The fact that they say they didn't know it was about 7/7 victims ( which i don't think it entirely was) is totally missing the point. They tape delayed it and chose not to include it upon seeing it.
NBC paid a fortune to gain the rights, so they're entitled to make some creative choices about what they show and don't, and when to squeeze every cent of value out. Its widely understood they will make a loss, so if they think cutting a sombre number from the opening and replacing it with a feel-good home-spun interview, good luck to them.
Its a business, after all.
:-(
A former member
According to The Express, Trevor Nelson will be back for the closing ceremony.
As sports presenter Hazel Irvine and newsreader Huw Edwards provided much of the factual information during the athletes' parade, Nelson, 48, was criticised for his "useless" input.
But the BBC insisted: "We are very happy with his contribution and will be using him again for the closing ceremony."
Twitter was flooded with viewers describing disbelief and amusement when Nelson suggested the millions watching at home were missing out and also pointed to his family in the crowd.
Didn't expect, of course, that there will be so many comments, as ive been taking a rest in the countryhouse for 3 days(there's a tv with terrible quality and transmission of Belarus 2 channel).
But i want to tell you what did I like the most?
Overall
This ceremony made me proud of Britain more than ever. And I saw practically everything what Britain brought to the world. (especially in cultural and industrial issue)
Of course, I rate it 8.9/10.
Cauldron part was the most difficult and the most amazing, professional part of the show.
At first, especially i liked "Friday(or Saturday, whatever) Party Night" part.
I want to find some of those great pieces of british music.
I think, its quite interesting idea to integrate some part of interactivity(i mean, while there's a disco, a lovely couple trying to find the dropped phone and come together then)
As I suspected, all of you liked a part with "Mr.Bean". That was quite nice.
Classic and standard(maybe, it seems annoying for someone) british humour
Disappointments
The most boring part was the flag ceremony, as it's quite annoying to see at 1am how athletes from 200 countries(so odd) marching.
(that i turned off tv at 1.30pm local time)
However, the most ankward moment in the Flags ceremony was marching of 4 Independent Olympic Athletes. I think they were real trolls. They looked happier, much more happier than others.
But there was a repeat of flags ceremony by Belarus 2 channel, and there were bunch of cuts, only current allies of Belarus were showed.
Didn't expect, of course, that there will be so many comments, as ive been taking a rest in the countryhouse for 3 days(there's a tv with terrible quality and transmission of Belarus 2 channel).
But i want to tell you what did I like the most?
Okay here's my tuppence worth.
Gernerally very impressed with the Ceremony watch on BBC HD.
Trevor Nelson I could take or leave.
Female PA I thought dreadfull, but beyond braodcaster's control.
Puzzled why a lot of VT clips in as part of the story telling were in the wrong aspect ratio - a basic error in my opinion.
The commentators either had no cueing or did not understand when music was building,
eg Mike Oldfields Tubular Bells and guitar solos - both of which were missed. Surely the point of "Tubular Bells" is...?
And finally as much as enjoyed Rowan Atkinson as Bean it would have nice to see the orchestra he was playing with rather than just at the very start and end.
Cauldron and synced fireworks brilliant.
Either way it was a technical triumph for the organisers and broadcasters.
During the section highlighting the best in British TV and film, we the viewers could only see snippets, the rest was projected onto a house in the stadium. Does anyone know if that montage footage is available to view?
However, the most ankward moment in the Flags ceremony was marching of 4 Independent Olympic Athletes. I think they were real trolls. They looked happier, much more happier than others.
There were quite a few complains from people on Twitter that the viewing angles were bad from the stand and other people were obscuring their view. I was watching it on a 42inch TV in 3D and surround sound, best way IMHO. Glad I wasn't there as many are! Most people went for the common sense approach of getting tickets for the events, me included.
Each to their own, but I wouldn't have swapped being there for the world, the energy and atmosphere in the stadium was incredible, it was such an emotional, thrilling experience to be part of and something I'll never forget.
I was at the very back so didn't really get a good view of the fireworks, but everything else was fine. The only seats I could see that would have had bad viewing angles would have been the ones right behind the tree, which were the last ones to be sold, complete with warnings.
That's one thing I don't get about complaints about the number of 3D cameras. Surely the idea of 3D is that it's supposed to feel like you're there - and if you're there you'll be watching it from one view.
As for the fireworks - complete contrast to Beijing really. I don't think there were any fireworks until after midnight, and I didn't miss them one bit.
I'm watching it back now and bizarrely the section with the very short clips of various TV series features Modern Family (just before Sally Webster makes her cameo). All the rest seem to be British. Bit strange.