TV Talk: W.Pa. pups compete in ‘Puppy Bowl XX;’ area native hosts ‘Rescue Bowl’

Super Bowl Sunday has gone to the dogs — this time to some dogs with local ties.

The annual pet-centric tradition of “Great American Rescue Bowl” (noon-2 p.m. today, Great American Family), hosted by Fox Chapel native Beth Ostrosky Stern, and “Puppy Bowl” (2 p.m. today, Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, TruTV, Max and Discovery+), now in its 20th year, set the stage for “Super Bowl LVIII,” which kicks off at 6:30 p.m.

‘Puppy Bowl XX’

For the first time, two puppies from local organization Paws Across Pittsburgh will compete in “Puppy Bowl XX,” which filmed in October in Glens Falls, N.Y.

Paws Across Pittsburgh president Jackie Armour said she was contacted by a “Puppy Bowl” rep who asked if the organization would like to have some puppies participate in the production.

“There are all kinds of different stipulations — they have to be a certain age, completely vetted and vaccinated — because they’re gonna be around all those other puppies,” Armour said. “We reached out to some of our fosters and were able to find a couple of dogs that fit that criteria.”

Armour and her team submitted four or five puppies, two of which were chosen.

“They didn’t tell us what they were looking for, but when we went up (to Glens Falls for filming) it looked like they had a big variety of different breeds,” Armour said.

Filmed at Cool Insuring Arena, the show used multiple camera setups in different rooms for filming TikTok videos, Facebook posts and photography for the player cards, Armour said.

“We were so happy and excited to be there and involved and have our organization named in the Puppy Bowl,” Armour said. “It was a really good experience.”

Bethany Hess and husband Josh of Moon Township adopted Gertie before she got called up to appear in “Puppy Bowl XX.”

“We were so excited for her to participate,” Bethany said.

The Hesses drove Gertie up to Glens Falls and though they didn’t get to accompany Armour and Gertie to the filming, they did see many of the other “Puppy Bowl” players at their hotel.

“We met everyone outside at the pee spots,” Josh said.

Gertie is a bich-poo (a mix of a Bichon Frise and a miniature poodle), although “Puppy Bowl” identifies her as a goldendoodle, who is assigned to Team Ruff. Gertie even has her own Instagram account, Instagram.com/Gertie_Doodles.

Paula and Jesse Boddicker of Greensburg adopted Bichon-poodle mix Margo in August, not long before Margo got the call to play on Team Ruff. “Puppy Bowl” producers renamed her Good Girl for the TV program.

“She is super-playful with lots of energy,” said Paula, who, like the Hesses, plans to host family and friends for a “Puppy Bowl” viewing party. “I’m doing a whole charcuterie board with puppyish things I’ve ordered.”

The weekend after “Puppy Bowl XX,” Paws Across Pittsburgh will host an event from 1-4 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Brackenridge American Legion, 845 E. First Ave. The cost is $20 per person and includes lunch, a non-alcoholic drink ticket and $10 in raffle basket tickets. Both Gertie and Margo will attend, along with some adoptable dogs. Armour will show behind-the-scenes video of the pups at “Puppy Bowl XX.” Tickets are available at tinyurl.com/PAPPuppyBowlXX.

‘Rescue Bowl’

Beth Stern is a veteran host of “Great American Rescue Bowl” from when it aired on Hallmark Channel under the title “Kitten Bowl.” “Rescue Bowl” now airs on Great American Family, available on Comcast Xfinity (Channels 147/167), Verizon FiOS TV (660), Armstrong (484), DirecTV (326), DISH Network (165), Hulu Live TV (490) and Sling TV (310).

The Fox Chapel High School grad was back in Pittsburgh last year to visit her parents. Stern currently shares nine pets with her husband, radio host Howard Stern, including seven cats and two rabbits — all are rescues and some have special needs. They also have 16 foster cats.

Stern said “Rescue Bowl” now focuses more on its rescue mission of finding kittens and dogs forever homes.

“We also have some really inspiring, heartwarming updates on animals North Shore Animal League America has saved,” Stern said in an interview conducted via email.

She’s fostered for North Shore for more than 10 years while continuing to grow her Beth’s Furry Friends Foster Program.

“I have nurtured and found homes for [more than] 2,200 cats and kittens [as well as] dogs and bunnies and guinea pigs,” she said, “and I helped find loving homes for a couple of potbellied pigs and a dozen pigeons and even a snake.”