SILVER SPRINGS, MD — Discovery begins work on its annual Puppy Bowl special each spring. The show, which airs on Animal Planet on Super Bowl Sunday, has come a long way since its original shoot in one of the network’s board rooms. This year, it was shot at Chelsea Broadcast Center in Manhattan and made use of 10 cameras and another 10 GoPros, along with an elaborate stadium-styled set with dramatic lighting, smoke machines and a half-time show too. And of course, there’s the water-bowl cam.
John Tomlin is one of the show’s executive producers and says every year Discovery works to make the special even more fun and interesting.
“We really wanted to focus on the puppies, kittens and hamsters, and the animals,” says Tomlin, a freelance EP who’s also worked on Animal Planet’s America’s Cutest, Dogs 101, and Cats 101. In addition to the special‘s entertainment value, the program also promotes adoption.
Puppy Bowl was posted at Discovery in Silver Springs, MD. The show appeared as a two-hour program on February 1st — Super Bowl Sunday — and was rebroadcast throughout the day. It was cut on Avid systems.
“One of the hardest thing is keep track of all the names,” says Tomlin, noting that each animal gets a custom graphic. The show features more than 80 puppies alone, not to mention the cats, hamsters and other pets.
“Everybody likes working on show and makes time for it on their schedule,” he adds. “It’s a fun event. It benefits puppies and promotes adoption.”