Super Bowl Archives – CULTURE MIX

2020 Super Bowl: Jennifer Lopez, Shakira are the halftime show performers

September 26, 2019

Jennifer Lopez at the 2018 American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on October 9, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/ABC/FilmMagic for DCP)

The following is a press release from the National Football League:

Today, Pepsi, the NFL and Roc Nation announced cultural icons Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show on FOX at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Sunday, February 2, 2020. Pepsi and the NFL collaborated with Roc Nation to bring these two icons together for the first time ever, for what will be an unforgettable performance on the world’s biggest stage.

“Ever since I saw Diana Ross fly off into the sky at the Halftime Show, I dreamed of performing at the Super Bowl,” said Lopez. “And now it’s made even more special not only because it’s the NFL’s 100th season, but also because I am performing with a fellow Latina. I can’t wait to show what us girls can do on the world’s biggest stage.”

“I’m so honored to be taking on one of the world’s biggest stages in the company of a fellow female artist to represent Latinos and Latinas from the U.S. and all over the world — and to top it off, on my birthday!” said Shakira. “This is a true American dream and we are going to bring the show of a lifetime!”

Jennifer Lopez is an award-winning singer, actress, producer, and entertainer who has established herself in music, film, and television. She is a successful recording and touring artist who has sold over 75 million records and has a cumulative worldwide box-office gross of over $3 billion. As an artist, fashion icon, entrepreneur, and a philanthropist, Jennifer Lopez has been named to the TIME 100 list, Forbes’ Most Powerful Celebrity, and People’s first “Most Beautiful Woman in the World”, in addition to being nominated for both Golden Globe and GRAMMY awards and receiving the MTV Video Vanguard Award. Most recently, Lopez spent Summer 2019 touring the globe with her electrifying sold-out It’s My Party tour. She can currently be seen on the big screen as the notorious Ramona in the critically-acclaimed box office smash, Hustlers. As one of most influential female artists in history, Jennifer Lopez defines what it means to be a global icon and the ultimate multi-hyphenate.

Shakira is a Colombian singer-songwriter and multi-GRAMMY® award winner. She has sold over 75 million records worldwide and has won numerous awards including three GRAMMYs®, eleven Latin GRAMMYs®, and several World Music Awards, American Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards, to name a few. She is the only artist from South America to have a number one song in the U.S., has had four of the 20 top-selling hits of the last decade, and is one of the top-5 YouTube artists of all time. Shakira’s last album “El Dorado” charted #1 on iTunes in 37 Countries, won Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2017 Latin GRAMMY® Awards, and Best Latin Pop Album at the 2018 GRAMMY® Awards. With over 10 billion streams, it is one of the most-streamed female albums of all time. In November 2018 she wrapped her hugely successful El Dorado World Tour.

Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show Announcement

The Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show is the most-watched musical performance of the year, with nearly 100 million viewers tuning in to last year’s show. Super Bowl LIV marks Pepsi’s eighth year as title sponsor of the Super Bowl Halftime Show and 18th year as an NFL partner. Past halftime performances include Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Prince, Madonna and more.

The Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show telecast will be produced by NFL Network with Ricky Kirshner serving as executive producer, and Hamish Hamilton serving as director. Roc Nation will serve as producers and strategic entertainment advisors of the live performance.

Viewers can expect unprecedented access to the making of pop culture’s biggest event and should stay tuned for more details. For ongoing updates on the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show, follow @Pepsi on Instagram and Twitter.

The first exclusive interview between Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will air tonight on NFL Thursday Night Football during halftime of the 8:20p.m. ET game.

For more information about Super Bowl LIV, visit SuperBowl.com.

2019 Super Bowl performers: Maroon 5, Travis Scott, Big Boi for Super Bowl LIII halftime show, Gladys Knight for national anthem

January 17, 2019

by John Larson

Adam Levine and James Valentine of Maroon 5 at One Voice: Soma Live! A Concert for Disaster Relief on October 14, 2017. (Photo by Jordan Althaus/NBC)

Travis Scott at the Maxim Super Bowl Party in Houston on February 5, 2017. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Maxim)

Gladys Knight at the 2018 American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, on Octobt 9, 2018. (Photo courtesy of ABC/Image Group LA)

The NFL and CBS have now officially announced that rock band Maroon 5 and rappers Travis Scott and Big Boi will perform at the Super Bowl LIII, which will take place at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019. In addition, Gladys Knight will perform the National Anthem at the beginning of the game. CBS will have the U.S. telecast of Super Bowl LIII.

