Lineup for Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl VII Announced

It’s the seventh year in a row that Animal Planet is getting ready for the Puppy Bowl, the furrier, cuter and funnier counterpart of the sports event the Super Bowl. The official lineup has been announced: 21 puppies from shelters from all across the US.

For those not familiar with the Puppy Bowl, suffice it to say that it’s watching cute little puppies play with toys on a scaled-down football field.

There’s no winning team, even though dogs who suffer no bathroom accidents on the field and who, at the same time, meet other criteria as well, get extra points.

The biggest prize is the MVP Award, which stands for Most Valuable Puppy, and which is given to the pup that scores the most touchdowns and thus gets the biggest score.

“Puppy Bowl VII brings viewers a loveable lineup that’s itching to play in a winning combination of terrier tackles, touchdowns, puppy penalties, fumbles and fido first downs,” Animal Planet says in a statement posted on Reality TV Website.

“Featuring fan-favorites like the water bowl cam, tail-gating fans, and the Ice Breakers blimp and its hamster crew, this year’s big game is sure to be a tail-wagger,” the network further says.

In this year’s lineup, one finds adorable puppies like Oliver and Calvin (see attached photos). Among the interests of the 21 final competitors, we find being a member of Oprah’s Book Club, DJ-ing, meditation and, of course, being a bodyguard to defenseless kittens.

Speaking of which, cat lovers will also be getting their share of cuteness: the popular Bissell Kitten Half-Time Show will return for another year.

What’s new in this year’s event is the so-called Puppy Cam, that will offer viewers an entirely new perspective on the show.

“And, be on the lookout for the ‘chicks’ on the sideline with the addition of chicken cheerleaders and the debut of the Kiss Cam, which are sure to keep the crowd on its feet,” Animal Planet says.

The Puppy Bowl VII will take place on February 6, at the same time as the sports event from which it was inspired, the Super Bowl.