Anyone watching the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics? SPOILERS

[Maddy McCall]

Some freaky stuff. Skating cows. Now a bunch of people with inflated condoms on their heads. REally weird. :silly:.

Edited to add "spoilers," for anyone who doesn't want us to ruin the excitement for them. :D

[ralps]

1. I'm watching the Opening Ceremonies, and to me they seem pretty lame

and silly :hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :shrug: :silly:

[Maddy McCall]

2. Yes, very lame.

Almost as bad as the Utah opening ceremony.

[johnfunk]

97. NOTHING is worse than the exploitation of the Ground Zero flag at Utah...

... that absolutely made my stomach turn. It would've only taken a little more wind to even further damage what should have been treated like an important historical object rather than another prop for the Chimpy Regime.

[tonyraytx]

3. I'am watching too

I was hoping there will be a thread making fun of this.

[Maddy McCall]

5. I haven't been impressed with any of it, thus far.

The skating cows was just ridiculous. And the "former olymic stars" in the white Armani outfits...well... :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[NashVegas]

12. It Takes a Lot of Balls To Waltz as a Holstein

MOO!

[Maddy McCall]

31. And a lot of agility.

:D

[Scout1071]

34. That is utterly ridiculous.

:D

[pokerfan]

148. ''Udderly'' ridiculous, I hope you mean

[Scout1071]

161. Exactly what I meant! nt

[NashVegas]

4. I'm Watching

I think it's a lovely display, really. I just question whether an artistic display (non-competitive) is the best way to get people pumped up for competitive games.

On the super big hugh plus side:

No Katie Couric to babble away! (Remember Björk)

[tonyraytx]

7. But we still have Bob

To do the babble for us

[NashVegas]

10. I Don't Mind Bob. I Like Bob

He gives just enough without going overboard and lets the action speak for itself, for the most part.

[Maddy McCall]

9. True about Couric.

:D

[NashVegas]

37. I'm Going to Have to Email NBC Later

and thank them for shutting up during the performances. I sent a real nasty-gram last time around.

[cynatnite]

6. It's different...

I hope it gets better. Kind of a let down so far after Salt Lake's opening ceremony.

[ralps]

8. We need a hook to pull some of these performers off the stage like this

girl singing now. :hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[Maddy McCall]

11. Poor thing...

she had difficulty lip syncing to her own voice. :(

[ralps]

13. I know I shouldn't be dissing her. It must have been hard knowing that

she would be singing in front of millions of people. :hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[Maddy McCall]

16. :-D

[tonyraytx]

14. And now some Techno

[Maddy McCall]

15. Now the Oompa Loompas are there...

complete with mining lights on their heads.

It's just getting freakier. :D

[tonyraytx]

17. What they doing?

[Maddy McCall]

18. Ok, THIS is cool...the mega skier.

[tonyraytx]

20. Ok, I see it now

It is cool, but what with the disco music?

[ralps]

19. What they are doing now seems pretty cool

:hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[ralps]

21. Wild!!! Skaters w/ torches in their heads

:hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[tonyraytx]

22. WoW, They doing Circus De Soqie

Or whatever it called.

[ralps]

23. I think this their take on the Circe de soliel

:hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[Pithlet]

24. I'm TiVoing it for later.

It can't possibly be anywhere near as bad as the horror that was Salt Lake City's opening ceremony. It certainly won't have Mitt Romney :puke:

[Maddy McCall]

27. Thank you! I thought the SLC ceremony was horrendous.

Bad use of American Indian stereotypes. It pissed me off.

Actually, the Turin ceremony ends quite beautifully. I loved the very end, the olympic rings. You'll see it when you watch, and I hope we haven't spoiled it for you. :)

[Pithlet]

36. Oh, no.

You guys didn't spoil it for me. :)

[bumblebee1]

72. NBC's coverage showed Mitt Romney in the stands.

He was there with his wife. They also showed Pickles. I haven't seen the Quaker Oats man yet.

[SharonRB]

157. Actually, it did

Did you see them show him in the audience?

The thing they did with that skier formation was very, very cool.

[tonyraytx]

25. With all the disco music playing right now

WE NEED A ABBA REUNION TONIGHT.

[ralps]

30. Of course they had to have some Micheal Jackson

:hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[cynatnite]

32. That would certainly save this ceremony n/t

[ralps]

33. and "Le Freak" by Chic

:hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[erinlough]

26. The "Alps" dresses are the best

Some designer came up with them? wow:D

[Obamarama]

56. Is THAT what they're supposed to be? ROFLMAO!!

I wondered what the hell the banner bearers were wearing. They're ALPS DRESSES?

