n Thu, Sep 13, 2012 at 8:53 AM, Joe Hass <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Thu, Sep 13, 2012 at 10:31 AM, Tom Wolper <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > When NBC got the schedule of events for the opening ceremony that was > > listed as a music act and not a tribute to terror victims. They did > > not intentionally blow off the tribute. > > The creator of the routine said afterwards it was not intended to be a > tribute to the 2005 attacks victims, but instead to all those who > could not be with us, for whatever reason. I think it was the BBC who > made the initial incorrect connection. > > That said: what Mr Coughlin said. I am not sure what the underlying point is here anymore. If it is anything like "NBC hates America" or "NBC News is soft on terrorists", then I think this is all silly. It reminds me of nothing so much as that Seinfeld episode in which Kramer resists wearing the AIDS ribbon. Carrying ground zero ceremonies live on a national news program can no longer (if it ever could) be used as a litmus test of a network's patriotism, or humanity. I think it is highly unlikely that the Today Show was planing on covering the ceremonies, then somebody said "wait, we can get one of the Khardasians, that is a much better story than recognizing the death of 3000 Americans to religious fanatacism 11 years ago". If the point is that NBC News (like most of its cousins) has consistently abdicated any journalistic responsibility to use its precious air time to do real news, and instead fills it with popular tripe and fluff, then that point is valid, though by this time itself no longer news. The Olympic bru ha ha was the same; the song and rememberance of those not with us was not represented by Danny Boyle or anyone associated with the Olympics as a tribute to or memorial of the victims of terrorism; the BBC announcers made that inference on their own. NBC cut away from it not because they love the terrorists, but for the same reason they ruin thier coverage of Olympic swimming and gymnastics in primetime - to pander to every possible set of eyeballs to squeeze out higher ratings. And they were no doubt right that fewer people turned off thier TVs during a meaningless Phelps interview than would have during a rather odd ballet and 4 minute halting rendetion of "Abide with Me". I am very critical of NBC Sports for disrespecting the integrity of the sports to pander for more viewers; and if they are going to show the Opening Ceremonies (which I don't care much about) then they probably should show the whole thing, and minimize our exposure to both Seacrest and Phelps-cum-celebrity. But I don't think either the Today Show or Olympic coverage is evidence that NBC somehow cares less about terroism victims than other multi-million dollar corporations. -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
