Puppy Bowl VI

Has it been a year already?

It's time once again for the Puppy Bowl — the sixth one, that is.

Animal Planet's counter-programming to that other Bowl is two hours of adorable puppies, along with the kitten half-time show, hamsters and cheer-leading bunnies.

The special kicks off at 3 p.m. ET today, and will be repeated every two hours, with the final showing beginning at 3 a.m. Monday.

The network's Web site has the starting lineup, complete with pictures, and a whole bunch of other cute things.

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And finally, in the spirit of the Super Bowl — and all things Saints — watch this video of a Saints Beagle fan getting in the mood during the championship game when the New Orleans team won its place in today's face off.

Huffington Post has an interview with referee Andrew Schecher, who will preside over his fourth Puppy Bowl.

The Animal Planet producer said the shoot takes 12 hours and 43 puppies. However, Schecher is a professional through and through and is not taken in by the overwhelming puppiness.

I'm proud to say that I am completely unbiased towards their cuteness. I play a 100% fair game -- it's every puppy for themselves. I do not pick sides regardless of how often the lick my face. It's very difficult, but I'm very professional. And this is a side note -- my favorite thing about "Puppy Bowl" is that we're not directing them or dressing them up. We're just observing natural puppy behavior. And when you see a puppy exploring the world around him, and he's so curious about everything around him, you can't not fall in love with him.

I'll be working the afternoon/evening shift today, and I have a feeling the newsroom TV set won't be tuned to Animal Planet (go figure!), so I'll have to check the Puppy Bowl out on my DVR when I get off work.

What will you be doing Sunday?

I know, I know, Sunday is the Big Day.

Thank goodness I'm off that day, because I know I won't be the only one in front of the TV machine, snacks at the ready, watching ...

Puppy Bowl V!

Woo-hoo!

The Animal Planet special kicks off at 3 p.m. ET, and will be repeated every two hours, with the final showing beginning at 3 a.m. Feb. 2!

Again ... woo-hoo!

Besides the adorable puppies (is piddling the puppy football equivalent of basketball's dribbling?) all of whom are shelter dogs, there is once again the Kitty Halftime Show (secretly my favorite, I don't know why) and Pepper the Parrot, opening the program with the Star Spangled Banner.

Believe it or not, there are those who are more interested in the Super Bowl than in the Puppy Bowl.

John Hart, the sportscaster for WJBF TV in Augusta, Ga., has a cat who knows how to pick Super Bowl winners. Watch his video here.

And finally, it needs to be said that puppy madness does carry over into the Big Game itself.

A California-based pet insurance company has found that Pittsburgh Steelers fans love of their football team also translates to their family pets. Though not so much for Arizona Cardinals fans, according to a survey by Veterinary Pet Insurance.

See the full story here.

Puppies! redux II

We all know what Sunday is.

It's time for that all-American experience "The Puppy Bowl IV" on Animal Planet.

The action starts at 3 p.m. (ET/PT) and is replayed throughout the evening. So grab a bag of your favorite kibble and dip and watch puppies doing what they do best.

Check out the Web site for some "aaaahhhhh"-inspiring athletic prowess and just darn cuteness.

And for cat lovers, the "Bissell Kitty Half-time Show" is back.