As NBC goes into its 9th Olympics since 1988, it has a tried and true formula for the Opening Ceremony. Give a background on the host city and country, show plenty of glamor shots of the countryside, pretty mountains and city skyline, and also use Bob Costas to set the scene. Usually, there’s no mention of bad news, except in 2002 in Salt Lake City when NBC looked briefly at the bribery scandal that beset the early preparation of the Games.
Right before the Opening Ceremony, NBC had to deal with the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili. Tapping the night’s co-host Matt Lauer of the Today show and NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, they both set a somber tone with a ten minute report on the fast luge track, the short wall and the metal posts that are outside the track. In addition, NBC showed Kumaritashvili hitting the post as he crashed. Other posts obscured the impact and it did show the crash once again in slow motion, but I felt it was a news story and had to be shown. The network also showed a picture of the luger on the ground, being treated by paramedics on the scene. I felt it was all appropriate, however, NBC should have informed viewers it was going to show the video as children were most likely watching the Opening Ceremony as NBC signed on at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT.
Following the report, NBC went back to its formula for the Opening Ceremony using a very tired-looking Tom Brokaw to voice an educational report on Canada which appeared to be talking down to viewers. I do believe most Americans are aware that Canada borders the United States to the north and has been an ally of the U.S. for many years.
But the most unfortunate timing came during a local ad for WJAR, the Providence NBC affiliate, which twice ran an ad from a local furniture chain, Cardi’s Furniture, showing animation of the three sibling owners, Nick, Ron and Pete Cardi, sitting in a bobsled which eventually crashed. It showed the animated owners falling over the edge of the bobsled track, just as Kumaritashvili did on the practice run of the luge. Only, the Cardi’s fell onto a mattress, but there was no humor. This ad ran right after the NBC report on the luger, and then again in another segment, but as far as I could tell, stopped running after that. Apparently someone either at Cardi’s or the TV station came to his/her senses, but not before the damage was done.
As far as NBC’s coverage was concerned, Bob Costas is Bob Costas. He’s America’s Olympic host and for good reason. He finds excellent tidbits like Denmark having won only one gold medal in its history at the Olympics or informing us that Jamaica’s bobsled team did not qualify for the Games. All this coming during the Parade of Nations. However, Matt Lauer who worked well with Costas during the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony seemed too comfortable and talked too much. He made this Opening Ceremony feel like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which he also hosts.
But Costast and Lauer set the right tone by keeping the talking to a minimum when Georgia entered the stadium and let the pictures show the sadness of the delegation as they certainly had heavy hearts thinking about Kumaritashvili.
During the last part of the Parade of Nations, NBC focused too much on shots of the US athletes and totally missed the entrance of Uzbekistan.
When Costas and Lauer took a breath, the festivities seemed to flow. However, when they talked a lot, it was as if they were in a contest to be the wittiest or make the most obscure reference.
There were times when the Opening Ceremony dragged, but that’s no fault to NBC. They’re at the mercy of the organizers.
However, Costas and Lauer filled time expertly when it became apparent that an indoor cauldron had mulfunctioned, leaving Wayne Gretzky, Catriona LeMay Doan, Steve Nash and Barbara Greene hanging until only three of four legs rose from the floor.
In the first part of NBC’s program, Al Michaels showed he’s better at play-by-play and ad libbing than reading from a prepared script at the anchor desk. This being his first Olympics hosting job, he showed why Jim Lampley will be missed at this Winter Games. Michaels still has 16 days to go to winning me over.
Interviews of the US athletes by Cris Collinsworth and Dan Patrick were mostly a waste of time. But an interview of Vice President Joe Biden and his wife by NBC News’ Lester Holt proved to be entertaining only for the foot-in-mouth potential.
I did hear some Twitter tidbits from those watching CTV’s coverage in Canada. Tweeters said that hosts Brian Williams and Lloyd Robertson kept their talking to a minimum. And CTV was caught in commercial when Canada appeared from the tunnel during the Parade of Nations. How does that happen?
I give NBC’s coverage a B. There were times when NBC overgushed on Canada, but then again, it’s the Olympics. I do give lots of credit for NBC’s tackling of the Kumaritashvili story and mentioning him throughout the Opening Ceremony.
Here’s hoping I can find a way to watch some of CTV’s coverage during the Olympics.
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