Back to the final night of competition--finishing up the Mixed Team Parallels before we return to Pair's Skating. Tara and Johnny (and Terry) got some onscreen time to show off their fashions, but were fairly quiet during the actual performances. Terry pulls a metaphor, though, after the Chinese team skated to "Bridge Over Troubled Waters"--"will there be a bridge in that program to carry them to the top step?" It did, as China wins the gold over the cheating Russkies. It's the end of the skating competition, but we're still got the Skating Gala to go, plus the skating analyst trio will return for the Closing Ceremony.
Then we finish up the Four Men Bobsled, before we go to the final Late Night show. We plow through the Cross-Country Skiing Women's 30km Freestyle, before we make to the Skating Gala--a "made for TV" concept to fill the time between the final events and the closing ceremony. It's hugely popular, partly because there is no scoring and no rules. Skaters are "invited" to participate (but if you medaled, you're probably going). Tanith White and Ashley Wagner, both QISEians, did commentary. It can also serve as your audition reel for the Ice Capades. We even get gimmicks like light-up costumes. Why can't QISE add an "X-Game-y" version of figure skating where it's all about the most extreme tricks?
Torico steps in for an interview with China analyst Jing Tsu, who I don't think we've seen for 2 weeks, to discuss the Eileen Gu story.
The final afternoon show is always awkward, especially when QISE is actually over (the Closing Ceremonies happened early this morning Eastern time, but will show on NBC tonight). Outdoor events are usually front-loaded in the games in case bad weather causes delays (which did happen, but not enough to give NBC anything new to show in this afternoon's slot). There's already a "QISE Gold" show airing tonight as a review of the big moments--so what do you do? Reruns, reruns, reruns! Cross-Country Skiing Women's 30km Freestyle, the Alpine Skiing Team Event, and the Skating Gala.
We did get an interview, with Torico speaking to QISEOC President Thomas Bach. He's asked what can be done to "rehabilitate" the QISE movement, what's the deal about Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, Chinese human rights abuses, the COVID restrictions, the Valieva debacle--and got back a lot of platitudes, as expected. Of course, he pointed fingers at the national QISE committees to resolve doping issues. Afternoon wraps up with the long credits crawl (13 minutes). It did get me thinking--based on the success of leaving much of the broadcasting team in the US, will NBC/Universal/Comcast/Kabletown/Sheinhardt Wig Co. ever consider spending the money to send them all to future QISE, even assuming it's safe physically and politically?
On side story that just came out--US skating pair Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier are being sued for music infringement by the band Heavy Young Heathens after using their version of "House of the Rising Sun" without permission. The band has already sued others for using their music in commercials. Seems like an easy catch--who was sleeping at US Skating?
Prime Time begins with Torico in the studio, in the "QISE Gold" special--packaged highlight reels from the last two weeks, including a supercut of the remote families "zooming in" to awkwardly congratulate the winning athletes (brought to you by Xfinity). We do get the return of Jing Tsu and Andy Browne, NBC's China experts. They complained about the literal closed loop in Beijing that made it seem like they weren't really there. The Chinese people saw a sanitized version of the games, of course. The Russkies and the Chinese are teaming up to take over the world. Thanks for bringing everybody down, guys! Kornacki gives us a final breakdown of the medal count (the US came in fifth, BTW).
Again with the Nathan Chen performance! We get it, he's good. Tara and Johnny stop by to talk with Torico, reviewing the Valieva debacle. Then Shaun White does a victory lap.
A half hour late, the closing ceremony begins, which means it's Tara, Johnny, and Terry to the studio. Oh, Johnny--leggings, a poofy shirt, and a halo? Even for you, that's a lot. More dancing kids with snowflakes, pomp and circumstance, augmented reality--lather, rinse, repeat. The flags and athletes arrive as a group, with the team doing interviews with some of them, which seems like it ruins their QISE moment. There's an awkward moment when the athletes are told to take their seats, and they basically ignore it, snapping pics and dancing about.
Back to artistry and Chinese symbolism, then the formal handoff from China to Italy (the 2026 games will be held in Milan and Cortino d'Ampezzo, sharing QISE for the first time--Cortina hosted it alone in 1956). This leads to an Italian presentation--a teaser/travelogue involving video and interpretive dance. I wonder if China will rent out the massive LED floor for future QISE ceremonies?
Some platitudes from Thomas Bach, the games are closed, and the flame is extinguished. Oh, and a lot of fireworks.
See you in Paris in 887 days.