Mole Alert: It's Halftime!

11/11/2009

A Little Cat-itude, Please

Time for another glimpse of the backstage fun during the recent taping of Puppy Bowl: as loyal fans of this awwww-inspiring event know, it's more than just the most excellent Dog Day Afternoon you could want! Kittens clamored for their own share of air time, and each year, they've used their own play book for a purrfect halftime show.

This year's kittens, from a Philadelphia-area rescue, arrived early Saturday morning, energized after a long car ride and eager to see that famous Puppy Bowl stadium for themselves. All 20 gathered in the green room for some pre-game snacking and stretching before taking to the field. From tiny fluff-balls to longer-legged climbers, with coats striped and solid, in shades of red, black and soft white touched with gray, they were a feline force. Eager but wary, the kittens checked out everything, investigating the 50-yard line and exploring that intriguing obstacle course of tantalizing toys. Long, shiny ribbons of mylar added to the festive look. And you could just SEE which kittens were sizing up those glittery strands, wondering if they should be climbed, or torn down!

Back in the control room, with five screens showing every kitty-cam angle, the Puppy Bowl production team zeroed in on the most active participants, quietly cheering as two fuzzy tabby faces discovered that Puppy Bowl favorite, the Water Bowl Cam! (Imagine if NFL games featured this angle!)

The camera work is amazing, better than a movie set, because nobody yells "Cut", and every twitch of a tail, every tiny "mew" or contented purr, is captured. Kitty Half-time takes up only, well, half-time, of the program, but there'll be enough footage for a revival of "Cats." No song or dance routines, though, just unscripted curiosity. That's what spurred most kittens to check out those strategically positioned round toys, with a scratching pad on top and an elusive hidden ball to chase.

Naturally, cats always want to look their best, no matter how young they are. And several kittens remembered what their mom-cats taught them, stopping to groom so their whiskers and paws were pristine for a national audience. Purrrfect, indeed!

Extra Points

Although a few kittens took time out for cat naps in the end zone, most played straight through, chasing each other into touchdown territory. One big gray kitten offered a great imitation of a human professional athlete: he clambered up into the stands, looking to mix it up with the fans. He seemed disappointed to realize they're a sea of painted faces, their wooden expressions unimpressed by heroic cat athletics.

But he returned to the playing field for the finale, a dazzling disco light display, complete with snowdrifts of confetti. The Mole was impressed by the kittens' behavior: even though all these cats are rookies, making their TV debuts and surrounded by strange sights and sounds, they were completely unfazed. Swirling lights? Cameras everywhere? Yawn! Even the littlest ones performed like pros, giving a last swat to the feathery wands and balls they tried to capture.  

A few tense moments followed as one inquisitive boy kitten decided to explore the entire set, evading searchers as he curled up under the playing field. But he finally grew tired of hiding and rejoined his 19 teammates, much to the relief of the Puppy Bowl team.

Besides, he and the others needed to get back to their foster homes, where they're eagerly awaiting permanent places of their own. Imagine how proud their new pet-parents will feel, buying catnip for a member of the Kitty Half-time crowd. Hey, by the time Puppy Bowl airs in February, they'll all be settled in, tiny paws on the remote, anxious to see themselves on TV! Wouldn't you love to see one of them watching the show?

And puppies and kittens are not the only critters making Puppy Bowl a memorable event: check back for a Mole alert on this year's new additions, the hamsters and bunnies who added their own sparkle to the action!

Watch stand-out moments from past Kitty Half-time shows in the Puppy Bowl Hall of Fame.

Comments

[Jerry and Kay]

Aw, how cute.