NFL legend and two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning didn’t really win people over when he covered the Olympics’ opening ceremony. In response, NBC defended the former Indiana Colts star from those who bashed him online by releasing a statement on the work he put out for that event.
Manning made his debut as a co-host for NBC’s coverage of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. While his presence brought the widespread appeal of a household name in American sports, his performance was a mix of hits and misses.
The former quarterback’s best moments included offering insightful commentary on U.S. athletes, such as water polo captain Maggie Steffens honoring a recent family loss and heptathlete Anna Hall’s journey with the support of her mentor, Jackie Joyner-Kersee. He also played the role of a supportive wingman to NBC veteran Mike Tirico, interjecting comments at appropriate times without overshadowing the broadcast.
However, Manning’s worst moments included a cringeworthy attempt at speaking French and a gimmicky use of a play-call wristband, which fell flat with the audience. While his casual, jokey tone worked well in the Manning-cast of “Monday Night Football,” it didn’t always translate seamlessly to the more formal and culturally diverse setting of the Olympics opening ceremony.
Overall, Manning’s performance showcased the challenges of transitioning from a successful sports career to a major broadcasting role, even for a beloved figure like himself. NBC may have hoped for a smoother transition, but Manning’s mixture of hits and misses ultimately reflected the learning curve he faced in this new arena.
NBC Defends Peyton Manning From Haters After Criticism During Olympics’ Opening Ceremony
After Manning’s performance received a lot of bashing online, NBC jumped in to defend the former NFL star. In an article written by Andrew Holleran for The Spun, the network addressed the recent Olympics opening ceremony and Manning’s part in it.
An executive for NBC made it clear that they were very happy about the coverage of the Opening Ceremony in Paris, France at the start of the Summer Games.
“We were extremely pleased of our opening ceremony coverage,” NBC Sports Olympics president and executive vice president Molly Solomon said in a statement.
“We expected there to be a lot of musical acts, so we thought this mixture of Mike Tirico, Peyton, Kelly, (Today co-hosts) Savannah (Guthrie) and Hoda (Kotb) was the perfect elixir to cover it.”
Manning joined and Mike Tirico to host NBC’s coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony. While the former NFL star had his moments, fans were quick to point out what went wrong with his performance.
It remains to be seen whether Manning will get more airtime in the coming weeks or he’ll have to practice his craft more. In any case, fans will be there to look out for him if he gets more broadcasting responsibilities in the future.
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