GaryMrMets
10-29-2005, 02:28 AM
Italians promise NBC tasteful Olympics opening
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Italy, known for risqué taste in its television shows, will keep its Winter Olympics performers bundled up for U.S. prime-time television, organizers said on Wednesday.
Olympics broadcaster NBC television, owned by General Electric Co., had to fend off criticism last year when the Athens Olympics opening ceremony featured ancient Greek gods in various stages of undress and simulated sex.
But Italy, where topless game show hosts are not uncommon, will bow to American sensitivities for the Games.
"I've seen some people of NBC very nervous about it, but I can assure you that our opening ceremony will be outstanding," said Evelina Christillin, deputy president of the organizing committee for the Turin Games, set to run February 10 to 26.
"We will give the audience the best that Italy is able to do in entertainment and all that concerns beauty," she told a news conference in New York, declining to reveal the show's details.
A handful of viewers complained about the Athens opening ceremony to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission watchdog, prompting the Games chief to warn American regulators not to try to police ancient Greek culture.
In a bigger controversy, CBS came under heavy criticism when part of Janet Jackson's breast was momentarily exposed during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show.
Reuters/VNU
10/27/05 08:22 ET
Copyright 2004 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Italy, known for risqué taste in its television shows, will keep its Winter Olympics performers bundled up for U.S. prime-time television, organizers said on Wednesday.
Olympics broadcaster NBC television, owned by General Electric Co., had to fend off criticism last year when the Athens Olympics opening ceremony featured ancient Greek gods in various stages of undress and simulated sex.
But Italy, where topless game show hosts are not uncommon, will bow to American sensitivities for the Games.
"I've seen some people of NBC very nervous about it, but I can assure you that our opening ceremony will be outstanding," said Evelina Christillin, deputy president of the organizing committee for the Turin Games, set to run February 10 to 26.
"We will give the audience the best that Italy is able to do in entertainment and all that concerns beauty," she told a news conference in New York, declining to reveal the show's details.
A handful of viewers complained about the Athens opening ceremony to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission watchdog, prompting the Games chief to warn American regulators not to try to police ancient Greek culture.
In a bigger controversy, CBS came under heavy criticism when part of Janet Jackson's breast was momentarily exposed during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show.
Reuters/VNU
10/27/05 08:22 ET
Copyright 2004 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.