Figure skating trumps 'American Idol', and NBC's Scott Hamilton cries

For the second time in two weeks, the previously untouchable "American Idol" television show on Fox was beaten by NBC's Olympic coverage Thursday night. That coverage included Americans Billy Demong and Johnny Spillane going 1-2 in a Nordic combined event, the men's aerials and, most importantly, the long program for the ladies in figure skating.

During the 8-9 p.m. hour, when the Olympics went head-to-head with "Idol," NBC averaged 19.2 million viewers to Idol's 17.8, according to the Nielsen ratings. NBC averaged 22.9 million viewers on the night. The top group of six skaters featuring eventual gold medalists Kim Yuna as well as silver medalist Mao Asada; Canada's Joannie Rochette, who won bronze only five days after her mother died of a heart attack in a Vancouver, Canada, hotel room; and 16-year-old American Mirai Nagasu, who skated the best long program of her life to move from sixth to fourth.

In a statement, Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports and Olympics, said the win over "American Idol" was unexpected. "I never thought we would have the good fortune to beat the incredibly well-produced and enduring phenomenon of 'American Idol' even once," Ebersol said. "But twice?...We are happy to rent 'Idol's' space for a few nights."

And it turns out the hour when NBC beat "Idol" was its least-watched hour of the night (so it doesn't take a genius to figure out where "Idol" viewers turned when their show was finished). The Olympics' two wins over "Idol" are the first time any program has beaten the talent-finding show since May 17, 2004.

One other interesting number: NBC has been breaking down its viewership numbers by time zone. The coverage is live in the Eastern and Central zones and tape-delayed to prime time in the Mountain and Pacific time zones. So far, the tape-delayed Mountain and Pacific have been 1-2 every night. Thursday night Mountain stayed No. 1 but the Pacific area fell behind the Central. The East just keeps finishing last.

During that final hour of the Thursday broadcast, where NBC went for an hour without commercial interruption to show the final group of ladies (don't worry, plenty of commercials during the rest of night), we'd like to offer kudos to Scott Hamilton, who did the NBC call of the ladies figure skating, long and short program.

Hamilton cried on Tuesday when Rochette skated a mistake-free short program only two days after her mother passed away. There was some criticism of Hamilton's naked emotions but what could be better? A television guy unafraid to transmit to the audience the feeling that was so obvious in the arena.

When Rochette finished Thursday, Hamilton again choked up again. "I think a moment like that brings out memories of our own experiences about loss, our own recollections. I was putting myself in her position. How do you deal with this, respond to such a devastating moment. Tuesday was the 16th anniversary of the day I lost my father. Joannie's experience put me in touch with all of that. We've all suffered losses, all had our hearts broken. I wanted Joannie to be everything she knew her mother knew she could be. There were a lot of layers to my feelings and I couldn't hide them."

-- Diane Pucin

Comments

[Marthastew]

I gave a pass to NBC and its exploitative closeups of the teary-eyed Rochette and her newly-widowed father. We all know it was deliberately done to tug at the heartstrings, so I can forgive Scott Hamilton for his weepy commentary. But who's the chick with him and Dick Ebersol?? She's BORRRINNNNGGG!!!

[sperlaine]

The American skaters didn't have a chance. Nagasu skated a flawless program which Rochette did not (at least two wobbles), so it burns me that they gave it to her just because her mom died. Rochette's initial expression just before the tears flowed was that she may have blown it; she knew her final program wasn't perfect. The judging was clearly fixed in her favor and everyone (but Nagasu and most likely Asada) had a warm, fuzzy happy ending.

[hmmm]

Nice try. Did you have fun making those statistics up??

[Tammy]

The female commentator is Sandra Bezic, a former skater and choreographer who has choregraphed the gold medal routines for Brian Boitano, Kristi Yamaguchi and Tara Lipinski. The woman knows her stuff. I like her because her low-key delivery pairs well with Hamilton's enthusiasm. And that was NOT Rochette's "newly widowed father" shown crying in the stands, it was a family friend. NBC clarified that later in their broadcast.

[hmmm]

The fact that they all compared things in terms of what American Idol does shows just how big American Idol really is. Also to brag they've beaten Idol once or twice is fairly pathetic really. It says nothing because the olympics don't come around that often. People see it as a more rare event and tune in. But still it's beaten most of the time anyway. And not long ago, AI was always beating the olympics. I always have to chuckle when I read someone bragging about having topped American Idol, not once, "but twice", lol.

[Celena]

Don't get me wrong I am an American Idol die hard fan and have been watching it since season one. But you can not compare it the Olympics that only come on every two year. These are events that people dedicate their entire lives to train for. We as fellow Americans need and should want to support our fellow team mates. They are wonderfully talented at what they do and to see them achieve a goal they have dreamed of and worked for is rewarding for me just as much for me as for them. I do channel flip and DVR don't get me wrong...lol because I have my favorites on both shows but there is not comparison.

Your dedicated American Olympian Idol

[Ayani]

Not exactly difficult to pick between watching a group of well trained, dedicated elite athletes compete once every four year and a tired, repetitive 9 yr old show with 5 really annoying host/judges.

AI needs to go away fast and free up that timeslot for better quality programs.