This Is Life with Lisa Ling

Nothing ground breaking here just an interviewer acting surprised at things we are supposed to accept as normal. There were a couple of okay episodes but am I the only person that just doesn't like Lisa Ling? She has always just kinda looked soulless to me and if you actually read up on her history (page 2 of our internet scrubbing overlord google) you will find some interesting tidbits about gold digging and gangsters and "working" your way to the top. I feel like 'Dirty Jobs' does a much better job at showing us a slice of life with normal folks that have odd jobs and is a good bit more connectable. Host is infinitely more likeable as well imho.

Ling and her team do an incredible job of bringing often never-told stories in a raw, real way. A combination of historical facts and personal interviews make for fascinating and educational television. I never miss an episode. Ling is perfect: open, real, and talented journalist.

I would have to disagree with a few comments...I totally got what she's doing as a filmmaker. She's become the filmmaker, not just someone interviewing and walking away from a set...it becomes more intimate.

No huge crews, just her a camera, sound person and another camera. The viewer doesn't understand once you bring on a huge crew, etc...it takes away the intimacy with the interviewer...it allows the person who is being interviewed to become relaxed, very docu-style...indie filmmakers get this...I work with filmmakers who request small crews and very little people onset to focus on the filmmaking process.

Smaller cameras, easier lighting, small sound equipment is allowing filmmakers to get a better performance and more intimate setting.

I was taken in with all the episodes, so much, I binged watched a few in a roll.

Kudos---

Lisa Ling takes a look at the lifestyles, joys, challenges and realities of people who have chosen a path that is different from the norm. For these people, "this is life" and we are being given a glimpse into it.

What I appreciate most about the show is how she doesn't present these stories with any sort of bias based on her own beliefs. It would be very easy to lead an audience to the same conclusions that she personally drew. However, she chose the route of letting the viewer draw their own conclusions. She treated every single person with decency, non-judgment and respect. Very well done... and I look forward to the next season.

This is by far the best documentary series on CNN. Lisa's expose on massage parlors was blistering as it revealed a form of sex slavery going on across America in a strip mall storefront near you and a form of sex slavery that law enforcement does essentially nothing about.

Her most recent show about AI is probably her best. The first segment deals with a man in love with a life-like doll. There could be nothing more tragically sad and in so many ways yet Lisa has compassion for a person who no other journalist could tolerate.

It is in fact the sad losers of America that Lisa is drawn to and is fascinated by. Whether they deserve it or not.