tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post1283406302150797510..comments2024-02-29T03:29:52.934-05:00Comments on A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago: Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113168955236758821noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-78933093085924162162010-06-06T14:14:46.000-04:002010-06-06T14:14:46.000-04:00Dammit, why couldn't Georgia start with a W in...Dammit, why couldn't Georgia start with a W instead of a G? Jenn.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-88466921734031544302010-06-05T23:24:05.000-04:002010-06-05T23:24:05.000-04:00I don't enjoy reading or watching the Sklar Br...I don't enjoy reading or watching the Sklar Brothers on the Bee, because I always feel like they're mocking the kids in unfair ways. Yes, it's what they do, but these are kids and I don't like it.<br /><br />And then in their twitter feed, they say flat out that they think the kids in "Amazing Kids" are better than the Bee kids. That's just nasty.Genevievenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-17578786730228617902010-06-05T18:28:42.000-04:002010-06-05T18:28:42.000-04:00This isn't a bad suggestion. So much of what m...This isn't a bad suggestion. So much of what makes the bee compulsively watchable are the unscripted moments and unpredictability that remains when 20-50 spellers are still in the competition. There are still many kids who were either lucky to make it or are just grateful to have made it to that level. So they still display the spontaneity and humor that is more typical of middle schoolers. That's why I am glued to the television during the ESPN rounds but am far less attentive when I watch the ABC rounds. The last ten kids are usually so focused and professional that the pleasure of watching them as just kids is gone. I also think that if you've made it so far as to be one of the last 19 spellers standing out of millions of kids worldwide, that is an accomplishment worthy of prime-time television time.FormerSpellernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-44515295221910655972010-06-05T18:21:42.000-04:002010-06-05T18:21:42.000-04:00Yeah, that should have been edited out of the segm...Yeah, that should have been edited out of the segment. No reason to blame Shantanu because he was probably exhausted and overloaded with words and definitions at that point but ABC should have done its job. There were much bigger problems this year than one poorly fact-checked segment though. *sigh*FormerSpellernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-37525964785627062382010-06-05T14:56:16.000-04:002010-06-05T14:56:16.000-04:00I totally agree that ABC was treating the bee like...I totally agree that ABC was treating the bee like a wink-wink sport; the commercials for 20/20 following it (featuring kids who climbed Mt. Everest and other physical feats) said basically (and I'm paraphrasing), "You think these kids are great, well check out these kids who are really amazing." It felt like ABC was basically saying "yeah, yeah, smart kids, yeah yeah ... let's show you some really impressive kids: jocks!"<br /><br />I suspect the TV Execs have gotten so used to tightly controlling the "narrative" and "storylines" for any show that has any component of reality (or "real people" and not scripted characters) in it that they<br /> a) do not see anything wrong with the sheer amount of talking because they have to tell us what and how to think about the Bee to ensure we are "entertained",<br /> b) would be uncomfortable with the lack of predictability around just letting it unfold naturally and having silence on the screen while someone is thinking or reacting, and<br /> c) don't think much of their audience. It's that amorphous lowest common denominator - idiots who need to have everything explained mulltiple times and to be hit over the head repeatedly with information to make sure they get what we're telling them.<br /><br />People who watch the Bee are people who like words and spelling , have a hometown rooting interest, were or have smart kids, like competitions, like kids, are the sort of people who play along at home to Jeopardy and Cash Cab, and/or are just like watching people be people. If you direct the Bee to that audience, you're going to end up with an enthusiastic repeating audience who talks it up to friends and family. What we got last night won't grow the audience; in fact, if my Yard Sale eavesdropping is any indication, they lost viewers for part of last night's show and probably next year. An 11 year old who couldn't hear half the words pronounced because of the commentators, a woman who got exasperated with how slow it was and kept switching channels during the comemrcial breaks and stopped swiitching back, and her friend who really didn't think it was right to make a kid cry on the air after losing on national TV.Julennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-34328128803695274192010-06-05T14:39:37.000-04:002010-06-05T14:39:37.000-04:00I propose a new rule that any round that ENDS with...I propose a new rule that any round that ENDS with 20 or fewer spellers moves to primetime. Anyone with me?Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-51611296703622419112010-06-05T14:25:35.000-04:002010-06-05T14:25:35.000-04:00Jenn, you seem to forget that Aditya was a "C...Jenn, you seem to forget that Aditya was a "Championship Finalist", so clearly he performed better than Julia D. They don't give out titles like "Championship Finalist" just on a random whim. Plus, if Julia D. was really Aditya's equal, then why didn't she spend any time hanging out with Shaquille O'Neal, which has ALWAYS been the standard for a true "Championship Finalist."Bob Loblawnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-13897668590202041972010-06-05T12:18:54.000-04:002010-06-05T12:18:54.000-04:00How many Dans do we have here? :)How many Dans do we have here? :)Adamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-11920202561033738322010-06-05T12:02:18.000-04:002010-06-05T12:02:18.000-04:00Did I inadvertently make you think I'm Fienber...Did I inadvertently make you think I'm Fienberg? Just another Dan F.<br /><br />I did forget to mention another credential, that I recently music-directed a high-school production of "Spelling Bee"...Dan Fnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-22553638463875293672010-06-05T11:32:13.000-04:002010-06-05T11:32:13.000-04:00Dr Bailly is limited to the pronunciation in the o...Dr Bailly is limited to the pronunciation in the official Bee reference, Merriam-Websters Third New International Dictionary. The official pronunciation the editors choose is heavily influenced by actual [Northeast?] American pronunciation of the word and may not be faithful to the rules of the language of origin.<br />That said, Dr Bailly does make mistakes, as would any human trying to give hundreds of spellers their words with utmost precision. I quibbled with <em>mauka,</em> since the accent should have been on the <em>ma</em>, not the <em>u</em> - but the kid got the word right anyway. I had to check the dictionary on <em>gyokuro,</em> and sure enough there was only one pronunciation given, and it was not how I would have thought the <em>gyo-</em> should be pronounced.<br />I read a post by Cat earlier that gave a good insight; something to the effect that the dictionary pronunciation is influenced by how the word entered the English language.lindabnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-23602732935263627652010-06-05T11:27:35.000-04:002010-06-05T11:27:35.000-04:00I haven't watched an ESPN Bee broadcast in a w...I haven't watched an ESPN Bee broadcast in a while, but it used to be that ESPN would actually treat the Bee as a sport--focusing on the competitors and not talking right over them. ABC, on the other hand, feels a bit condescending in their coverage--more of a "Look! We're treating a *spelling bee* as a *sport*! Isn't that wacky?" attitude.<br /><br />I really hope that the spellers couldn't hear Harrison and co. talking while they were trying to spell. I'm hoping that distance and microphones ensured that they weren't an aural distraction.Charlesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-61282511211600404672010-06-05T10:58:23.000-04:002010-06-05T10:58:23.000-04:00I have a question, if anybody is still around. Wh...I have a question, if anybody is still around. Why was it okay for Dr. Bailly to anglicize (or, if you'd rather, butcher) the pronunciation of "gyokuru" and "netsuke" (and, IIRC, the Spanish word that I'm not recalling right now but which had a "gui" in it), but he had to keep a French accent for "confiseur"? I'm inferring from the discussion that there's a reason for it, but as it turned out, the inconsistency worked to the detriment of both the "gyokuru" speller and Newcombe. isaac_spacemannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-86500343771343368892010-06-05T10:35:19.000-04:002010-06-05T10:35:19.000-04:00Dan, I forget: did you interview Harrison during t...Dan, I forget: did you interview Harrison during the upfronts? Was he ready for this?<br /><br />And I had no idea you, too, were a Bee vet.Adamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-46871950635931789912010-06-05T09:46:09.000-04:002010-06-05T09:46:09.000-04:00I think that it's a tie between me and Bob, be...I think that it's a tie between me and Bob, because we both had Anamika and Aditya C. and Julia D. both got eliminated in Round 6.Jenn.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-54904415277200029882010-06-05T09:11:03.000-04:002010-06-05T09:11:03.000-04:00Thanks for all for the Bee coverage. I'm curr...Thanks for all for the Bee coverage. I'm currently working on a production of Putnam County Spelling Bee (yeah yeah, like many companies across the country) and several of us in the company followed it closely. We finished rehearsal last night just in time to see the last few words. And for those who know the show, Mitch's speech about kids wanting things to be fair had an amazing resonance after the events of yesterday.Tinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-29975736358360460022010-06-05T07:49:09.000-04:002010-06-05T07:49:09.000-04:00Can I crowdsource that research? I believe it'...Can I crowdsource that research? I believe it's Bob Loblaw w/ <span>Anamika Veeramani and Aditya Chemudupaty, but would appreciate confirmation that I didn't err.