Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet – Puppy Bowl, the original and longest running call-to-adoption television event, returns for a 20th year on Saturday 17 February at 12.30pm AEDT on Animal Planet, available on Foxtel and Fetch.
The three-hour television matchup will be the biggest yet, featuring 131 puppies, 73 shelters and rescues across 36 states and territories – including the all-time smallest pup, Sweetpea, at 1.7 lbs and the biggest, Levi the Great Dane at 72 lbs.
Inspiring adoption stories will highlight the dedication and incredible work of rescues and shelters, as puppies from Team Ruff and Team Fluff take to the gridiron in the Puppy Bowl XX stadium to win the WAYFAIR® “Lombarky” trophy and find their forever homes. To celebrate 20 years of the game, four previous Puppy Bowl players return to be inducted into the all-new Puppy Bowl Hall of Fame.
The game kicks off when the PEDIGREE® Starting Lineup players take to the field. Dash, a Pomeranian/pug, and Maggie, a chow chow/American Staffordshire terrier representing the US Virgin Islands for the first time, will compete for Team Fluff while Tater, an Australian cattle dog/German shepherd, and Peanut Pretzel, a pug from Los Angeles, will look to bring Team Ruff to victory.
As the game progresses, it will be revealed which puppy player has what it takes to be named the MVP (Most Valuable Puppy) or to win the SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Underdog Award.
Six special needs puppy players will also be introduced including Riddle, a pug terrier who suffers from the neurological condition cerebellar hypoplasia; Mr. Bean, a papillon who only has his two hind legs; and four pups who don’t let their deafness slow them down on the gridiron.
For the first time ever, puppies are taking over the show’s production by operating the cameras and lighting, directing from the control room, stage managing on the studio floor and even coaching Team Ruff and Team Fluff. Puppy Bowl referee Dan Schachner returns for his 13th year and for the first time, will have a puppy assistant coach, Whistle, who helps him call the plays and fumbles.
With new camera angles, including a ref GoPro camera and wide-angle shot from the goal posts, viewers will experience getting nose-to-nose with the puppies. Fan-favorite elements including the slo-mo cam, NEXGARD® Brand Products blimp, the coveted water-bowl cam and the TEMPTATIONS™ Skybox kittens will return alongside sportscasters Steve Levy and Taylor Rooks providing play-by-play commentary between Team Ruff and Team Fluff.
Puppy Bowl XX begins with the annual pre-game show, going behind-the-scenes on the Puppy Bowl draft with exclusive interviews with coaches and players. Puppy Bowl fans will also learn more about each player’s breed mix and other unique traits from the Wisdom Panel™ pet DNA test that could help determine who will have a furry leg-up on the field.
The pre-game show will check in with the BISSELL® Pet Foundation to see how they are continuing to make an impact with their rescue mission efforts and will also provide a first-look at the Kitty Halftime Show presented by ARM & HAMMER™ SLIDE™.
Also returning are the SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. “Pup Close and Personal” segments that share some of the all-star athletes’ backstories. Featured will be Baltimore Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley’s rescue foundation which trains dogs, including hound Linus, to support people with special needs; and Beignet, a New Orleans dachshund, who gets a nose to tail makeover before the big game. For more “Pup Close and Personal” stories featured in Puppy Bowl XX, please click HERE.
Puppy Bowl’s annual ‘Adoptable Pup’ segments sponsored by PEDIGREE® features puppies – and a few kittens – from 14 shelters and rescues across the country that will be available for adoption (only in America) during the game. Country singer and adoption advocate Miranda Lambert will introduce the first segment, as her non-profit, MuttNation, will feature a senior dog seeking their forever home. Puppy Bowl XX is produced for Animal Planet by Bright Spot Content, an All3Media America company.
Media Release – Animal Planet
Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet celebrates 20 years
Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet – premieres Saturday 17 February at 12.30pm AEDT on Animal Planet, available on Foxtel and Fetch.
The five-hour event will commence with a special pre-show at 12.30pm before the main show at 1.30pm. There will also be a 20th Anniversary special following the main show.
TV Central Discovery content HERE
Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet celebrates 20 years
