Eleven Ways Watching the Olympics Is Like Watching American Idol

News Type: Opinion — Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:13 PM EDT

1 - Things are said to be live that are not actually live

2 - On both programs the line between amatuer and professional is quite blurry

3 - Image is sometimes more important than reality (consider the controversy after the fact about the Chinese fireworks and the girl singer)

4 - Every moment is given more scrunity and analysis than so-called real news.

5 - Comparisons are made between how they did on stage and in rehearsals/warm-ups

6 - In both case commentators and judges are accused of favoritism

7 - A participant wrapping oneself in the flag always gets praise (In Idol's case that was Kristy Lee Cook who sang "God bless the USA"

8 - Both sometimes invade the privacy of the participants

9 - Both are sometimes so sweet that a diabetic could get sick just by watching it

10 - It's hard to tell where the programs end and the commercial begins.

11. An American idol singer sang "A Midnight Train to Georgia;" When Russia attacked Georgia during the Olympics Americans turned to each other and asked, "There's another place called Georgia?"

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Groups: Entertainment Gateway, Olympics, Silly and Stupid, Sports Fans, TV Lounge
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3.6

{"commentId":2437634,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Feel free to add to your list.

I was trying to make a joke about Bob Costas hair but just couldn't do it.

I also ditched attempts to make cracks about how Randy says "Dawg" and people in China eat... yeah, you can see why I ditched it.

{"commentId":2437634,"threadId":"330790","contentId":"1743357","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

2 votes

#1 - Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:14 PM EDT

{"commentId":2437884,"authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

MinnieApolis

Costas' hair is so fake. How fake is it?
It's about as real as Donald Trump's.
Actually if it were a diploma, he might be able to get a job with Homeland Security.
Pah rum pum.

{"commentId":2437884,"threadId":"330790","contentId":"1743357","authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

2 votes

#2 - Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:46 PM EDT

{"commentId":2438132,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Hmm, I like mine better - Costas hair is about as real as the fake smiles by the Idol show participants

{"commentId":2438132,"threadId":"330790","contentId":"1743357","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

2 votes

#2.1 - Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:23 PM EDT

{"commentId":2452713,"authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

MinnieApolis

Sez you.

{"commentId":2452713,"threadId":"330790","contentId":"1743357","authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

2 votes

#2.2 - Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:09 AM EDT

{"commentId":2453643,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Sez you.

killer comeback

{"commentId":2453643,"threadId":"330790","contentId":"1743357","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#2.3 - Thu Aug 14, 2008 12:35 PM EDT

{"commentId":2438725,"authorDomain":"riverrun"}

Riverrun

How about: neither one has much to do with sports.

{"commentId":2438725,"threadId":"330790","contentId":"1743357","authorDomain":"riverrun"}

2 votes

#3 - Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:47 PM EDT

{"commentId":2440191,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Well, that one's debateable. I did consider that one at one point.

If we're talking syncronized swimming and diving I'd agree but soccer and swimming are not sports?

{"commentId":2440191,"threadId":"330790","contentId":"1743357","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#3.1 - Wed Aug 13, 2008 6:57 AM EDT

{"commentId":2439522,"authorDomain":"kimberly-wells"}

3kyw4law

How about: it's just another reason to yell at judges that can't hear you.

{"commentId":2439522,"threadId":"330790","contentId":"1743357","authorDomain":"kimberly-wells"}

3 votes

#4 - Wed Aug 13, 2008 1:28 AM EDT

{"commentId":2440186,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Oh that's excellent! That's a keeper.

{"commentId":2440186,"threadId":"330790","contentId":"1743357","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

2 votes

#4.1 - Wed Aug 13, 2008 6:55 AM EDT

{"commentId":2444833,"authorDomain":"sphinx"}

Jack Huang

4 - Every moment is given more scrunity and analysis than so-called real news.

Man, can you imagine if they played Presidential debates and such in slow-mo, from multiple angles, and with Bob Costas as commentator?

People would totally actually watch them, then b---- at them.

{"commentId":2444833,"threadId":"330790","contentId":"1743357","authorDomain":"sphinx"}

3 votes

#5 - Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:41 PM EDT

{"commentId":2448261,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Ironically I suggested on more than one occasion that the presidential candidate do their debates On American Idols. Can you imagine how many more people would be involved, albeit temporarily, if that happens.
Does anyone think it's sad that more people seem to vote for Idol than in real elections?

I expected someone to hammer me on #4 to say "this IS real news" so i slipped in the "so-called" in there.

{"commentId":2448261,"threadId":"330790","contentId":"1743357","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#5.1 - Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":2451240,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Any other ways? How about after you watch either one you think, "man I should have read a book instead."

{"commentId":2451240,"threadId":"330790","contentId":"1743357","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#6 - Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:02 AM EDT

{"commentId":2452123,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

11. An American idol singer sang "A Midnight Train to Georgia;" When Russia attacked Georgia during the Olympics Americans turned to each other and asked, "There's another place called Georgia?"

Seeded a Slate explainer piece dealing with the question I was guessing some Americans have, namely: Why Are Georgia and Georgia Both Named Georgia?
Sure enough the first comment is this:

A friend did ask me yesterday why there was a Russian enclave in the US, I now wonder how many others thought something similar.

{"commentId":2452123,"threadId":"330790","contentId":"1743357","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

2 votes

#7 - Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:11 AM EDT

{"commentId":2452739,"authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

MinnieApolis

PS -- An old episode of the Man from UNCLE played on this fact. They said that Ilya was from Georgia or went to Georgia University -- he was the Russian character.

{"commentId":2452739,"threadId":"330790","contentId":"1743357","authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

2 votes

#8 - Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:12 AM EDT

{"commentId":2454281,"authorDomain":"mrmajek"}

MrMajek

Considering who is currently president and the fact that SAT and ACT scores are falling, Mr. McCain may get to see his Iraq - Afghanistan border someday.

{"commentId":2454281,"threadId":"330790","contentId":"1743357","authorDomain":"mrmajek"}

1 vote

#8.1 - Thu Aug 14, 2008 1:34 PM EDT

{"commentId":2473385,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

minnie, check your emails please.

and thanks for the man on uncle info.

{"commentId":2473385,"threadId":"330790","contentId":"1743357","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

#8.2 - Sat Aug 16, 2008 1:05 PM EDT

{"commentId":2479260,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) ButkiDeleted

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"330790","isPrivate":false}

SCOTT (SCOOP) BUTKI

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Eleven Ways Watching the Olympics Is Like Watching American Idol

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