Torino Winter Olympics--Opening Ceremonies

HOUR ONE
Opening
I love the Olympics. I'm gonna try to watch as much of it as I can, either 'live' or on tape... figure it's a good chance to practice my blogging skills. I'm typing as I'm watching, and revising/editing during commercials breaks.

Wow, what beautiful color and cinematography in the opening. NBC, though, does seem intent on turning Italy/Roman empire into U.S.; odd, Rome was imperialistic and expansionistic; we really aren't,

I hope Bode Miller doesn't become the face of these games; much rather it be Michelle. I also hope these silly X Games events don't get the same coverage as the real sports.

Interesting, the opening ceremonies stadium was built by Mussolini--wonder if we'll see any pieces on facism. This is why I like Bob Costas, he seems like one of the only sports journalists who'd raise this angle in a story meeting.

Michelle Kwan
I hope they mention in this interview of Michelle that she herself was bumped off her first Olympics team in 1994 (by Nancy Kerrigan, who was attacked by Tanya)... they didn't... but at least they did say her fourth place finish at last year's World's is what got the U.S. three spots at the Olympics, instead of just two.

Michelle Tafoya's an earnest, professional interviewer. Kwan seems like a really good, if conflicted, person, and has a good attitude and perspective on things.

I'm not sure she's gonna win the gold, but then again figure skating, more than a lot of sports, seems to turn on pure emotion and a lot of times the favorites get overtaken by someone who peaks, for whatever reason, at the right moment. If Kwan wins, it would be one of those Dan Jansen-type moments.

I wish part of the opening was a look back at the last Winter Games and even others before that, to remind us all of why we watch the world's greatest sporting--and one of its greatest cultural--event.

Downhill skiing practice
Tim Ryan's voice is always stuck at the same high pitch of excitement; this is gonna get tiring over two weeks; plus his partner's an idiot. Hmm, don't remember the downhill course being marked in thick blue paint... kindof destroys the natural beauty. Sports commentators really should learn something about journalism; there's so much great material to work with, no reason for them to be corporate shills.

Bode Miller
Oh god, that dumb Jim Lampley just called him the 'cover boy' of these games. In which universe?!

Miller's an idiot; he tells 60 Minutes that he and other skiers ski drunk, than gets mad at the media for covering it... and he wonders why he and other skiers don't get any respect. What is it about this sport that attracts all the knuckleheads--Alberta Tomba is supposedly in the running to be the final torchbearer, hope Italy picks someone other than that chowderhead.

At least they have Jimmy "Bob Jr." Roberts doing the interview, he's usually pretty good. Ugh... Miller doesn't often "grant interview"--wow, hope Roberts doesn't see this as an honor.

Wait--Miller lives in a camper?! Hmmm.

Miller's apology is to his family, friends and supporters--what about his sport?! His fellow athletes?! He does make a good point that people would rather wallow in someone else's stuff than their own lives--but he's a big boy, how could he be surprised by that?

I gotta say, he's coming across pretty well in this interview... even if JR looks like a lumberjack. This is turning out to be a worth watching; JR asks real questions, and Bode's answering them. Miller says he manipulates the press just as he's manipulated institutions and everyone else in his life--the difference though is the press is full of smart people.

"He's a different kind of cat" says JR....

Oh no, up next--the halfpipe. Yaay--before that, a preview for Eight Below, which looks cool--dogs, humans, and extreme snow, what could be better.

Halfpipe
"What is it that Shawn White is doing that's so right?" Well, for one thing, he's not a goofy halfpipe commentator (yet). So... this is that tomato dude all the kids are atwitter about.

Ah, the Finns--I remember they did really well in Salt Lake. Kindof messes with your image of Scandinavians that they excel at this oh-so Southern Californian event. This halfpipe thing is interesting; it's sortof fun to watch, although with the militant music it's probably best in short durations.

What is it about these announcing teams--they're all so shrill, and hard on the ears. Plus they talk like they're aware at every single second that they're on television--no conversational style at all. Makes it hard to listen to.

"We're embarking on a technological milestone" says Jim as we go to break--it's all being broadcast in HD. Makes me laugh, the networks fought HD for as long as they could, now you'd think they invented it. They didn't, of course, it was the Japanese. I remember for years there was an HD set in the Museum of American History in DC, playing a loop that included sumo wrestlers.

HOUR TWO
Opening Ceremonies kick off
The Olympics have officially begun--Bob Costas goes on the air, 8:55 p.m. EST. He's already in his opening paragraph set the stage for these Olympics better than the entire first hour did--history, sport, everything's there, appropriate and eloquent as always.

And here's Brian Williams, billing himself as 'a news guy'--what's Bob, chopped liver? Oddly enough, BW looks like a priest in his getup. He's okay, possibly a little too conscious of I'm the anchor, this is a big event because I'm here, let me elevate it by talking about world politics.

But you know, this is Bob's show. He's so good, everything a sports or any anchor should be.

Ah, those goofy Roots caps again... looking maybe a little more streamlined this year. Wow--this first guy they're talking to [Chad Hedrick] has only been a speed skater for 4 years, was watching the last Games on tv (just like me!) Of course, he previously was already a roller blading champ--but still, to have a shot at five speedskating golds a few years after taking up a sport with the pedigree of speedskating is amazing. He seems appropriately humble, though.

Now Andrea Joyce with another speed skater, Chris Whitty--the flag-bearer. Looking very red. She looks kindof like a grad student, but I remember liking her in Salt Lake, just a focused, dedicated athlete with none of the nonsense others bring. Joyce asks her if she's worried about the flag being heavy to carry... Whitty responds, well I work out, so I'm not too worried.

Pagentry starts
Yaay, another euro-art opening ceremony. Looking forward to lotsof bizarreness, things that make you go what?!

Wow, a man standing before an anvil, dressed like a blacksmith, hitting it and generating a flame... BC tells us he's known in Italy as the lord of the rings. Nice camerawork--stadium floor is now covered with ridges of some sort, and women are geometrically placed, dancing in unison. Everything is in red, with some gold; lotsof fire. And fake speed skaters. Wonder what the real ones are thinking.

More goofy 'dancing'; a sea of just legs churning; and Bob's suave voice, appropriately explaining, otherwise letting it flow. Lotsof flailing, sinuous limbs; now a guy on skates busts up the heart-shaped formation, he's got a rocket pack... looks like he's the skater of the future. This actually all feels a little like the opening ceremonies in Albertville.

The Alps
Now guys with those big Alps horns; and the 'tree-men', dressed up in shingy giant green garbage bag/umbrella-like getups. Riiicoooolaaah.... Yup, there's mooing, and cows on ice, for real (fiberglass, being pulled on wood); and ice dancers dressed up in black and white cow-patterns; and Alpine men and women.

Half of the Winter Games in history have taken place in the Alps BC says... wow. That's ridiculous.

Protocol
We're back, suddenly everyone's wearing elegant Armani clothes--BC tells us it's the first of several required protocal parts of the ceremony. Classical music; and BW chiming in, this will be an emotional moment for the Italians in the crowd... Why? Doesn't say.

Now one of those female announcer voices--everything overly emphasized, sounding very disembodied. First French, then the woman in English, finally Italian gets the crowd clapping for the ceremonial president of Italy--wait, prime minister Berlusconi isn't in attendence? What?! How can he miss this? What could he possibly be doing that's more important.

BW--we're also thinking aobut the Italian Americans who are watching tonight, which oddly leads into mention of American troops in WWII, then just as weirdly BW says we should also mention Italy's the 3rd-largest coalition partner in Iraq. Boy, BW really doesn't know how to do this.

Little 9-year-old girl all by herself in the middle of the stadium sings Italy's anthem in a very pure voice. Have never heard this before; it's actually lyrical... whoops, there's the usual militaristic part.

Hmm, these commercial breaks are coming fast and furious, three already between 9 and 9:20.

