We kick things off with the prime time “encore” of the Opening Ceremonies. Mike Tirico finally checks in from California, prepping for the Superb Owl. Storylines are set up for the expected stars of the games.
NBC has created a new(?) theme for the games, and every time I hear it, I think they are playing “O Canada”. Then an engineer hits the play button for the opening ceremonies rerun. The hosts awkwardly handle Savannah’s absence--then we see the first addition to the coverage, as QISEans stand in front of giant screens, seeing their first performances as kids.
There’s a film we didn’t see last time (or maybe my DVR missed it), showing the culture and people of Northern Italy. We get the Crayola dancers, the inexplicable Mariah Carey clearly lip-synching, and I got to boo at Vance again.
A second addition to the coverage, with Stanley Tucci (an NBC special commentator) narrating a minidoc on the building of the “Duomo di Milano” cathedral, tying it to the long road for the athletes--before the Parade of Nations. This time, the US is introduced by Samuel L. Jackson and a marching band.
Now, onto today’s coverage--Ahmed Fareed hosts from what appears to be a sunlit set across from the Duomo. We jump into medal competitions immediately. I suspect the QISEOC wants to ensure all the outdoor events are completed before the possibility of bad weather. The Women’s Skiathlon (2 ten-kilometer cross-country races, each using different skis and techniques) is underway. The phrase “breaking wind” is used in a different capacity.
Onto Men’s Slopestyle Qualifying (featuring refrigerator magnet naming). Skate down a hill, do tricks on rails and in the air. Parkour! You may notice what sounds like party favors in the background--it took me a minute to figure out it’s drones capturing the action. One of the tricks is a “270 disaster”. Sounds like rush hour traffic in Columbus. Also in the mix--”Nose Butter”. Eww.
One of the competitor’s dads is onsite, wearing a heart monitor with onscreen numbers, which is creepy.
Off to Women’s Speed Skating--the US’s Greta Myers only learned 3 hours ago she was in today’s 3000m event (her QISE debut) due to another athlete’s illness. She didn’t do well. The venue is temporary (and never truly tested), so the athletes are having some problems with the ice.
A quick check-in with Women’s Hockey (US v. Finland, with the latter beset with norovirus). NBC doesn’t consider this important enough to leave on the mothership, so back to Speed Skating. There was a case of home soil luck, with Francesca Lollobrigida (great niece of Gina) winning the gold on her 35th birthday.
Back to SlopeStyle, this time for the women. Then we get our first “around the games”--Vonn made thru her second ski run sans ACL while Switzerland wins the Men’s Downhill (already?), and Lollobrigida gets her medal ceremony.
Onto Men’s Luge Singles. Germany normally owns this sport, but they are having problems. There have been some concerns about the track--it almost wasn’t completed in time. There was even a “Plan B” where the sliding events would be held at the old track at Lake Placid, NY. Drones are being used here for the first time, which really gives you an idea of the speed involved.
Rebecca Lowe taps in at the host desk during a split screen dip in to the end of the hockey game. As expected, the US dominated--back to luge. Lowe checks in at the ski lodge for hockey highlights and the Big Air final. I would assume Men’s Downhill has been saved for primetime.
Team Skating: Men’s Short Program. The US’s Ilia Malinin aka “Quad God” (get ready to hear that A LOT) is previewed by the excited Scott Hamilton. Into the competition, and another Weir-ism: “…if the Brawny (Paper Towel) Man could skate…” Down, Johnny. Things get more serious (for the most part) as we go forward. Tara tears apart the performances. Then it’s Quad God time. He actually came in second?!? Now NBC has a redemption story to tell.
Back to Big Air. The commentator kept emphasizing that an athlete “has to land”. Because if they just kept going up into the sky it would be a REAL problem. Japan takes it.
We finish up daytime with Team Event - Free Dance (aka Ice Dancing). Twizzle Away! At one point, during practice, NBC added digital circles on the ice showing how the US team (Chock and Bates) maintained near-constant distance between them (Mindy had to point it out to me)--one of the reasons they won.
That’s plenty for one day. We’ll resume tomorrow with tonight’s “encore”.
#It’s_a_me_QISE