Way Too Long...

[nubka]

While I thought the opening ceremonies had some interesting, inspiring, and entertaining moments, it was soooooo long! An hour less of it (or more,) would have been fine with me. It just kept going on and on and on...

Besides the parade of nations, I loved the two giant balloons (sun & moon.) So cool! Also, the opera at the end was wonderful. Sophia Loren looks really great for 71 years old!

I could have have done without the red ferrari bit, and about 30% of the rest of it.

Just for the record, I thought SLC's was too long, also! The most moving and emotional parts, are often most simple (parade of nations, the olympic flag entering the stadium, etc.)

What say you...?

 

[nubka]

Wow, no thoughts? I guess it's time for me to crawl back under my rock...

 

[dancindiva03]

I agree, it was way to long, by the time they got to the good stuff I was sick of it all.

 

[R.D.]

NBC REALLY stretched this already long ceremony out further by putting in all those STUPID commercials in there. If they showed it live, they'd be forced to show it commercial free (or would they dare cut out parts of it to break?)

 

[Mathman]

Somebody has to foot the bill, RD.

Yoo long? Well, I guess it depends on what you would rather be watching instead. For me, I am mad that the USA network took off Monk for their Olympic specials.

 

[R.D.]

I realize the situation about the sponsors...but this is not the Super Bowl- it's a 17 DAY event! They can show the commercials during the competitions!

 

[Piel]

They only come along every two years. If you don't want to watch them then turn on something else. I loved the OCs. I Tivod and watched without the commercials. What was up with the American disco music? For weeks I have been trying to find American pop or rock music in Italian with no luck. What do Italians listen to?

 

[Engwaciriel]

They only come along every two years. If you don't want to watch them then turn on something else. I loved the OCs. I Tivod and watched without the commercials. What was up with the American disco music? For weeks I have been trying to find American pop or rock music in Italian with no luck. What do Italians listen to?

weird club & house music...and some italian "greasy" singers..or so they did last year..

 

[R.D.]

They only come along every two years. If you don't want to watch them then turn on something else. I loved the OCs. I Tivod and watched without the commercials. What was up with the American disco music? For weeks I have been trying to find American pop or rock music in Italian with no luck. What do Italians listen to?

Unfortunately, unlike maybe everyone else here, I don't have the luxury of Tivo...the next best thing is a PVR for my computer.

 

[Panther2000]

I agree, it was way to long, by the time they got to the good stuff I was sick of it all.

you got that right. Just too much crap mixed in there.

& though I was a fan of Disco back in the day, Don't they have their own music that they could promote or something( No Opera thank you very much).

5% was great but, the other 90% sucked.

dance & prance around for about 1 hour then hit the parade of Athletes, take the oath & be done with it

 

[Shmuzzy]

To me, the opening ceremonies are like the Oscars or the Grammys - way too much boring garbage to wade through until you get to something half interesting. I like seeing the athletes parade in but other than that - not interested!
Last night was definitely not the first time that I have found something else to do instead.

 

[R.D.]

Well, I always appreciate the opening ceremony and it puts one in the Olympic spirit. My beef is with NBC's coverage of the event...less talking (although I sometimes appreciated their explanations/translations) and less or no commercial breaks...the ceremony is long enough!

 

[Antilles]

There were apsects that I really liked. The acrobats on the rings, the people forming the dove, and especially the ski jumper. I liked the Canadian uniforms. We'll see if they generate as much interest as earlier outfits. I always like to see the loittle countries with just one or two representatives. They always seem so excited.

Watching the torch lighting, I started thinking about previous lightings. Was it Lillehammer or Albertville that had the ski jumper with the torch? I think it was Lillehammer, but I'm not positive. Does anyone remember how the torch was lit for Nagano? I'm drawing a blank.

 

[Ladskater]

I thought some of it was great and some of it was not so great. Of course, where but Italy would one get such grand opera to cap it off? That part was great. I could have done without the formations that seemed to fall apart at times. Also, I thought a better rendition of John Lennon's Imagine would have made all the difference - Peter Gabriel did not do any justice to the song. Would have prefered a video of the man (John Lennon) himself singing Imagine. Oh well, it is supposed to be a live show. The show did seem to take awhile to get going.

I hope Vancouver/Whistler 2010 Games can come up with something extra special. I always remember the Calgary 88 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies - they were great.

 

[JOHIO2]

nubka,
Don't crawl back under your rock! We were all too tired to respond!!! I think I liked the Op. Ceremony better on the live feed on Chinese tv. God only knows why I more or less watched it again on NBC. What a way to ruin a good book...

Apparently the ceremony was too long and too cold for Michelle Kwan too. She complained that she was stiff and sore today. But, she has nearly two weeks to recover, so she will hopefully be fine.

OK, back to watching tv......

 

[R.D.]

you know, I really have more respect for Kwan now. It was very big of her to go out there and march in the ceremony and take part in the action after a long and tiring flight. After skipping just about every competition you can think of, she shows up here. I'm willing to cut her slack for the first three or so days. Same with Kimmie.

 

[Mathman]

Red Dog, about sponsorship, the opening ceremonies is the most watched "event" of the whole shebang. (That ought to tell us something about the Olympics right there, LOL.)

Sponsors pay more for an ad on opening night than they do for an ad between the heats of the four-man bobsled preliminaries. When General Motors, Coca-cola, MacDonalds and the like start throwing money at you, "he who pays the piper calls the tune."

Not saying it's right -- but it's the American Way!

MM

 

[R.D.]

good point. Sadly, I guess you're right.

ETA: I wonder if the ceremonies will be live in Vancouver. How did they do it in SLC? I didn't watch that.

 

[Dee4707]

Does anyone remember how the torch was lit for Nagano? I'm drawing a blank.

Antilles, check the 3rd post from the bottom. It was Midori Ito.

Lighting of the Olympic Torch in '98


Dee

 

[millie]

I enjoy watching the opening ceremonies and seeing all the different outfits that each counrty is wearing.