“THE BEVERLY HILLS DOG SHOW” & “THE NATIONAL DOG SHOW” HEADLINE “THE DOG DAYS OF SPRING” PRIMETIME MARATHON, MAY 4-9 ON NBCSN

Highlighting 45+ Hours of Fur-Tastic Sports Programming with Furry Four-Legged Friends on NBCSN

“The world of dog shows has introduced me to hundreds of wonderful breeds, each with their own distinctive character and their ability to love and entertain us only the way dogs can. The other day I watched our Havanese, Lucy, actually win a staring contest with her own reflection.” – Host John O’Hurley

10 Hours of Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge Features Olympic-Style Events for Canine Companions

Tara Lipinski, Johnny Weir & Mary Carillo Join Hosts O’Hurley & David Frei in Providing Commentary for “The Beverly Hills Dog Show” & “The National Dog Show”

Content to Stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports App

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 1, 2020 – The Dog Days are just beginning as Man’s Best Friend will take center stage next week with “The Dog Days of Spring” primetime marathon, beginning next Monday, May 4 with more than 45 hours of fur-tastic dog show-related sports programming on NBCSN.

From Monday, May 4, through Thursday, May 7 (starting at 7 p.m. ET) and Friday, May 8 through Saturday, May 9 (starting at 8 p.m. ET), NBCSN will feature past competitions of “The Beverly Hills Dog Show Presented by Purina,” “The National Dog Show Presented by Purina” and “Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge.”

The weeklong marathon precedes the premiere of the 2020 “Beverly Hills Dog Show Presented by Purina,” Sunday, May 17 on NBC at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The star-studded competition is co-hosted by award-winning TV personality and Broadway actor John O’Hurley and expert analyst David Frei. A pair of NBC Sports commentators will be participating in the event – Olympic correspondent and tennis analyst Mary Carillo and gymnastics analyst Nastia Liukin – along with four-time Olympic gold medalist in diving, Greg Louganis. For more information, click here.

Commentators for encore presentations of “The National Dog Show” and “The Beverly Hills Dog Show” include hosts O’Hurley and Frei and reporter Carillo. NBC Sports figure skating analysts Tara Lipinski (1998 Olympic gold medalist) and Johnny Weir (three-time U.S. Champion) have served as contributors for “The National Dog Show” every year since 2015 and the 2017 Beverly Hills Dog Show.

“The world of dog shows has introduced me to hundreds of wonderful breeds, each with their own distinctive character and their ability to love and entertain us only the way dogs can,” O’Hurley said. “The other day I watched our Havanese, Lucy, actually win a staring contest with her own reflection.”

Following is each night’s highlighted content throughout the week:

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  • Monday, May 4: 2008-11 National Dog Shows
  • Tuesday, May 5: 2012-15 National Dog Shows
  • Wednesday, May 6: 2016-19 National Dog Shows
  • Thursday, May 7: 2012-18 Incredible Dog Challenges
  • Friday, May 8: 2017-19 National Dog Shows & 2018 Incredible Dog Challenge (encores)
  • Saturday, May 9: 2018-19 Beverly Hills Dog Shows & 2017 Incredible Dog Challenge (encore)

Programming will also stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Coverage of Olympic Sports on NBC Sports Group platforms is a presentation of Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA.

MONDAY, MAY 4 – 2008-11 NATIONAL DOG SHOWS

The first three days of “The Dog Days of Spring” primetime marathon features 24 hours of “The National Dog Show Presented by Purina.” Monday kicks off at 7 p.m. ET with the 2008 National Dog Show that saw pointer Holly cap off a doggone good 2007-08 season with 10 consecutive Best In Show titles. She has won a career total of 116, making her the winningest Sporting Dog in history.

In 2009, Scottish Terrier Sadie captured hearts of many at “The National Dog Show,” earning her 100^th Best In Show award. She would go on to win the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show that following February (2010). The night continues with an Irish Setter named Clooney, who topped a strong field to win Best In Show at the 2010 National Dog Show. In 2011, 4-year-old Wire Fox Terrier Eira claimed her 17^th Best In Show title at “The National Dog Show.”

TUESDAY, MAY 5 – 2012-15 NATIONAL DOG SHOWS

Presentations of “The National Dog Show Presented by Purina” continue with four consecutive shows from 2012-15. In 2012, for the first time ever, a breed repeated as Best In Show at “The National Dog Show.” Sky, a Wire Fox Terrier, took top honors for the breed, following in the footsteps of Eira, who won the year before.