The news that Maroon 5 (whose lead singer is “The Voice” coach Adam Levine) would be headlining the 2019 Super Bowl halftime show leaked out in September 2018, but the official announcement didn’t come until months later. The news resulted in considerable controversy, as critics said that anyone performing at the Super Bowl this year essentially agreed with the NFL’s policy against NFL players taking one knee to kneel during the National Anthem as a sign of protest of police brutality against black and brown people. Former NFL player Colin Kaepernick, who many say was ousted from the NFL because of his Black Lives Matter activism, has been named as a poster child for the “take a knee” movement. Several black and brown artists, such as Jay-Z, Rihanna and Cardi B said they turned down offers to perform at the 2019 Super Bowl because they want to stand in solidarity with Kaepernick, who has since signed a lucrative spokesperson deal with Nike. Entertainers such as Jay-Z, Amy Schumer and Rihanna also publicly urged artists to boycott the Super Bowl halftime performance until the NFL changed its policy to allow NFL players to “take a knee” during the National Anthem.

Before it was announced that Scott and Big Boi would be performing, the NFL received immense backlash for choosing Los Angeles-based Maroon 5 (a band whose members are all white except for a black keyboard player) to headline the Super Bowl halftime show instead of choosing a black artist or an artist from Atlanta. However, it seems many of the major black artists who were approached to perform at Super Bowl LII turned down the gig. Jay-Z, Rihanna and Cardi B are just the ones who went public with their rejection of the Super Bowl halftime show. Many more could have been asked and said no to the gig, but have not gone public about it. Big Boi, a former member of OutKast, is a native of Atlanta, and so is Knight.

2018 Puppy Bowl: see all the cute photos and videos

February 4, 2018

Puppy Bowl XIV (Photo courtesy of Animal Planet)

The following is a press release from Animal Planet:

PUPPY BOWL, the cutest competition in sports history, returned to Animal Planet on February 4, 2018, for an epic matchup between adoptable puppy players from #TeamRuff and #TeamFluff who go paw to paw and nose to nose to win the CHEWY.COM “Lombarky” PUPPY BOWL XIV trophy. PUPPY BOWL XIV aired simultaneously on both coasts, featuring two hours of fuzzy faces, sloppy kisses, incredible interceptions, puppy penalties and hard-won touchdowns. After the pup-tastic game of ear pulls and tail tugs is over, all the PUPPY BOWL puppy players end up as winners when they find their forever homes.

PUPPY BOWL XIV was played at the all-new bone-shaped GEICO^® stadium which features more than a dozen cameras, including those embedded in the end zone pylons, to help get audiences closer to the PUPPY BOWL action than ever before. The game kicked off with Jokgu the piano playing chicken from Season 12 of America’s Got Talent pecking out “The Star-Spangled Banner” on the keyboard as an adorable blended bunch of baby barnyard cheerleaders, including ducklings, piglets and baby bunnies, help excite fans on the sidelines throughout the game.

For PUPPY BOWL XIV, Animal Planet worked with 48 different animal shelters and rescue organizations from 25 U.S. states and territories, to fill the rosters of #TeamRuff and #TeamFluff with 90 adoptable players for this puppy pile-up – the most puppies and shelters in PUPPY BOWL history. With the help of DNA testing conducted by WISDOM PANEL™, these puppy athletes go beyond fur-deep to find out what they’re really made of and use it to their advantage.

PUPPY BOWL XIV features pups rescued from areas that were devastated by natural disasters in 2017, including Houston, Puerto Rico and Florida. A Pit Bull puppy player from Villalobos Rescue Center, the largest Pit Bull rescue in the U.S., is also featured in PUPPY BOWL XIV with Marcel from Pit Bulls & Parolees. Other special needs puppy players this year include, among other players, Ryder (a sight-impaired Husky), Chance (a deaf Dalmatian), Moonshine (a sight-impaired and deaf Border Collie) and Luna (a Pomeranian mix with a cleft palate), who won’t let anything stop them from trying to score the winning touchdown and a loving forever home.

Animal Planet audiences can learn more about the shelters, rescues and organizations that participated in PUPPY BOWL XIV by visiting https://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/puppy-bowl/.

Puppy Bowl XIV (Photo courtesy of Animal Planet)

2018 Super Bowl: Watch Justin Timberlake videos of his Super Bowl LII press conference, preparations and performance

February 4, 2018

Grammy-winning singer Justin Timberlake is the headliner for Super Bowl LII’s halftime show, which is set to take place at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on February 4, 2018. NBC will have the U.S. telecast.

This is Timberlake’s third time performing at a Super Bowl halftime show. In 2001, he first performed a medley with his former group *NSYNC, Britney Spears and Aerosmith at Super Bowl XXXV. In 2004 (in what has become an infamous performance), he took the stage at Super Bowl XXXVII with Janet Jackson, who had a “wardrobe malfunction” when Timberlake ripped off part of her top, leaving her breast exposed. This led to a lot of controversy, FCC fines and apologies from Timberlake and Jackson. (At a press conference on February 1, 2018, Timberlake emphatically said that there will be not be a *NSYNC reunion at his Super Bowl LII performance. Jackson is also not expected to be there.)

