Olympics: Opening Ceremonies, Fencing, Beach Volleyball, Men's Gymnastics

[mlleelizabeth]

I think I had better write down a semi-coherent version of my impressions of the Opening Ceremonies before time erodes my memory of them too much, so here goes:

Comments

[kellychenault]

Except when the American athletes were walking in, George W. Bush was either looking horribly bored and annoyed and fidgeting or talking to Vladimir Putin.

My husband I and totally noticed this as well. We took turns mocking Bush ("I wish I had some nachos." "When do I get to see the Cowboys?" To Putin: "Let's blow this joint and go get some beers. And hookers. Heh heh." etc) throughout.

[mlleelizabeth]

Hahahaha! Someone needs to get screencaps so you can caption them with your mocking comments! I would not be really surprised if that actually was something he said to Putin.

[sithwitch13]

The Bushs's (Bushes's?) reactions were what kept me watching the parade of nations (and to be fair, I can't blame them for being bored. I fell asleep at my own college graduation, which had a hell of a lot less names being called and people walking around than that, and I was in that). My favorite was when Iraq walked in. Bush had this blank look on his face, and Laura had this angry forced "COCKSUCKERS" smile. I rolled off the couch laughing.

[mlleelizabeth]

Bushes', I think.

But you were a college student sitting through a ceremony before you could go really celebrate your years of hard work. Bush, on the other hand, is still President of the United States, visiting a foreign country and attending a ceremony in an official capacity. So I hold him to a much higher standard. Also, you didn't have the whole world watching you and he did. I didn't really notice how frozen Laura was, but you someone else mentioned that below. I'm going to have to go find it online because I think it'll make me laugh pretty hard, as well.

[meret]

George W. Bush was either looking horribly bored and annoyed and fidgeting or talking to Vladimir Putin.

ITA. He kept looking at his watch too. :(

[mlleelizabeth]

Ugh. I didn't notice him looking at his watch. That's even more embarrassing.

[crossbow1]

The Bushes: Laura is always better behaved than George. I always wonder why she puts up with him. She looked REALLY fake, though. She had this frozen smile and blank stare the whole night.

[mlleelizabeth]

I agree. I don't understand why she married him. I didn't really notice the fakeness, but I'm going to have to go back and rewatch. But at least she understood she was representing America on camera to pretty much the entire world.

[mlleelizabeth]

I wouldn't have been too surprised to see Bush sleeping, either. Embarrassed as hell, yes, but not all that surprised.

I think you're right NBC cut the pledge because the show ran so long, but it made the ceremony seem so incomplete to me!

ITA about the US outfits and about the African/island countries' outfits. They seem to have a great combination of super-traditional British Empire style formalish sportswear combined with traditional costumes. I think maybe some of them put more effort in because the Parade of Nations is the main place they'll be seen.

And I am laughing so hard at your PR image! I hope they really did that. Maybe Daniel finally got a clue!

(edited because Oops! Wrong icon!)