Sometimes, the simple approach works best.

[gridlore]

Over the last few years, networks have begun counter-programming the Superbowl. The suits know that the Superbowl is going to suck in a huge rating, so they whip out special events to tempt people away, even from a short time, from the big game.

It began simply enough, with alternate half-time shows and marathons of popular series. Now we have Superbowl Sunday programing slates that are filled with special events, first-run movies, and all sorts of neat things.

But Animal Planet won the alternate programming sweepstakes this year with the Puppy Bowl. All they did was build an enclosure, made it look like a football field (complete with fans in the stands) fill it with dog toys, and let puppies loose in it. Follow the action with multiple cameras (including one in the bottom of the water dish) and play some quiet music.

It's frightening how well this worked. I missed the game due to work, but after watching the highlights, I was surfing around and AP was still running the Bowl. Kirsten and I were dying from the sheer cuteness of the scene.

Maybe next year we'll get the Kitten Bowl!

Comments

[pauldrye.livejournal.com]

A few years back there was a commercial for that government information clearing house in Colorado whose premise was "People like babies, puppies, and the word 'free'". The spokesman came right out and explained this was the concept on-screen.

It started out with babies playing with puppies, cut to the spokesman explaining how you can get all these free brochures then -- in the middle of a sentence -- cuts back to the babies. On returning to the spokesman he says "Sorry, we thought we were losing you there".

[kshandra]

I remember that one....

[benkenobigal.livejournal.com]

I loved the Puppy Bowl and found myself saying "Awwww!!" over and over again. I didn't catch a minute of the Superbowl, but I watched the puppies playing a lot!