This American Life/Reality Check

Reality Check
Season 1, Episode 1
Airdate	March 25, 2007
Written by	Ira Glass (act 1) Jorge Just (act 2)
Directed by	Christopher Wilcha
— N/A	1x02 → My Way
This American Life — Season One

Reality Check is the first episode of the first season of This American Life, and the first episode overall. This episode in two acts unravels the theme of dreams which give way to reality after a short blissful period of time.

Guest Stars: Reighan Alston, Amelia Rose Austern, Matthew Dalton, Chumani Lavaud, Taylor Morgan, Eli Roane, Sara Wallace-Lee, Sam Zagnit ("Pee Girl" Kids)

Plot Overview

A girl named Heather was eight years old on a school bus stuck in traffic when she realized that she couldn't wait for the bus to get unstuck. She needed to find a restroom and the floor of the bus was the best option available to her. So, she went for it and her plan succeeded for a brief moment before the bus lurched forward, sending the urine to the back of the bus and bringing the children to a panic. Everyone was shrieking and bouncing off the walls of the bus, except for her. She had been found out and sent directly to the bottom of the social food chain, where she would remain for the next two or three years.

If by Chance We Meet Again

Act one is the story of a bull named Chance, owned by Ralph Fisher and Sandra Reddell. The bull factored into their business life when they rented him out to parties and special occasions, particularly citing Sonny Bono riding him into the Republican National Convention and an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman. The two grew to love Chance as a pet, allowing him to roam free from the pens once he became tame and domesticated enough. But, at 19, Chance died. Ralph decided to skin his pet bull and kept the hide so that he could be "mounted." It was a horrifying, but necessary process for the couple.

Rewinding to three months prior to Chance's death, Ralph learned of a way that they might be able to "cheat death" with Chance through cloning. He discovered that Texas A&M was planning to clone an animal and filed that fact away in the back of his mind. He contacted Dr. Mark Westhusin, director of reproductive sciences, at the university and asked if they would clone his pet but Westhusin declined initially. Ralph claims that he bothered them so much, resorting to begging at points, that Texas A&M relented and accepted his offer. The scientists at the university needed to clone an old animal and Chance gave them that opportunity.

10 months and 18 days after Chance died, his clone was born. Chance's clone, "Second Chance," was the first cloned bull in history and seemed to be Chance reincarnated, even adopting Chance's favorite spot under the trees. Although Ralph is convinced that Second Chance is like getting his old pet back, Westhusin isn't so certain. He believes that Ralph is reading far more into this situation than there really is but, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

But, on Second Chance's fourth birthday, Second Chance attacked Ralph and nearly maimed him with his horns. Undeterred, Ralph tried to make a connection with Second Chance to figure out what was wrong and kept up hope that Second Chance would mellow out with age. A year and a half after the birthday incident, Ralph was attacked again, ripping his scrotum and sending him to the hospital. And yet, Ralph still believes in his heart that Second Chance is 95% Chance and no amount of violence from Second Chance will lead him astray until after he's seven. Ralph will be released in a couple of days and go back to work with his bull.

The Spy Who Loved Everybody

The second act begins with a simple question: "Can you actually mess with someone's sense of reality as a force for good?"

On a dark street in New York, a group of people dressed in black line the windows of a large department store. Before long, they all start dancing and doing jumping jacks, much to the bewilderment of anyone walking by. Charlie Todd coordinates this group called "Improv Everywhere," which creates elaborate performance art to bring color into everyday places. On each "mission," Charlie and his agents take the form of characters and try to bring some strange happiness into peoples' lives. In once instance, the group dressed a train car up like a birthday party and convinced the people on the train to help them throw a surprise party for one of the agents in character.

Although these missions seem like "little unexpected gifts," once they're unwrapped they take on a wholly new form. In Mission #37 (or "The Best Gig Ever"), the group decided to give a small unknown band the best gig of their life, specifically "Ghosts of Pasha," featuring longtime friends Chris Partyka and Milo Finch. The band was on their first tour ever and their second and third shows were in New York. Charlie recruited 35 agents to pose as hardcore Ghosts of Pasha fans who memorized their lyrics, made bootleg shirts and temporary tattoos. There were only three paying customers for the band that night, but the agents appeared just as the band got on stage. At the end of the performance a guy with no shirt climbed up on stage to hug Milo and thank him profusely.

Once they performance was over, the agents quickly trickled out of the venue. The band couldn't explain what happened but they retained a good feeling about playing for so many diehard fans for three days before someone sent them a link to the Improv Everywhere website. Chris and Milo found themselves angry and paranoid with an influx of press that they never really wanted. The group had turned them into a joke and dozens went to their website just to insult them on their message boards. Even though the goal was "best gig ever," it became the exact opposite for both, especially Chris who wrestled with being made fun of for much of his life.

Charlie, however, feels that because their intentions were good, it was a good thing. He relates it to a good dream that someone wakes up from. As a reaction, the band posted on the Improv Everwhere website and gave an enthusiastic, appreciative review of what had happened to them, even though it was devastating. But, something odd happened: the band found it easier to book shows, gain fans and attract A&R. Chris took the instance as like psychotherapy which made him feel invincible afterwards, like nothing could touch him. Three months after the infamous show, Ghosts of Pasha played the Mercury Lounge one more time to a more honest crowd. Although, they still wish they were still in the dream.

Notes

Stinger

• Ira Glass: Management oversight by our boss, Torey Malatia, who for year dreaded showing up at the office in the morning.
  Chris Partyka: Everyone was like "duuuuuuuuuuuh! Look at him! Duuuuuuuuuuh!"

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