Here are videos related to Timberlake’s Super Bowl LII halftime performance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z99A8pdlQLo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmd1Dyk7JjM

2018 Super Bowl: complete list of celebrity party performers

January 29, 2018

by Stephanie Johnson

Super Bowl LII

Super Bowl LLII will take place at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, where the Philadelphia Eagles will face off against the New England Patriots. Surrounding the Super Bowl are the numerous celebrity parties that often feature live performances. ESPN, which usually hosts a Super Bowl Party, has opted not to have one this year. However, Maxim, Rolling Stone, Playboy and DirecTV are continuing the tradition of having their big Super Bowl bashes. Celebrities who will be performing at Super Bowl parties this year include Jennifer Lopez, Snoop Dogg, Jamie Foxx, the Chainsmokers, Florida Georgia Line, Pink, Imagine Dragons, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Dave Matthews Band, Future, Paul Oakenfold and Gwen Stefani. And there a some artists (such as DJ Khaled, Migos, Gucci Mane and Cardi B) who are performing at more than one Super Bowl party. Here’s a list of this year’s celebrity Super Bowl parties featuring live performances:

Monday, January 29

Morris Day of The Time Photo by Monty Brinton/CBS)

Sheila E., Morris Day, The Revolution — Verizon Up Stage (Super Bowl Live) at 8th and Nicollet, 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Tuesday, January 30

DJ Matty Matt, Socaholix, International Reggae All Stars, 8 Ipso Facto — Verizon Up Stage (Super Bowl Live), 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Wednesday, January 31

DJ Brother Jules , Stokley Williams, Dessa, Mint Condition and Stokley Williams, New Power Generation with Andre Cymone — Verizon Up Stage (Super Bowl Live), 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Plies, Trina — Prive Minneapolis, 10 p.m.

Thursday, February 1

The Chainsmokers (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images via ABC)

Cardi B — Prive, 10 p.m.

The Chainsmokers — Mystic Lake Center, 9 p.m.

Fabolous & Friends Day Party — Prive, 2 p.m.

Gucci Mane & Rallo — Muse Event Center, 10 p.m.

Kimuel Hailey, Les Stroud, Jakubi, fDeluxe (aka The Family), New Power Soul. Andre Cymone, Rae Sremmurd — Verizon Up Stage (Super Bowl Live), 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Imagine Dragons, Machine Gun Kelly, Mura Masa — The Armory (EA Sports Bowl 2018), 9 p.m.

Naughty by Nature — Fine Line Music Cafe (The Big Game’s “Thursday Night Football” Old School Edition), 9 p.m.

Rick Ross, Lil Jon, IRIE — The Lumber Exchange Building, 10 p.m.

Friday, February 2

DJ Howard Kessler, Zuluzuluu, Cobi, The Jets, KING, Skylar Grey — Verizon Up Stage (Super Bowl Live), 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Fabolous, Kevin Hart — Aqua, 10 p.m.

Jamie Foxx, DJ Diesel, RL Grime, Kaskade, VICE — The Lumber Exchange Building, 10 p.m.

Flo Rida — Rouge at The Lounge (Leather and Laces event), 9:30 p.m.

Future, Cardi B — Twin City Live, 9 p.m.

Kygo — Mystic Lake Center, 9 p.m.

Gucci Mane, Young Thug, Blac Chyna — Prive, 9 p.m.

Migos, 21 Savage, T-Pain — The International Market Square (Rolling Stone party), 11 p.m.

New Power Generation — Dakota Jazz Club, 7 p.m.

Pink — The Armory, 9 p.m.

Saturday, February 3

ennifer Lopez performs at a private concert held exclusively for NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises advertising clients at Manhattan Center's Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on May 16, 2016. — Jennifer Lopez (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/Telemundo)

Busta Rhymes — Rouge at the Lounge, 9 p.m.

Cardi B, Marshmello, Post Malone — The 360 Super Dome (Maxim party), 8 p.m.

Dave Mathews Band — Xcel Energy Center (CBS Radio’s The Night Before), 7:30 p.m.

DJ Dudley D, Kris Wu, Bob Mould, The Suburbs, The Jayhawks, Soul Asylum, X Ambassadors — Verizon Up Stage (Super Bowl Live), 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.

DJ Khaled — Aqua, 10 p.m.

Florida Georgia Line — Mystic Lake Center, 9 p.m.

G-Eazy, Afrojack, Nick Cannon — The Lumber Exchange Building, 10 p.m.

Jennifer Lopez — The Armory (Super Saturday Night), 9 p.m.

Migos — Muse Event Center, 9 p.m.

O.A.R. — St. Paul RiverCentre (Taste of the NFL’s Party with a Purpose), 7 p.m.

