Much of the Olympics opening ceremony brought back warm and fuzzy memories of my 2005 summer abroad in England. The Danny Boyle-directed performance -- which was, as the Telegraph put it, "brilliant, breathtaking, bonkers, and utterly British" -- depicted the nation's history from the early 19th century to present day. There was a parachuting Queen, J.K. Rowling, Voldemort, the Sex Pistols, and Beatles complete with yellow submarines, but one particularly poignant moment was edited out of the version we here in the U.S. saw on Friday night ...
The axed performance appeared to be a tribute to the victims of the 7/7/2005 terror attacks in London -- which claimed 52 lives just days after the 2012 Summer Olympic hosts were named -- set the song "Abide With Me" by Scottish singer Emeli Sandé. NBC made the now widely criticized decision to replace the sensitive segment with ... Ryan Seacrest interviewing Michael Phelps! What on earth were they thinking?!
Now, to be fair, there appeared to be some confusion if the performance itself was a tribute to the 7/7 victims. The official media guide to the opening ceremony made no reference to it as a 7/7 memorial. The choreographer, Akram Khan, said the theme was mortality, but we Americans still did not see a video tribute to the victims that came on right before the cut performance. And regardless, both the video and the performance were sensitive moments to edit out for something as inane as a Seacrest interview with Phelps!
Defending the decision, NBC spokesman Greg Hughes said:
Our programming is tailored for the U.S. audience. It's a tribute to [producer] Danny Boyle that it required so little editing.
Ridiculous! As an American who was in London during the 7/7 attacks, I am beyond insulted by this poor decision-making on their part. Even if I hadn't been there in 2005 -- terrified to go back to traveling the city by foot or, especially, by tube (aka subway) -- I would be. Does NBC believe that we as Americans are not supposed to care or commiserate, because the attack didn't happen on our shores? SO ignorant! Not to mention, it sends a dangerous message globally, that once again, self-centered America could care less about an international crisis that we believe didn't affect us directly. But the truth is that it did directly and indirectly affect Americans. And even if it hadn't, the move was incredibly tone-deaf and insensitive.
Consider the Daily Kos' analogy:
Can you imagine the BBC opting to cut out a tribute to 9-11 at a future Olympics held in the States because it wasn't "tailored for a UK audience"? If that happened, suffice to say the switchboards at BBC Broadcasting House would have blown a fuse.
Of course, we don't know whether or not NBC realized what a glaring error they were making when they cut the segment, but for their refusal to stand corrected, they definitely deserve all the criticism directed their way. There's no question: This was an #NBCFail.
Watch the cut performance here ...
Are you offended by NBC's decision?
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Comments 19
I also blame the IOC for even allowing NBC exclusive rights. It should be allowed on all networks, and best man wins.
I am more outraged that the Brits refused a moment of silence in memory of the Israeli athletes killed 40 years ago at the Munich Olympics.
While I thought the ceremony itself was rather boring and dull, I thought it was strange they stuck that interview in the middle of it and could not believe it was Ryan Seacrest. Ugh why does everyone think he's so great? Getting back on topic, they should not have cut this out for any reason.
I just think about the English men and women (along with men and women from across the globe) setting up memorials and crying after the 9-11 attacks. We are all brothers and sisters on this planet and for the most part GB has been tremendously supportive of the US. There is a cultural kinship and I feel NBC's decision diminishes that bond.
I thought the Phelps interview was bizarrely out of place...
Even more bizarre considering they did not air the actual Phelps race live.
...and then there's that interesting choice of starting their timeline after we "ran away from home," aka the American Revolution.
Not only that, but in the scene when Frankie and June kiss, many couples are shown kissing...NBC edited out a kiss between two women. Such a kiss raises little fuss in the UK, where homosexuality is much less taboo.
That was certainly not an oversight on NBC's part.