>>>BTW if you want the Olympics you can have it. I don't see why I should be subsiding a bunch of lycra clad drug addicts running jumping and throwing things.
>>
>>You shouldn't have to. Clubs matching that profile are what *made* the disco era <g>
>>
>>( you could probably sublet your place during the Olympics for enough to fund a year in the south of France )
>
>Definitely. Maybe that would take the sting out of it for Grumpy Nick.
>
>Back to the Super Bowl, I read an excellent article online this morning about the Packers victory rally at Lambeau Field yesterday. They sold tickets for $5 (reportedly resold for up to $200) and they sold out in two hours, despite zero-ish temperatures. The players and coaches walked along the stands, exchanging high fives and letting fans touch the Lombardi Trophy. My favorite quote was from a lady who said she touched Aaron Rodgers's pinkie and is never going to wash her hands again ;-) There really is something special about the bond between team and town. Green Bay is the Packers and the Packers are Green Bay. Even a California kid like Rodgers clearly loves it there.
>
>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2010/news/story?id=6101078
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>The game did indeed break viewership records. As I said before, I think it was a perfect storm involving the crap winter, the blue collar teams competing, and escape from the economy and financial worries.
>
>http://www.rttnews.com/Content/EntertainmentNews.aspx?Section=2&Id=1547372&SM=1

Funny, it was pointed out that viewing numbers and attendance numbers are skewed as the market grows, ticket prices increase etc.

But there is another factor at work. A couple years ago, two episodes of the Beverly Hillbillies ranked among the top TV ratings of all time.

*Because there was nothing else on ! *

Not sure how old you have to be to remember pre-cable TV with 3 channels. Competition was not stiff. On Friday night you had a choice of Bishop Sheen, boxing or some Albanian spinning plates on a unicycle. I think Gunsmoke was on opposite I Remember Mama.

Last night - Tuesday - The Good Wife, Detroit 187, Southland, White Collar and Lights Out - every one of which better than anything that was on TV prior to about 1995 - were all on at the same time.

Movies in the GWTW era didn't compete with TV and movies in color in 1939 didn't even compete with a lot of other movies. And studios owned the movie theaters (each showing 1 movie) , the stars and the movie press so they had the option of leaving it out there for as long as it took.

Things change. <g>