Football fans love everything about the Super Bowl, so the networks have lined up a strong schedule of TV specials leading up to the big game. CBS will highlight the best Super Bowl commercials of all time, VH1 will air an exciting 2013 Super Bowl concert, and Alec Baldwin will host “NFL Honors.” For those who prefer to spend Super Bowl Sunday a little less rough and more ruff-ruff, Puppy Bowl returns to Animal Planet in 2013.
“Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials 2013”
If it’s Super Bowl week, then it must be time for the annual commercial clip show. Care to make a bet that Mean Joe Green and the E Trade babies make an appearance?
Date and time: Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. EST on CBS.
“VH1’s Best Super Bowl Concert Ever”
Michael Strahan, Super Bowl champ turned talk show host, and VH1’s Carrie Keagan will host the live concert from the Sugar Mill in New Orleans’ famed Warehouse District. The special concert will pay tribute to Super Bowl XLVII with an unforgettable performance by Train along with special music guests and appearances by NFL favorites. Surprise guests and local artists will also hit the stage to bring some Southern flavor. VH1’s Jason Dundas is set to highlight host city, New Orleans.
Date and time: Friday, Feb. 1 at 9 p.m. EST and PST on VH1.
“NFL Honors”
The night before Super Bowl XLVII, the NFL will salute its best players and plays from the 2012 season with "NFL Honors," a 2-hour, star-studded football and entertainment event. Seven of the awards being announced will be from the Associated Press, including the AP Most Valuable Player. Other awards include Coach of the Year, Offensive and Defensive Rookies and Players of the Year, Fantasy Player of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Play of the Year and more. One Republic will perform.
Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 2 from 9-11 p.m. EST on CBS.
Super Bowl Pre-Game Shows: Sunday, Feb. 3
CBS will broadcast the 2013 Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 3, starting with pre-kick coverage (coin flip, national anthem) at 6 p.m., but fans can start their day off early with the following pre-game shows.
- “Road to the Super Bowl”: The yearly look at the NFL season, produced by NFL Films. 11 a.m. EST on CBS.
- “New Orleans: Let the Good Times Roll”: Musician Wynton Marsalis hosts this TV special that examines New Orleans, host city for the 2013 Super Bowl. 12 noon EST on CBS.
- “Phil Simms' All-Iron Team: Super Bowl Edition”: Phil Simms and Jim Nantz take a look at some of Simms' favorite moments and memories from the Super Bowl. The TV special will feature interviews with Bill Belichick, John Elway, David Tyree, and Sean Payton among others. The show will also feature the first reunion between Leon Lett and Don Beebe, who were involved in one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history. 1 p.m. EST on CBS.
- CBS Pre-Game Show: The 4-hour marathon begins at 2 p.m. and airs live from three sites in New Orleans: Jackson Square, Champions Square and the Superdome. It will feature the usual "NFL Today" crew of James Brown, Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe, and Bill Cowher, along with Jason La Canfora, Lesley Visser, Solomon Wilcots, and Steve Tasker. Clay Matthews from the Green Bay Packers will also be on hand. 2-6 p.m. EST on CBS.
“Puppy Bowl IX”
For the first time ever, the annual fluffball romp will feature a camera in the Puppy Hot Tub and for maximum cuteness, a cheering squad compromised of hedgehogs and a kitten halftime show. The mission of the annual Super Bowl event is to raise awareness about homeless pet adoption. A doe-eyed Puerto Rican Sato named Butterscotch and a wild-haired Yorkshire Terrier named Daisy are among the puppies on the 2013 roster.
Date and time: Sunday, Feb. 3 at 3 p.m. EST on Animal Planet.
Super Bowl XLV11
Alicia Keys will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at 6 p.m. to kick-off the 2013 Super Bowl. The multiple Grammy award winner performed “America the Beautiful” in 2005 and was part of 2008’s Super Bowl pre-game festivities. After the coin toss, the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers will hit the field around 6:30 p.m. Beyonce will take the stage at halftime. The "Crazy in Love" singer has been belting out hits since the late 1990s, first with the legendary girl group Destiny's Child and then with a wildly successful solo career. Rumor has it that she’ll be joined by some of her old pals.
Date and Time: Sunday, Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. EST.
Super Bowl Post Game Show
Immediately after the 2013 Super Bowl, CBS will offer the first-ever extended post-game coverage with player interviews, the trophy presentation and much more.
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