tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post4879504268660623393..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Olympic Closing Ceremony: NBC fucks up yet again!By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39474095141949068222012-08-17T19:59:45.026-07:002012-08-17T19:59:45.026-07:00Here in Canada they showed the London Summer Olymp...Here in Canada they showed the London Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony live and delayed on numerous channels.The Ceremony itself was an assault upon the senses.Just too much.And Lulu ... I still have the garter belt she through into the audience at the end of a London performance of Guys and Dolls.Being of Scottish heritage I always had a crush on Lulu!Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03259777033023966731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16012556882052468112012-08-15T13:14:29.741-07:002012-08-15T13:14:29.741-07:00They really should have shown The Who earlier in t...They really should have shown The Who earlier in the evening. Those of us in their demographic are well into our night's sleep at 12:30AM.Lou H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17611461956944372901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-75950228822720925462012-08-15T12:50:56.535-07:002012-08-15T12:50:56.535-07:00On Sunday, I was actually looking forward to the O...On Sunday, I was actually looking forward to the Olympics ending so NBC would get back to its normal programming.<br /><br />Then I realized I don't really watch anything on NBC.Lou H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17611461956944372901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16935027813482701632012-08-15T09:01:44.905-07:002012-08-15T09:01:44.905-07:00Now I am glad I missed watching the thing.Now I am glad I missed watching the thing.chuckcdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46277209011401466492012-08-15T08:15:53.478-07:002012-08-15T08:15:53.478-07:00dvolluWow,,,, NBC still is in bussiness? I though...dvolluWow,,,, NBC still is in bussiness? I thought they dissapeared after Hill Street blues left the air. Seriously they have been reduced to silly "reality shows" and constant repetitive and annoying ads. I think they stopped thinking last century as they fail to grasp the concepts of time shifting, DVR and streaming media. I wonder if the US government will bail out the networks like they had to do for the auto manufactuers. The concept of Primetime and daytime and latenight TV is completly out of date.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22169956545477044832012-08-15T06:20:16.176-07:002012-08-15T06:20:16.176-07:00Apparently NBC sportscasters all assume that sport...<i>Apparently NBC sportscasters all assume that sports fans are idiots who can not retain information for more than 10 seconds. It's insulting, and makes me glad once again that I watch sports only once every four years. How do you sports fans stand sports coverage?</i><br /><br />Correct, to a point. NBC assumes all Olympic fans are dimwitted old ladies who only care about the story and about events that reinforce gender stereotypes such as gymnastics and figure skating (most of them think other women's sports, especially team sports, are predominantly played by lesbians and thus can't be "feminine"). I'm diabetic, so I avoid this swill.<br /><br />(I also note Gabby Douglas is making the rounds of the "Tonight Show" and such. Eventually, we'll be as sick of her as we were with Mary Lou Retton in 1985.)VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32077590616648276632012-08-14T14:55:29.236-07:002012-08-14T14:55:29.236-07:00U2 showing up would've probably caused a polit...U2 showing up would've probably caused a political incident. They're not a British band, but an Irish one from Dublin. Great Britain includes the bit of Northern Ireland, but the rest of Ireland is very much a separate country, and one not overly fond of the British/English in many ways due to their mutual history. Tom Gallowaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16244580430335376062012-08-14T13:31:39.127-07:002012-08-14T13:31:39.127-07:00Flight of the Conchords could've come up somet...Flight of the Conchords could've come up something better than that. Maybe they should have used their song instead.Kevin Jqnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5241227649240602862012-08-14T13:27:37.533-07:002012-08-14T13:27:37.533-07:00That whole sequence with 'Fashion' was biz...That whole sequence with 'Fashion' was bizarre. Kevin Jqnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60684553751725734092012-08-14T13:21:45.421-07:002012-08-14T13:21:45.421-07:00Bowie declined, and his influence and genius were ...Bowie declined, and his influence and genius were instead represented by models stomping down a "catwalk" to a recording of "Fashion". .