At least they're short breaks... now people running out from beneath the center stage area; reminds me of miners, with little lights on top. Ah, Bob gives the appropriate emphasis/frisson, stadium constructed under Mussolini in 1923. There should never be an Olympics without Bob.

Color scheme is now mostly gold and white. BC: A giant double-X is being formed, signifying the 20th winter Olympic Games--and a great aerial view. And now--fake skiers, like five to a ski. Very odd. We're all joined?

Capes in blue and green and red are broken out; some sort of formation, can't quite make out what... overhead view--a giant... person?! Skier! Wow, it's like North Korea.

Now the people are moving, so the giant skier sort of is in motion too. Oops, hand's a little behind the rest of the body, there's been a terrible accident! Now, he's breaking up! No, just crouching down, he's a ski jumper! Too bad NBC missed the shot of him flying up in the air, camera was zoomed too close. Now it's dark, and he's outlined in light. Hmm, maybe this'll replace claymation?

Yes, I realize for the next couple of weeks this blog's gonna read a lot better in real-time, than after the fact.....

There's Bode in the crowd of American Olympians.

Parade of Nations
More oddly-costumed performers, apparently cutting-edge art is a lot like cirque du soleil. Some sortof strechy, shiny fabric, everyone's arrayed around a giant metal rig. Sortof like opera of the future. They really should've just stage it as a giant opera, bring in the best singers--enough with trying to be cutting-edge.

Now the rig flips up, circles become the Olympic rings. BW says, like he's breaking news, at least one color in the rings appears in the flag of every nation in the world. If I ever start my city state, I'm breaking that rule.

The athletes are coming! The athletes are coming! I love watching this, always so interesting to see how different nations still are. (And their outfits). Greece in first, of course.... Shot of Athens Olympic's wonderwoman organizer.

Albania... just 1 guy, an Alpine skier. Next, Algeria! 2 athletes. Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria to come, the scroll tells us. As always, it'll be fun to see which countries are deemed too unimportant to show. Hey--Costas says we won't miss a single country this year, even when they break for commericals they'll come back! This is a change--and great news. No more angry letters from the Cypriots!

Armenia... 3 million people, 5 athletes. Wow, the placard bearers are wearing poofy dresses, the bottom of which look like the Alps.

Wow, snazzy music--I Will Survive! This is a very interesting parade of nations. Ah, the Aussies... yes, indeed, they will survive. As long as they can keep attracting immigrants.

Austria--4th leading Winter Olympics medal winner of all time says BC, Norway, Russians, and us only ones with more. That's amazing.

Back from break--Azerbaijan, Belguim, Bermuda, Belarus, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Brazil. Very odd, 70s disco music to march by.

Bermuda with one athlete, a white guy competing in Skeleton. BC says he lives in Tokyo, essentially an American, but was born in Bermuda. Belarus--flag-bearer is a coach?!

BW talks about Sarajevo, of course, as Bosnia goes by... it's odd how quickly the world can change. Brazil! Big country, rich in resources, bad government.

The Reds
Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, and then Chile. And then... China! The summer games there are gonna be world-changing; China's coming-out party. A reminder that most of the world never gets talked about, even though things have--finally--been happening there that will impact our lives, in some cases even determine some aspects of how we live.

Canadians are wearing goofy hats, beige and oddly unpatterned... hmm, forgot Vancouver is next Winter Games, interesting that they're trying to boost their medal count before then, so unCanadian somehow. Let's see if they mention Gretzky's gambling scandal at some point.

Back from break--Chile, and then the big red machine's up. Followed by Cyprus, 'Koreas', Costa Rica, Croastia, and Denmark. Hmm, China's listed at only 1.3 billion in population, with just 76 athletes [CIA World factbook also says 1.3, I had thought slightly more... also, world's only got 6.46B, I was thinking closer to 7B]. BW goes on a spiel about them--so much to say on this front he says. BC mentions their big push for supremacy in 2008. And, as usual, great transition--large Chinese delegation followed by the tiny Cyprus one (1) says Bob.