[henslee]

28. The Greek girlies are hot.

[pokerfan]

149. As did I, henslee

Though I did find the Italian women hotter -- what a shock!

DU ladies who are rolling your eyes right now, feel free to chime in with your favorite beefcake countries.

Please tell me that that the American pop music during the parade of nations was just NBC. No way was that what they were actually playing inside the stadium.

The NBC commentary was subdued only in comparison to 2002. Did we actually need to be told that the acrobats were ultimately gonna form a giant dove of peace?

It wasn't all bad. The pyrotechniques during the actually lighting of the torch was pretty cool. The living, beating heart was kind of cool. Surprised they allowed "Imagine" to be sung (Imagine no religion) inside the nation of Italy, of all places.

Now brace yourself four two weeks of endless background biographies on our athletes while neglecting theirs. Or, better yet, why not focus on the actual games instead of the personalities behind them? Naw, too much to ask for.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

152. Not a shock about "Imagine"

Italians are cool as hell. I studied there. Italians love the Church and they love the Pope, but almost everyone will tell you that they live their lives their own way and don't really listen to what they say. It's a weird traditional society that is very much Catholic, but at the same time, they are far more progressive Catholics than most American Catholics.

I was in the major cities though. It may be different in the countryside, which I just passed through for a few hours, but the city Italians are awesome.

[pokerfan]

153. That would explain it

I have been to several Euro countries but never Italy. Now all those hottie Italian women from 18 all the way to 72 (Sophia) look even better.

Winking at the Catholic Church. I guess the Reformation reached them.

I did enjoy the brief nod to those Italians who fought against the fascists during WWII. They saved a lot of lives.

[cynatnite]

29. Bermuda has one guy!

Hope he gets a medal. :)

[tonyraytx]

35. Oh great, what we need now

A remake of the Shaggy Dog.

[tonyraytx]

38. Ethiopia got a skier

It would be something if he win a medal

[ralps]

39. "The Speeding White Sausage"???????

:hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[bullwinkle428]

40. Why did they have to spoil things with the shot of Pickles...

...sporting her "Kabuki Death Mask"...

[LynneSin]

41. Was that not the scariest look ever

:scared:

[LuckyLib]

160. OT, but your Will Farrell makes me laugh out loud every time.

Wasn't that a classic?

[SharonRB]

158. I just yelled -- "Please take the camera off of her!"

[tonyraytx]

42. So Iran is here at the Games

[proud2BlibKansan]

43. But the sex offenders are on MSNBC

and John Stossel is on 20/20.

[cynatnite]

44. Is it normal for commentators to interject political issues?

They've done this a couple of times tonight.

[Maddy McCall]

45. I missed that.

What did they say? I was talking to MMjr...actually, telling him to "hush up" so I could hear.

[LynneSin]

46. Geez, could we be any cheerier when Iran walked in

hell Williams was goading the country into war the way he described that country. It was like this guy wants the rest of america to buy into the upcoming war with Iran

[cynatnite]

48. It was weird...

He was talking about Iran and their pres mentioning the holocaust cartoon contest and a minute later there goes Israel and he mentions the Spielberg movie 'Munich'.

[LynneSin]

54. What, was Katie Couric kidnapped or something

Williams is like the worst host there EVER. I'd mute the show but I'm kinda digging the music they're marching into (which btw, isn't all 80s music ASSHOLES).

And the worst is how Williams is sucking up to all these countries who are part of the "Coalition" like Mongolia actually did anything to help out with the war other than say they'd be part of the coalition

[NashVegas]

123. Couric Was Far, Far Worse Than Williams Could Have Ever Hoped To Be!

I'm so grateful to not have to listen to her snarkiness.

[tonyraytx]

47. Why do you think Brian is there tonight

It seen that if a country is in the news lately, he have to remind you of it.

[GalleryGod]

67. Yes! Since 1984 when Peter Jennings commented on every last

country that entered.:woohoo:

[CatholicEdHead]

81. If they had good taste they should not

As in theory the Olympics is a way for the world to come together in a peaceful way. Not to plug a war propaganda ideology.

[Maddy McCall]

49. Wonder if you can buy a CD of the songs from the opening ceremony?

They've played some really cheery music...I'd love to have a CD of the mix they are playing.

[cynatnite]

51. It's giving me a headache

The music is awful, but well, I hate disco anyway. :)

[Maddy McCall]

52. I hated it in the 70s...but it's kinda nostalgic for me now.

I actually like some of the stuff they are playing...even had the Eurythmics in the mix. :hi:

[cynatnite]

53. It wasn't bad when it started...

Now, it's obnoxious.

[LynneSin]

59. sweetie I could make you a mix

I think I have most of those songs somewhere in my collection

[Maddy McCall]

62. There's no way I could recall them all!

Thanks for the offer. :toast: :hi:

[CatholicEdHead]

83. You might find it at the offical Olympic Store

It is too busy to get into tonight, but try later when the traffic is lower.

https://www.olympicstore.it/e-shop/EN/index.asp

[Maddy McCall]

87. Thanks!! I'll certainly look later tonight!

I didn't even know that there's an Olympic store!

[texas1928]

50. Why do I find it funny that Mongolia marched out to...

Video killed the Radio star.

[Obamarama]

55. I'm digging the music they're playing, though!

Of course, Brain Williams said something about a "seemingly endless track of American dance music from the 80s." What an etno-centric asshat. MANY of the songs/groups I've been hearing are European artists.

[tonyraytx]

57. When the flame get there

They will light it in a Disco Ball

[LynneSin]

58. AAAAAARRRRRRRRR GGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!

MY EYES MY EYES MY EYES

She is so fricking scary!!!

[cynatnite]

60. I don't even need to ask

:rofl:

[LynneSin]

63. She had that look - the same one you seen in every single picture

:scared:

[Maddy McCall]

61. She looks absolutely evil, doesn't she?

My son had the exact same reaction you did. LOL! He was yelling, "Huuuu! Ugghh! Hooo!" LOL.

[SharonRB]

159. Must be Pickles!

I had the same reaction.

[GalleryGod]

64. Great Show. Great Pageantry.

Bob's Great....Brian's Eh?:shrug: better than having Hannity or IMUS.

[The empressof all]

65. After the Village People's YMCA it gets better

That was the hump moment for me. After the Renaissance Buffet it redeems itself.

[zone]

66. My wife tells me the Americans were a little obnoxious

Someone on their cellphone, Aretha Franklin singing about freedom in the background?

[Scout1071]

68. Agreed. The cellphone chick was the worst. What the hell?

You can't get off the phone for the 5 minute walk into the stadium at the Olympics?

[Maddy McCall]

70. Gotta admit...

it's so American culture. Teens and cells. :eyes:

:D

[Maddy McCall]

69. I didn't see that.

I was listening to MMjr. gagging when they fixed the camera on Bush wife.

[tonyraytx]

71. What?

No disco for Italy?

[dolo amber]

73. Did anyone see Ritchie Hawtin?

I heard he was involved with it, but forgot (read: couldn't be aresd) to watch...was he actually mixing, or did he just "compose"?

Why do I have the feeling this post will get zero replies... :think:

:D

[Maddy McCall]

76. Don't know Ritchie...

but if you have Directv or if you are on the West Coast, the show's just beginning on NBC.

:hi:

[dolo amber]

82. Bah!

I have/am neither. :(

Lemme know if a scrawny buzz-cut guy and a couple of turntables make an appearance. :hi:

[Maddy McCall]

88. I've got MMjr. on the watch for ya.

He said he hasn't seen him yet, but he's been bouncing off the walls while the show's been on. I dont' know why he's so excited about the olympics, but he is!

:hi:

[ralps]

74. Wow!!! A screaming Ferrari

:hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[LynneSin]

75. Yes, that great Olympic Winter Sport Formula 1 racing

:eyes:

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

77. What was the point of the Ferrari ?

I thought it was going to make the Olympic Rings out of the spinning but no . Ok that was a space filler - it went from dramatic dancing to Ferrari . The hell ?

[GalleryGod]

141. Ferrari is a product of the Torino area

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

144. I knew it was a product of Italy but I did'nt know it was made in Torrino

Thanks :)

[Maddy McCall]

78. My kid LOVED that.

I just wish I someone would give it to me, so that I could pay off my student loans. :D

[tonyraytx]

80. F1

See America, that real auto racing.

[pokerfan]

150. F1 and Grand Prix

See? We can turn left AND right. And sometimes we go up and down. Especially after the race!

I found that to be one of the highlights of the opening ceremonies, if only that the home town was finally allowed to present something uniquely their own, instead of endless US disco crap.

[texas1928]

79. Yeah Formula 1 Ferrari burn out.

YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:woohoo:

[cynatnite]

84. Some good women carrying the Olympic flag it looks like n/t

[LynneSin]

86. What a slap in the face to the Bush Regime - the America woman...

She's spoken at enough anti-war/pro-choice protests these past 6 years!!

