You’re probably well aware of the Puppy Bowl. Animal Planet’s Super Bowl halftime show/counter-programming cutefest features little dogs pretending to play football and otherwise acting ridiculously awww-worthy. Now switch out those adorable pups with darling little kids whose cheeks you want to constantly pinch because they’re just so darn sweet. That’s the premise behind the Enfagrow Toddler Bowl, an over-the-top charmapalooza premiering this Sunday on TLC, as well as the Discovery Life and Discovery Family channels.
Though most of my passion for the Super Bowl revolves around multi-layer dips and critiques of commercials, I am absolutely amped for the Enfagrow Toddler Bowl. That’s because my two-year-old son, Zephyr, is one of the approximately 30 children you’ll see romping and stomping across the screen. He’s not a child actor nor is he a peewee pigskin player. Chalk up his appearance to good luck.
Many aspiring actors have a dream. They walk into a party where a casting director happens to be hanging out. The next thing they know, they are being filmed for their national television debut. As far as I can tell, Zephyr doesn’t have this dream; his revolve around dogs, trains and dogs in trains.
Nonetheless, Zephyr happened to be at one such serendipitous soiree this past holiday season. In between giving guests high fives, playing with the host’s two cats and running around, he caught the eye of an Enfagrow Toddler Bowl production staffer. I almost didn’t believe her when she told me about the show — Puppy Bowl, but with tots? Really? — and her desire to have Zephyr be a part of it.
I was ready to attribute the conversation to the strength of the holiday punch. Somewhat to my surprise, she got in touch the next day. After we sent the show’s casting director a few iPhone videos and snapshots of our son, we got the word: report for training camp in early January for a weekend-long shoot. Frankly, it all felt a little surreal.
A few weeks later, my wife took Zephyr out to a studio in Fairfax, Virginia, for his first day of filming. According to her report, he and the other children participated in several segments where they danced and played with blocks. Thankfully, there were no tackles, quarterback sacks or red cards thrown. Zephyr enjoyed himself, which was a relief to both of us. We have never had any ambitions for him to be a child actor of any kind — and he certainly hadn’t expressed any Hollywood aspirations. If the filming wasn’t fun for him, we didn’t want him to do it.
I was in charge for the second day. There was a lot of waiting around. For the most part, the kids didn’t mind. “Despicable Me 2” was playing on a flat screen, there were plenty of snacks available and everyone got along. Parents had wisely packed plenty of toys and other distractions. When it felt like a little one was reaching a breaking point, we gave our children walks around.
Finally, jerseys were donned and we were all herded into a brightly lit studio. There was miniature football arena set up with finger painting supplies strategically positioned throughout it. A lamb-chopped referee, who I later discovered was daddy vlogger Clintus McGintus (I swear I am not making that name up), presided over the scene. It was his job to coax the kids to new levels of cuteness and give a play by play.
One by one, the children were ferried up to the stage and let loose on the AstroTurf. When Zephyr joined the action, he made a beeline for a set of paints and glitter next to a large piece of poster paper. In mere moments, his hands were a dozen different colors and sparkling in the glare of the lights. Other children painted on an easel and smeared messy masterpieces on their own. It was impossible not to ooh and aah. I’m pretty sure I saw a tear or two being wiped away by fellow parents.
The action was freeform and, after 20 minutes or so, kids started losing interest, walking to the edge of the stage and calling for their parents. Zephyr kept painting. He seemed so intent on the piece he was working on. Even after the director yelled cut, it took me breaking his concentration with a hearty “Hey, buddy” before he looked up. I’m sure he would have happily continued creating if I hadn’t been there to take him home.
We haven’t seen the finished product yet, so we don’t know how much Zephyr is in it or how they cut all the scenes together. However, one thing is for certain: Katy Perry and those Puppy Bowlers have some serious competition.
The Enfagrow Toddler Bowl airs on Sunday, February 1 at 12 p.m. EST on TLC and Discovery Life Channel and at 2 p.m. EST on Discovery Family Channel.