40 South Koreans, 6 from the North. It's so weird; the North wants to kill the South, yet the South wants to march with them. There's some sort of Stockholm syndrome going on there. Too bad Sweden's not next, that'd be a funny transition. Talks in the works for them to compete as one in 2008?! Nuts.

Coming up: Estonia, Ethiopia, Macedonia, Finland. They should explain at some point that the countries march in the order of their names in the host country's alphabet.

The Danes
Ah, Denmark--purveyor of blasphemous cartoons. BW mentions it, BC brings in the security concerns--only $125M spent on security here, vs. $1B plus in Athens. And BC says Torino has the largest Muslim population in Italy--why? Maybe he said one of the largest--probably, actually, something to do with Fiat being located there.

And Bob mentions march order. Here's Finland--I've always liked them, for some reason. They had a great, young ski jumper four years ago.

France, Georgia, Germany, Japan, Great Britain, Hong Kong. Some powerhouses here. Yaay, mention of Jean Claude Killy--who's always seemed the personification of sportsmanship. Music is still all American pop, by the way.

Also, I'd thought Germany would be at the top for medals, I guess since East/West was split for many years it isn't. BC reminds us they beat us at our own Olympics in SLC. Interesting fluorescent green sleeves and orange vests outfits. Hackl--going for a gold at his 6th Olympics?! Japan only won 2 medals in 2002? That's shameful.

Coming up--India, and Iran. Hmm, what will they mention for Iran.... Great Britain--and Cherrie Blair in a ratty-looking fur, next to Laura Bush. This shouldn't be the way Laura is first introduced. Athletes in natty top hats. Cut to commercial, as announcers says "Hong Kong Chine". Why do they still march separately? They're part of China.

HOUR THREE
Nations keep marching
10:05 on the East Coast. Ireland, Iceland, Virgina Islands. Apparently Hong Kong's athletes train in northeastern China. Wow--India's got 1.08B people, and four athletes?! BC says they share training with the Chinese--who apparently themselves choose to train with the Russians.

BW just said the president of Iran is perhaps the world's most controversial leader--I'd say Bush has got him beat by a lot. Ireland--never won a medal at the Winter Olympics. Seems like these countries would just spend a ton of money to try and get that monkey off their back.

BW: But you know about Reykjavik. BC: Of course I do! Next up: Israel (whose leader is probably world's second most controversial), Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgystan, Latvia, Lebanon.

BW mentions Spielberg's film on the 1972 Olympics as Israel (still medal-less at the WO)--and that's it. Do the young kids know why the film was made, and what it's about?!

I remember this Kenyan cross-country skier--didn't know he named his first-born son after the awesome Norweigian skier Bjorn Dahlie, who stuck around to greet the Kenyan four years ago at the finish line--even though it took the Kenyan took twice as long to finish the race as Bjorn did.

Coming up, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and--Madagascar?!

BW makes an odd comment about how the outfits of the athletes are made to look good on tv. I think that's been a consideration for a while, Brian.

Songs to march by
Good music in the background, think it's some European singing in English. I wish they'd identify the music; like at a fashion show, it's a big part of the proceedings.

Back from break, BW makes mention of Madagascar the film, he must have kids. Sweet Dreams plays in the background as NBC shows Mitt Romney, plastic Ken-doll governor of Massachusetts and BW mentions his presidential ambitions. A dream is all it is.

No Mexico! But Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Nepal, Norway, New Zealand. What are the Mexicans thinking?! Are they a serious nation, or not?

Video Killed the Radio Star, as BW talks about Mongolia and Bush's visit there. Now, two of my favorite countries--the nice Norwegians and New Zealanders. Norway has 44 more golds, at 261, than any other country?! Wow!

BC talks about how close the Norway/Italy cross-country relay races have been, with the two 1-2 at the last three Olympics, by fractions of seconds each time.

Now, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia.... Love is in the Air is in the background. Ah, the Dutch and their speed skaters... one of the best sports to watch.