Travis Scott — Twin City Live, 9 p.m.

Snoop Dogg — The Playboy Club Minneapolis (Playboy party), 9 p.m.

Sunday, February 4

DJ Khaled (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Maxim)

Diddy, DJ Khaled, French Montana, Cardi B, G-Eazy, Busta Rhymes — The Armory (Players Ball), 12 a.m.

DJ Dudley D, 13 Crowns — Verizon Up Stage (Super Bowl Live), 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Floyd Mayweather, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Fabolous — Prive, 5 p.m.

Paul Oakenfold — The Exchange, 10 p.m.

Rick Ross, Young Dolph — Aqua, 10 p.m.

Gwen Stefani — Mystic Lake Center, 11 p.m.

2018 Kitten Bowl: Hallmark Channel brings event to Super Bowl Live at Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis

January 22, 2018

Two-Tone Jones in “Kitten Bowl V” (Photo courtesy of Hallmark Channel)

The following is a press release from Hallmark Channel:

Hallmark Channel, America’s favorite family-friendly cable television network, is recreating Kitten Bowl live in the Dayton Building of Nicollet Mall as part of the 10-day Super Bowl Live experience in Minneapolis, MN. Nearly 100 furry “cat-letes” will take the field over a 10-day period to see which team will be crowned Feline Football League champions and take home the coveted Hissman Trophy. This year’s show is truly unique as is it includes back stories about the rescues of some of the Cat-letes – including many from the devastation of Hurricane Irma. Viewers will also see some of kittens find their forever homes, on-set, at the end of the show. Kitten Bowl is part of Super Bowl Live from Friday, January 26 at 4 p.m. Central Time and through Sunday, February 4 at 3 p.m.

Fans coming to Kitten Bowl Live Presented by Hallmark Channel will be greeted by a life-like version of Rodney Peete, former NFL great and current Kitten Bowl play-by-play announcer, in the broadcast booth.

Rodney Peete and his wife, Holly Robinson Peete, stars of Hallmark Channel’s new family reality series “Meet the Peets” will make appearances on NFL Radio Row, January 31 (2-6 p.m.), February 1 (8 a.m.Noon), and February 2 (8 a.m.-Noon), and host media at Kitten Bowl Presented by Hallmark Channel at Nicollet Mall, January 31 (8 a.m. -Noon), February 1 (2-6 p.m.), February 2 (2-6 p.m.).

Fans will tour the Purr-king Lot for pre-game tailgating and the locker room where kittens chill before hitting the field.

Next, it’s on to Hallmark Channel Stadium to see kittens claw out a victory as the felines show off their best Stefon Diggs catches and leaps through the goal posts for extra points.

Fans will memorialize the experience at the Paws of Fame Trophy Room and capture a photo worthy of social sharing in front of the MVK (“Most Valuable Kitten”) Wall. Snap a photo with former greats of the game: Tomcat Brady, Tabby Romo, Mew Brees, Joe Montuna, and more.

Kitten Bowl is an entertainment program produced by Hallmark Channel to bring awareness to the plight of homeless animals and to show the most beautiful animals in the world are available for adoption from your own local shelter.

The final stop on the tour is the Adoption Ever After room which features shelter pets from Minneapolis and surrounding areas who need a loving and forever home. A simple act of adoption helps to clear the shelters. Kittens on the field are provided by North Shore Animal League America and all furry players are available to be adopted.

For those who cannot make it to Minnesota there are 500 Kitten Bowl parties at local shelters all across the country. To find a Kitten Bowl Party near you go to www.hallmarkchannel/kitten-bowl. Have fun and do good! Come to the Kitten Bowl Presented by Hallmark Channel, January 26 – February 4. You just might bring home the love of your life.

“Kitten Bowl V,” a three-hour original special premieres on Hallmark Channel, Sunday, February 4 (Noon and 3 p.m. ET/PT).

Kitten Bowl host Beth Stern — “Kitten Bowl” host Beth Stern (Photo courtesy of Hallmark Channel)

The following is a press release from Hallmark Channel:

January 13, 2018

Hallmark Channel brings “Kitten Bowl V” on the road to Super Bowl LII as a major activation hosted in Minneapolis, Minnesota for ten days leading up to the day of the big game. The announcement was made today as part of Crown Media Family Networks’ TV Critics Association Winter Press Tour. Beginning Friday, January 26th through Sunday, February 4th, guests taking part in all the excitement surrounding the Super Bowl can celebrate Kitten Bowl, the nation’s most beloved rescue pet adoption event of the year. Fans who visit will see kittens compete on the field at Hallmark Channel Stadium, tailgate in the purr-king lot, tour the Paws of Fame trophy room, take a photo with the Hissman trophy and share their memories via social media. Guests will even be able to take home a souvenir: an official pack of “Kitten Bowl” trading cards. The major component of the activation is to support Hallmark Channel’s Adoption Ever After campaign and, with the help of North Shore Animal League America, kittens will be available for adoption on site.

