This is not a Drill People-Eurovision comes to the US
May 2, 2016 6:31 PM   Subscribe

LogoTV is going to carry the Eurovision Song Contest! Head out to Ikea folks, and throw your Eurovision Party together, Logo TV is going to air the Grand Final live!

Logo, which is available in nearly 50 million homes, will show the 61st annual competition's grand final on Saturday, May 14, starting at 3 p.m. ET. It also will stream in the U.S. on LogoTV.com and the LogoTV mobile app.

My question is, who will be doing commentary?

And for the uninitiated, the Eurovision Drinking Game.
posted by Ruthless Bunny (61 comments total) 20 users marked this as a favorite
 
Congratulations!
posted by veedubya at 6:38 PM on May 2, 2016


OH DAMN SON.
posted by Etrigan at 6:41 PM on May 2, 2016 [3 favorites]


THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.
posted by Artw at 6:43 PM on May 2, 2016 [3 favorites]


So I only have to use proxy servers to see the no-hopers in the semi-finals? Outstanding!
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 6:55 PM on May 2, 2016


They called me a fool to dream.
posted by delfin at 6:55 PM on May 2, 2016 [1 favorite]


We usually do it late, to ensure it's up on the website, then we do a Chromecast or a tv to computer hook up. This is effortless!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 7:01 PM on May 2, 2016


Is it terrible that I hope this doesn't prevent me from watching it via the YouTube stream? Because on the one hand, maybe the commentary will be great. On the other hand, maybe it will be the same kind of mean-spirited (and often misogynistic) snark that makes RuPaul's Drag Race really unpleasant for me.
posted by zebra at 7:07 PM on May 2, 2016


it shows in the US & Canada directly from the Eurovision website.
posted by jb at 7:15 PM on May 2, 2016 [4 favorites]


no terry wogan, of course. But he also did retire.
posted by jb at 7:16 PM on May 2, 2016


But he also did retire.

And die.
posted by veedubya at 7:24 PM on May 2, 2016 [8 favorites]


Eurovision officially broadcast in the US? YAAAY!

On Logo, which is only available in standard def, so it looks like total crap on an HDTV? BOOOOO!

Is it terrible that I hope this doesn't prevent me from watching it via the YouTube stream?

No, that's not terrible, because it's likely that will have better video quality. And it's what I still plan to do. Unless it turns out they'll block the YouTube stream in the US because of this.
posted by dnash at 7:34 PM on May 2, 2016 [1 favorite]


it shows in the US & Canada directly from the Eurovision website.

Last year this was done via an embedded YouTube live stream. (In previous years they used some weird Octoshape setup.) It's possible for YouTube content to be blocked in certain countries, so I'm worried that Logo having "exclusive" broadcast rights will mean the YouTube stream will be blocked for viewers in the US.

Unless it turns out they'll block the YouTube stream in the US because of this.

Yeah, if they do that I will likely pay for a TunnelBear subscription and route through the UK. Then I'll at least have a choice between nothing and Graham Norton. Although ... I may get a TunnelBear subscription anyway. IIRC Mel Giedroyc is doing BBC commentary for the semifinals.
posted by zebra at 7:55 PM on May 2, 2016


But that'll interrupt the daily Golden Girls marathon and... LOGO's other shows, of which there are presumably some.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 8:00 PM on May 2, 2016 [1 favorite]


Also if Logo takes commercial breaks I will go APESHIT.
posted by zebra at 8:04 PM on May 2, 2016


This is not a Drill People

THIS is a drill, people!
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:05 PM on May 2, 2016 [3 favorites]


Yeah, if they do that I will likely pay for a TunnelBear subscription and route through the UK.

But will we know that until Saturday? From what I can tell on Eurovision's site now, it seems like the semi-finals will be on the YouTube stream. If I tune in on Saturday to find the finals aren't, it'll be too late for me to arrange anything other than watching on Logo. And the standard def will put me in a bad mood, and I've got people coming over to watch!
posted by dnash at 8:22 PM on May 2, 2016 [1 favorite]


Yeah, this Youtube stream thing is an important question. I don't want shitty commentary and commercial breaks and standard definition! I want 100% pure unadulterated Eurovision!
posted by yasaman at 8:46 PM on May 2, 2016 [2 favorites]


Wait, was the Ikea reference just a joke? 'Cuz I would totally hang out at Ikea and watch this.
posted by Tentacle of Trust at 8:51 PM on May 2, 2016


Also if Logo takes commercial breaks I will go APESHIT.

