Comments on: Canadtonia: The Vancouver Wither Olympics

By: Eugene Finerman

Eugene Finerman — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:36:56 +0000

Brent,

From a historic perspective, I can understand the appeal of curling. The Scots would find it more fun than Culloden.

Euan

By: Brent Hoffmann

Brent Hoffmann — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:54:31 +0000

Gene: Bless the Winter Olympics which, every four years, reminds us there is a sport called “curling,” played by plaid-pantsed men who have laid up their golf clubs for the winter. It’s a diversion widely practiced in far-northern climes, even by the under-40. I know, having lettered in it at Wausau Sr. High School. (Despite what you would think, the captain of the curling team does not “get the girl.”)

By: Eugene Finerman

Eugene Finerman — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:25:06 +0000

Dear Mr. Gury,

I know that Canada does have one wandering tribe, and they are indeed the Abe-Originals. Its members include William Shatner, Leonard Cohen, Mia Kirchner and, of course, the Bronfmans. (I could also mention David Frum but why embarrass Canada.)

As a Turner Classic Movie addict, I certainly know the Nelson Eddy/Jeanette MacDonald canon. And you are right: Canada did look better on a MGM backlot than “in person.”

And despite my apparent adolescence, I am old enough to remember the ’68 Winter Olympics in Grenoble. However, my memories might be idiosyncratic. For instance, I seem to recall the broadcast with 11-year-old Matt Lauer and 16-year-old Bobby Costas.

Matt: The opening ceremonies will begin with President Charles DeGaulle. You know, in French, his name means “of Gaulle”.

Bobby: The Chairman of NBC has said that I can’t slug you more than three times per day.

Matt: And I’ve been warned about saying “oui, oui.” But it is so funny ’cause…you know. Ouch. I’m telling!

And, as I recall, after Matt began a discourse on “the silly way the French say John”, Matt put him in a headlock and the two had to be separated by Huntley and Brinkley.

Eugene

By: Michael Gury

Michael Gury — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:22:58 +0000

Dear Mr. Finerman, as usual your true Olympic spirit shines through in your review. But let’s erase from our minds the failure of Wayne Gretzky’s torch to emerge from the stage, and his triumphal (emergency) parade in the back of a pick-up truck to light something else with a torch outside in the streets. Back indoors actors (temporarily employed) were swinging around in harnesses on cables from the ceiling with skis on. I couldn’t possible comment on the oratory delivered by the officials of this much-anticipated and august event other than to say that the encomium began to set in. I remember a bunch of people with violins running around and some Grizzly Adams guy up there doing Canadian poetry and a number of what they called “aboriginal” tribal people dancing around in the opening (I have to do some research but I’d personally call them “indigenous” — I had no idea they wandered around; well maybe some of them did). The stagecraft was a bit lacking in that there were giant mysterious blobs created from fabric that emerged from the floor on the director’s cue, then there was some kind of shower of paper confetti that I later learned were paper versions of what maple trees produce. Surely the highlight was the confetti of costumes assumed by the teams that entered the stadium. Personally I felt that the team from Bermuda was impressive in their shorts and high calf socks, although I think they only have one Olympian competitor, however the fashion made a statement.

Speaking of which, Nelson Eddy, made a fashion statement in “Rose Marie”, with his Canadian Mountie outfit donned for Jeanette MacDonald. Of course, he wasn’t Canadian, but we miss them both against the phony background of Canada as provided by the cinema.

You are surely too young to remember this, but there was a winter Olympics opening in Grenoble decades ago that was wonderful, slightly bizarre, and worked quite well. I cannot say that this one worked as well.

By: Mary Ann Jung

Mary Ann Jung — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:48:48 +0000

Vancouver wins the Gold Medal for the Most Boring Opening Ceremonies, music, and speeches. Oh, and worst French accent heard round the world. Couldn’t the Frenchman after him have coached?!