I watched the long awaited presentation of the group draw for the World Cup 2010, taking place in South Africa. Charlize Theron acted as co-host, but this was no Oscars. The South African influence played out with a lively pre- music show. Unfortunately this was a FIFA run affair from then on in: no fun skits to be found, no spontaneity allowed to seep out. Considering they had an Oscar winning actress on hand, they really made no use of Theron at all.
I always feel like Fifa gigs come across as a mix between a Eurovision song contest and the National Lottery weekly draw. There's no audio, but the pic above sets the scene- DRY.
As it turns out, Theron added unscripted comedic relief to the dry-as-toast French co-host who led the 30 minute proceedings. Signor Pain Rassis [stale bread] kept interrupting Theron's charm offensive with the draw 'assistants' that included Haile Gebrselassi ("Haile, you need to smile more- Smiley Haile!" owing to the Ethiopian running legends' infectious, ever present smile), David Beckham ("Are you sure that's the best ball?" more coquettish flirting with David) and other South African elite athletes. He also had an odd professorial manner about him; his grammatically perfect English lacking the conversational subtleties that someone with lesser English would have used. Consequently, his linking comments came off as blunt, useless pieces of football trivia about which team played another team delivered by ear piece seemed random. All the while 
Charlize made me chuckle with her rolling eyes, barely disguised annoyance with Signor Pain Rassis and sly put downs ("Wow, you're like a little Facts Machine!"- elbow to the ribs).
Charlize made me chuckle with her rolling eyes, barely disguised annoyance with Signor Pain Rassis and sly put downs ("Wow, you're like a little Facts Machine!"- elbow to the ribs).The funniest skit- you gotta make you're own entertainment when watching a Fifa fiesta- was when SPR asked Theron about some match in the 1950's, to which she retorted "Wait a minute, how old do you think I am?! You're asking me about something in the '50's?" shock thinly veiled in her voice.
One thing to be thankful for- the draw didn't last long, and England's group isn't half bad!
Group G, however- ouch. Brazil, Ivory Coast, Portugal and North Korea: Group of DEATH
Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
Group B: Argentina, South Korea, Nigeria, Greece,
Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
Group D: Germany, Australia, Ghana, Serbia
Group E: Holland, Japan, Cameroon, Denmark,
Group F: Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Honduras, Chile, Switzerland.
Group B: Argentina, South Korea, Nigeria, Greece,
Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
Group D: Germany, Australia, Ghana, Serbia
Group E: Holland, Japan, Cameroon, Denmark,
Group F: Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Honduras, Chile, Switzerland.
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