This is the other thing I worry about. I think US TV seems to require more commercial breaks than EU does. In the years I've watched, there haven't been breaks where I could see inserting US commercials.
posted by dnash at 8:53 PM on May 2, 2016


It waz just a matter of time.
posted by janey47 at 9:27 PM on May 2, 2016


Damn, I really hope it there is still a youtube stream for the US or my Eurovision party is hosed.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 9:53 PM on May 2, 2016 [1 favorite]


Tentacle of Trust: It's being hosted in Stockholm this year because last year's winner was Sweden. Thus: it's meatball time!
posted by sldownard at 9:56 PM on May 2, 2016 [2 favorites]


Will this be the year we get a successor to Wolves Of The Sea?
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 10:05 PM on May 2, 2016 [3 favorites]


Hypotetically, Americans of MeFi, if Eurovision was really coming to the US, who would represent you on stage?
posted by Harald74 at 10:17 PM on May 2, 2016


Great news everybody, this is the year we might get actual wolves thanks to "Ivan, the 'rock star' from Belarus who sings naked surrounded by a pack of wild wolves"! Truly we live in a time of wonders.
posted by yasaman at 10:23 PM on May 2, 2016 [2 favorites]


Also, who America would send would depend on whether we were planning on being tediously American about it, i.e. INTENSELY COMPETITIVE AND WANTING TO WIN AT ALL COSTS. In which case we'd send Beyonce to do a 3-minute long Eurovision-friendly adaptation of Lemonade. It might well end in Beyonce roaring "ALL SHALL LOVE ME AND DESPAIR," while Jay Z cowers at her feet. If we actually stayed true to the spirit of Eurovision, who knows.
posted by yasaman at 10:26 PM on May 2, 2016


Are the Hee-Haw guys still alive?
posted by taterpie at 10:30 PM on May 2, 2016 [1 favorite]


(I will always be thankful that pseudonymph introduced me to that song during the last ESC thread. It is the best song.)
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 10:42 PM on May 2, 2016


Logo is part of basically the ONLY package we don't pay for on our DISH service. We already pay out the nose just to get TCM. I will look for the online stream or will just sit in the dark and pout the whole time.

A few years ago, pre-MetaChat, a lot of MeFites were watching the online stream together and doing a liveblog of watching together, and it was some of the most fun I have had hanging out online with pseudonymous strangers ever in my life.
posted by hippybear at 12:35 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


Yeah, I'll only switch from the Youtube stream if it's going to have BBC commentary. I Chromecast it anyway.
posted by retrograde at 1:07 AM on May 3, 2016


Also, who America would send would depend on whether we were planning on being tediously American about it, i.e. INTENSELY COMPETITIVE AND WANTING TO WIN AT ALL COSTS. In which case we'd send Beyonce to do a 3-minute long Eurovision-friendly adaptation of Lemonade. It might well end in Beyonce roaring "ALL SHALL LOVE ME AND DESPAIR," while Jay Z cowers at her feet.

That's sooooort of how Eurovision works, but at the same time that's not how Eurovision works. At all.
posted by um at 1:07 AM on May 3, 2016 [2 favorites]


We'd could send Garfunkel & Oates, but we'd get low marks from the eastern countries because jokes don't translate well.
posted by hippybear at 1:14 AM on May 3, 2016


If it were a couple of decades ago, we could have sent Kris Kross, because they were sort of our own personal Jedward.
posted by hippybear at 1:15 AM on May 3, 2016 [3 favorites]


Will this be the year we get a successor to Wolves Of The Sea?

(I will always be thankful that pseudonymph introduced me to that song during the last ESC thread. It is the best song.)
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 4:12 PM on May 3 [+] [!]

I'm so happy to have shared this, because it's brought me so much initially-ironic and eventually totally sincere delight. It's a piratical bounty of endless joy.

Fer instance, THIS viewing (it must be around my twentieth now), I am particularly appreciating the pirate who just said fuck it, and shoved his microphone down his breeches during the gunfight portion of the dance. Next time, i'll be back to loving that no-one has ever danced so passionately and with such determination about being a Wolf Pirate as the head pirate lady does.

