Olympic Opening Ceremony

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by Tulip86

I always watch the BBC feed, just so much better. Prefer watching the actual games on BBC as well, I like the commentary.

^^^^^
BIG ditto.


The BBC feed during special 9/11 memorial ceremonies in Great Britain, and 1997's Diana funeral, were also much better than U.S. network feeds. No chitter-chatter; concentration on subject at hand; music heard and enjoyed; etc.

BTW those multiple Mary Poppins' during Olympic Opening Ceremonies reminded me of GC'c Mary Poppins!

NBC's Costas is a constant MUTE push at our house.

[AGDee]

Here in Detroit, we used to get Canadian coverage when it was on CBC and it was MUCH better coverage of everything. They showed us much more than just the US stuff. Lots more equestrian coverage, curling in the winter games, etc. But, a different Canadian network has the contract now and I'm really missing their coverage

[pshsx1]

I watched the OC online, so I saw the whole thing, with the tribute (which I thought was very somber and touching).

The OC just felt soooo looong. The transition from rural to industrial just seemed to drag on and on for me. It just seemed like a million people doing a million things as the stadium slowly transitioned periods.

Also, to me, the performances didn't flow into one another. I felt like I was watching a series on TV, but I missed every other episode. I was very unimpressed by the NHS portion and the lack of a tribute to the Royal Navy. I mean, that was a huge reason that the "sun never set on the British Empire."

Also, Her Majesty's face during the parade of nations screamed "I wish I still owned these countries" and "please let me go to bed."

[PeppyGPhiB]

I hope the Brits understand that NBC's opinion does not equal America's opinion.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

Right. And you have to figure, if it was confusing to college-educated Americans, with our strong historical and linguistic ties to the UK, what were less educated people and those in Africa, China, and South America thinking? They could have done a better job of telling a story that was comprehensible to everyone.

I fast-forwarded through the dancing hospitalized children (what?) and the love story/decades dance party (I was expecting them to have the actual Eurythmics there, not just play a song I have on my iPod!). And whose idea was it to have the top-hatted industrialists doing those weird arm dances? We burst out laughing at my house.

I was unimpressed by most of the themes and the narrative. However, I thought the tech aspects were spectacular. Sets, pyro, forging the rings, building the cauldron out of 200 individual petals, all that was amazing. The original turf set was a beautiful representation of the English countryside with its meadows, hedgerows, etc.

The best opening ceremony moment, that I believe will never be topped, was Barcelona lighting the cauldron with the flaming arrow. That was AWESOME.

Yes to all of this!

The hospitalized children part was strange, and the texting thing was completely random and not necessary, in my opinion. I was also laughing/wondering "what were they thinking" at times.