Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl returns with its 20th edition, showcasing 131 puppies and heartwarming adoption stories.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Puppy Bowl is set to delight audiences once again on Saturday, 17 February, starting at 12:30 pm AEDT on Animal Planet, accessible through Foxtel and Fetch. This year’s event promises to be the most grandiose to date, featuring a lineup of 131 puppies from 73 shelters and rescues spanning 36 states and territories. The lineup includes the tiniest participant ever, Sweetpea, weighing in at 1.7 lbs, and the largest, Levi the Great Dane, at 72 lbs.
The event will showcase heartwarming adoption stories, celebrating the tireless efforts of shelters and rescues. Competing for the coveted WAYFAIR® “Lombarky” trophy, puppies from Team Ruff and Team Fluff will battle it out in the Puppy Bowl XX stadium. In honor of the 20th anniversary, the event will introduce the Puppy Bowl Hall of Fame, featuring four past Puppy Bowl participants.
The action begins with the PEDIGREE® Starting Lineup taking the field, including notable participants like Dash, a Pomeranian/pug mix, and Maggie, a chow chow/American Staffordshire terrier mix, representing the US Virgin Islands for the first time. Tater, an Australian cattle dog/German shepherd mix, and Peanut Pretzel, a pug from Los Angeles, will lead Team Ruff.
Throughout the game, viewers will eagerly await the announcement of the MVP (Most Valuable Puppy) and the recipient of the SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Underdog Award. The event will also highlight six special needs puppies, including Riddle, a pug terrier with cerebellar hypoplasia, and Mr. Bean, a papillon who relies on his hind legs, along with four deaf puppies showing their prowess on the field.
For the first time, puppies will take on production roles, managing cameras, directing, stage managing, and even coaching. Dan Schachner, the Puppy Bowl referee, returns for his 13th year, assisted by a puppy coach, Whistle, to oversee the game.
New camera perspectives, including a referee’s GoPro and a goal post wide-angle shot, will bring viewers closer to the action. The broadcast will feature returning favorites like the slo-mo cam and the NEXGARD® Brand Products blimp, with sportscasters Steve Levy and Taylor Rooks providing commentary.
The event kicks off with a pre-game show detailing the Puppy Bowl draft, player insights from the Wisdom Panel™ pet DNA test, and updates from the BISSELL® Pet Foundation. The Kitty Halftime Show, sponsored by ARM & HAMMER™ SLIDE™, and the SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. “Pup Close and Personal” segments will offer additional entertainment and stories. Miranda Lambert will introduce the ‘Adoptable Pup’ segment, featuring puppies and kittens available for adoption. Puppy Bowl XX is a production of Bright Spot Content, an All3Media America company.
