Not Boycotting the Olympics

[rabid1st]

And wondering why not? Because this has been one of the most lackluster, uninteresting Olympic Games ever. Is it because some of it is pre-recorded...or because it is live? I am not sure I believe it is live...because it seems to me that live would be more interesting. I was really looking forward to last night's gymnastics. But it took forever to get started. I assume this is because it was live and started at 10:00 am in China.

But does "live broadcasting" explain why did the coverage was so very choppy? Censorship? Some kind of red tape keeping the camera crews from moving rapidly from event to event? No editing staff? Too few cameras allowed on the floor? I don't know. All I know is there were brief chunks of floor exercise coverage, and then some swimming, and then some brief chunks of parallel bar coverage, and then some volleyball. Then, of course, even more swimming.

And I know Michael Phelps is amazing. I love Michael. But do we need two or three special features on Michael Phelps, his coach, his family and his fans every single night? I mean...enough about Michael already! What about Lezak? He kicked some serious ass in that 4x100. What about profiling a few of the less well known athletes? Where are the quirky Jamican Bobsled Team profiles? What about holding the Michael Phelps worship to one profile a night?

I want to see the Japanese gymnasts. I want to see the entire USA and CHINA teams compete. There are only three of them...and maybe 4 top teams...so why not show us everyone? Oh, I forgot...we need another Michael Phelps profile. SHEESH!

BORING! BORING! BORING!

Except for the 4X100...that was amazing!

Rae

Comments

[phdelicious.livejournal.com]

This is not the first time I've had similar problems with Olympics coverage. Actually I'd be happier if they'd cut out all the random TV personality blurbs and profiles all together. Maybe 1 athlete promo an hour as long as its a different athlete every time.

It is hard to do live from a time zone that's 12 hrs off and I'm sure the GOV isn't making things easier. I'm glad they're doing all sorts of online stuff even if it makes every MSN page ridiculously slow to load. But really I'd rather see more of it on TV and less of the "LOOK AT ME I'M IN CHINA!" crap.

Or they could just play the 4x100 on loop. :D

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Right. I could stand an opening "Here we are in China" piece. You know...let's see what the Chinese eat...or something. Then, a different athlete everytime. I can see profiling Michael Phelps when he's set to break the 10 medal record. I can see profiling him at the start. I can't see this day in and day out yelping about him and what he eats for breakfast and what his mom is wearing and all the rest. SHEESH!

I am in the mood to see the best athletes in the world...compete.

Rae

[phdelicious.livejournal.com]

Phelps' mom is cute, but yeah they keep harping on his schedule and I can't help but think "just like every other swimmer and probably most of the athletes". What else do they expect him to be doing other than eating, sleeping, and swimming? Writing an autobiography? Oh wait...

MOAR competition please.

[thisficklemob.livejournal.com]

And no replacing the Phelps Profile with Panda Porn.

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed the Panda Press Workout! But I could have done without the sound effects on the panda porn.

Rae

[thisficklemob.livejournal.com]

There were sound effects? I guess I tuned those out.

[rap541.livejournal.com]

Some guy from Togo got a Bronze.... thats cool.

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Did he get a profile? I didn't see his profile? Coventry got a profile. And the Chinese Gymnast got the same profile twice...the PRESSURE one. I want to see more of the actual gymnasts...and a few less swimmers. Sorry, I mean, I like the swimmers...I used to be a swimmer but they are boring me stiff.

Rae

[fidesangelus.livejournal.com]

*waves* Long time no comments from me.

I haven't been able to watch much in the past day or so but I agree that they do seem kind of choppy and the live-ness gets a little old at times because it isn't live for PST so why do I care? The Phelps profiles and constant comments have reached the point of annoying and what's even more frustrating is that he isn't pursuing it, they are throwing it at him, like after the 4x100 he just wanted to talk about the team effort and the announcer just wanted to talk about him. NBC needs to get a grip.

[auntiesuze.livejournal.com]

I've only been watching in bits an pieces and have a tendency to hop stations, so I couldn't tell you if it was choppy coverage or not.

What is cool, though, is that here in Maine we get Canada's CBC as part of our cable package, so when I want a different perspective, I can hop over there. I actually watched part of a swimming heat where there were NO AMERICANS. I didn't think it was possible. XD

[jesidres.livejournal.com]

I stopped watching the Olympic coverage, although I am amused by the profiles of Phelps.

