Back to Prime Time last night--Tirico takes us to the end of the 10,0000m, and Kenya's win. Onto Track prelims. At one point, the parents (in the stands) of Quincy Wilson are interviewed--he's the youngest runner EVER on the US team at 16. He also gets his own video package. Later, Tirico does a whiparound, including the win of the controversial Algerian boxer. We move to a rerun of Women's Springboard Diving, and it's all about China's dominance.
Back to the track, first for US medal ceremonies, then semis, then the Women's 400m final (Dominican Republic win). Over to the Heptathlon rerun, with a LOT of hype for Anna Hall, including a video package with Jackee Joyner-Kersee. But she screwed up on the Javelin in a ridiculous technicality, and was out of the medals. Another Tirico whiparound, and then the "Event of the Night". Another video package for the gals in the 4x100 Relay, right before their win.
Then it’s the men--and a lack of a video package tells you something. The guys in the relay have not medaled for 20 years, and the tradition continues (Canada won). When asked what happened, the team just kept saying “we didn’t get it done” (thanks for that erudite response). QISE legend Carl Lewis immediately started complaining--”it’s time to blow up the system”. Well, the WOMEN’S system seems to be just fine. The 400m Hurdles final starts with another video package with the US’s Rai Benjamin, describing how he would direct his upcoming victory--before he does just that.
Tirico then shows us the end of the Men’s Volleyball match, with a US winning the bronze. He’s then forced to show a promo for a new NBC sitcom “coming this fall. to wrap things up.
Late Night--More Breaking, a quick glimpse of Rhythmic Gymnastics (more time is spent on a “pizza gymnastics” bit), and an interview with the coach of US B-Ball. Artistic (don’t call it synchronized) Swimming is then shown--with the Russkies out of the mix, China owns this. Taylor interviews Mikaela Shriffrin (with a promo for 2026 Milan), followed by a minidoc of Josephine Baker, an American emigre singer who became a French hero.
Tirico then steps in to interview QISEOC President Thomas Bach--I’m guessing he will say everything went perfectly at the games. I’m wondering about the scheduling, at the end of the QISE programming day. NBC always gets flack for not pressing QISE more about their issues--this interview would normally air in primetime. Seems like they tried to bury this. I can understand Kabletown’s position--they still have to work with QISE, at least through 2032.
Onto Day 15--Lowe shows a glimpse of the end of the Marathon, which ran earlier that day (why not just start your coverage early, NBC? You kicked off at 6a last weekend), then sends us off to the Men’s Volleyball gold medal match, since that was live I guess? France wins in straight sets, and they got the huge French reaction in the stands. Then back to the Marathon, almost two hours in to the coverage. This is normally a major chunk of QISE programming on the last weekend, and the de-prioritization of the marquis QISE event is strange, at least to me. I know, I can watch it on Peacock, but geez Kabletown!!! BTW--Ethiopia wins it, US ran eighth and ninth.
This brings up another topic--how long will the QISE coverage remain on Peacock? Will it disappear on Monday? How strict will the QISEOC be on this?
Anyway--Lowe and Fareed go over an event at Women’s Beach Volleyball, with a heated “discussion” through the net, only to have the DJ play “Imagine” to calm things down. We then go to a Maria Taylor interview (was this quid pro quo for Tirico stepping on her Late Night show?) with the head of the new Flag Football event in LA2028, along with NFL Commissioner Goddell. This may be shaping up as a sequel to the “Dream Team” (blecch).
A quick whiparound, then onto Diving--Men’s 10m Platform. China has owned the seven previous events this QISE, but with one of their competitors imploding, it was much closer than expected--they won anyway. Japan gets silver, Team GB the bronze. A peek at the Men’s B-Ball bronze match (Serbia, almost beat the Millionaire Cheaters, wins), then over to Breaking (I know QISE wants to bring in the kids, but--meh). A peek at a press conference for the US Women’s Futbol coach before their gold medal match, and then more hype (complete with a countdown clock).
After a LOT of fast-forwarding, the US win in a “thrilling” 1-nil victory. Tirico joins Lowe for a game review. He then gives us the schedule for the rest of the day (sponsored by Domino’s--why not order a pizza pie?) Off to the Track and the Men’s 800m final--Kenya wins, with the favorite from Algeria getting shameful bronze. Meanwhile, the Men’s High Jump and Women’s Javelin go on. Tirico does a post-game interview with the US Futbol coach, then the Women’s 100m Hurdles, with the youngest US competitor, Masai Russell, taking it--France gets the silver.
Onto the Men’s 5000m final--Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway takes it, while Grant Fisher becomes the first American Male to medal in the 5K/10M double. Then it’s the women in the 1500m final, which includes Nicki Hiltz, US athlete and the first non-binary to make a QISE track final. Keyna’s Faith Kipyegon wins it. Tirico does another Futbol interview (NBC is really pushing this), then back to High Jump--which eventually ends in a jumpoff. A check in with Breaking (2: Electric Bugaloo), beofre the Men’s 4x400 Relay. The US manages NOT to screw up this time, taking the gold. Since he was on the earlier semi, 16-year old Quincy Wilson wins a gold medal.
Back at the High Jump--Hamish Kerr of New Zealand wins the jump-off and the gold. Shelby McEwen of the US gets silver. Then it’s the Women’s 4x400 Relay. Jamaica drops out during the run, making it an easy win for the US (they even get a QISE record, despite having little competition during the second half of the race).
And that ends Track and Field. Time to convert the stadium for Closing Ceremonies. Off to watch the Millionaire Cheaters win the gold--NOT! Yes they won, but I refused to watch it. There’s endless navelgazing afterward, and then the medal count. US is currently behind China by one gold, with a day left--ahead by 32 overall. We learn about a special event Paris is running--a Marathon for the public, using the same course. Tirico is vamping, hoping they will get the B-Ball medal ceremony in before the broadcast is over. Darn, the recording ran out before the Millionaire Cheaters got their trinkets.
Tomorrow--the final events and the Closing Ceremony (Jimmy Fallon Alert).