<br /></span>Adamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-38172104202365739262010-06-05T03:53:46.000-04:002010-06-05T03:53:46.000-04:00Paul is the radio play-by-play announcer for Fresn...Paul is the radio play-by-play announcer for Fresno State sports and also interviews World War II vets for "Hometown Heroes" on KMJ 580.lindabnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-65003950466029126302010-06-05T03:04:02.000-04:002010-06-05T03:04:02.000-04:00Thanks as always for the Bee coverage, everyone. ...Thanks as always for the Bee coverage, everyone. Missed the ESPN rounds because I'm on the West Coast this week, but all the comments caught me up. Watching the finals on DVR made the commercials a non-issue, but it was still a pretty anticlimactic year.<br /><br />Just wanted to give a shout-out to color man Paul Loeffler, who I'm sure was doing his best to stay out of the way of the spellers. Can we blame Chris Harrison for the bulk of the annoying interruptions? Paul always seems to be spot-on about the possible trouble areas, the etymological issues, what the spellers are thinking... It's rare for a TV commentator to be so knowledgeable, and I love seeing him on TV once a year. OK, full disclosure, we were buddies at "nerd camp" in high school... anyone know what Paul does for the other 364 days of the year?<br /><br />(Credentials: 1991 Bee -- out in the 4th round on "panegyric", so I vaguely remember Raf but he wouldn't know me; year-round reader of this blog)Dan Fnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-46060137501394412582010-06-05T02:33:59.000-04:002010-06-05T02:33:59.000-04:00It turns out there would have been time to include...It turns out there would have been time to include all of round 6 in the ABC broadcast (leaving out some segments such as Will Farrell or the firemen and not pausing for commercials between every speller). Of course nobody knows how long a round will take or how many kids will be eliminated. But I agree with the suggestion of replaying the start of the 6th round to begin the ABC broadcast and including all 19 kids as "finalists" for the press conference and such - although it might be hard for those kids who missed to have it shown twice. <br /><br />No matter how hard hard the staff works at making it's impossible to make everything completely fair. I hope there's a way to give the kids the thrill of being in a primetime broadcast without having it mess so much with the rhythm and focus of the bee.lindabnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-9743297304065054852010-06-05T00:10:33.000-04:002010-06-05T00:10:33.000-04:00I was just rewatching the bee, and noticed that, i...I was just rewatching the bee, and noticed that, in his pre-taped interview segment, Shantanu defined "hoomalimali" as a type of weasel. I thought I'd misheard that, but no, he said weasel.<br /><br />Do they not do fact-checking on these things? A hoomalimali is an object designed to attract attention. And weasels? Not exactly common in Hawaii, last I checked...codeman38noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-3891519418797914502010-06-04T23:27:08.000-04:002010-06-04T23:27:08.000-04:00You know who really understood that?
Mike and Mik...You know who really understood that?<br /><br />Mike and Mike. Let them televise the Bee their own way. It would be great. And people would watch, regular sports fans would watch. If they need some expert analysis - Rebecca Sealfon.BeeFannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-21855361449624929222010-06-04T23:24:52.000-04:002010-06-04T23:24:52.000-04:00So, on a happier note (not for me, I picked Ruiter...So, on a happier note (not for me, I picked Ruiter & Newcombe), who won the pool?BeeFannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-41830573281021837182010-06-04T23:22:44.000-04:002010-06-04T23:22:44.000-04:00"Hardcore competitors".
That...right t..."Hardcore competitors". <br /><br />That...right there, that. People allow the fact that they're kids overwhelm the fact that these kids are some of the toughest, coldest competitors you'll ever meet. <br /><br />Let me flip the image a bit. For as long as I can remember, the Little League World Series has been televised. We're talking about kids in the same general age range, who are competing to be the best in their field, same as the Little Leaguers.<br /><br />ABC wouldn't have cutesy song-and-dance numbers before the pitcher from Granville, OH takes a swing - so why put the spellers through the same rigamarole? I might not have had the most fashion-forward wardrobe, and lord knows I've rocked some seriously thick glasses...but at the same time I was busy spelling, I was also busy learning how to play rugby, football, and run track & field. <br /><br />They're hardcore competitors, folks. Full stop, nothing less. Show them that way.Rafnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-741946995315587062010-06-04T23:20:13.001-04:002010-06-04T23:20:13.001-04:00When spellers were spellers, bees were bees, and w...When spellers were spellers, bees were bees, and words were words.BeeFannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-18553086484687271492010-06-04T23:20:13.000-04:002010-06-04T23:20:13.000-04:00When spellers were spellers, bees were bees, and w...When spellers were spellers, bees were bees, and words were words.BeeFannoreply@blogger.com