34 replies to this topic

[Matthew Winn]

I didn't watch it for fear that something would go embarrassingly wrong, what with ineptitude being the British national sport and all. But then I don't remember ever having watched an opening ceremony anyway.

[isabel]

Loved it Fantastic. The Queen, Bond and Mr Bean were the highlights Haha

[mallardo]

I'm currently in Los Angeles and watched the coverage here on NBC so I had to contend with inane commentators explaining the UK to Americans plus a s***load of commercial breaks.  Apart from the spectacular effects, the highlight for me was the tribute to the NHS which sent the commentators into a frenzy of elucidation to the effect that while the issue of National Health Care is contentious in the US, the Brits LOVE it!  Hopefully this will have registered with some of the more dim-witted around here.

[VDCNI]

I was lucky enough to be in the stadium and well it was an incredible experience from start to finish.

[xanderl]

mallardo, on 28 July 2012 - 06:31 PM, said:

I'm currently in Los Angeles and watched the coverage here on NBC so I had to contend with inane commentators explaining the UK to Americans plus a s***load of commercial breaks.  

You will have missed the "Abide with Me" section (an oblique 7/7 tribute) which NBC decided to cut, then!

[Minsky]

One inane USA blogger, described the Queen as as really bad look alike!!!

[shetlander]

no it was the right queen! they were no add brakes as it was the bbc and they dont have them - it was amasing you need to get to see it all withough brakes

[peggs]

mallardo, on 28 July 2012 - 06:31 PM, said:

I'm currently in Los Angeles and watched the coverage here on NBC so I had to contend with inane commentators explaining the UK to Americans plus a s***load of commercial breaks.  Apart from the spectacular effects, the highlight for me was the tribute to the NHS which sent the commentators into a frenzy of elucidation to the effect that while the issue of National Health Care is contentious in the US, the Brits LOVE it!  Hopefully this will have registered with some of the more dim-witted around here.

would love to know how they explained some of it, did it translate to overseas audiences? I'm not fussed if it didn't i'm just curious as to they explained the britishness

[Rozzi Rainbow]

Jenny_tyr, on 27 July 2012 - 08:12 PM, said:

loved the children from all parts of Britain singing that wonderfully rousing song Jerusalem

I too really enjoyed that, especially the choir singing from the Giants Causeway. It was only the English choir singing Jerusalem, the choirs in the other countries were singing their own anthems.

I also loved Mr Bean in Chariots of Fire, and the inclusion of Bohemian Rhapsody. I gave up at midnight due to having to get up early yesterday for a theatre trip, so haven't yet seen all of the ending, but what I've seen on the news looks brilliant, especially the lighting of the cauldron.

[mallardo]

]
"would love to know how they explained some of it, did it translate to overseas audiences? I'm not fussed if it didn't i'm just curious as to they explained the britishness."


Explanation was probably the wrong word for me to use.  It was more or less filling the folks in on British history as the green fields gave way to smokestacks, etc.  It was all a bit simple but very positive.  Americans love England, as any Brit who has travelled here knows, so Mr. Boyle's spectacle went down very well.

Re the NHS segment, it's perhaps fortunate that NBC had the coverage.  They are regarded as the most "liberal" and pro-Obama of US networks and seemed happy to say something in favour of National Health.  If the coverage had gone to the Fox Network the segment would have been buried under a commercial.