“Bringing ‘Kitten Bowl’ to the Super Bowl is a dream come true. We have seen the franchise grow tremendously in support of animal adoption over time, evolving from entertainment into America’s most beloved national rescue pet adoption event,” said Bill Abbott, President and CEO, Crown Media Family Networks. “This is the first time Hallmark Channel will have a major media presence at the Super Bowl and the activation of ‘Kitten Bowl V’ will help elevate the network’s Adoption Ever After initiative of finding all animals forever homes.” The presence among the NFL and Super Bowl LII leads in to the kick-off of “Kitten Bowl V” premiering exclusively on the network, Sunday, February 4 (12 p.m. Eastern Time/Pacific Time). The 2018 version of “Kitten Bowl” features countless displaced kittens rescued from some of the country’s recent natural disasters of 2017, all of whom will be vying for the National Championship of Feline Football trophy – and a loving, forever home in which to display it.

TV personality, author and animal advocate Beth Stern hosts this year’s television event. Stern embodies the spirit of adoption in her everyday life, having fostered countless animals in need. Stern’s tireless, year-round efforts to find homes for animals makes her a synergistic fit to lead the charge for “Kitten Bowl V,” truly a super day of adorable pets. On the day of the big game, four-time Pro Bowl quarterback and Feline Football League Commissioner Boomer Esiason calls the play-by-play action making “Kitten Bowl V” super Sunday’s MUST-SEE viewing party. Hallmark Channel’s Dean Cain, Alison Sweeney and former NFL star Rodney Peete, animal lovers and adoption advocates, provide commentary throughout the event, in addition to heartwarming adoption stories.

North Shore Animal League America and Last Hope Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation rescued the 2018 team. “Kitten Bowl” is part of Hallmark Channel’s Adoption Ever After pet initiative, which highlights the plight of homeless animals and the joys rescued and adopted pets bring into our lives.

2018 Puppy Bowl: new Geico stadium, debut of first Dog Bowl

January 5, 2018

The following is a press release from Animal Planet:

PUPPY BOWL, the cutest competition in sports history, returns to Animal Planet on Feb. 4 for an epic matchup between adoptable puppy players from #TeamRuff and #TeamFluff who go paw to paw and nose to nose to win the CHEWY.COM “Lombarky” PUPPY BOWL XIV trophy. PUPPY BOWL XIV will air simultaneously on both coasts when it premieres Sunday, Feb. 4 at 3PM/ET 12PM/PT featuring two hours of fuzzy faces, sloppy kisses, incredible interceptions, puppy penalties and hard-won touchdowns. After the pup-tastic game of ear pulls and tail tugs is over, all the PUPPY BOWL puppy players end up as winners when they find their forever homes.

PUPPY BOWL XIV will be played at the all-new bone-shaped GEICO^® stadium which features more than a dozen cameras, including those embedded in the end zone pylons, to help get audiences closer to the PUPPY BOWL action than ever before. The game kicks off with Jokgu the piano playing chicken from Season 12 of America’s Got Talent pecking out “The Star-Spangled Banner” on the keyboard as an adorable blended bunch of baby barnyard cheerleaders, including ducklings, piglets and baby bunnies, help excite fans on the sidelines throughout the game.

The tail-gating starts with the PUPPY BOWL Pre-Game Show at 2PM ET/11AM PT, featuring aww-nalysis and cuddly commentary from sports anchor James Hound with Rodt Weiler and Sheena Inu serving as pregame show analysts. The competitive canines will conduct their pre-game rituals from the PUPPY BOWL locker room, which includes an all-new locker room webcam. Additionally, Gordon Setter and Greta Dane will serve as pre-game field correspondents.

This year’s PEDIGREE^®Starting Lineup will compete for the individual BISSELL^® MVP (Most Valuable Puppy) award by scoring the most touchdowns with dog-approved toys by CHEWY.COM. And for the seventh consecutive year, America’s favorite rufferee, Dan Schachner, returns to call the puppy penalties, furry fumbles and terrier touchdowns, as his assistant referee this year, Shirley the rescue sloth, will assist him on the field.

Award-winning animal advocate Jill Rappaport introduces the Subaru of America, Inc. Pup Close and Personal segments that highlight heartwarming stories of the adorable athletes. The in-depth Pup Close and Personal profiles this season include Puppy adoption advocate and The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise alum Wells Adams and his continuing efforts to promote puppy adoption; Mango, the first-ever international PUPPY BOWL player who was rescued from Mexico by the family team behind Compassion Without Borders; the incredible relationship between BFF pups Buttons, a sight-impaired and deaf Cocker Spaniel and Sophie, a three-legged Goldendoodle; and Tyler, a loveable pup player rescued from the flood waters of Houston during Hurricane Harvey who made his way to PUPPY BOWL XIV via a road trip with Greg Mahle of Rescue Road Trips.