At the time, young American Foxhound Jewel took Best In Show in 2013 to become the first winner in the 12-year history of “The National Dog Show” to come from the Hound Group. Coverage of the 2013 show was broadcast to a holiday audience totaling 18 million on NBC Thanksgiving Day.

After earning the 2014 National Dog Show title, Nathan, the bloodhound went on to score the title of top-ranked hound in America with 24 Best In Show wins. Coverage of the 2014 show was broadcast to a holiday audience of 20 million on NBC that Thanksgiving Day.

2015 winner, Charlie, the Skye Terrier, has amassed 78 Best in Show titles and 200 first-place finishes in the Terrier group. He was also the top-ranked Terrier and Skye Terrier in 2014 and 2015.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6 – 2016-19 NATIONAL DOG SHOWS

The regal Greyhound, Gia, America’s top-ranked show dog in both the breed and the Hound Group, pranced away with the Best In Show title for the 2016 National Dog Show. She also earned her 44^th Best In Show title in her career. Coverage of the 2016 show was broadcast to a holiday audience totaling of 20 million on NBC on Thanksgiving Day.

Brussels Griffon Newton beat out more than 2,000 other dogs for the 2017 Best In Show title, taking the Toy group before winning his ribbon. Whippet Whiskey, the No. 1 hound in the country took the 2018 title and his 20^th Best In Show win in just 18 months.

A 2-year-old Bulldog named Thor bested more than 2,000 canines from across the country to earn the 2019 Best In Show title. Coverage of last year’s show was broadcast to a holiday audience totaling 20 million on NBC that Thanksgiving Day.

THURSDAY, MAY 7 – 2012-18 INCREDIBLE DOG CHALLENGES

Since its inception in 1998, “Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge” has given incredible canine athletes the platform to showcase their amazing abilities with Olympic-type events, such as agility, diving, weaves, fetches, jumping and surfing. NBCSN’s coverage will air seven of the past challenges, beginning in 2012 and concluding in 2018. For more information and a full list of past winners, click here.

FRIDAY, MAY 8 – 2017-19 NATIONAL DOG SHOWS & 2018 INCREDIBLE DOG CHALLENGE (ENCORES)

Friday’s encore presentations of the National Dog Shows from 2017-19 and 2018 Incredible Dog Challenge provide a paw-fect way to end the work week. The seven hours of coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET, featuring the previous three Best In Show winners from “The National Dog Show”: Thor (2019), Whiskey (2018) and Newton (2017).

SATURDAY, MAY 9 – 2018-19 BEVERLY HILLS DOG SHOWS & 2017 INCREDIBLE DOG CHALLENGE (ENCORE)

The night starts at 8 p.m. ET with a “Beverly Hills Dog Show Presented by Purina” tripleheader, presenting shows from 2019 and 2018. Last year, a 3-year-old Havanese named Bono was crowned the 2019 Best In Show, becoming the most-winning Havanese in the breed’s history with over 90 Best In Show titles. Previous winner was 2018’s King, a Wire Fox Terrier.

ABOUT “THE BEVERLY HILLS DOG SHOW PRESENTED BY PURINA”

Hosted by the Kennel Club of Beverly Hills and produced by NBC Sports, “The Beverly Hills Dog Show Presented by Purina” is a new breed of dog show and must-see viewing for the whole family. Before more than 1,500 dogs representing 200 eligible breeds and varieties face off for the coveted Best In Show title, the canine competitors will mingle with celebrity guests and strut their stuff on the red carpet. For the main event, each group winner will walk the show’s unique runway for the Best In Show judge to determine which dog has what it takes to be champion.

ABOUT “THE NATIONAL DOG SHOW PRESENTED BY PURINA”

“The National Dog Show Presented by Purina” is a beloved holiday tradition for families across the nation. The telecast reached nearly 25 million viewers over Thanksgiving week last year, delivering its third-best score in total viewers since its first broadcast in 2002. The show is part of a five-hour block of family programing on NBC, offering the country’s 65 million pet-owning households a full afternoon of fun entertainment while raising money for canine-related causes. In its unique format, the Kennel Club of Philadelphia offers an open environment for the esteemed event and remains one of the only “benched” dog shows, displaying all 2,000 competing purebred canines to the visiting public.

--NBC SPORTS--