<p>
</p>
<p>Like ALL Opening Ceremonies – including the Beijing Opening Ceremony which everyone seems so intent on comparing to London’s – the production was geared toward showcasing the host nation’s best-known attributes and its contributions to global society. You’ve never heard of Paul McCartney or Queen Elizabeth or the Industrial Revolution or JK Rowling or the Internet or James Bond?</p>
<p>“Thanks for clarifying Mary’s origination. My bad. I misread when I was looking into her background. Either way- she was , to me, very awkward, her speech cadence very unnatural, and ESPN politely discharged her a while ago.”</p>
<p>She left ESPN on her own accord. </p>
<p>[Mary</a> Carillo’s curious departure leaves ESPN’s tennis coverage shorthanded - Richard Deitsch - SI.com](<a href=“http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/richard_deitsch/01/15/mary.carillo.unlv.documentary/index.html]Mary”>http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/richard_deitsch/01/15/mary.carillo.unlv.documentary/index.html)</p>
<p>I enjoyed the opening ceremony-the Queen, seeing Kenneth Branagh, the smoke stacks and the percussion, Paul McCartney, the fireworks,etc. I thought it was well done in general.</p>
<p>What I read said there was a “philosophical difference” and that Carillo quietly left. Sometimes “of her own accord” is a euphemism for “leave and we will give you a separation package”.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I haven’t heard anything about that, but then again none of the athletes actually need AC so it shouldn’t matter anyway. London is not experiencing a heat wave; it was hot (around 30c) for a week but its much cooler now and it will probably rain for the rest of the summer. I’m having difficulty understanding why athletes from much hotter countries have come to London and expect there to be AC, the rest of the populous doesn’t need it so why do they?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>He has a reputation for not holding back with his opinions and sometimes saying weird things. It’s his father, Prince Philip who has the reputation for always saying stupid (and sometimes borderline racist) things.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Years ago, when ABC had the franchise, they did exactly the same thing (remember “Up Close and Personal”?). Viewers back then were just as frustrated, and I read something about it at the time. Here’s the networks’ rationale for the fluffy primetime coverage: </p>
<p>Women control primetime viewing. Women are not interested in sports. Women want a storyline with plots and characters. Pathos plays especially well with women. Therefore, to maximize primetime ratings, the Olympics must be covered as drama, not as an athletic event.</p>
<p>If you watch daytime coverage, it’s much, much different. It IS covered as a sporting event, focused on the competition. Announcers may throw in tidbits of personal backstory, or there may be the occasional interview. But there is very little of the soft-focus, Olympics-as-soap-opera garbage that fills the primetime coverage.</p>
<p>I clearly said there were parts I appreciated. On the whole, I wasn’t a fan. I’m not going to go though a long list because frankly this is getting old (those who liked it haven’t had to defend their opinion, nor have they fielded personal jabs) and anything I put forth will no doubt be shot down, but an example would be the sequence with the British TV show. The music we could certainly relate to, however it was an awkward way to include British rock (which is some of the best ever). And for the record, I never made a comparison to any other opening ceremonies. All I’ve done is state my own opinion while respecting others.</p>
<p>I think Los Angeles 1984 Olympics had the best opening ceremony.</p>
<p>The 2012 James Bond and the Queen is just the rehash of the 1984 rocket man.</p>
<p>And the torch carrying man in 1984 looked more athletic and greek.</p>
<p>[1984</a> Los Angeles Olympic Games - Opening Ceremony - YouTube](<a href=“1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games - Opening Ceremony - YouTube”>1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games - Opening Ceremony - YouTube)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>hayden, I’d be interested in knowing that, too. Any gymnastics experts here? Missypie?</p>
<p>Am watching the gymnastics girls now and just saw a girl from China crash on the vault. Poor thing.</p>
<p>Looking forward to all the swimming to start around 2:30.</p>
<p>"What I read said there was a “philosophical difference” and that Carillo quietly left. Sometimes “of her own accord” is a euphemism for "leave and we will give you a separation package</p>
<p>We will have to agree to disagree. As an extremely long time (decades) tennis viewer I can tell you that no network wants to lose Mary as a commentator. She is so highly thought of that she is the only women commentator who has been allowed to be in the booth for the men’s final of both the French Open and the US Open.</p>
<p>The philosophical difference was that Mary thought ESPN’s coverage was too all American all the time and since it is such an international sport ESPN broadcasts were too tilted and biased towards American players.</p>
<p>I’m watching the women’s archery finals (Japan and Russia). This is why I love the Olympics - the ability to watch sports like crew, archery, fencing, even swimming that don’t usually get a lot of air time.</p>
<p>My complaint about Phelps is similar to that mentioned by cartera - Phelps admits (and his coach confirms) that he hasn’t trained as hard for this Olympics, and yet he gets all of the media attention. It seems like every time I turn on NBC, there’s a new interview with him or his family. Are there really no other interesting athletes to interview?</p>
<p>Speaking of Paul McCartney, I would love to hear him sing the upbeating “Bang on the Run” instead of the soft “Hey Jude”.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>She was the reigning world all-around champion and had a good shot at winning the gold this year.</p>
<p>She did not qualify to the all-around final, but she will be competing with her teammates in the team final.</p>
<p>In other news, Kim Rhode has become the first American to win a medal in five Olympics. She won gold in skeet in shotgun, setting an Olympic record and tying the world record score.</p>
<p>Yes, lets agree to disagree. Doesn’t matter to me. I just found her really annoying last night when I saw her.</p>
<p>I read/heard that she talked too much during tennis points were played out and had a laugh that annoyed viewers. That said, all the commentators are overtalking during the events, it seems.</p>
<p>This is an interesting rant-- about badminton, that was apparently pulled from airing back in the 2004 olympics. [Mary</a> Carillo’s Badminton Rant - Athens 2004 - YouTube](<a href=“Mary Carillo's Badminton Rant - Athens 2004 - YouTube”>Mary Carillo's Badminton Rant - Athens 2004 - YouTube)</p>
<p>
I assume that is a typo, coolweather, yes? LOL!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Oh my!! :D</p>
<p>(cross posted with jym!)</p>
<p>OK. “Band on the Run”.</p>
<p>A typo caused by the effect of the song.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Scout, I agree! Yesterday, I watched judo which was quite interesting.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If you think of the Olympics as network programmers do – this is drama, not sports – it makes perfect sense.</p>
<p>TMI, coolweather! :D</p>