CHICAGO, July 18 /EMWNews/ -- The second season of This

American Life, the critically acclaimed television series on Showtime, is

nominated for five Emmy awards, including Outstanding Nonfiction Series.



    The first episode, Escape, earned Emmy nods for Outstanding

Cinematography for Nonfiction Programming, Outstanding Directing for

Nonfiction Programming, Outstanding Picture Editing for Nonfiction

Programming and Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming.



    "It's nice to be nominated for an award people have actually heard of,"

quips show host and executive producer Ira Glass. "In journalism, generally

the big awards are the sorts of things that happen in hotel ballrooms and

your parents have to take it on faith that they're a big deal. They show

the statuettes to their friends who pretend to be impressed. But an Emmy!

Even my dog knows what that is. Sadly, he's rooting for Deadliest Catch."



    In 2007, Glass and his producers translated the wildly popular radio

show into a TV series on Showtime, produced by Killer Films and Left/Right

Productions. In its first season, the show received Emmy nods for

directing, writing and cinematography and an International Documentary

Association Award. The show's nomination for best nonfiction series is a

first for Showtime. The cable network received 21 nominations, more than

any other year.



    In Season Two, viewers are taken on a journey, meeting people all along

the way -- from a group of men named John Smith to a young Iraqi who flees

to America in search of answers about the war. The result is true stories

that are dramatic, emotional, and often funny.



    Produced by Chicago Public Radio and distributed by Public Radio

International, This American Life debuted in 1995 and is now heard by 1.7

million weekly listeners on more than 500 public radio stations nationwide.

The radio show is one of the most popular podcasts in America, and has won

many major broadcasting awards including the Peabody. For more information,

visit thisamericanlife.org.



    Nationally recognized as home to some of radio's most innovative

programming and personalities, Chicago Public Radio offers 500,000 weekly

listeners programs that reflect the distinct and diverse community it

serves. In addition to This American Life, the station brings its stories

and talent to a national audience with Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!, Sound

Opinions, the Third Coast International Audio Festival and the Chicago

Matters series.