<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />StormAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-21115450124663680392012-08-14T12:04:09.852-07:002012-08-14T12:04:09.852-07:00"The production of the events themselves was ..."The production of the events themselves was great - don't know how much of it was actually shot by the BBC"<br /><br />The event coverage is by the IOC. All countries have access to the same video feeds.Olivernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28975895063853184952012-08-14T11:23:42.305-07:002012-08-14T11:23:42.305-07:00NBC made another mistake and didn't fuck thing...NBC made another mistake and didn't fuck things up enough – they forgot about Jimmy Fallon. Seacrest and Fallon. I'll bet someone pitched that. The only problem might've been that if they'd hosted the ceremonies together they might've tried to jerk each other off.<br /><br />During the 80's band tribute where were U2, The Police and Bowie? It sort of felt like we were watching the J.V. team.Kevin Jqnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60785151526576186182012-08-14T10:02:09.884-07:002012-08-14T10:02:09.884-07:00Now, when we get to the paralympics...that's w...Now, when we get to the paralympics...that's where Ryan Seacrest belongs!Mike Botulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03280479229678291508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5774801034221917422012-08-14T06:18:53.034-07:002012-08-14T06:18:53.034-07:00"On the other hand, how many products have yo..."On the other hand, how many products have you boycotted because you resented the ad? And how many websites have you stopped visiting because you got tired of the relentless pop up ads?" - I've done this quite a few times actually. If the ad is preventing me from reading what I came to the site to see, then I make it a point to not buy the product (or see the movie if it's that type of ad) and let others know.<br /><br />NBC's shoddy coverage kept me from watching most of it. It was particularly aggravating when they'd cut to an event when it was almost over. When the announcers would go "The U.S. came back from a 4-point deficit to finally take the lead", I thought "Well, it would have been nice for me to have actually seen that instead of being told about it."<br /><br />Other than "Community" I don't watch anything else from NBC and based on their tactless editing and condescending attitude, I have no intention of watching anything else from them. I look forward to when Univision finally overtakes them and have a great laugh (the first laugh NBC will have given me in years). <br /><br />I enjoy watching my DVDs of "Frasier" though it's disconcerting to see how great the show was and think that the show could not have been made by today's NBC.Jeremiah Averynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12805781191747453422012-08-14T04:38:15.436-07:002012-08-14T04:38:15.436-07:00CBC has the next Olympics? Woohoo! We don't ...CBC has the next Olympics? Woohoo! We don't get CTV in Seattle, just CBC. Both networks do superior coverage. Breadbakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64087473886943768202012-08-14T04:17:22.974-07:002012-08-14T04:17:22.974-07:00Oh woe are the American TV watchers forced to swal...Oh woe are the American TV watchers forced to swallow NBC's garbage. <br />As a Canadian viewer in Windsor,Ontario (in the shadow of Detroit) we got to avoid NBC totally and watch the CTV group's coverage LIVE from 4am eastern until 6pm everyday. Then, a masterful and intelligent evening re-cap show with pro Brian Williams (not NBC's B.W.) <br />You may remember the 2 Brian's bit at the Vancouver Olympics when they did the 2 network cross-over bit.<br /><br />The Closing cermonies started at 4pm eastern time and ran uncut - until they FINISHED. Nice!<br />Next Olypmics have been awarded to the CBC Network - but you can count on the coverage being as fair and complete.<br />Didn't spend more than a minute or two switching to the local NBC station across the river. Why would you? We'd seen it live hours before on CTV.Charlie O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06130126853720891726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53255601982847349752012-08-13T22:44:02.106-07:002012-08-13T22:44:02.106-07:00Ah. Upon further examination, it seems I missed a ...Ah. Upon further examination, it seems I missed a *video* of Kate. Not so bad. However, I DID miss Annie Lennox singing, which blows.<br /><br />And as much as I adore him and wish he was still performing, I'm glad that Bowie chose not to involve himself in it, especially to sing "Heroes", even if it is an un-official theme song of the GB team. Because wow... that's a *love* song, you fools.<br /><br />Never seeing Bowie perform live, never laying eyes on him or hearing his voice in person is one of the great regrets of my life. I envy all who have. (cue D. McEwan-- tell me about the Hollywood Bowl Ziggy show, darling? ;)<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />StormAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46586520054754548062012-08-13T22:31:10.481-07:002012-08-13T22:31:10.481-07:00Wait... I missed the divine Miss Kate Bush, as wel...Wait... I missed the divine Miss Kate Bush, as well as Ray Davies doing my favourite Kinks song?! Urge to kill... rising...<br /><br />"CHAMPAGNE FOR LULU!"<br /><br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />StormAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16426952279725553622012-08-13T20:03:46.074-07:002012-08-13T20:03:46.074-07:00Second take on my last sentence -