I know Michael personally- he and my best friend were on the same swim team in Maryland, and have had to deal with him since he was about 11 years old. He's a bit of a jackass idiot- and yeah his whole "omg, look at my schedule" is a joke- every other swimmer in circuit has the same, if not harder schedule. Chlorine ate his brain a very, very long time ago, (if not for swimming, he would have failed out of high school), and I fully admit I've laughed at his expense on the several occasions he's gotten caught drunk driving, etc.

...also, they never have full coverage of the sports I like. Archery and Shooting deserve more love!

[measi.livejournal.com]

I disagree - have enjoyed the coverage so far. While yes, I'd love to see more of particular sports, I feel that the broad coverage across six channels this year has been much better than in years past. One particular thing I appreciate - times to expect the specific sports on TV this year, rather than the "coming soon..." coverage of the past that would keep you watching so you wouldn't miss coverage.

And honestly, I'm glad the schmoopy profiles are gone for the most part. I do agree they need to move some of the focus from Phelps, but really - he is making history in an insane way, so I can't really blame them, either.

Michael, Michael, Michael!!!!

[winter-queen82.livejournal.com]

Being from Baltimore, it's even worse on local TV. Talk about a favorite son. And they always have to mention Katie Hoff and how she doesn't have a gold yet. Does have a silver and bronze. Personally, just getting into the olympics is a huge accomplishment. Yeah, Michael is amazing and swims like a fish and he's cute to boot but I too would like to hear about something other than him.

[princessblue791.livejournal.com]

The camrea crew is probably inexperienced. They hire temps to do this. People in this field tend to be...well like Donna, they temp for different projects. Some of these people are fresh out of college and I'm sorry but in this field if you don't have any real experience you won't know what the hell you're doing. Its hard going from one project to the next because no two broadcasting systems are alike. I went from a slow TV station to a news station and had to be taught all over again. Live TV is a royal pain in the ass.You're thown in to the shit and are expected to be perfect when you have no clue what's going to happen. They will have choppy shots because at some point the staff is too few or too tired to care.(these people might be operating on 3 hrs of sleep) They also have to get a certain amount of material in, time it just right in time for the breaks or the next show, otherwise the sponsers get pissed. You also have China's rules. They censor EVERYTHING. You think the FCC is bad, China won't even allow you to see certain animals on TV because they're deemed too filthy.

I haven't been into the Olympics. I don't know I can't get past the BS that happens in China. Their government has no value when it comes to quality of life.

[princessblue791.livejournal.com]

Not to mention they're allied with Syria which continues to slaughter the innocent in Africa.

[webeh.livejournal.com]

No kidding. Over here in Canada, I have two networks to look at for Olympics coverage. They both always show the same events at the same time. Boring.

At least the CBC profiles have more variety than the NBC. You're right about the network over-exposing Phelps. A little bit of coverage of other athletes would be nice.

I know NBC did try to do a profile of the Chinese male gymnast. But, that was done awful poorly. Just saying that he works hard and the Japanese/Koreans (I can't remember which was mentioned)are his biggest competition doesn't tell me anything useful.

[keswindhover.livejournal.com]

You need the Brit coverage. We're showing a polite interest in Mr Phelps, but really we only care about all the British medals. Which means Rebecca Adlington is far more important, and we have loads of coverage of badminton and cycling.

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Oh...badminton. See, that's what I want more of...badminton or...equestrian or archery. Or...they could just concentrate on a sport. Well, I have learned a bit about synchronized diving. And it is a rather neat sport. I think all my bellyaching is because I wanted to settle in and watch some gynmastics and all I got were a few snippets between the hours of Michael Phelps interviews and swimming trials.

Rae

[keswindhover.livejournal.com]

I worry about gymnastics - all those little girls being put through the wringer year after year. It's attractive to watch, though.

The cycling is full of scary pod people wearing funny hats and all looking Exactly.Like.Each.Other.

Photo for evidence:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/teampursuit438.jpg

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Yep! Those are definitely aliens. Plus, the Chinese know it. This is why they keep taking blood samples. They are probably cloning the athletes and creating an army of cycling drones.

I think Jon Stewart said it best about the 12 year old little girls being forced to work in the "sweat-shop" style gyms for days on end. He said, we should protest their being asked to endure all this pressure when other little girls their age are where they should be...in REAL sweat-shops, working 12 hours a day to make shoes for OUR gymnasts to wear in legitimate competitions.

He has a point there.

Rae

[webeh.livejournal.com]

I can't help but wonder about all of the little girls that China put through their gymnastics machine, but didn't come out a star athlete in the end. Can you imagine what sort of horrible injuries they must have? Poor girls... *shivers.