Olympics: Bob Costas tries to distract from nasty pinkeye, drinks vodka on air

Despite his trusted face in news, viewers are finding endless reasons to not watch Bob Costas' "NBC Olympic Late Night" coverage for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. In addition to being filmed a day earlier and airing during the time of actual live competition, there is Costas' diseased eye.

Make that eyes. In a recent upset, the  infection appears to have claimed both conjunctiva membranes. The result: red, swollen. mucousy peepers, magnified by Costas infection-friendly glasses.

Quickly stealing the show, the conjunctivitis went viral, in more ways than one.

Costas even took a "shot" at old-fashioned apothecary, downing a shot of Russian vodka on the air with a visibly uncomfortable Mary Carillo. 

“I’m not really a vodka guy, but look at it this way: My eyes can’t get any redder, no matter what I do,” Costas joked. 

He may not have developed the gift of healing powers, but he did predict his own demise.

Several days into his exclusive Olympic coverage, Costas finally surrendered to the disease last Tuesday night, taking a six day hiatus.

He returned to his former glory as NBC prime sportscaster on Monday night, just in time to bring the first U.S. gold to American viewers, as figure skaters Charlie White and Meryl Davis made history as the first ever Olympic ice dancing champions.