You have to ha...Second take on my last sentence - <br /><br />You have to have a lot of viewers and a good enough product to piss people off so thoroughly and be assured they would keep watching....<br /><br />BTW - some doofus counted everyone in America who watched any portion of the Olympics on NBC and then claimed they had a 81% share. A great moment in public relations. Phillip Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498595633633248863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11675890850653552122012-08-13T19:51:46.813-07:002012-08-13T19:51:46.813-07:00NBC claims to know the audience better than critic...NBC claims to know the audience better than critics like us, and made a ton of money with that knowledge. And the ratings were good - peeking at a 26 share for the closing ceremonies <br /><br />http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2012/08/tv-ratings-olympics-close-with-more-big-numbers-for-nbc.html<br /><br />The production of the events themselves was great - don't know how much of it was actually shot by the BBC. And the on-line streaming site was actually pretty neat, and could be an indication we'll be able to watch without a network filter the next time around. <br /><br />But the hosted segments were colorless (did anyone tune in to find out what these guys would say or do?) They should have had the damn monkey on the set in between Costas and Seacrest rather than on the sitcom. <br /><br />So maybe they were right to tell us what we could see -- if only they would let us see it - and then take it away. <br /><br />But there were telltale signs on ineptness - most glaring for me was the lack of comment on the part of the closing ceremonies produced by Rio de Janeiro (who were those people and what were they singing about?)<br /><br />You have to have a lot of viewers to piss them off so thoroughly, but have a good enough product to piss them off and be assured they kept watching....<br /><br />Phillip Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498595633633248863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-62623194015042955472012-08-13T19:48:38.326-07:002012-08-13T19:48:38.326-07:00When I wasn't wondering why Ryan Seacrest was ...When I wasn't wondering why Ryan Seacrest was there, I kept trying to figure out which looks worse: Bob Costas's botox and toupee or Al Michaels's dye job.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40861437856705723092012-08-13T19:17:10.018-07:002012-08-13T19:17:10.018-07:00From UK newspaper The Guardian's liveblog on t...From UK newspaper The Guardian's liveblog on the closing ceremony: "Just think: two weeks ago the world thought we were rubbish at sport and great at music"Olivernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33167407728155460632012-08-13T17:26:39.774-07:002012-08-13T17:26:39.774-07:00Gotta agree with John Van Camp - not only was The ...Gotta agree with John Van Camp - not only was The Who delayed for that lame sitcom, but we ALSO had to endure endless Channel 4 non-news Olympic blather. It wasn't just that NBC did this, but it was all handled so poorly. I literally thought the ceremony was over, and just happened to stumble upon The Who set much later.<br /><br />In regards to "Animal Practice", this begs the question: is it really a good idea to promo a pilot when it's so obviously lame? "Animal Practice" MIGHT find its voice after a few episodes, but I'll never be back after viewing that first episode.SBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47635536645198383562012-08-13T17:13:49.976-07:002012-08-13T17:13:49.976-07:00I wished I could have watched the Olympic coverage...I wished I could have watched the Olympic coverage on the BBC for comparison. <br /><br />That being said, here's a Friday question for you, Mr. Levine: <br /><br />What is your favorite episode of "M*A*S*H" and why?Jake Mabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908036270824377919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4328655621235865082012-08-13T16:39:01.683-07:002012-08-13T16:39:01.683-07:00Glorious Socialist television from the BBC: no adv...Glorious Socialist television from the BBC: no adverts, sparse commentary.<br /><br />Ken felt that the Opening Ceremony contained cultural references aimed at the USA, in particular our Socialist Health Service.<br /><br />Well, the Closing Ceremony DID contain cultural references aimed at the USA. These were:<br />a) John Lennon, referencing the need for Gun Control (Thank you, Harry Nilsson).<br />b) Yoko Ono edited out of the Lennon video, referencing the internment of Japanese-Americans in WW2.<br />c) Poor Darcey Bussell lynched into the air and set on fire, referencing... well, I'd better leave that one to you, but there were <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/gallery/2012/aug/12/london-2012-closing-ceremony-pictures?INTCMP=SRCH#/?picture=394624881&index=10" rel="nofollow">some red-hooded Klansmen riding on bicycles earlier.</a><br /><br />In other news, it seems <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/aug/13/david-bowie-olympics-closing-ceremony" rel="nofollow">our disloyal Rock Royalty were disinclined to appear.</a> They're not all tax exiles.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06248182899977033579noreply@blogger.com