Behind the Scenes at the Puppy Bowl

A look at what it takes to produce Animal Planet's annual canine competition.

Published

4 months ago

Categories

Entertainment

Topics

Television, Animals & Pets

Transcript

If Beyonce is not your idea of Super Bowl half time entertainment, U.S. television network Animal Planet has something else in store for you. For the ninth year in a row the channel will be holding its annual Puppy Bowl filled with furry fun and some fouls. In November last year the network assembled 63 pups at a New York studio from various animal shelters around the country to play in the game. Referee Dan Schachner explained some of the differences between the real game and the canine competition. SOUNDBITE: Dan Schachner, referee, saying (English): "There is the obvious like physical fouls that are dumped on the field. And you know, that's like illegal wetting of the field. Or preliminary fertilization of the grass -- that unnecessary fertilization of the grass. The penalties change from dog to dog. And we usually set them back, you know, another five ten yards." However, one similarity is the family bonds both games carry. The teams playing in the Super Bowl are coached by brothers who are just 15 months apart in age. At the Puppy Bowl, two brothers from the same Shepherd-Pit Bull litter, will be competing against each other for the title. But the real winners in the game are the animal shelters who benefit from the pet adoption theme on which the game was created. Executive producer Melinda Toporoff. SOUNDBITE: Melinda Toporoff, executive producer, saying (English): "There's always been an adoption message behind the puppy bowl, which is we're trying to raise awareness for the shelters and all the animals that need forever homes. So while it's cute and it's cuddly there is also some substance behind the style of the fluff." The Puppy Bowl will air on February 3rd on Animal Planet.