As always, fans will witness PUPPY BOWL’s iconic water bowl cam, instant replays and the fan-favorite kiss cam. Animal Planet audiences won’t miss a moment of the excitement with aerial shots of the field from the SHEBA^® Sky Box and the Puppy Bowl Blimp as Surge the hamster is back on his wheel powering the PUPPY BOWL scoreboard.

Meep the Bird, a rescue African Gray Parrot, returns to talk sports and live tweet updates throughout the game from his iPhone and iPad. Fans can follow @MeepTheBird on Twitter and Instagram to catch the latest news, puppy drama and locker room moments from inside the stadium.

While the puppy players break for a cat nap, the ARM & HAMMER™ SLIDE™ Cat Litter KITTY HALF-TIME SHOW gets underway with viral video sensation Prince Michael and Phil the cat from Aaron’s Animals. These popular purrformers take to the stage as Kitt-ENSYNC sings “Meow Meow Meow” to the tune of *NSYNC’s 2000 hit “Bye Bye Bye.” All adoptable kittens on stage with Kitt-ENSYNC are provided by ASPCA NY.

And these aren’t the only cats who need to be rescued. Wild tigers are in trouble due to habitat loss and poaching, which is pushing them to extinction. Discovery Communications is working with World Wildlife Fund and others to support Project C.A.T., a worldwide effort to double the number of tigers in the wild by 2022. By conserving nearly two million acres of protected land in India and Bhutan, this collaboration aims to ensure a healthy habitat for future generations of tigers. To join and support Project C.A.T., please visit discovery.com/ProjectCAT. If you are in the U.S., simply text TIGER to 707070.

PUPPY BOWL digital audiences can point their paws to AnimalPlanet.com/PuppyBowl to view the roster of the PUPPY BOWL XIV starting lineup. For the first time, fans can create their very own digital PUPPY BOWL trading cards, using their own beloved animal as the star! Just upload your pet’s photo, choose one of 10 different frames – including the option to choose #TeamRuff or #TeamFluff – and add fun stats like “Pawsome Talent,” “Favorite TV Show” and “Naughtiest Habit.” On game day, Sunday, Feb. 4, PUPPY BOWL XIV fans are invited to vote in the Most Valuable Puppy poll at AnimalPlanet.com/PuppyBowlMVP. The viewer votes determine which puppy player gets barking rights and the title of MVP, which will be revealed during PUPPY BOWL XIV.

Leading up to the game, social media users are encouraged to keep an eye out for a very special PUPPY BOWL Instagram Story that will provide an insider’s look at PUPPY BOWL – the only way to see it is by following @AnimalPlanet on Instagram. PUPPY BOWL fans can also follow all the PUPPY BOWL action in real time on Twitter via @animalplanet. Fans looking for the Puppy Bowl news and opinion that truly matter can keep an eye out for “Spot Center” and “Around the Bowl” on the Animal Planet and Puppy Bowl Facebook pages.

PUPPY BOWL VIRTUAL REALITY gives viewers a pup’s eye view of the action, taking them inside Puppy Bowl Training Camp, where puppy trainer Mike turns our rookie players from fluff to buff! The two-part PUPPY BOWL VIRTUAL REALITY series will be available at AnimalPlanet.com/PuppyBowlVR, through the Discovery VR iOS and Android apps, Samsung VR and the Animal Planet YouTube channel.

Last year, PUPPY BOWL XIII dominated a field of imitators with the #1 cable telecast across the day. It was the second-highest-rated PUPPY BOWL in the history of the event, dogging all competition on cable. The single telecast averaged 2.5 million total viewers P2+, a double-digit increase (+12%) in viewers vs. the PUPPY BOWL XII telecast. PUPPY BOWL XIII also ranked #2 in ALL OF TELEVISION in its timeslot among Women 25-54 and Women 18-49 for the fifth consecutive year, no exclusions, behind only FOX and its Super Bowl coverage. PUPPY BOWL XIV will repeat all day and night for a total of 10 hours on game day.

PUPPY BOWL XIV official sponsors are PEDIGREE^®, CHEWY.COM, Subaru of America, Inc., BISSELL^®, ARM & HAMMER™ SLIDE™ Cat Litter, WISDOM PANEL™, GEICO^® and SHEBA^®.