Next time: WHO KNOWS, there is always more to love. WE ARE THE WOLVES OF THE SEAAAAAA!
posted by pseudonymph at 1:31 AM on May 3, 2016 [3 favorites]


Can Simon Pegg, Nick Frost et al do the commentary?
posted by Mezentian at 3:16 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


Wait, was the Ikea reference just a joke? 'Cuz I would totally hang out at Ikea and watch this.

Sweden won last year, so they're hosting. I always do my Eurovision Party menu based on the host country, this year it's Sweden, hence, I will buy the food at Ikea....no, it makes sense.

Logo is going to run it commercial free! No word on who or even IF there will be commentary. It seems that this it really a last minute arrangement.

I'm rather wondering if we'll get the BBC feed with Graham Norton. If not RuPaul and Kathy Griffin (my dream team) perhaps Statler and Waldorf?
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 3:49 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


Statler and Waldorf?

Okay, that is better than my idea.
posted by Mezentian at 3:56 AM on May 3, 2016


this is the year we might get actual wolves thanks to "Ivan, the 'rock star' from Belarus who sings naked surrounded by a pack of wild wolves"!

Some video footage of him rehearsing. OH PLEASE let this make the final! My party crowd will LOVE it!
posted by dnash at 5:05 AM on May 3, 2016


But will we know that until Saturday? From what I can tell on Eurovision's site now, it seems like the semi-finals will be on the YouTube stream. If I tune in on Saturday to find the finals aren't, it'll be too late for me to arrange anything other than watching on Logo. And the standard def will put me in a bad mood, and I've got people coming over to watch!

Ditto. I'm hosting a watch party with probably a dozen people, so this could be a real problem for me if I can't find a reliable source. You're right about not knowing until the Grand Final -- Logo sounds like they are not airing / streaming the semifinals, which IMO is the best part of the contest. I'm probably going to try the VPN approach during the semifinals; my one concern is whether the bandwidth can keep up with the live stream. I'll report back as to whether that works in case others need an option on Saturday.

Will this be the year we get a successor to Wolves Of The Sea?

DON'T I WISH. But no, this year is very ballad-heavy, and very mainstream. I love Eurovision in all its forms but I do miss the unrepentant silliness that has mostly gone by the wayside at this point. I will say that my costume this year is "Wolves of the Sea"-inspired. Or it will be once I figure out exactly what a super-queer pirate looks like.

A few years ago, pre-MetaChat, a lot of MeFites were watching the online stream together and doing a liveblog of watching together, and it was some of the most fun I have had hanging out online with pseudonymous strangers ever in my life.

I'm going to see if the mods will allow a FanFare post for live chat during the contest. (Cortex seems open to it.) I'll be hosting an in-person watching party, so won't be able to take part in the online conversation, but am happy to make a space for others to discuss!
posted by zebra at 6:32 AM on May 3, 2016 [3 favorites]


Hmm. Well, if we can't have Wolves Of The Sea, perhaps we can have Cake To Bake, another Latvian gem. It's kinda/sorta a ballad! More ballads need a chorus like "seb seb seb seb seb kookukooku."
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 7:16 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'm probably going to try the VPN approach during the semifinals; my one concern is whether the bandwidth can keep up with the live stream. I'll report back as to whether that works in case others need an option on Saturday.

I'll be at work on Tu/Th when the semifinals air live, but I can check the YouTube channel from my desk at least enough to see if they're streaming live. (I just can't watch the whole thing from work - I'll save that for when I get home.)

I dunno how I'd get a VPN to work. I can get YouTube on my TV via my Tivo box, and that's what I'm still hoping for. Logo has an app, but it doesn't look like they usually stream anything live on it, and it doesn't connect to Chromecast so I can't use it.
posted by dnash at 7:39 AM on May 3, 2016


Most of the semis are, if I recall, on YouTube soon after.
posted by Mezentian at 7:42 AM on May 3, 2016




This means ads probably.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 8:16 AM on May 3, 2016


And I'm not sure how to stream from the tv if it's not youtube.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 8:17 AM on May 3, 2016


Logo says on Twitter that it "will be open to stream for everyone" in response to a question about whether those without cable can see it. Logo's app and website require logging in with your cable subscription credentials to view anything. This tweet sounds like they're dropping that for Eurovision. (But I wonder how? Because it does not look to me like they're equipped to massively LIVE stream anything - all their online content is previous-day or earlier.)
posted by dnash at 8:43 AM on May 3, 2016


Hmm. Well, if we can't have Wolves Of The Sea, perhaps we can have Cake To Bake, another Latvian gem.

