and get used to your fame.

[Mizz Givens]

01:26 PM on 10/16/2011

I love Ira Glass. What a mean thing to do to him.

[kareemachan]

06:06 PM on 10/16/2011

x2

[azatrox]

11:00 PM on 10/16/2011

I didn't think there was any malicious intent in it. Turns out I was correct; here's an interview with the creator of the sex tape. All in good fun.

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/10/behold_the_ira.php

[pfitzner]

12:04 PM on 10/16/2011

Hey, folks. It's Carl Kasell, not Castle. And the parody was spot on and funny, and done with obvious affection. No need for sadness.

[Squiriferous]

04:24 AM on 10/17/2011

Everyone on NPR has always been really obnoxious about pronouncing their own names. Kasell does in fact pronounce his name Castle ("Cass-uhl"). There's a "Stevinski," a "Ranaymontayme" (?!), a Robert "Seagull", and a "Me-Shell" Norris. There's even a Kai Ryssdal. Kai? Seriously? I think the annoying name pronunciations are in the NPR contract.

[shag11]

06:26 AM on 10/16/2011

I look for to his show every week.