[Maddy McCall]

89. Isn't she just beautiful--mind and body.

Talk about aging gracefully. She just exudes sexiness to me. :loveya:

[LynneSin]

93. Her and Sophia Loren. They were all beautiful women

and women who do much to help make this world a better place!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

151. I'm only 23 but...

I would go after Susan Sarandon in a second. I think I've had a crush on her since I first came out at like 15. Sophia Loren kind of scares me though. She looks fake.

[cynatnite]

91. I wondered if Laura would be pea green with envy

:evilgrin:

[libnnc]

92. That picture!! *swoon*

:loveya:

[tonyraytx]

99. Now Torino

Is on the Right-wing Sh*t list. Let see if they wish a terra attack during the Games now.

[LynneSin]

104. I hate to say it, I was thinking the same thing

I mean, they've hit every other country that signed up to fight with us so it worries me that Italy could be on the list.

I hope not!

[Maddy McCall]

85. Well, Pickles was in the stands, but Susan Sarandon was in da houze!

Didn't she look gorgeous, y'all? She and Sophia! Two beautiful women!! :D

[LynneSin]

90. All of them were beautiful women

Laura probably sat there with this same exact look when she saw Susan carrying the flag

[Maddy McCall]

95. I bet!

I just adore Susan Sarandon, though!

[zone]

94. I believe that was a triple sowcow...

[cynatnite]

96. What the hell is with those hats the USA team is wearing?

Almost looks like USSR on them. :rofl: Accident? I think not. :evilgrin:

[cynatnite]

98. And the people on the nets...reminds me of 'I, Robot'

during the climax of the movie.

[LynneSin]

100. My money is on Alberto Tomba lighting the torch

it should be coming up soon!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

108. That's my guess, too

:-)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

122. Oops, they faked us out!

He's only the first one to carry it into the stadium.

[Withywindle]

101. God, I'm such a book geek.

I just got way more excited about a glimpse of Isabel Allende carrying the flag than anything about Bode whatsisface.

Or maybe I'm just a bad American.

Hm. Maybe they're related somehow.

[DS1]

102. It looked really really really weird, until that

eagle thing they just did with the people in white suits on ropes

[tonyraytx]

103. It a dove

[DS1]

107. odd dove

the proportions looked like an eagle to me

[zone]

125. It's like an American dove

A peacekeeper with talons!

[cynatnite]

110. Yeah, I didn't know what to make of it n/t

[DS1]

105. but then Yoko showed up and ruined it for me

I hate her
I hate her for having to read such a simple thing
I hate her for having to read it so obviously
I hate her for bagism

[cynatnite]

106. Yoko rocks! n/t

[ralps]

109. Cool Peter Gabriel Singing "Imagine"

:hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[LynneSin]

111. Right about now Laura is praying for that extra Valium to start kicking in

But I'm loving it. They left that prime minister Silvio Berlusconi out of the Olympics - he was the suckup that drug Italy into this quagmire!

[Lorien]

114. I would have loved to see the look on Pickle's puss when he was

singing that song-heck, I wonder if she's ever heard it!

[tonyraytx]

112. Peter Gabriel Rocks

I like the peace theme at this year games.

[cynatnite]

120. I agree...

Listening to Brian Williams tonight about made me sick. That's one of the reasons I hate seeing politics mixed in with the Olympics. It has no place.

But this isn't political.

It's about peace.

[CatholicEdHead]

129. No profit in peace

and with the current regime/climate, EVERYTHING is political.

[Maddy McCall]

117. What a perfect ending to the ceremony.

It's all about PEACE. :D

[Lorien]

121. Has he been ill?

I haven't seen him in a number of years (saw him in concert about ten years ago). He seems to have aged as poorly as Loren has aged well; has he been in good health?

[DS1]

113. who is this guy singing Imagine?

ahh
Peter Gabriel

I thought he did a good job, seemed like he felt it

[henslee]

119. Nothing like hearing Imagine followed by a Coke commercial.

[bullwinkle428]

115. ""Imagine" - okay, now we're at the part of the ceremony where the Freeper

heads start to explode!!! :nuke:

SUH-WEET!!!!

[LynneSin]

116. Notice that Silvio Berlusconi was left out of the opening ceremonies

He's the Prime Minister of Italy who backed Bush into the war. Brian Williams said he wasn't there because he's up for re-election in May. I'm guessing the organizers in Torino didn't want the warmongerer there spoiling the event. Best to bring the Italian President who really is just a figurehead in the country to do the honors!

[devilgrrl]

142. " he's up for re-election in May...." Bollocks!!!

