When Bob Costas called the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony “jaw-dropping,” perhaps it’s because he already had a sneak peak at what was to be expected. While some 70 million people around the globe, and 35 million in the U.S., watched the fantastical show inside the Bird’s Nest stadium, what TV viewers they saw going on outside the arena actually didn’t take place. At least not “live,” as you assumed. You see, the fireworks show was so complex, there was no way television cameras were going to be able to capture it all at once. So they faked it.CONTINUED »

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Post tags: Fireworks, NBC, Olympics

One, a comedic legend. The other, one of the music industry’s most recognizable voices.

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Post tags: Bernie Mac, Deaths, Isaac Hayes, Obits

“The first time I laid eyes on Rielle Hunter, I could tell she was a story,” insists Newsweek’s Jonathan Darman, who, to be fair, did publish a “short story about how Edwards had brought this rather unorthodox woman, whom he’d met in a bar, into his campaign to make videos that showed off his unseen side” in the magazine’s Periscope section way back when. But Darman doesn’t get through the first graph of his post-John Edwards scandal reflection without saying this: “Edwards now admits that he had an extramarital affair with her. But at the time I had no reason to suspect there was anything between them.” In hindsight, Darman may claim he knew Hunter was a story — just not what type of story.

And that’s pretty much what every other media onlooker is going to claim, — you know, now that they’ve given themselves permission to address the issue.CONTINUED »

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Post tags: John Edwards, Mainstream Media, Rielle Hunter

Facebook troller Janice Min tried describing her Us Weekly readership — who, for the record, earn more than the average Vogue reader — for the young, skinny smarties that they are, because this is her one genuine talking point when it comes to defending the piece of celebrity journascam that is her magazine. “We proved that celebrity-magazine readers were not obese women who spent all day watching TV and smoking cigarettes. They are young and well-educated. They want a magazine that gives them a fun break from work and family responsibilities.” Of course, that got turned into Min’s hatred of the obese. And, while we’re at it, it’s clear she hates old people who only have GEDs and enjoy their TiVos.

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Post tags: Janice Min, Us Weekly

So, have you guys had enough of John Edwards and his his crazy-hippie-blogger mistress, Rielle Hunter yet? No? Us either. Sorry Edwards, it’s news, and it has been news since National Enquirer broke the story in December, despite no major media outlet touching the story before Friday.

But now the floodgates are opened and we are allowed to treat this story for what it really is: gossip about a politician’s illicit sex scandals. So with that in mind, who wants to watch the web videos Hunter made for Edward’s 2004 VP campaign?!

CONTINUED »

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Post tags: John Edwards, Rielle Hunter, Scandal

Indeed, swimmer and American hero Michael Phelps can be seen here reacting to winning his second gold medal (there’s a video here). But this is also the face that’s representative of how NBC feels: The more Phelps keeps on winning, the better their Olympics ratings are going to be. Glad it feels that good for you too, Phelps.

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Post tags: Michael Phelps, NBC, Olympics

Now On NBC: beach volleyball. On MSNBC: fencing. On CNBC: Glorified girdle infomercial Look Thinner Instantly.

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Post tags: CNBC, Informercials, NBC, Olympics

NBC, which is banking on all-stars like Michael Phelps to pull in audiences, delivered a promising start during last night’s opening ceremonies broadcast — part of the network’s $894 million licensing deal. Some 35 million Americans tuned in during the primetime show from Beijing, 19 percent more than 2004’s Athens games, according to Nielsen’s preliminary numbers, which we’re always uneasy about trusting but they’re what advertisers care about. Meanwhile, NBCOlympics.com clocked 4.2 million unique visitors for the day. It’s a big day for 30 Rock.

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Post tags: NBC, Olympics, Ratings

Rielle Hunter, the confirmed mistress of John Edwards and lunatic web publisher, did not father the ex-senator’s love child, if you’re to believe his interview last night with ABC News (video). But Edwards is willing to take a paternity test, if only Hunter will participate, and share the results with the media. Know what? Hunter’s sister Melissa thinks it’d be a good idea that Edwards take that test, which is a signal that at least part of the Hunter camp thinks — and is willing to say so publicly — Edwards is the father. (Worth nothing: Last month Extra reported that Hunter denied the Enquirer’s allegations. Then again, Edwards was doing that up until two weeks ago.)

Edwards blames the whole thing on “narcissism” and on feeling “invincible.”CONTINUED »

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Post tags: ABC, Bob Woodruff, Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards, Nightline, Rielle Hunter, Scandal

Combined, John McCain and Barack Obama have bought more than $11 million in commercial time during the Olympic broadcasts on NBC. But they’ve also managed to get the slots for an insane deal: $44,000 per spot for McCain and $36,000 for Obama (who purchased less ad time overall). Sound cheap? It should. That’s because their per-ad payments are well under the market price for these coveted slots, which have a going rate of $700,000-plus for the Snickers and Coca-Colas out there. Yes, that’s about a 17X multiple they cut out. So how are they getting away with it?CONTINUED »

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