BW mentions Pope John Paul II was a skier; BC mentions the random 80s American pop tunes playing in the background, then mentions some obscure (to me) tune; I want him on my Trivial Pursuit team.

The real Cold War
San Marino, Senegal, Serbia/Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia. The Russians... BW talks about how it used to be the dark states, brooding athletes. Funny, their knit hats have RUSSIA outlined in red thread in front, in English. If you've been in a time capsule since 1950 and wanna know who won the cold war, that image right there is all you need.

Back from break, the "most serene republic" of San Marino, claims to be world's oldest republic, founded in 301 AD. Hmm, how come Bob knows that, and I don't? Seems like we all should, if it's true.

Spain, then--the U.S. I think it'd be funny if they played some Italian song as the Americans walk in. Really, it's so weird to me that all the music so far has been American. I thought the Italians did pretty well at that Eurostar thing--my gosh, Serbia walks in as YMCA plays in the background, this is so bizarre! I wonder what Vlade Divac is thinking right now. He's probably forming the letters.

And, of course, BC mentions the song in the background. Wow, Slovenia, with these natty green scarfs. There's a word for that shade of green, but I can't remember it. You'd think after spending the week at Fashion Week....

Music coordinator: Hugo Chavez
Okay, it's almost here--the Americans. To be greeted by a roar of applause?! Whistling? Ah, who cares--they like us, they really like us, the soundtrack is saying. Costas says we get a "very warm reception on a chilly night"--what's playing in the background for us and Laura Bush? Freedom, Freedom.... If only George W. were here.

There's Michelle! NFL-wanna-be Jeremy Bloom! Bode; Shaun White--hmm, seems like we've seen these guys before somewhere. And the guy with the best nickname so far--the "Exception", Chad Hedricks.

After us--ah, who cares, we're going to break after us. Gives me a chance to look up the lyrics to the Aretha Franklin song the Italians played for us:
Think (think) think (think) think (think)
think (think) think (think) think (think)

You better think (think) think about what you're trying to do to me
Yeah, think (think, think), let your mind go, let yourself be free

Let's go back, let's go back, let's go way on back when
I didn't even know you, you came to me and too much you wouldn't take
I ain't no psychiatrist, I ain't no doctor with degree
It don't take too much high IQ's to see what you're doing to me

You better think (think) think about what you're trying to do to me
Yeah, think (think, think), let your mind go, let yourself be free

Oh freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom), freedom, yeah freedom
Freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom), freedom, ooh freedom

There ain't nothing you could ask I could answer you but I won't (I won't)
I was gonna change, but I'm not, to keep doing things I don't

You better think (think) think about what you're trying to do to me
Yeah, think (think, think), let your mind go, let yourself be free

People walking around everyday, playing games that they can score
And I ain't gonna be the loser my way, ah, be careful you don't lose yours

You better think (think) think about what you're trying to do to me
Yeah, think (think, think), let your mind go, let yourself be free

You need me (need me) and I need you (don't you know)
Without each other there ain't nothing people can do.

Hmm, I guess these songs aren't so random after all--now I really feel for the Serbians.

The rest
South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajkistan, Chinese Taipei, Thailand. Followed by Turkey, Ukraine, and Hungary, then Venezuela, then the Italians.

Taiwan, with 1 athlete, and a special, non-real flag. Yeah, as Bob says, will be interesting to see what the Chinese let them do in 2008. Uzbekistan, Venezuela coming; Thailand's flag bearer and sole athlete is an engineering professor at Drexel, in his 40s.

A short segment, break already. Another commercial for this mid-season young prosecutors show, Conviction.

As we return and Ukraine walks, Bob mentions Oksana Baiul, claiming some may not remember she won the gold at the Kerrigan/Harding Olympics. Yeah, right--anyone who watched it remembers Oksana in her swan-like pink outfit and her amazingly fluid, beautiful performance.

