Second open letter to NBC

[monkeybard]

(I sent this slightly less vitriolic message today.)

If NBC were covering every Olympic event they possibly could across all their affliliate stations, one would be hard-pressed to drag me away from my television.  I know this because when I had access to Canadian coverage, that was how it was.  Forced by real life to leave my house for whatever reason, I would rush home, turn on the TV, and start looking for any Olympic event I could find.  This year, I find myself getting much more done during the day, which I suppose is a good thing.  But I'd rather be watching the Olympics.  This year, without the Canadians to fill in the time NBC is failing to fill, instead of being glued to my set all day long, I glance at the clock at about 7:30 or so in the evening and think, "Oh. I suppose there's something Olympic on TV soon.  Maybe I'll turn it on.  Or not."

On the positive side, I will say that I'm enjoying the figureskating commentary more this year.  They're talking much less during the performance, and I appreciate that.  Also, Bob Costas is providing some wonderfully entertaining moments.

Rest assured I will be putting pressure on my cable provided to put CTV on the system before the 2012 Olympics come around.

Comments

[vflick.livejournal.com]

Who are the figure skating commentators. Often the American networks hire Canadians like Sandra Bezic or Kurt Browning... they tend to talk less. :) At times.

[write-light.livejournal.com]

NBC is using Scott Hamilton, one of our biggest names in olympic men's skating. Whoever's with him isn't standing out, but NBC lists

Figure skating: Tom Hammond Scott Hamilton (Singles)
Dick Button (Pairs) Tracy Wilson (Ice Dance)
Sandra Bezic Andrea Joyce

They're good, and knowledgeable about the moves, the skaters and the judging, so I enjoy listening -- if a bit harsh-sounding ("he's not at this level yet", "he's throwing his routine away now") now and then.

[vflick.livejournal.com]

Yes, I know who Scott Hamilton is. :)

Tracy Wilson is a Canadian Bronze medalist from 1988 and Sandra Bezic is a Canadian choreographer.

In fact...
Tracy Wilson and her partner Rob McCall were the underdogs in the ice dancing competition and pulled off a great number (elements of which I remember very clearly) to leapfrog into the bronze medal - at a time when that just never happened in figure skating, nevermind ice dance! Rob McCall died a few years later... I think of Aids.

Scott Hamilton's last Olympics was in 1984 in Sarievo (sp? Yugoslavia) and the young Brians were chasing him. In '88 Brian Orser JUST lost to Brian Boitano - I remember performing that night at the medal ceremony like it was yesterday. I have never seen so many people in downtown Calgary in my entire life. It takes a lot to drown out a large marching band, but the people did that night. I also clearly remember the unknown hometown boy, Kurt Browning (he's from Rocky Mountain House, which is in central Alberta) literally leaping out of nowhere to get to fourth. That arrogant, flamboyant Russian guy came in third.

Elizabeth Manley in a pretty pink leotard had the skate of her life to take silver and shocked everyone. The images of her doing her victory lap wearing a stetson... I think Katerina Witt of East Germany won. But we only remember Elizabeth Manley. :)

I actually don't remember the pairs, ironically. I don't think we medalled. I think Underhill and Martini finished up with 1984, and Brasseur and Isler probably got fourth. They seemed to always just miss. :)

I remember 1988 VERY clearly. Especially the figure skating!

[monkeybard]

That arrogant, flamboyant Russian guy came in third.

That narrows it down only very slightly. ;-P

Katerina Witt also beat Seattle local Rosalyn Sumners in 1984, if I remember correctly. I never liked Witt until Germany united and all of a sudden, every time I saw Katerina, she was smiling. I never saw her smile before.

1984 was also the year of Torville and Dean and their freakin' amazing ice dance routine to Bolero.

I love Kurt Browning almost as much as I love Scotty Hamilton--and I LOVE Scotty Hamilton.

[vflick.livejournal.com]

Yes, I do remember the Bolero routine of Torville and Dean! It was truly amazing. I remember a lot about the '84 Olympics too! I have many more memories of Winter Olympics than summer...

Kurt Browning is The Best Figure Skater, bar none. But I do like Scotty very much too!