Animal Planet will premiere the first-ever Puppy Bowl Presents: The Dog Bowl, a newly added furry football competition for adult dogs living in rescues and shelters, frequently passed over for their younger counterparts. As a companion to PUPPY BOWL, The Dog Bowl works with shelters and rescues to fill the rosters of two teams of players, Team Wags and Team Tails, for what will be a full-scale matchup. The Subaru of America, Inc. “Dogs Life” in-depth profiles of individual dog players will include NFL player Eric Decker and Jessie James Decker who run Deckers Dogs, a non-profit that trains rescue dogs to be to be service dogs for disabled vets; NFL player and animal advocate Logan Ryan; Tia Torres from Pit Bulls & Parolees; and Steve Greig aka @Wolfgang2242 on Instagram who has dedicated his life to caring for and helping to rescue senior dogs in need.

The Dog Bowl also features celebrity dogs from Instagram, including, among other celebs, Mannie the Frenchie (@mannie_the_frenchie), Chloe Kardoggian (@chloekardoggian), EllaBean (@ellabeanthedog), Rufus the Pug (@realrufuspug), and Hamilton the Pug (@hamiltonpug) who show support and cheer for players. The Dog Bowl Half Time “Pet-A-Palooza” adoption event takes place at Little Shelter in Long Island, NY. Other The Dog Bowl sponsors include SOUTHWEST, MILK-BONE, PURINA and ALLSTATE.

Animal Planet audiences can learn more about the shelters, rescues and organizations that participated in PUPPY BOWL XIV by visiting https://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/puppy-bowl/.

PUPPY BOWL XIV is produced for Animal Planet by Discovery Studios where Simon Morris is executive producer and showrunner and Cindy Kain is vice president of current production. For Animal Planet, Dawn Sinsel serves as executive producer and Pat Dempsey is producer.

2018 Super Bowl: Justin Timberlake set to headline Super Bowl LII halftime show

October 22, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1H325aapv0

The following is a press release from the National Football League:

Global superstar Justin Timberlake will headline the Pepsi Super Bowl LII Halftime Show on NBC at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, it was confirmed tonight.

A multi-talented actor and musician, Timberlake has won ten Grammys and numerous other awards. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, he rapidly became a highly respected musician, winning two Grammys for his debut solo album, “Justified.” He’s been recognized for a range of performances, including Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Dance Recording and Best Music Video. Timberlake was most recently nominated for an Academy Award® for the song “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” from the film “Trolls” for which he won his 10th Grammy.

A gifted actor, Timberlake has appeared in diverse films including: Alpha Dog, Black Snake Moan, Shrek The Third and The Social Network. He has also won four Emmys for his appearances on “Saturday Night Live.’ Timberlake is a co-star of the upcoming film Wonder Wheel, which opens later this year.

This will be Timberlake’s third time performing on the Super Bowl Halftime stage, giving him the distinction of having the most appearances by an individual entertainer. He previously performed at Super Bowls XXXV (with &NSYNC, Britney Spears and Aerosmith) and XXXVIII (with Janet Jackson).

his announcement is just the beginning. Leading up to Super Bowl LII, fans may visit Pepsi.com for behind-the-scenes looks into Timberlake’s journey to the Pepsi Super Bowl LII Halftime Show, as well as other surprises along the way.

Timberlake joins an esteemed list of recent halftime acts including Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Madonna, The Who, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Prince, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, U2 and more.

The Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show is the most-watched musical event of the year. Last year’s show was the most-watched musical event of all-time across all platforms and the most-watched Super Bowl Halftime performance in history through broadcast and digital channels, reaching more than 150 million unique people, garnering more than 80 million views and totaling 260 million minutes watched. Super Bowl LII and Halftime Show will be broadcast by NBC from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota.

Super Bowl LII marks Pepsi’s sixth year as title sponsor of the Super Bowl Halftime Show and 16th year as an NFL partner. Pepsi and the NFL have teamed again to provide fans with a halftime experience worthy of pop-culture’s biggest stage.

The Pepsi Super Bowl LII Halftime Show is an NFL Network Production and will be executive produced by Ricky Kirshner and directed by Hamish Hamilton.

Visit Pepsi.com leading up to Super Bowl LII to see what this historic Halftime Show has in store for fans. For more information about Super Bowl LII, visit SuperBowl.com.

2017 Puppy Bowl: see all the cute photos and videos

February 6, 2017

Rory, the poodle mix that was voted Puppy Bowl XIII MVP. (Photo courtesy of Animal Planet)

Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XIII was the first Puppy Bowl to air simultaneously on both coasts when it premiered on February 5, 2017 (Super Bowl Sunday) with three hours of puppies playing a mock football game. The inaugural Petco Lombarky trophy was awarded in Puppy Bowl XIII at Geico Stadium, a miniature set built for the TV show.

According to an Animal Planet press release, Puppy Bowl XIII kicked off at Geico Stadium with a special appearance by weather forecaster Mr. Punxsutawney Phil. The famous groundhog and two of his inner circle officiated the coin toss to start the game. This year’s Pedigree Starting Lineup boasted 39 puppies who also competed for the individual Bissell MVP (Most Valuable Puppy) by scoring the most touchdowns with dog-approved toys by Petco. This year’s Bissell MVP was Team Fluff’s Rory, a 17-week-old male poodle mix from Little Dog Rescue in Florida.

