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NBC gets gold for ceremonies broadcast; pity they didn't hang around for fireworks
By Scott D. Pierce
Deseret News television editor
As it has throughout the Salt Lake Olympics, NBC did itself — and Utah — proud during Sunday night's closing ceremonies, mostly because, unlike past Games, the network actually showed viewers most of the performances.
Of course, it might have been nice if they'd stuck around for the much talked-about fireworks show in the prime-time program. In-stadium hosts Dan Hicks and Mary Carillo ran off at the mouth occasionally, but they were a decided improvement upon the non-stop chatter of Bob Costas and Katie Couric during the opening ceremonies.
There were, of course, commercial breaks. But NBC went more than 20 minutes without ads on three separate occasions.
And, by focusing on the performers and the athletes, NBC managed to convey the energy emanating from Rice-Eccles Stadium.
There was plenty of power — the performers included 'N Sync, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gloria Estefan, Donny and Marie Osmond, Willie Nelson, Charlotte Church, Josh Groban, Christina Aguilera, Bon Jovi, Harry Connick Jr., and KISS.
CBS, the network of the past three Winter Olympics that was shut out of bidding for the Salt Lake Games — provided a prelude to the ceremonies with a "60 Minutes" report about the bid scandal. There wasn't anything new in the segment, but it was an opportunity for bid chairman Tom Welch and Gov. Mike Leavitt to call each other liars.
But the word "bid scandal" were never uttered on NBC on Sunday night. And nothing could detract from the ceremonies themselves.
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February 25, 2002
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