‘Today’ Moves Past Geopolitics to Focus on the Sunny Side of Olympics

Olympics in the rear-view mirror.The games reached an average combined audience of 11.4 million people in prime time on NBC, the USA cable network and Peacock streaming service, the network said. That's the lowest-ever American audience for any Olympics, and down 42% from the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in 2018.For NBC alone, the prime time telecasts reached an average of 9.3 million viewers, or 48% down from South Korea, the Nielsen company said.The games never really captured the public imagination, and were hurt by COVID-19 restrictions that had most of NBC's announcers working half a world away in Connecticut.In a diminished world for broadcast television, however, NBC beat every other network in prime time during the Games' duration.

Disturbed frontman David Draiman has opened up about his controversial support for Israel, saying he’s no longer fazed over the public’s opinion of his political views.Draiman – who is of Jewish descent – has long been a staunch advocate of the Israeli state. In 2019, for example, he derided ex-Pink Floyd legend Roger Waters “and his Nazi comrades” for their demands to boycott Israel.

Coverage of the 2022 Winter Olympics wraps up Sunday with the Closing Ceremony, which will air live from Beijing National Stadium on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app beginning at 7 a.m. ET/4 a.m. PT. NBC and Peacock will rebroadcast the finale gala in an “enhanced primetime presentation” beginning Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

EXCLUSIVE: NBC has revealed the hosts for its coverage of Sunday’s Closing Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics — and two of them have been in the news this week.

It’s brutal out here. Olivia Rodrigo and boyfriend Adam Faze have split after less than one year together, Us Weekly confirms.

Katie Price has given a glimpse of her post-surgery face as she surprises fiancé Carl Woods for his birthday.The former glamour model, 43, shocked fans last month when she was pictured with bandages on her head following her latest cosmetic surgery procedure. Now the star has offered a glimpse of the results of the surgery as she presented partner Carl with a thoughtful gift on his 33rd birthday.

Sha’Carri Richardson, the American track and field star who was banned from the Tokyo Olympics last year for marijuana use, has an issue with Russian Olympic Committee figure skater Kamila Valieva‘s participation in the Beijing Olympics. 15-year-old Kamila tested positive for a banned substance in the midst of the 2022 Winter Olympics, but on Feb. 14, she was granted approval to continue competing by the Court of Arbitration for Sports. The CAS said Kimila’s age is the main reason they decided to lift the ban on the teenager, according to Sport’s Illustrated.

Pat Saperstein Deputy EditorThe comedy community and “Ghostbusters” fans everywhere are remembering Ivan Reitman, who died Saturday at 75. Actors and filmmakers, including several people who worked closely with Reitman, paid tribute to the Canadian director and producer who directed the megahit “Ghostbusters” and helped ignite the movie careers of comedians including Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd.Reitman also directed “Meatballs” and “Stripes,” and produced films including “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” “Space Jam,” “Up in the Air” and last year’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.”Tom Rothman, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, said in a statement, “Tonight, the lady with the torch weeps, as do all of us at Columbia, and film lovers around the world. Ivan Reitman was an inseparable part of this studio’s legacy, but more than that he was a friend.

Kerry Chater, the bassist and co-founder of ’60s hitmakers Gary Puckett & the Union Gap who went on to score multiple country hits as a songwriter, has died. He was 77.

Focusing on the positive. After a difficult start at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Mikaela Shiffrin offered a glimpse at how she approached her remaining time at the international sports competition.

A legendary career. Shaun White reflected on his snowboarding achievements after his final Olympic Games ended without a medal.

EXCLUSIVE: Joe Pickett, the Michael Dorman-fronted drama series, is returning for season two.

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Don’t expect to see Kendall Jenner competing in the Winter Olympics anytime soon! The 818 Tequila founder shared a hilarious clip of herself absolutely wiping out, while snowboarding on Monday February 7. Kendall, 26, went off a ramp while snowboarding and landed flat on her face, but she took it all in stride, unafraid to make a joke at her own expense by sharing the video in her first ever TikTok.

Hanging up his board. Ahead of Shaun White’s upcoming snowboarding events in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the athlete has confirmed his retirement.

It’s early days at the XXIV Olympic Winter Games, but NBC must already be praying for some Gold medal glory or the Super Bowl to give them a boost. Right now, coming off record low viewership in the first night of primetime coverage, the billions the Comcast-owned network fork out to broadcast the Games until 2032 isn’t looking like money well spent.

Proud family. For Chloe Kim‘s parents—father Jong Jin Kim and mother Boran Yun Kim—their daughter is the definition of the American dream.