The London Olympics kicked off with Queen Elizabeth arriving at the opening ceremony in a Union Jack parachute. It was a good start to the 2012 games. For Michael Phelps, not so great.

While so much attention is focused on how Team USA will perform in this year’s Olympic Games, NBC is poised to take advantage of its broadcast rights for self-promotion.

This is the time of the year for the summer edition of the biannual TV critics press tour, where lowly scribes get the lowdown on the upcoming TV Fall season.

Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment, wasted no time in telling the assembled critics at a press conference that NBC has an “incredible promotional platform with the Olympics and we’re going to take advantage of it.”

Until recently, NBC was mired in last place among the major television networks, but things have been looking up since the Spring, and even the Summer offers a ratings boost with “America’s Got Talent” and “American Ninja Warrior.”

Now the two-week run of the Olympics offers NBC opportunities to advertise their shows and even to program a few sneak peeks following nightly Olympic coverage.

The Matthew Perry comedy “Go On” will get a sneak peek commercial-free airing on Wednesday, Aug. 8, while another comedy, “Animal Practice,” gets the same treatment on Sunday, Aug. 12, following the Closing Ceremony.

Greenblatt noted that the strategy is to continue the momentum through August and into September, because the network doesn’t want to “just go dark for six weeks leading up to premiere week,” traditionally set for the end of September.

Meanwhile, NBC is betting heavily on a bunch of new comedy shows, which are always tricky at best to grab an audience, even when you have a good cast. Last year’s failure of “Free Agents” should be a reminder.

As part of the Olympic push, “Go On” stars Matthew Perry in a somewhat familiar setting, or at least a recognizable character, which he played in “Mr. Sunshine.”

Perry’s Ryan King is a recent widower and sports talk radio host ready to get back to work after the loss of his wife. But his boss (John Cho) has a different plan in store for Ryan, making him attend grief counseling before returning to the air.

A reluctant Ryan finds himself in a support group for “life change” where he meets an oddball cast of characters.

Given his rebellious nature, Ryan convinces the group to deviate from their normal session procedures, to the chagrin of the group leader (Laura Benanti). Back at work, Ryan realizes he may need the group more than he thought.

“Animal Practice,” a comedy centered on Justin Kirk’s unorthodox veterinarian Dr. George Coleman, also gets the Olympic treatment.

Dr. Coleman has a gift with animals, but his ex-girlfriend (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) has inherited the family animal hospital, so you know conflict is brewing.

Tyler Labine, who has been funny in TV shows like “Mad Love” and “Sons of Tucson,” is a welcome addition to the cast as Dr. Dough Jackson, another vet better with animals than humans.

One of the big stars of this show is Crystal, a Capuchin monkey who steals the show. She was also the main attraction at the NBC cocktail party, posing for pictures.

“Guys With Kids” is a new comedy from Jimmy Fallon about three 30-something dads who try to hold on to their youth as they face the responsibilities of having small kids.

Anthony Anderson, Jesse Bradford and Zach Cregger try to balance work or staying at home, whether happily married or happily divorced. “Guys With Kids” seems like familiar, hashed-over turf, and as such, may prove a tough sell.

Everyone in the business thinks show creator and producer Ryan Murphy (“Glee” and “Nip/Tuck”) is a genius. So now he is trying his hand at comedy with “The New Normal.” I count “Glee” as a musical series.

“The New Normal” works off the premise that in 2012 families come in all forms – single dads, double moms, sperm donors, egg donors and one-night-stand donors.

Bryan (Andrew Rannells) and David (Justin Bartha) are a Los Angeles couple and they have it all. Except, they want a baby to complete the family unit.

Along comes Goldie (Georgia King), a young single mother with a checkered past, looking to escape her dead-end life and small-minded grandmother (Ellen Barkin).

Moving to L.A. with her precocious eight-year-old daughter to change everything, Goldie decides to become the guys’ surrogate because she’s broke and desperate.

“Revolution” is an ambitious one-hour drama that puts one family in a struggle for survival when every piece of technology, from computers to the electrical grid, blacks out forever.

A young woman, Charlie Matheson (Tracy Spiridakos), and her brother Danny (Graham Rogers) face obstacles when Danny is abducted by militia leaders for a darker purpose, and Charlie reconnects with her estranged uncle (Billy Burke), a former U.S. Marine living a reclusive life.

Living up to its title, “Revolution” is about a rogue band of survivors setting out to rescue Danny, overthrow the militia and re-establish the United States of America.

Dick Wolf’s new drama, “Chicago Fire,” may be a less large-scale drama, but it has a lot in common with the “Law & Order” brand, with firefighters now substituted for cops.

“Chicago Fire” focuses on the courageous firefighters who forge headfirst into danger. Tension arises at the firehouse when tragedy claims one of their own, and as a result conflict arises between Jesse Spencer of the Truck unit and Taylor Kinney of the Rescue Squad.

One day after the Olympics, NBC premieres a reality competition show, “Stars Earn Stripes,” that pays homage to those who serve in the U.S. armed forces.

A wide range of celebrities, from Dean Cain to Todd Palin to Nick Lachey to Picabo Street and more, will gather at a remote training facility to compete in complicated missions inspired by real military exercises.   

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – There is still time for artists to enter their work in this year’s Lake County Fair competitions.

The deadline for entries is 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8.

Entries must be made online at http://www.lakecountyfair.com/competitions.html .

