I.C.Y.M.I.: Meet The Starting Lineup of Puppy Bowl 2021

Greetings, fellow pop culture aficionados, and welcome to week 44 of our I.C.Y.M.I. (In Case You Missed It) blog series, where we recap a handful of trending tidbits from the past week(s) in popular culture, in case you missed them.

Last week in this space, we (and the rest of the MoPOP community!) got in on the Bernie Sanders Inauguration Day memes. This week, we start by showcasing some really, really good dogs. Read on!

First Look at Puppy Bowl 2021

The "Big Game" (read: Puppy Bowl 2021) is right around the corner, with Team RUFF taking on Team FLUFF at 11 a.m. PST on Sunday, February 7 — hours before the other "Big Game" between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs, NFL teams that advanced to Super Bowl LV.

Animal Planet recently unveiled this year's lineup of 70 adoptable puppies that hail from shelters and rescues across the northeast United States. The two teams will compete for the highly-coveted "Lombarky" trophy. You'll definitely want to browse the full gallery, but here's a couple of our favorite competitors from either side. Who's your pick for most valuable pup?

Vinnie, Team Ruff - American Staffordshire Terrier/Dachshund (photo by Elias Weiss Friedman/Animal Planet)

Pippa, Team Fluff - Chihuahua/Tree Walker Coonhound (photo by Elias Weiss Friedman/Animal Planet)

Puppy Bowl 2021 will be co-hosted by the iconic duo of Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg, who together will throw a tailgate party with on-theme drinks and snacks. And fear not, feline lovers; the three-hour special, which can found on Animal Planet and discovery+, will also feature a Kitty Halftime Show. Meow!

What Else To Catch Up On This Weekend

• MoPOP's Cosplay Virtual Student Club is fast approaching, and as a program preview, we highlighted the work of professional cosplayer Anna He, a featured teaching artist in the upcoming online club aimed at ages 11-18. Stay tuned next week for more profiles of the club's featured teaching artists. 
• Our Movies at MoPOP — So Bad It's Good online watchalong series continues February 13 as we explore Con Air, but in the meantime, MoPOP volunteer Misha Laurence dives into another So Bad It's Good Nicolas Cage classic, sharing perspectives on The Wicker Man (2006).
• February is Black History Month, and throughout the month MoPOP will host (virtually!) its eighth annual Through the Eyes of Art event that brings together artists, community leaders, politicians, and tastemakers from across the state of Washington to celebrate the Black experience. Look for complete details and a calendar of events to be announced on our blog next week!

What'd We Miss?

Now that we've filled you in on a few things, what do you feel we failed to mention? Let us know in the comments, or hit us up with a suggestion on social media. We'll look to include your ideas in our next edition of I.C.Y.M.I.

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