John Oliver’s view of the Rio Olympics opening ceremonies where fireworks, treegasms and parades of ebullient, smiling athletes is in complete opposition with the grim narration of NBC Today Show hosts. Perhaps only Carnival time in Rio could be more festive than the parade of Olympic athletes. Still, Today Show hosts brought the parade to life by recounting horrific tragedies in each country. No nation was exempt; Turkey’s attempted coup, terrorist attacks in France, Nepal and a deadly quake, even the Sudanese delegation was said to come from “a troubled country.”
The gloomy list of national tragedies ended abruptly with the appearance of the group from Tonga. As John notes, ‘most all of the athletes are forced to dress like flight attendants from a poopty airline.’ The flag-bearer from Tonga is the one, glorious exception. As the buff, oiled Adonis hove into view, all tragedies were apparently forgotten by the Today crew as we heard: “Oh, look at TONGA – Wow!” “He’s so SHINY, what IS that?” I suspect ‘that’ – is now the face of the Rio Olympics.
John also touches upon the past President of Brazil – Dilma Rousseff. Scandal – ridden Rousseff paints herself as Cinderella, who planned and organized the party, but cannot go even if the shoe fits.