By April MacIntyre Sep 17, 2009, 2:55 GMT
What's more fun than a box full of puppies? Mario Lopez AND puppies as “Extra” kicks off the show’s 16th Season with the launch of a five-month campaign to find host Mario Lopez a dog in “Mario’s Great Puppy Hunt.”
Mario Lopez - What's more fun than a box full of puppies? Mario Lopez AND puppies as “Extra” kicks off the show’s 16th Season with the launch of a five-month campaign to find host Mario Lopez a dog in “Mario’s Great Puppy Hunt.” © PRN / PR Photos
“I’ve been thinking about adopting a dog for many years now. Even though I have a very busy schedule I feel now is definitely the right time to finally get a dog,” said Mario Lopez. “I’m really excited about all the help ‘Extra’ will give me through this campaign to help me make the right choice.”
“When Mario started to talk about wanting to get a dog he mentioned that he would definitely need some help with this decision. Both Mario and I thought it would be a fun and entertaining way to incorporate his search into the show,” said “Extra” Senior Executive Producer Lisa Gregorisch-Dempsey.
“We are working with a wide-range of pet organizations like the Humane Society, North Shore Animal League America, American Kennel Club, enlisting expertise of the country’s top pet experts, celebrities and other dog owners from around the country to offer their tips and suggestions to help Mario decide which type of dog he should get. We are also hoping that this campaign will help find homes for hundreds or even thousands of needy dogs across the country,” added Gregorisch-Dempsey.
For the next five months, “Extra” will follow Mario’s journey with weekly segments that will cover a range of topics like Mario and “Extra” meeting with pet organizations, companies, experts, shelters, animal destinations and events.
“Mario’s Great Puppy Hunt” on-air features will include:* ‘Dog For Hire’- Mario borrows a dog for an overnight visit.* ‘Celebrity Pet Owner’ – Mario we will get advice and suggestions from celebrity dog owners such as Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Aniston, Pamela Anderson, Hugh Jackman, Tyler Perry, Simon Cowell and more.* ‘Pet Mantourage’ - Guys will bring their dogs to the set and see which one Mario gets along with the best.* ‘Doggie Undercover’ – A hidden camera will follow guys on the streets of New York and Los Angeles to find which dog is a chick magnet.* ‘Mario Look A-Like’ - “Extra” searches for dogs that resemble Mario, it’s often said the dogs resemble their owners. * ‘Puppy Love’ - Mario will take a dog compatibility test.* ‘Pet Fan Cam’ - Fans will submit photos of their dog as suggestions for the type of dog Mario should get. * ‘Puppy Carpet’ - Mario will participate and attend various dog and animal-related events across the country.
To help in the cause, the show has partnered with www.PeoplePets.com, a site created by People.com that combines celebrity pet stories and general pet news and style with user-generated content.
“We are excited to announce that PeoplePets.com will be the exclusive online partner for Mario’s Great Puppy Hunt,” said Mark Golin, editor of People.com. “People Pets users will have a lot of fun helping Mario on his journey to finding the perfect puppy for him.” “Mario’s Great Puppy Hunt” will use Twitter and online chats to talk directly to fans, the “Extra” community has a Pet Lovers group which will be used for a discussions about this search along with web prizes and giveaways.
Your Talkback on this Story