He wasn't there because he would have been booed out of the stadium! :mad:

[zone]

118. Yoko "oh no"

Sorry, I shouldn't have started a new thread. I was just so damned discusted I got excited:

>I'm sorry, but do you think Yoko could have taken the time to learn the lines to her short speech at the opening ceremonies? At least she remembered the brief lines to "Imagine" she recited and gave that huge and distracting piece of paper she was holding a rest. This display almost tops the American chick on the cellphone.<

[henslee]

124. Did Costas just say charismatic playboy skier? Hey I want that job.

[LynneSin]

127. You rich, italian and gorgeous - oh and can ski?

And I suppose be a bit of a cad when it comes to women?

That's Tomba

[ralps]

126. Wow!!!!! Great lighting of the torch

:hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[Scout1071]

131. Agreed. I loved it! nt

[Maddy McCall]

132. Most beautiful I've ever seen.

Much better than the SLC ceremony. This Olympic Ceremony started off quite hokeyly, but, after the parade of the Olympians, it became much better--indeed, I'd say it's the best Opening Ceremony I've seen since I began paying attention to the Olympics.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :bounce:

[susanna]

147. Well that's an affirmative for me...

Best.Torch.Lighting.Ever. Seriously, that rocked.

[NashVegas]

128. I Had to Giggle At the Venus Panty Wardrobe Malfunction

And how the camera zoomed the hell out of there and never returned to anything that looked closer than 200 feet away.

:rofl:

[Maddy McCall]

134. Deja Vu!

I had the same "Did that just happen" feeling that I had during the 39th Superbowl. :D

Glad it wasn't just me, and even happier that MMjr. didn't notice it, and if he did, that he didn't say anything! :blush:

:D

[TennesseeRain]

130. Well, now you've gone and done it.

I wasn't going to watch and, thanks to your thread, I'm still not. :P

[Maddy McCall]

135. Please watch! It gets much better after the parade of the Olympians.

Absolutely the best Opening Ceremony I've ever seen! :hi:

[susanna]

146. It might be just you and me, Maddy -

I thought the same. I didn't start watching 'til after the parade of the Olympians, but that said, I really loved it. So many things to absorb - kind of nice after the last 20 years of thematic, sweeping interpretations. This one touched a lot of different, non-thematic buttons for me. I liked it a great deal. :-)

[erinlough]

133. Nessun Dorma with Pavoratti, priceless n/t

[Maddy McCall]

136. Agreed.

:swoon:

[cynatnite]

139. Excellent! Turned up the volume! n/t

[johnfunk]

137. Aasaaaugh! Andrea Bocelli! Make him STOP! The PAIN! AAAAAAUGH!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!

[tonyraytx]

138. What wrong with Andrea Bocelli?

[GalleryGod]

140. Yes...Bocelli rocks!

[Neshanic]

143. YOKO ONO! AAAAAHHHH STOP!

[GalleryGod]

156. What were you on "time delay" You missed that comment by an hour?

Get some sleep. BTW...in case you didn't notice, this was an Old Europe event not some :puke: american pixar,disney cheese-tacular.

[johnfunk]

162. Ultimate torture: Duets album with Yoko Ono & Andrea Bocelli! AAAAAAAAUGH!

It'll be titled, "The Agony and the Agony." You'll prefer root canal without anesthesia, believe me.

[GalleryGod]

164. I'm just guessing here-that maybe Bocelli can sing a little bit better

than YOU ! Take your agenda to your own thread.."I Hate Opera"

24 Million buyers can't be ALL rong, can they?

[johnfunk]

165. The problem is, Bocelli's a crooner, not a very good "opera" singer...

... with his strange phrasing, pitch affectations and not-so-robust, small sound; I will concede that while I can't abide his singing for the most part, Bocelli is talented, and if you mike him he sounds reasonably good, but I doubt he'd cut it on, say, the stage of Chicago's Lyric Opera or the Seattle Opera House, let alone the MET or the Staatsoper Wien. Let's face it -- he's no Ben Heppner or Roberto Alagna; he's more of a crooner in the tradition of the prodigiously talented (and underrated) Sergio Franchi or, say, Mario Lanza (another brilliant singer who makes me want to stick needles through my eyes to drive away the sounds of his voice). When I want opera, gimme the three tenors: Alfredo Kraus, Jussi Bjoerling or Beniamino Gigli.

And for the record, I'm hardly an opera "hater"; I am a donor to Lyric Opera.

[swag]

145. Tell me about the celebrity nipple slips!

[NashVegas]

155. No Nipple Slips

But we did see the crotch of some supermodel's panties (see the Venus comment above).

[barb162]

154. yeah it was weird and I was surprised to see Yoko Ono in

sunglasses at nighttime, etc

[GalleryGod]

163. Good Moment.