We've finally made it to the official start of the games--The Opening Ceremonies.
But first, clearing off the DVR from last night's late coverage. We've got Ice Dancing as part of the team competition--if you've ever been to a roller rink, you'll have some idea of what's going on. This was followed with Men's Skating, which meant wall-to-wall Nathan Chen. Late night coverage moved over to the skating pairs, with a healthy dollop of reviews from earlier in the evening (keep in mind this is the primary broadcast for the West Coast). In a rarity for these games, Andrea Joyce is actually onsite, so she can speak (socially distanced) to the competitors. The US did quite well--but there's still the women's competition (which won't be aired until later) to go.
Onto the main event. Bright and early (6:30a Eastern), Torico kicks it off at the "Bird's Nest", with Savannah Guthrie back in New York (a huge screen showing the partly-empty stadium behind her). Shockingly, NBC is holding to their commitment to emphasize China's political issues--here come their experts, Andy Brown and Jing Tsu.
The ceremony itself--mostly replacing a huge contingent of human ceremony participants is a huge LED screen covering the field. It's a stunning effect that you would think is CGI. Of course, there's pomp and circumstance, raising of flags, national jingoism, fireworks, lasers. Then it's on to the parade of nations, with an odd counterpoint of the Lone Ranger theme to kick it off. Torico and Guthrie are reading fun country facts off the prompter as fast as they can. Yep, American Samoa has the greased-up shirtless guy (even in 20 degree weather).
With the athletes in their seats, back to the program. Dancing snowflakes (both real and virtual), inspirational videos, speeches, and more of the giant screen. The QISE flag and anthem. I noticed a lot of lip synch problems--not sure if that's an artifact of the satellite delay or not. And finally, the QISE flame, with Chinese QISEans of different generations--including a member of the beleaguered Uighur minority--bringing it in. A heavy-handed and jarring moment at the end of an otherwise harmonious event. No traditional cauldron--just a torch in the middle of a huge snowflake. Perhaps a nod to being green?
NBC then cut to an abbreviated Today show, which included an interview with Tirico--and it was clear that the ceremony was still going on behind him! I know we never saw the QISE oaths for the athletes, officials, and volunteers. But I guess Hoda was in hurry to get on the air. We then go to afternoon coverage, and host Rebecca Lowe reporting from Connecticut.
Today it's a preview of the events to come, including a wacky fake ad (shown twice) explaining how to watch everything (even they know how bad they screwed up last time). Lots of interviews, both pre-taped and in the studio. It was made pretty clear that US women's figure skaters are highly unlikely to medal. This is the ratings "kiss of death" for the marquis event. We also learned about Curling footwear, reminded of the Salt Lake games held only a few months after 9/11, saw a replay of the terrible women's hockey injury (thanks NBC), and shown promos of Tara Lipinski's and Lindsey Vonn's QISE history documentaries (available on Peacock, of course).
Back to prime time, which in this case is a chopped and channeled repeat of the opening ceremonies (with more commercials and pre-recorded segments). They kicked it off with the Chairman of the Board singing "Leaving on a Jet Plane" in a slickly produced intro. (Wow, WCMH--an ad for "Lion's Den" adult store in the 8:00 hour--during QISE? You do you, Channel 4). Steve Kornacki is back with his "magic board", spewing stats at you. The Rock introduced the US team in yet another video package.
I'm not staying up for all of this tonight--will scan through it in the morning.