What will they play for the Italians.... If I knew my pop songs better I could come up with something smart. All I can think is it should be something cheesy. The crowd's getting ready... and... here... they... come!

Name said first in French, then English, then Italian. In shiny, michelin-manish foil coats. I guess that's the fashionable look this season? Don't recognize the song--probably some homegrown mishmash.

Enter Mary, exit Brian
Back from break--the torch is coming, the torch is coming! And so is Mary Carillo, who I really like, and who apparently spent some time in Italy as a kid. Where has she been--she actually speaks Italian, and knows stuff about the country.

Choreographed waving of the flags of the world by costumed men. Like color guard, but waaay cooler. MC: This could be where rhythmic gymnastics began. Silence on the part of the Bs, stunned by her knowledge.

I gotta tell you, her and John McEnroe remain one of the most inspired announcing pairings of all time, with Dick Ebersol in between to (barely) keep the peace.

Czech supermodel Eva Herzigova recreates Botticelli's Birth of Venus--MC is just taking right over, is BW gone? He hasn't said a thing. Bob makes more back-and-forth comments with Mary in the first few minutes than he made with BW their whole time together. BC and MC are a good team, their styles mesh. Now, balloons with painted faces on them, flying people aloft. The Winter Olympics, as choreographed by Leonardo da Vinci.

I think BW really is gone--yaay. They didn't even say goodbye?! This balloon thing is probably my favorite artistic portion of the evening so far. The red hair of one of the heads from the back looks like Jupiter. And there's Michelle looking on.

Some fireworks; overhead shot of the stage on the stadium floor, it's like a giant undulating U. Bob says from the Renaissance to the future... this should be good.

Yup, it's weird. Lotsof flames; some guy dancing in a mask. Ah, it's about futurism, the art movement, not the future, per se. Makes more sense now, thanks MC. Wow, guy takes off his hat--rainbow mohawk. Takes off his clothes--flesh-colored outfit, complete with veiny markings, and a 'heart'. 'The speed of modern life' says Mary. Techno music plays, it all seems very jerky, disorienting.

Ah, BW speaks! After 10 minutes of blessed silence. Weird, he was totally ignored by MC and BC.

HOUR FOUR
Europeans take back over
No break, straight into Formula One homage. Complete with pit crew and a real Ferrari F1 racing car, in red with Olympic rings on the rear spoiler. Kindof sputtering across the stage---ah, now doing donuts, in the shape of the Olympic rings I'll bet. Very cool!

Back from break, and the speeches start. Some minor Italian pol, who's the head of their Olympic Committee. Tells us 80 nations are here, seems like NBC should've said that already. People chatter as he speaks in English. I feel bad for the rest of the world, every time they have to make these speeches in English they're reminded of their place in the world.

Next, Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee and someone I like, in contrast to Juan Antonio Samarach, the fascist Spaniard. Rogge ask the athletes to compete without doping--so sad it's come to this. No real athlete would ever cheat, it's like a declaration of no confidence in yourself, so you become the first victim. Then, if you win, how bittersweet, always wondering if you could've won without cheating. They should just hold everyone's blood forever, the knowledge that one day if you cheat the drug will be detected would be some sort of deterrent--if nothing else, the rest of us will know.

Italian president next, declares the games officially open.

Break--and a commercial for the da Vinci Code movie, with a puffy-faced Tom Hanks. Hopefully with Hanks and Ron Howard as director it won't be as stupid as the book.

Alfie, Igby, and Louise
Back, the Olympic flag's carried in. Costas says the flag bearers are eight 'women of distinction', with each continent represented. So they are:
Sophia Loren, Italy, actress
Isabel Allende, Chile, author
Nawal El Moutawakel, Morocco, hurdles winner in 1984
Wangari Matthai, Kenya, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner
Manuela Di Centa, Italy, Cross-country Olympic medalist
Maria Mutola, Mozambique, 800m gold medalist
Somaly Mam, Cambodia, activist

Quite a distinguished and interesting group. And so who represents the U.S./North America? Susan Sarandon.

