Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be bringing you complete daily schedules of the Olympic events that you should skip work to watch (or take that extra hour at lunch, you deserve it).  If I were you, I’d be excited.  I mean, jeez, we’re doing all the work for you.  You sure are one lucky guy/gal.

Tonight, there is one and only one thing you should be focused on: the Opening Ceremonies.

I know that there is nothing on Earth quite like the Olympics, but there is absolutely nothing on Earth like the Olympic Opening Ceremonies.  The 2004 intro in Greece nearly brought me to tears, and several athletes actually did break down.  This is probably the only time over the course of the Games that you will actually see athletes express their awe.  Most of the time it’s focus and determination.  In the OC’s, it’s shock and awe at the sheer wonder surrounding the track.  The music, the flags, the fans – it all comes together for one glorious night, and anybody who watched the tear-jerker in Atlanta, the mind-blowing skill in Barcelona or the holy-crap in Lillehammer knows what I’m talking about.

7:30pm – 12:30am, NBC: 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremonies