The Olympics Rock!

[kpete]

We cut to a pre-prepared film of James Bond (as played by Daniel Craig) visiting Buckingham Palace to see the Queen (as played, rather astoundingly, by the Queen). Bond, it seems, has come to escort Her Majesty to the Olympic Park and they opt to travel via helicopter.



Praise be: at no point does the Queen attempt to push Bond from the chopper. At no stage does she confess that she's actually a deep-cover KGB agent with a wicked plan to take over the planet from her base in Balmoral. Instead she graciously allows herself to be escorted right into the heart of the Olympic stadium. And at this point she leaps out and floats down with a Union Jack parachute.

It must be said that the Queen plays the Queen rather well (possibly better than Branagh playing Brunel playing Caliban). That said, I'm not quite sure it was really her doing the parachute stunt.

Now this lady knows how to make an entrance! Michelle Obama runs past the University of Florida band as she arrives at a her Let's Move! event at Winfield House in Regent's Park. I hope they were playing the theme tune from Rocky. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/london-2012-olympics-blog/2012/jul/27/london-2012-olympics-opening-ceremony-live

More pics
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/london-2012-olympics-blog/2012/jul/27/olympics-2012-pictures?CMP=twt_gu





Beautiful front page of tomorrow's guardian. pic.twitter.com/re65ZVk4




*************

[REP]

1. Better image of Eddie and Patsy, sweetie darling:

[GoCubsGo]

3. That is the best thing I have seen regarding these Olympics.

Is that an "official" photo?

[REP]

4. If it isn't, it should be!

[GoCubsGo]

15. It's looking like it IS!

Got to love British humor!

[malaise]

5. Watch the ceremony

It's freaking fabulous - you will love it.

[gkhouston]

9. I'm looking forward to it now. Hadn't planned on watching, but after reading a few of your posts,

I've set the DVR to capture all of the opening ceremony when it airs here. Thanks for the heads up.

[malaise]

16. You will be delighted

Trust me on that

[GoCubsGo]

13. I was planning on it!

Now, I really can't wait!

[REP]

18. I think you meant "absolutely fabulous" :-)

[malaise]

30. Absolutely - check this out

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/jul/27/olympic-opening-ceremony-danny-boyle-father
<snip>
Asked whether he was trying to make a political point by including a lengthy sequence paying tribute to the NHS, featuring hundreds of real nurses, Boyle said free universal healthcare was "an amazing thing to celebrate".

"The sensibility of the show is very personal," he said. "We had no agenda other than values we feel are true. Not everybody will love that but everyone will recognise it's true. There's no bullshit in it and there's no point-making either."

Boyle thanked Lord Coe, the London 2012 chairman, for protecting his artistic vision and giving him the space to work with the 10,000 volunteers who formed the cast of what he said was a "warmup act" for the sporting spectacle to come.

"We started under a Labour government, now a Conservative [led] government," he said. "Seb has protected us from any kind of interference. We have been allowed to express ourselves.

[REP]

31. I never watch the opening ceremony - and I made a point to watch this one because of that

The UK's social safety net has been ravaged since Thatcher's rampage, but it is still superior to what we have in the US. It just makes sense: a fed, sheltered and healthy populace is not only the right thing to do; it's the smart thing to do.

[Daemonaquila]

7. Proving, once again...

... that the U.K. has much more of a sense of humor about itself than we ever have.

[monmouth]

14. They are absolutely fabulous, their last show I saw they were discussing the #^$% Olympics

and how for five years (it was an older show) and what they've had to tolerate. Hilarious, I just love them.

[Liberal_in_LA]

25. They look exactly as they did 15 years ago in the first series.

[MrMickeysMom]

29. Calling Patsy !

I thought I'd see a post from you, darling!

[sibelian]

2. SPOILERS

For me it's a toss-up between Mr Bean and the animatronic Churchhill statue

[malaise]

6. SPOILER

Gosh/NHS wins for the best political statement ever - that was beautiful

[sibelian]

8. SPOILER

I work for the NHS!!! I feel so proud! Nobody's ever nice about the NHS in the UK...

[malaise]

12. I was in tears of joy for GOSH

It was fabulous - Mr Bean was hilarious, but that was profound and deeply political on a national and global scale.

[REP]

10. I saw photos of the NHS tribute - just the idea of doing that is awesome

Spoiler alert: huge GBS fan, so yeah.

[Spazito]

11. I very much agree with you! [SPOILER]

I absolutely loved the focus on Gosh/NHS, shows the priorities are in the right place, imo. I also loved the focus on literature, children's literature, awesome.

[Logical]

17. Is the first woman lightening a cig??? WTF?

[REP]

19. Patsy Stone and Edina Monsoon from "Absolutely Fabulous"

Just be thankful Patsy isn't doing blow.

[Logical]

20. Seems a little disgusting to me for an "Olympic moment"

[REP]

21. It's a beloved and famous British TV series from comedy duo French & Saunders

Joanna Lumley's character, Eurydice Colette Clytemnestra Dido Bathsheba Rabelais Patricia Cocteau "Patsy" Stone, is a desperately glamorous woman who lives on cigarettes, booze and any drugs she can get her hands on. It's a bit of a wink at Lumley's own past as a 'Bond Girl.'

[Logical]

22. OK, guess I don't "get it". Seems like lighting a cig is not a Olympic athlete deal.

[REP]

23. ...and that's why it's funny. It's very like that character to do at an inappropriate moment.

You may have also noticed they're dressed super weird. Also par for the course.

[muriel_volestrangler]

24. If it's any consolation, that's a shot from the sitcom

See http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG9406596/London-2012-fashion-prepares-in-Absolutely-Fabulous-style.html

The 2 actresses did carry the torch in reality too (6th picture down in the OP), but dressed as other torch carriers were. And with no cigarettes in evidence.

[Logical]

26. OK, thanks! n-t

[JonLP24]

27. I wish they would get on with it

I spent over an hour watching ceremony stuff. I want to see some games.

Always hate these spectacles for big sporting events like the Super Bowl.

[flamingdem]

28. It's beautiful, a moving painting covering centuries

with so many ernest participants.