Will a Sammarinese disco anthem do? Because that's the closest we're getting. Even Moldova is boring this year.

Because it does not look to me like they're equipped to massively LIVE stream anything - all their online content is previous-day or earlier.

This is a very good point, and makes me wonder whether Logo is just going to embed the YouTube livestream into their website the way that the main Eurovision.tv site does. Honestly, I think that might be the best of all possible outcomes.
posted by zebra at 10:12 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


I dunno how I'd get a VPN to work.

Can you connect your computer directly to your TV via HDMI or VGA? It's not cordless like Chromecast, but works just as well if you have the right ports on both the computer and TV.
posted by zebra at 10:29 AM on May 3, 2016


Can you connect your computer directly to your TV via HDMI or VGA?

Doubtful with my iMac, it's circa 2008 so it has an older video out port, I'd have to find special cables.

I keep forgetting I have a Windows laptop that I usually only use for travel... it's a few years old as well but I've never looked at what video-out options it has.
posted by dnash at 10:45 AM on May 3, 2016


Yeah, I have a VideoPort (is that what they were called, those square plug/socket things?) to HDMI converter I have sometimes used to hook up my iMac to the television across the room as a second monitor (fun to keep track of the mouse sometimes!).... It's easy, but it isn't simple, if that makes sense.

My iPad can throw any video to my AppleTV. Oddly enough, it's more powerful than my computer for that sort of thing. (My late-2007 iMac can only throw video from iTunes to the AppleTV unit.)
posted by hippybear at 10:49 AM on May 3, 2016


One memorable year, my husband pointed his Mac at his TV and we Skyped for the Swedish final. I could actually see most of the show and we could listen to each other's snarky commentary. None of the Swedes I met ever loved the festival the way I did. The music was mostly awful but that's partly why I loved it so. Thanks for the news, OP!
posted by Bella Donna at 10:58 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


HALLELUJAH.
posted by duffell at 7:22 AM on May 9, 2016


News: Justin Timberlake to make guest performance during the finals show.

(Eurovision purists in the comments not happy. "It's turning into X Factor.")
posted by dnash at 12:01 PM on May 9, 2016


News: Justin Timberlake to make guest performance during the finals show.

I want to hate Justin Timberlake more, but he keeps doing things like this way, way better than he needs to.
posted by Etrigan at 12:10 PM on May 9, 2016


FYI, under advisement by the mods, I've created a Eurovision Club over on FanFare to contain this week's live stream discussion posts (and other stuff as we see fit). Y'all should come join us!
posted by zebra at 4:17 PM on May 9, 2016 [2 favorites]


So talking about interval acts; for people who missed it yesterday, here's The Grey People interval act from the first semi-final, which was cut out in countries who'd rather not be reminded about what's going on elsewhere in the Eurovision area right now.
posted by effbot at 4:50 AM on May 11, 2016 [1 favorite]


BBC radio documentary: The Swedish Ambassador's Guide To Eurovision. 50 minutes of worthwhile listening that looks across the history and politics of the contest.
posted by hippybear at 9:55 AM on May 11, 2016


TWO DAYS TO GO KLAXON
posted by Wordshore at 5:31 AM on May 12, 2016 [3 favorites]


Vice: I Went to a Eurovision Sex Party.
posted by dnash at 2:22 PM on May 13, 2016 [1 favorite]


If you're in North America and doing the Eurovision thing for the first time then if you can please don't wait until the show actually starts (3pm Eastern US) to start working out how to view. I see this every year recently on social media, people getting flustered as they discover it may not be straightforward. You don't want to be missing song after song while trying to learn how to rig up some kind of VPN. Helpful comment here.
posted by Wordshore at 2:00 AM on May 14, 2016


Vice: I Went to a Eurovision Sex Party.

Heard in the office yesterday:
"$Person's at Eurovision. He said if he switched on Grindr it would melt his mobile phone".
posted by Mezentian at 4:37 AM on May 14, 2016


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