For the sixth year in a row, America’s favorite “ Rufferee,” Dan Schachner, returned to call the puppy penalties, furry fumbles and terrier touchdowns.Award-winning animal advocate and television correspondent Jill Rappaport introduced the Subaru Pup Close and Personal segments that highlight some of the heartwarming stories of the adorable athletes.

For Puppy Bowl XIII, Animal Planet worked with 34 different animal shelters and rescue organizations from across 22 states to fill the rosters of #TeamRuff and #TeamFluff with 78 adoptable players for this puppy pile-up. This year, the Bowl also featured three pups with special needs: Doobert (deaf), Lucky (three-legged) and Winston (hearing-and-sight impaired). One special player is drafted to play in Puppy Bowl XIII by celebrity dog Chunk Handler. Plus, viewers got to see the canines conduct their pre-game rituals when the cameras were allowed in the locker room.

While the puppies broke for a cat nap, the Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Kitty Half-Time Show got underway with a performance by the feline musical group Chicago Rock Cats with Kitty Gaga singing “Puparazzi ” to her little monsters of adoptable rescue kittens.

The puppy teams added rescue mascots to their cheering section. Team Ruff gained the watchful eye of Orlando the Screech Owl, and Team Fluff recruited Muffin the Chinchilla who adds another layer of fluff. Getting the fans excited on the sidelines are rescue rabb its and guinea pig cheerleaders who hop into action. “Meep the Bird” got a ma keover and returned as a rescue African Gray Parrot. Meep talked sports with Geico The Gecko and live tweeted updates throughout the big game.

Plus, Puppy Bowl fans got a glimpse of celebrity dogs Chloe the Mini Frenchie, Chloe Kardoggian, Ella Bean, Marnie the Dog, Manny the Frenchie, Mervin the Chihuahua, Sometimes Carl and Toast Meets World with her siblings Muppets Revenge and Underpants the Dog who watched the biggest game of the year from the stands. As always, fans witnessed Puppy Bow’s water bowl cam, slow-motion playback cam and fan-favorite Dairy Queen kiss cam. Viewers won’t miss a minute of excitement with aerial shots of the field from the Sheba Sky Box, and Surge the Hamster was back on his wheel powering the Puppy Bowl score board.

Puppy Bowl Virtual Reality, sponsored by Pedigree, gave viewers a pup’s eye view of the action on the Geico grid iron through the eyes of Buttons, one of this year’s Puppy Bowl XIII players. Not letting her diminutive size hold her back when tackling opponents in a scrimmage spanning two video halves, Buttons played her way through the piles of puppies, chew toys and assistant coaches to score a winning touchdown.

On game day, puppy supporters were invited to vote in the Most Valuable Puppy poll . Viewer votes determined which heavenly hound gets barking rights and the title of Bissell MVP, which will be revealed at the end of the broadcast. Before and during the action, keep an eye out for guest takeovers on Animal Planet Instagram and Snapchat. This year’s roster includes players from AHeinz57 (Iowa), Big Fluffy Dog Rescue (Tennessee), Citizens for Animal Protection (Texas), Last Hope K 9 (Massachusetts), Miami-Dade County Animal Services (Florida), Mr. Bones & Company (New York), Nevada SPCA, Paw Works (California), Stray Rescue (Missouri), among others.

The ASPCA in New York provided adoptable kittens for the Kitty Half-Time Show; the cheerleading rescue rabbits and guinea pigs are from Luv-N- Bunns (Philadelphia) and Helping All Little Things (New Jersey). The chinchilla mascots were provided by Chin Friends Chinchilla Rescue (New York) and the owl flew in from Volunteers for Wildlife (Long Island). The African parrot was provided by Phoenix Landing rescue (Washington, DC).

(All photos courtesy of Animal Planet)

2017 Kitten Bowl: See all the cute photos and videos

February 6, 2017

Beth Stern and John Sterling (Photo by *Marc Lemoine/Crown Media United States, LLC)*

“Kitten Bowl” is an annual feline “catstravaganza” that airs on Super Bowl Sunday and is presented in association with North Shore Animal League America (the nation’s largest no-kill shelter and animal adoption organization) and Last Hope Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation. Hosted by Beth Stern, a TV personality and national spokesperson for North Shore Animal League America, “Kitten Bowl” is a star-studded lineup that includes legendary New York Yankees radio voice John Sterling and referee Chuck Nice. Hallmark Channel aired the fourth annual “Kitten Bowl” in the U.S. on February 5, 2017. Here are videos and photos from the event.

(All photos by Marc Lemoine/Crown Media United States, LLC)