Are you kidding me? Are the Italians pulling our leg? It's ridiculous; in this group, it's embarassing to call her a woman of distinction. Heck, if you really want someone anti-Iraq war, invite Cindy Sherman. What a bush-league thing for the Italians to do; it'd be like us inviting Inspector Clouseau to represent Europe.

Internet Movie Database shows she played Mussolini's wife in a made-for-tv movie called The Decline and Fall of Il Duce; now that's irony for you.

This part of the ceremony goes on for many minutes, it takes a while to walk the flag around the stadium. Now they're hoisting the flag.

Back from break, singing of Tornino Winter Games anthem by a big choral group and orchestra. Italian slalom skier Giorgio Rocca takes the oath on behalf of all the athletes.

Said the spider to the fly
A bunch of acrobats go climbing up a netting in some weird choreographed routine; music behind it is nice, and actually this is pretty cool--they move like spiders, movements are interesting. Now they pair up and do these pivots around each other. At the end they form a white dove shape, it's actually pretty darn cool. Sometimes these weird modern art things turn out okay.

Oh-oh, Yoko Ono. Imagine--not sung, but recited by Yoko. Weirdly enough, she doesn't seem to know the words by heart, reads it haltingly off a sheet of paper in a strong accent; it's not that great. Even though I heard recently that she actually is a pretty creative and original artist, this performance--all dressed up in white with shades and a big floppy white beatnik hat--is more in line with my image of her as flaky and odd.

Much better--Peter Gabriel singing Imagine. Though his smooth black knit cap makes him look like a burglar. Maybe he's hoping the song will steal into our hearts.

Lennon, in my opinion, was a talented musician--not much more, nothing less. If he'd lived maybe he'd have continued evolving into something more interesting; but I don't know, he wasn't as thoughtful or prescient in his own time as Bob Dylan, who for all he is isn't exactly in line for the Nobel. People lionize Lennon because he was deeper than most rock stars--but unlike people like Bono and Muhammad Ali, he did nothing in the real world that is politics.

Fade to fire
Nearing the end of what, as always, has been a great show. Here comes the torch! Good, Tomba brings it in, that means he can't finish. A playboy is still a playboy. Not that much applause, either. Next, the four-member cross-country '94 gold-medal winning team, that won in Lillehammer. Next, Piero Gros, slalom gold medalist '76, then a mayor. Seems like a nice guy. Next, Deborah Compagnoni, skier; MC tells us she's the only Alpine skier ever to win a gold in three consecutive games.

Finally, Stefania Belmondo, four-time Olympian, 10 medals (!) in cross-country skiing, lights the flame. Very interesting way, she lit the flame on the stadium floor, then choreographed flames lit up around the stadium edge, finally the cauldron itself was lit. No direct lighting, then.

And it ends with opera. Pavarotti in a black cape, looking very vampireish. But sounding divine, of course, finishing with Puccini's "Turandot".

Fireworks fly up into the black night sky; flashbulbs pop; and another Olympics opens.

But not before NBC comes back with their thoughts on the world. MC: Glad women played a big role tonight. BW: something about the world. BC: Good night, look forward to the next two weeks.

And Andrea Bocelli sings sweetly over highlights from the Opening Ceremony. Wow, NBC really took advantage of the six-hour time difference to do some nice editing.

It was a good opening ceremony. Not as slick as Salt Lake City, not as pretty as Nagano, not as warm as Lillehammer, not as weird as Albertville. As for the Games themselves, I have high hopes, but am pretty sure it won't be as magical as Lillehammer was and Nagano nearly was.

But who knows--that's why we watch!

Photo of Eleonora Benetti singing the Italian national anthem at the Opening Ceremony of the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games by Pool/Getty Images; all images via Yahoo's Olympic slideshow.

Photo of fireworks lighting up the Olympic stadium during the Opening Ceremony by Clive Rose/ Getty Images.

Photo of the town of Sestiere, location of the opening ceremony, by Clive Mason/Getty Images prior to the opening,