A few days into the competition in Paris, sporting glory isn’t the only topic dominating NBC’s wall-to-wall coverage of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
The celebrity, in the form of famous faces watching from the stations, reporting from the sidelines and shining from the studio, has reached the level of Olympic frustration for the network. Tracy Brown and Greg Braxton, two of The Times’ most avid sports commentators, sat down this week to discuss whether it’s been an effective hook for casual fans or a distraction from the incredible work of athletes.
Tracy Brown: We’re over a third of the Paris Games and the athletes are delivering as usual — shout out to the US men’s and women’s gymnastics teams — with inspiring victories, apparent heartbreaks and more. As an informal speaker for most of these sports, one of my favorite things to do is to be part of the collective reception of athletes who were once not household names, such as the pommel horse. Clark Kent Stephen Nedoroscik and rugby sevens (and the media). ) star Ilona Maher.
These athletes have star power in their own right and this is their time to shine, but I don’t realize that NBC news is also trying to capitalize on the celebrity power of these sports. There are comments from various Hollywood A-listers attending these events, including Natalie Portman, Spike Lee, Tom Cruise, Lady Gaga, Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, as well as many more. those involved. by providing information in official positions such as Snoop Dogg, Leslie Jones and Colin Jost. I had mixed feelings about the success of NBC’s strategy – did I care what John Mulaney was watching (and playing) in Paris? No. But I wonder how you got the celebrity presence so far, Greg. Did they stand out to you while watching these games?
Greg Braxton: I’m still recovering from the opening ceremony and host Kelly Clarkson’s incessant chatter. I felt vindicated when I saw all the internet complaints about him (“Why is he there???”).
Leslie Jones and Katie Ledecky’s cheating part was also confusing and didn’t add much. It’s interesting to see the combination – the Olympics is the only place where Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) and Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) are in the same building. Some of the celebrities appear to be in familiar seats, such as Spike Lee and Broderick and his wife Sarah Jessica Parker. Lady Gaga was in a luxury box wearing dark sunglasses. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Ervio were staying together until they closed their upcoming movie “Wicked” as avid sports fans, I suspect. I also sympathize with “Saturday Night Live’s” Jost about surfing in Tahiti. He seems so far removed from the real action – he would have been better served in Paris. And where is the woman Scarlett Johansson?
Predictably, there were plenty of stars shining on the court during Simone Biles’ and her USA Women’s Gymnastics team’s big night at the team competition. Lee, Portman, Bob Costas (boy, do we miss him!), Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Bill Gates and Serena Williams all got camera time.
The strangest thing so far is that Kardashian hasn’t been to one of the events yet. But it’s still early. Maybe the basketball finals, especially if the American team competes.
Brown: Don’t cheat on basketball teams! Ever since you mentioned him, I’ve been annoyed that Jost, who is supposed to be an enthusiast, made it seem like he was being sent to a beautiful tropical island to play the game he loves. I understand that he was injured, but the piece never reached me. Surfing deserves better!
And I believe Jones’ conversation with Ledecky didn’t translate. Admittedly I don’t really like this stuff but I generally enjoy Jones’ enthusiasm for these athletes (I see him at LA Sparks games all the time) and I think his commentary is something the audience enjoys, at least on social media. I feel like you really made him a very popular person thing and he put it to good use when he officially intervened in the affairs of the last few Olympics. I was surprised that the role seems to be on Snoop Dogg this time.
Another unexpected Olympics x celebrity crossover that I appreciate is how Flavor Flav became a real supporter of the US women’s water polo team, competing for the record fourth of consecutive Olympic titles. When the support is real and the story is natural, it’s even more powerful. Or else it comes across as opportunistic advertising, like the NBC TV spot that linked a women’s fitness club to the upcoming movie “Wicked” because of all the gravity-defying women …
I’m curious how you’ve been finding Snoop’s role, Greg. Or have you had any fun celebrity surprises or was it confusing?
Braxton: Before I rant about Snoop, I have to give my cardboard award to NBC on what could be the biggest night in sports — the US women’s gymnastics team wins gold in the team competition Tuesday . Before we could enjoy the final chapter of The Redemption Tour, NBC treated viewers to nearly 45 minutes of action packed footage, including the finale and non-stop commercials.
Which brings me to Snoop, who made a small appearance in which he received swimming lessons from Olympian Michael Phelps. The skit was more painful than Jost’s leg injury in Tahiti – gulpp gulpp from Dog Dog.
It could have used a comedic punch from Jost.
Otherwise, leave it because it’s not… hot.
The evening was also a prime example of what viewers hate about NBC’s prime-time coverage of the recent Games – undermining the power of what viewers really want to see by delaying what they want. indifferent. Why is the team in the semifinals? Why is there an ambiguous feature on swimmer Regan Smith and her cat, or an explanation of how lanes are assigned in competitive swimming? All I want to see is the greatest gymnastics team in history in action. The broadcast did not even show the US women’s gold medal ceremony. Maybe they were filming Snoop getting wire lessons?
And even when the light returned to the competition, it was interrupted by additional packages about the team’s trip, which could easily be shown in advance or at the swimming event.
I think NBC had a twist. But when you spend that much money on the Olympics, someone has to pay the bill. Unfortunately, they are spectators.
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