"Reality" Shows run out of things with humans, turn to cats instead.

SirFozzie · 06-12-2006, 03:21 PM

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ten cats in search of owners will spend the next 10 days in a New York store window, their every move caught on camera for a reality TV show on which they will compete for best sleeper and mouse-catcher.

The show is the creation of a petfood company and will be shown on cable channel Animal Planet, as well as on the Web site www.MeowMixHouse.com where viewers will be asked to vote off one feline contestant each day.

The cats, chosen from shelters around the country, will compete for loudest purr, most prolific sleeper and who can catch the most toy mice. Kitties who get the boot will be adopted into permanent homes.

Meow Mix, owned by Del Monte Foods Company, hopes the show will promote cat adoption -- as well as their products, which will be the only thing on the menu.

Passerby taking a gander though a specially rented storefront on Madison Avenue in midtown Manhattan can watch the cats lazing about a luxuriously outfitted cat-sized house that includes scaled-down sofas, beds, a fish tank (with fake fish), kitchen and a porch, all put together by an interior designer.

"It's a Disney World for cats," said Meow Mix's Ryan Reed, in charge of ensuring the cats are well-cared for and well-behaved. Volunteers from The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are also on hand to attend to the needs of the kitty stars.

Enjoying their final day of obscurity on Monday, the cats seemed unfazed by attention from visiting media -- most of the cats were asleep on the set, which will be unveiled to the public on Tuesday.

A cat named Sam, from Dallas, Texas, stood guard on the home's welcome mat while Romeo, a Los Angeles native, lazily stretched out his six-toed paws before swatting a toy.

In the tradition of reality shows, the company will hire the top cat as "Feline Vice President of Research and Development," responsible for taste testing and product feedback.

Biographies of the cats play up their personalities, but in reality, they're all pretty mellow, if not a bit dazed from all the attention.

"In real life they're all very sweet," said Meow Mix's Keith Fernbach. "But we try to give them a personality for TV."

Maple Leafs · 06-12-2006, 03:29 PM

My wife will watch this.

TredWel · 06-12-2006, 03:29 PM

Sad thing is, you know people will watch.

I. J. Reilly · 06-12-2006, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

My wife will watch this.

Mine will not only watch, but cry at least three times per episode.

M GO BLUE!!! · 06-12-2006, 06:26 PM

This is what Napalm was truly invented for.

SirFozzie · 06-12-2006, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

This is what Napalm was truly invented for.

The kitties, or the creators of the show?

M GO BLUE!!! · 06-12-2006, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

The kitties, or the creators of the show?

Both!

SirFozzie · 06-12-2006, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

Both!

You make kitty sad.

M GO BLUE!!! · 06-12-2006, 06:36 PM

Awww...

I don't hate cats. But they despise me!

Maple Leafs · 06-12-2006, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I. J. Reilly

Mine will not only watch, but cry at least three times per episode.

Probably true for mine too.

Oh, and even though she'll watch, she'll refuse to go online and vote any of the kitties off.

Neuqua · 06-12-2006, 07:46 PM

I think Schmidty is behind this somehow.

PackerFanatic · 06-13-2006, 08:13 AM

You have got to be kidding me...

I am beyond words...

SirFozzie · 06-14-2006, 08:00 AM

So.. was this on last night... did anyone watch it?

bulletsponge · 06-14-2006, 09:30 AM

uggh, im goina go do my best to make sure god kills one of them

.

JeeberD · 06-14-2006, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

So.. was this on last night... did anyone watch it?

Dude, that Siamese was such a BITCH! I couldn't believe the way she acted towards the Russian Blue. But let me tell you, that Orange Tabby is one cool cat (no pun intended)...he's gonna run away with this thing.

bulletsponge · 06-14-2006, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Dude, that Siamese was such a BITCH! I couldn't believe the way she acted towards the Russian Blue. But let me tell you, that Orange Tabby is one cool cat (no pun intended)...he's gonna run away with this thing.

dude, please tell me your joking

SirFozzie · 06-14-2006, 03:11 PM

Jeeber's just post whoring again

JeeberD · 06-14-2006, 04:42 PM

Lorena · 06-14-2006, 04:52 PM

I'm watching and yes, I'll probably tear up as kitties get eliminated.

Schmidty · 06-14-2006, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neuqua

I think Schmidty is behind this somehow.

If I had known, I would have driven to New York and demanded a spot in the window.

I just can't believe that Animal Planet let Meow Mix sponsor this. That is the absolute worst food you can feed a cat. I think it's made from ground-up dead cats and newspapers.

Lorena · 06-14-2006, 04:59 PM

Well, I just checked the Animal Planet channel and I didn't see it. I wonder if this show is aired in certain cities.

SirFozzie · 06-14-2006, 06:16 PM

The project will be shown in three-minute segments in the 9 p.m. EDT hour Friday on the Animal Planet channel for 10 consecutive weeks, starting June 16. It had yet to be decided if the segments from the Webcam-equipped "Meow Mix House" on Madison Avenue will air at the same time each night.

06-12-2006, 03:29 PM	#2
Maple Leafs Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002	My wife will watch this. __________________ Down Goes Brown: Toronto Maple Leafs Humor and Analysis

06-12-2006, 03:29 PM	#3
TredWel High School Varsity Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Old Forge, PA	Sad thing is, you know people will watch. __________________ There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people...religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin. - Linus Van Pelt

06-12-2006, 07:46 PM	#11
Neuqua Pro Rookie Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Chicago, Ill	I think Schmidty is behind this somehow. __________________ Our Deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be?

06-13-2006, 08:13 AM	#12
PackerFanatic Pro Starter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Appleton, WI	You have got to be kidding me... I am beyond words... __________________ Commissioner of the RNFL

06-14-2006, 08:00 AM	#13
SirFozzie Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: The State of Insanity	So.. was this on last night... did anyone watch it? __________________ Check out Foz's New Video Game Site, An 8-bit Mind in an 8GB world! http://an8bitmind.com

06-12-2006, 06:26 PM	#5
M GO BLUE!!! Pro Starter Join Date: Sep 2005	This is what Napalm was truly invented for.

06-12-2006, 06:36 PM	#9
M GO BLUE!!! Pro Starter Join Date: Sep 2005	Awww... I don't hate cats. But they despise me!

06-14-2006, 09:30 AM	#14
bulletsponge Pro Starter Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: TX	uggh, im goina go do my best to make sure god kills one of them .

06-14-2006, 03:11 PM	#17
SirFozzie Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: The State of Insanity	Jeeber's just post whoring again __________________ Check out Foz's New Video Game Site, An 8-bit Mind in an 8GB world! http://an8bitmind.com

06-14-2006, 04:42 PM	#18
JeeberD General Manager Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Town of Flower Mound	__________________ UTEP Miners!!! I solemnly swear to never cheer for TO

06-14-2006, 04:52 PM	#19
Lorena Unregistered Join Date: May 2004	I'm watching and yes, I'll probably tear up as kitties get eliminated.

06-14-2006, 04:59 PM	#21
Lorena Unregistered Join Date: May 2004	Well, I just checked the Animal Planet channel and I didn't see it. I wonder if this show is aired in certain cities.

06-14-2006, 06:16 PM	#22
SirFozzie Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: The State of Insanity	The project will be shown in three-minute segments in the 9 p.m. EDT hour Friday on the Animal Planet channel for 10 consecutive weeks, starting June 16. It had yet to be decided if the segments from the Webcam-equipped "Meow Mix House" on Madison Avenue will air at the same time each night. __________________ Check out Foz's New Video Game Site, An 8-bit Mind in an 8GB world! http://an8bitmind.com

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