Too many talking heads ruin look at Utah's Olympic legacy

"Beyond the Games: Utah's Olympic Legacy," which airs today at noon on KSL-Ch. 5, is a truly well-intentioned documentary that does exactly what the title suggests — looks at the legacy of the 2002 Winter Olympics as it relates to the state that hosted them.

But great intentions don't always make for great TV. And the program seems much longer than its hourlong running time. (And I was watching it without commercials.)

The locally produced program opens with 4 minutes and 14 seconds — an eternity in TV time and nearly one-tenth of the show's actual running time — of Tristan Gale talking about winning her gold medal in the skeleton. And it's almost entirely talking. We see the Utahn's head in front of a flag; we see the credits roll by; we see a few still-camera shots. That's it.

Television is a visual medium. And there are not nearly enough visuals in "Beyond the Games." Sitting and watching talking heads does not make for an engaging experience.

Which is not to say that Gale's tale isn't worthwhile, interesting and inspiring. It just doesn't play well.

"Beyond the Games" lets athletes and various officials talk about how great it is that having world-class facilities here has encouraged young Utahns to take up winter sports and how great it is to have those facilities available.

There is, however, no mention of the fact that the private foundation that runs those facilities is laying people off and is looking for an infusion of tax money to close a budget gap of more than $6 million per year — a rather serious omission.

But that might have put a pall on a program that states (in graphics) up front, "While memories of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games may fade over time, the soul of the Games lives on as Utah Olympic Oval, Utah Olympic Park and Soldier Hollow offer the proving grounds for the next generation of medalists. And they may well provide the lasting legacy of Salt Lake 2002."

Great sentiments. But not a great documentary.

SAY IT AIN'T SO: Not that either of these is completely sports-related, but the ever-annoying reality-show genre is growing to include two sports figures. Well, two sort-of sports figures.

Mark Cuban, the outspoken, egomaniacal owner of the Dallas Mavericks, will be the "star" of "The Benefactor," an ABC series in which he'll give somebody a million bucks. Then cameras will follow the newly minted millionaire and, of course, Cuban.

At least Cuban is telegenic. And he has plenty of experience handing out millions of dollars to people who don't necessarily deserve it. (Think Shawn Bradley, among others.)

Elsewhere, NBC is planning something called "The Contender" — a boxing version of "The Apprentice" that will feature Sylvester Stallone playing the role performed by Donald Trump in that other show.

I don't mean to complain, but I need to be paid more money to watch this stuff.

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E-mail: pierce@desnews.com