As far as we’re concerned, life is just one big intermission between Shark Week and The Puppy Bowl. Thankfully, Feb. 2nd is almost upon us, and Animal Planet has lots of ways for us to chase the winter blues away while we wait for the shameless celebration of all the things cute.
As the tenth anniversary of the first Bowl, Animal Planet promises that PBX will feature several furry surprises. In addition to the traditional Kitty Halftime Show (you heard me right), this year’s halftime will also feature special appearances by internet sensations perma-kitten Lil’ Bub and the Keyboard Cat (or a keyboard cat, at least). In addition, PBX will have the Bowl’s first cheerleaders, a group of Penguins from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
If you’re tired of losing your hard-earned milk bones on actual human sports, Animal Planet will also offer the first Puppy Bowl Fantasy League in honor of PBX, where you can create a lineup from the 66 puddles of fur vying for MVP (Most Valuable Puppy, natch), keep track of their stats, and enjoy your inevitable slide into Michael Vickdom. Each of the athletes up for the draft is either adopted or rescued, and the pups claim to enjoy a wide range of activities, from listening to Lil’ Bow Wow on their I Pawd to scuba diving.
If you’re not content with a virtual puppy fix, Animal Planet and the ASPCA are also teaming up for an interactive event in Times Square from January 27th to February 1st in honor of PBX (and some other small sports thing happening in the city around that time.)
The press release states:
Open to the public free of charge, visitors will get a chance to learn about the history of PUPPY BOWL during a walk through the Hall of Fame; enjoy live puppy action on the replica field featuring rescued pups from the ASPCA; and visit interactive booths including a tail-gate area with games and face painting, a ‘kissing booth’ for a smooch from a lovable pooch, a chance to step into the press box to call a game, and much more. Guests will also get the chance to meet and snuggle some furry friends and even find a new family member at on-site adoption events hosted by the ASPCA with the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals daily between 4 – 7 PM.
So, to our understanding, this year’s Puppy Bowl will allow us to gamble, get drunk with dogs, and shamelessly anthropomorphize everything. Throw in a nip slip or two, and we just might have the will to live to see another Spring.
(via gothamist.com, image via Duncan Rawlinson)
- Puppies are pretty much sociopaths
- Dog humping competition requires rigorous judging
- And Daschunds are pretty adorable in chainmail
