Tirico got high marks for his interview with Mikaela Shiffrin, who discussed her expectations for the GamesTWITTER
Mike Tirico in his debut as NBC's primetime Olympics host gave the net "exactly what it wanted in the host chair: a comfortable pilot for viewers," according to Richard Deitsch of SI.com. Tirico came "prepared for every broadcast, he seamlessly moved the production along given all his reps on television and his skill set and makeup is such that he allowed those who he is interviewing to be the dominant voice." His interviews with U.S. skiers Mikaela Shiffrin Friday night and Lindsey Vonn on Saturday "were a perfect example of that." Unlike former primetime host Bob Costas, Tirico is not someone who will "offer a long commentary on Russian state-sponsored doping, the IOC’s cowardice, or how geopolitical actors try to use the Olympics for political gain." Tirico said that the "most challenging moment ... was the sheer number of hours (6 or 7) on the air each day and adjusting to a truly live Olympics." He added that each day he "watched a rebroadcast of [the] NBC primetime show to self-evaluate." He will do an "even bigger deep-dive after the Games have concluded" (SI.com, 2/25). The AP's David Bauder wrote Tirico's interview with Shiffrin on Friday "was strong," as she "talked about coming to terms with expectations and results in Pyeongchang," which saw her win a Gold and Silver Medal. It was a "welcome chance to stretch out for Tirico, who hasn't had an opportunity to do much beyond guiding viewers from event to event" (AP, 2/24). NBC did not seem "to lose anything" by having Tirico replace Costas as primetime host (Albany TIMES-UNION, 2/23).
LIPINSKI, WEIR WORTHY OF PROMOTION: The AP's Bauder wrote figure skating analysts Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir "proved deserving of the promotion" to the top broadcast team. They "weren't preoccupied with their personas, did their homework and offered frank opinions." Sliding sports announcers Leigh Diffey, Bree Schaaf and John Morgan "excelled at generating enthusiasm combined with a deep knowledge of history and the top athletes." Speedskating analyst Apolo Ohno also has "made a strong transition" from the ice to the broadcast booth. The alpine skiing team "was the weak link." Dan Hicks is a "pro," but "embarrassingly called a race over when it wasn't." Bode Miller had "trouble as a rookie analyst," as his "monotone made an exciting sport seem clinical" (AP, 2/25). In S.F., Al Saracevic wrote Lipinski and Weir were the "clear stars of NBC broadcasts." Weir’s "expertise combined with Lipinski’s dry wit and championship pedigree made for great chemistry." Saracevic: "Hopefully, these two will stay together for an extended run of Olympics coverage in years to come" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/25). Meanwhile, it was a "nice touch" for NBC to assign Scott Hamilton to the figure skating gala on Saturday. He has been "nothing but class since losing the top commentator role" to Weir and Lipisnki (AP, 2/24).
THE BEST OF THE REST: In Chicago, Phil Rosenthal gave a "Gold" rating to Diffey, hockey analyst A.J. Mleczko and figure skating analyst Tanith White. That Diffey made each bobsled, skeleton and luge run "seem rare, interesting and often meaningful is remarkable." Mleczko was "sharp enough that it’s hard to not agree with play-by-play man Kenny Albert, who predicted she will do a terrific job on Red Wings-Bruins game she has been assigned next month on NBCSN." Finally, White hosted the "Olympic Ice" show, and while she "isn't getting the attention" focused on Weir and Lipinski, she was "incisive, instructive and, occasionally but inappropriately, overcome with emotion" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/24). In Tampa, Tom Jones writes Albert was the "MVP of NBC's coverage." His work, "especially on the gold medal games for the women and men, was flawless." Other highlights "included the work" of Lipinski, Weir, figure skating host Terry Gannon; Mleczko and Miller. He took "a lot of flak for his monotone delivery," and while downhill skiing "should be called with a little more enthusiasm, Miller's knowledge of the sport and his ability to articulate it to the audience is really good" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 2/26).
