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Commentary: NBC’s Olympic obsession with celebrities is a little cringe

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Commentary: NBC's Olympic obsession with celebrities is a little cringe

As a long-time sports enthusiast who has witnessed numerous Olympic Games, I find myself torn between admiration for the incredible athletic feats displayed by the competitors and a growing frustration with the intrusion of celebrity culture into the coverage of these events.

During the early stages of the 2024 Summer Olympics held in Paris, NBC’s extensive broadcasting hasn’t just focused on athletic achievement. Instead, a variety of themes have been highlighted throughout their coverage.

TV personalities, with their renowned figures gracing the spectator areas, broadcasting on-site, and appearing remotely, have become the focus of Olympic fascination for broadcasters. This week, Tracy Brown and Greg Braxton, two enthusiastic spectators of the Games from The Times, debated whether this celebrity involvement serves as an engaging draw for casual viewers or if it takes away from the awe-inspiring achievements of the athletes.

As a casual viewer, I’m finding myself deeply engaged in the Paris Games, roughly one-third completed. The athletes have been nothing short of extraordinary – hats off to both the men’s and women’s U.S. gymnastics teams for their inspiring victories, heartwarming achievements, and tear-jerking setbacks. Among the many standouts, two lesser-known figures have captured my admiration: pommel horse champion Clark Kent Stephen Nedoroscik and rugby sevens (and social media) sensation Ilona Maher. It’s a privilege to join in the collective cheer for these athletes who are now shining in the global spotlight.

As a long-time sports enthusiast and someone who has attended numerous events, I must say that the integration of celebrities into NBC’s coverage of these games is an interesting twist. On one hand, it adds a new dimension to the viewing experience, providing insights from famous figures who share our passion for sports. However, on the other hand, I can’t help but feel a bit divided about it.

After the grand opening ceremony, I’m still catching my breath and processing everything, particularly the continuous commentary from our host, Kelly Clarkson. It was reassuring to see that many online users shared my feelings, expressing their confusion (“What is she doing here?”).

In this gathering, Leslie Jones and Katie Ledecky’s mutual enthusiasm felt a tad awkward to me, offering little new insight. It’s fascinating how the Olympics brings together icons like Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) and Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), under one roof. Some celebrities seemed to be among the common spectators, such as Spike Lee and Matthew Broderick with his wife Sarah Jessica Parker. Lady Gaga was spotted in a luxury box donning dark shades. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Ervio were seated together, likely promoting their upcoming film “Wicked” more than cheering for sports. I suspect that’s the case, at least. The situation of ‘Saturday Night Live’s’ Jost covering surfing in Tahiti left me with a sense of detachment. He seemed so distant from the main event; perhaps he would have been better off in Paris. As for Scarlett Johansson, I couldn’t spot her in the crowd.

On that unforgettable evening of the group competition, I found myself surrounded by a glittering array of stars, as if I was attending a red-carpet event rather than a gymnastics meet. Simone Biles and her teammates shone brightly, but they were joined by an impressive lineup of celebrities. The likes of Natalie Portman, Lee, Bob Costas (oh, how we yearn for his commentary!), Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Bill Gates, and the indomitable Serena Williams all graced our screens. What a star-studded spectacle it was!

As an ardent fan, I must admit, what’s striking so far is that none of the Kardashians have graced an event yet. However, we’re still in the early stages, and who knows? The basketball final, especially if the U.S team is playing, might just be the occasion they choose to make their appearance.

As a movie critic, allow me to express my sentiments candidly: It’s frustrating, given your enthusiasm for basketball, that Michael Che seems less than thrilled about covering the games. He’s supposedly an avid surfer, yet he makes it sound as if getting assigned to cover a sport he adores in a stunning tropical location is nothing short of tedious. I get that he was injured, but the jokes haven’t been hitting the mark for me. Surfing deserves better comedic treatment!

I concur that the Jones’ sit-down interview with Ledecky didn’t quite resonate as expected, perhaps due to my lack of expertise in such matters. However, I’ve always admired Jones’ infectious passion for athletes, as evidenced by our frequent encounters at L.A. Sparks games. In fact, her commentary is often appreciated, if social media buzz is anything to go by. She truly popularized the concept of being a celebrity superfan and excelled in it during her role in covering the past two Olympics. Frankly, I was taken aback that this role appears to have been assigned to Snoop Dogg for this particular event.

One unexpected Olympics x celebrity crossover I do appreciate is how Flavor Flav came to be a real supporter for the U.S. women’s water polo team, who are competing for a record fourth consecutive Olympic title. When the support is authentic and the story organic, it’s much more compelling. Or else it comes across as just opportunistic marketing, like the TV spot NBC ran that linked the women’s gymnastics team to the upcoming film “Wicked” because of all of the women defying gravity…

As a long-time fan of Snoop Dogg, I must admit that having him involved has added a unique and exciting element to my project. However, I’ve found myself torn between being thrilled about his presence and feeling a bit overwhelmed at times, given my lack of experience with celebrities. To be honest, I haven’t had any major surprises yet, but I’m keeping an open mind and hoping for some unexpected moments of collaboration or camaraderie. So far, it’s been a mix of awe-inspiring and slightly nerve-wracking, but I’m looking forward to seeing where this journey takes us both.

In a nod to Snoop Dogg before discussing him, I’d like to first extend my cardboard medal to NBC for their outstanding coverage on what is expected to be the climactic night of the games – the U.S. women’s gymnastics team securing the gold medal in team competition on Tuesday. Unfortunately, NBC seemed to delay our anticipation for the grand finale of The Redemption Tour by airing around 45 minutes of swimming events, including semifinals and numerous advertisements.

As someone who has spent countless hours in the pool training for swimming competitions, I must say that watching Snoop Dogg struggle to keep afloat during his swim lesson with Michael Phelps was a sight to behold! It reminded me of my own humbling beginnings when I first started learning how to swim. The look on Snoop’s face as he flailed about in the water, gasping for air and struggling to stay afloat, was a testament to the challenges that come with learning something new, no matter how famous or accomplished you may be. And let me tell you, I know all too well the feeling of embarrassment and frustration that comes with not being able to do something as seemingly simple as swimming. But just like Snoop, I persevered and eventually became a strong swimmer. So kudos to Snoop for taking on this challenge and showing us all that it’s never too late to learn something new!

It could have used some comedic punch from Jost.

Otherwise, drop it cause it’s not… hot.

In my opinion, the evening’s coverage was a disappointing reflection of NBC’s prime-time approach during recent Games – it often halted the excitement of what I, and many other viewers, eagerly anticipate by inserting filler content that we simply don’t care about. Semifinals? Sure, they might be important, but why not focus on the heart of the action: witnessing history in the making with the most exceptional gymnastics team ever. The broadcast even missed showing the U.S. women’s gold-medal ceremony! Perhaps they were busy capturing Snoop Dogg learning the art of fencing instead? It feels like a missed opportunity to truly immerse viewers in the Olympic experience.

Despite the focus returning to the competition, it was frequently disrupted by segments detailing the team’s voyage. These segments could have just as easily been shown earlier or instead of the swimming events.

It seems NBC got caught up in a dilemma. After investing such a large sum for the Olympics, there’s someone who needs to shoulder the costs. Regrettably, it often falls on the audience.

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2024-07-31 20:31

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