The fair runs from Thursday, Aug. 30, through Sunday, Sept. 2. This year's Lake County Fair theme is “Summer's Biggest Blast!”

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Local favorite David Neft will host a very special concert to benefit youth in the performing arts on Saturday, Aug. 11.

The concert will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Little Theater at Lower Lake High School, 9430 Lake St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $10 at the door.

In addition to playing popular favorite melodies from audience requests, concert-goers also will be a part of the show.

One member of the audience will select a tune, someone else a style and Neft will combine the two.

Be prepared to hear funny, strange things such as “Over the Rainbow” as a Heavy Metal rock song or “Piano Man” as a Country and Western waltz.

Neft also would like to stroll down memory lane and with audience help, see how many classic television and movie theme songs the audience can remember.

For tickets or more information visit www.aneveningwith.org or call 707-331-8445.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Arts Council will host its next First Friday Fling on Aug. 3.

The fling will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Main Street Gallery, 325 N. Main St., Lakeport.

The First Friday Fling will introduce the work of Ray Farrow, Bruce Vandraiss, Lois Freon and Heidi Thomason.

Currently showing at the gallery are Linda Becker, Tom Poole, Carol Yanagitsubo, Kevin Village Stone, Bonnie Tringali, Terry Drunil, Diana Leibe, Richard Seisser and George Waterstaat.

Lindy Day will provide music and Wildhurst Vineyards will pour its vintages. Finger food also will be offered.

This month the Linda Carpenter Gallery will feature an exhibition of “Summer of Peace” art.

For more information contact the Lake County Arts Council, 707-263-6658.

SANTA ANA, Calif. – At its annual meeting Wednesday, July 25, the members of the Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) confirmed the election of Pacific Chorale President and CEO Kelly Ruggirello as its new president.

The meeting took place in San Francisco during ACSO’s annual conference for state industry leaders.

Beginning Oct. 1, Ruggirello will serve a one-year term in a volunteer capacity as head of ACSO’s board, which is comprised of leaders from the classical music community throughout the state of California.

Ruggirello states, “As a passionate advocate for and grateful recipient of the transformative power of music, I enthusiastically embrace my new role as president of ACSO’s Board of Directors,” Ruggirello said. “I look forward to working with the exemplary staff and board to assist our state’s musical organizations in achieving their dreams.”

ACSO Executive Director Kris Sinclair said, “We are very much looking forward to Kelly's thoughtful, enthusiastic leadership of the Association. She is the right woman at the right time, with the intelligence and passion to lead our statewide orchestra and choral association.”

Kelly Ruggirello was named president and CEO of Pacific Chorale in May 2004. Her experience in fundraising, public relations, marketing, operations and education, combined with a vocal performance background, won her the position following a nationwide search.

Over the course of more than 24 years in arts management, Ruggirello has raised more than $50 million for California nonprofit arts organizations. Prior to her position with Pacific Chorale, she has worked for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony and Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, Orange County School of the Arts, and the Long Beach Mozart Festival.

Ruggirello is a consultant with local, regional and national choruses, orchestras and arts schools and serves as a presenter at state and national conferences.

The Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) is a nonprofit membership association providing leadership and services to classical music producers and presenters in California and the region encouraging and supporting their artistic, organizational, and fiscal development.

Membership is open to orchestras, choruses and classical music presenters of all sizes, symphony leagues and guilds, youth orchestras, festivals, artist management firms, businesses, and individuals associated with orchestras or wishing to access its services.

ACSO is governed by a 21-member Board of Directors who hail from arts organizations all over the state of California. ACSO was founded in 1969 at Asilomar by a small group of committed orchestra managers who believed in the power of personal networking.

More than forty years later, ACSO remains the hub of California’s vibrant classical music community by providing a variety of services to its 400+ members including networking, mentorship, resource sharing, advocacy, and professional development.

Founded in 1968, Pacific Chorale is internationally recognized for exceptional artistic expression, stimulating American-focused programming, and influential education programs. Pacific Chorale presents a significant performance season of its own at Segerstrom Center for the Arts and is sought regularly to perform with the nation’s leading symphonies.  

Under the inspired guidance of Artistic Director John Alexander, Pacific Chorale has infused an Old World art form with California’s hallmark innovation and cultural independence. Pacific Chorale has a membership of 140 professional and volunteer singers.

Sometimes, when we are children, someone or something suddenly throws open a window and the world of adults pours in. And we never quite get over it.

Here’s a poem about an experience like that by Judith Slater, who lives in New York.

Zippo

I didn’t think handsome then, I thought
my father the way he saunters down Main Street,
housewives, shopkeepers, mechanics calling out,
children running up to get Lifesavers. The way
he pauses to chat, flipping his lighter open,
tamping the Lucky Strike on his thumbnail.

I sneak into his den when he’s out, tuck
into the kneehole of his desk and sniff
his Zippo until dizzy, emboldened;
then play little tricks, mixing red and black
inks in his fountain pen, twisting together
paperclips. If I lift the telephone receiver

quietly, I can listen in on our party line.
That’s how I hear two women
talking about him. That’s why my mother
finds me that night sleepwalking, sobbing.
“It’s all right,” she tells me,
“you had a nightmare, come to bed.”

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation ( www.poetryfoundation.org ), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2011 by Judith Slater from her most recent book of poems, The Wind Turning Pages, Outriders Poetry Project, 2011. Poem reprinted by permission of Judith Slater and the publisher. Introduction copyright © 2012 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. They do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.