Article upon article have been written about what makes Johnny and Tara different, so we won’t beat a dead horse here and besides, us here at That’s Normal KNOW why Johnny and Tara are a breath of fresh air, we aren’t suits in the corner office who need this explained to them. As mostly women, and a good chunk of “millennials” (that dreaded word), we know Johnny and Tara bring both an outsiders perspective but also consummate professionalism and techniques (in the case of skating), they both know what it’s like to BE an Olympic athlete and what it’s like to be a fan watching at home. Oh and they aren’t 60 year old white men who attribute female athlete’s hard work to men (but that’s a story for another day). That’s why NBC made their next smartest decision in sports broadcasting ever by hiring Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski to commentate on sports FAR outside of their wheelhouses, we’re talking about two people suited for a Pride parade showing up to the Super Bowl, The Kentucky Derby and now the Summer Olympics, and they bring us, the viewers who would NEVER watch some of these sports willingly along for a very fun and fabulous ride.
They’ve already taken Rio by storm… Johnny and Tara showed up to the Olympics like this…
A photo posted by Tara Lipinski (@taralipinski) on
When NINE bags are involved plus 100 pairs of shoes, you KNOW shit is gonna be good!
and then Johnny followed up with this Tweet to get it all started…
I cried over an @NBCOlympics video at the @NBCSports intern dinner. It must be THAT TIME of my Olympic cycle. Goodnight from Rio! ❤️
— Johnny Weir (@JohnnyGWeir) August 2, 2016
We are all Johnny. If you haven’t cried at the Refugee Team or the Simone Biles story or that dude breaking his leg in gymnastics or while reading Kerri Walsh Jennings feed, you haven’t LIVED.
Johnny posts if OOTD on Instagram, and usually there’s at least two changes a day… here Johnny is bringing his finest Cesar Flickerman meets a pink swan look…
Imagine my surprise when the best commentators weren’t part of the Opening Ceremonies? I mean what else screams Tara and Johnny than costumes, routines, opulent pageantry and hot international men and women? NOTHING. They did bring us their thoughts in bursts of 10 seconds of less via their Snapchat, which I was quick as hell to follow, Tweet about and get retweeted by Tara herself.
When you find out @JohnnyGWeir and @taralipinski are on #snapchat! #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/nCXbfbMRVg
— Nikki Pierce (@itshowtimenikki) August 2, 2016
Then you have their swimmers warm-up reenactment which means they’re practically writers here at TN because given the right amount of alcohol and a hotel tub we would probably be doing syncro diving right about now.
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Let’s not forget the Tara and Johnny PODCAST wherein they cover all the Olympics goodness behind the scenes from what they’re wearing to what’s happening on the street and even meeting Tom Brokaw at the hotel bar (where else?!).
A photo posted by •JOHNNY WEIR• (@johnnygweir) on
Past meet future!
Even though we were robbed of a Tara and Johnny Opening Ceremony, maybe NBC will hear our cries and add them to the Closing Ceremonies plus EVERY other event, especially the ones in prime time. We NEED their color commentary. Super Mega Bonus? Add Leslie Jones from SNL in and we’ve got the best Olympics commentary (and more representative) ever!!!
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Are you watching Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski at the Summer Olypmics in Rio? Do you want them moved to prime time?
