Funny article: Americans watching Olympics on CBC

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:39 am

Yup,

We Canadians don't get to brag much about our Olympic performances. But at least we get better broadcasts up here!

http://www.slate.com/id/2105148/

Best wishes,

Doug

Blublub · Post by **Blublub** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:47 am

Admittedly it doesn't take much since our Olympic broadcasts are so unbelievably pitiful. I haven't even seen a second of the current games since I have developed such an intense fear of the packaged, "up close and personal" coverage. I'd love to hear that things are different this time. What I'd really like to see is the badminton medal round, or obscure crap like that. I thought that having it on so many channels would let that happen, but it doesn't seem to be the case just skimming the listings. Closest I could find was Iraqi soccer, but watching any Olympic soccer is like paint drying.

In case you haven't seen it, hunt down Criterion's DVD of "Tokyo Olympiad," I could watch that every four years and be satisfied.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:58 am

I've noticed a definite reduction in the amount of shmaltz in NBC's coverage this time around. I think I caught one biography piece so far, but that's it. Most of the storylines for the athletes are being discussed by the commentators over the actual competitions. Anyone else seeing the same thing?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 11:08 am

Slumberland wrote:I've noticed a definite reduction in the amount of shmaltz in NBC's coverage this time around. I think I caught one biography piece so far, but that's it. Most of the storylines for the athletes are being discussed by the commentators over the actual competitions. Anyone else seeing the same thing?

Slumber:

You must be watching CNBC during the day, because NBC's primetime coverage is nothing but schmaltz turned into a reality series.

NBC's coverage doesn't just suck -- it inhales. As I told my wife, if an American athlete doesn't have a chance to medal in a sport, don't expect to see any coverage of it. And if that American athlete isn't attractive or young, don't expect to see much coverage of it even if the Yank does win a medal.

I have yet to see Michael Phelps simply race. Every time he's about to jump in the pool, it's preceded by some incredibly sappy Phelps setup piece. Memo to NBC: I know who the f*ck Michael Phelps is -- so does the rest of America. Just show the kid swim.

I just wonder how many times we'll see an up-close-and-personal vignette about Maurice Greene's GOAT (Greatest of All Time) tattoo next week.

Puke. NBC sucks a fat one, especially the incredibly overrated and snarky Bob Costas. He is the wise-ass frat boy whom I always wanted to pound the f*ck out of in college.

I never thought I would say this, but I'd rather see FOX cover the Olympics. At least then there would be some lighthearted sizzle to the coverage instead of this incredibly melodramatic, overwrought sh*t NBC is shoveling at us. It's the Olympics, not open-heart surgery.

Take care,
PK

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 2:26 pm

I've watched nothing but the stuff on Bravo and CNBC. Team Handball, badminton, soccer, water polo. The primetime NBC coverage is nothing but swimming and gymnastics.

Alan_Bernardo · Post by **Alan_Bernardo** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:12 am

Slumberland wrote:I've noticed a definite reduction in the amount of shmaltz in NBC's coverage this time around. I think I caught one biography piece so far, but that's it. Most of the storylines for the athletes are being discussed by the commentators over the actual competitions. Anyone else seeing the same thing?

I quit watching the Olympics twenty years ago. It's nothing but advertising and feel-good stories.

I am watching the Olympic Basketball, however. That broadcast is straightforward, similar to what you get with an NBA broadcast.

It is funny though how the person who never watches sports all of a sudden becomes an expert on sports once the Olympics rolls around.

Like, just the other day, someone asked me what the score in the Greece-USA basketball game was. I told him and then he asked,

"What period is it in?"

I always thought it was quarters-- like divided into four. Periods are hockey.

I let it go. The guy sounded as if he knew what he was talking about.

Alanb

James_E · Post by **James_E** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:41 am

Alan_Bernardo wrote:

I quit watching the Olympics twenty years ago. It's nothing but advertising and feel-good stories.

Alanb

Not up here in Canada on the CBC!

I don't usually watch much summer olympics though, even though the CBC coverage is good (cause we're all losers up here...). I love the winter olympics though.

Blublub · Post by **Blublub** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:47 am

James_E wrote:cause we're all losers up here...

Maybe, but at least you're losers with great beer and universal healthcare

Bill_Abner · Post by **Bill_Abner** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:54 am

pk500 wrote:
NBC's coverage doesn't just suck -- it inhales.

Fshguy · Post by **Fshguy** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 10:34 am

Haven't you all heard of TIVO?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 10:53 am

Fsh:

Sure, we have. But who wants to spend more time fast-forwarding through commercials and melodramatic sh*t than actually watching competition, which is exactly what you need to do when watching NBC's primetime Olympic coverage?

Take care,
PK

Fshguy · Post by **Fshguy** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 11:30 am

Yes, TIVO is a stopgap solution to the problem. Can you blame NBC for catering to what the general public is interested in seeing? I know my girlfriend loves the melodramatic sh*t. We all could do without commercials, but I'm just not ready to pay for all of my sports coverage(unless of course it's NFL Sunday Ticket). After suffering through some of the coverage that CBS put us through in years past, at least NBC gives a little life.

At least the technology is getting better so they can broadcast a billion hours of coverage and at least get a chance to see some other sports other than the beautiful people in the beautiful sports. Although I didn't mind the Amanda Beard piece last night.

Personally, I would like to see an effort to cover every sport and all of the outstanding performances no matter what country they belong to.