Miles's blog

The Olympics closing ceremonies contained some parts which were fun, some which were stupid, some which were kind of creepy, and some which I can’t comment on at all because NBC chose to exclude them from their coverage.

I like that they chose to highlight British musicians of the past 50 years.  Hearing and seeing legends like Brian May and The Who (or rather the two who have survived from The Who) was thrilling for me.   Brian May wrote “We Will Rock You.”  His royalties must be in the millions every year just from its playing at sporting events.  For him to play it live at the Olympics was perfect. (By the way, when did the word “perfect” become the accepted way to express oneself for things which are acceptable?  This seems to have caught on now as a figure of speech in situations where a simple “ok” would do.)

Spice Girls reunions can only be fun.  I think they looked great, even Posh Spice despite having birthed four future members of Great Britain’s 2024 soccer teams.  George Michael, on the other hand, I thought looked like a cliché of a rock star trying to hang onto his leather-clad youth.  Give it up, George, and embrace middle age.  I even tolerated Russell Brand doing the Beatles. 

However, I did think the creation of John Lennon’s face was kind of creepy. Eric Idle was amusing, but like most Monty Python sketches, he went on too long.  I could have done without the rap music and who is Jessie J (although I admit she can sing).

Conspicuous by their absence, at least to me, were Elton John, The Rolling Stones, and Adele, (not to mention The Moody Blues, Deep Purple,  ELO, Rod Stewart, The Police, Herman’s Hermits, The Dave Clark Five, Freddie and the Dreamers, Petula Clark, Lulu, and Katherine Jenkins).  Oh well, there is only so much time.

But to NBC, apparently, even the time spent was too much.  The network delayed broadcasting the ceremony until almost 8:30 here in the eastern time zone, and even then they deleted portions.  Unbelievably, they did not show The Who in prime time, choosing instead to air a new sitcom about a veterinary practice, and only televising one of the most legendary bands in the world after midnight. 

Meg tells me that in both the opening and closing ceremonies there were dance performances excised by NBC, including one in the opening ceremony honoring the victims of a bombing in London in 2005.  Last night Britain got to see a prima ballerina dance with 200 others, but NBC apparently thinks Americans are too crude to watch ballet.

This debacle mirrors what I thought was a piss poor performance by NBC, which repeatedly chose feature stories about British peerage, stressed-out mothers, and athletes’ struggles over actual event coverage.  I wanted to watch the American women’s volleyball team play for the gold Saturday night, but at 11:15 they had not shown a single minute of the match.  I assume that since America lost, NBC believed they needed to show a one-hour history lesson on World War II by Tom Brokaw.  I am as big a World War II buff as anyone, and I enjoyed the piece, but I turn on the Olympics to actually see the events.  Hopefully, the next Olympics will not be forced on us in tape delay format since the time zone in Rio is only an hour different from New York.

Now the world heaves a sigh of relief.  Missy Franklin, Gabby Douglas, and the entire Chinese gymnastics team can return to high school.  Michael Phelps and Misty May can ease their way into retirement.  Synchronized swimmers, team handballers, and ping pong players fade into obscurity.  LeBron, Kobe, Serena, and Brazilian soccer players can return to making millions, while we will soon forget David Boudia, Holley Mangold, and Oscar Pistorius. 

Somewhere a 12-year old is going to gymnastics class today dreaming of a gold medal she might win next time.  Teenage swimmers start today on the four years of pain that Michael Phelps is glad he is done with.  Each of us now turn our attention to more pressing matters like the upcoming election, fantasy football, and which of the new tv shows will be a hit.  (I am guessing that neither “Animal Practice” nor “Go On” will survive until the next winter Olympics in February 2014.)

I enjoyed the Olympics, but I am glad it is over.  Now maybe I can get to sleep at a reasonable hour.