Gak! What is with Chicago these days? First Marshall Field’s, then the Berghoff, and now something I actually care about: This American Life.

The move is apparently precipitated by deal with Showtime (Showtime??!) for a one hour television version of the show. I’m happy to see the show expanding and I think some aspects of it will work well on television, if done right. However, I call bullshit that it needs to move to NYC to do it. Chicago has an extensive production community, including a huge array of post-production houses. If the format of the television show stays true to the radio format (i.e. correspondents and field stories) then there is absolutely no reason whatsoever that the show could not remain in Chicago… the community that’s loved and nurtured it all these years.

And worst of all, I don’t even get Showtime!