I typically write early in the morning. Like 5 a.m.
I put on coffee and put on the TV. And wind up ignoring each.
The coffee grows cold, and the TV becomes white noise.
But every now and then, I stop for a breather, take a sip (cold or not) and perhaps hear something interesting on the news. This was the case minutes ago when I picked up a tidbit that prompted me to scrap whatever I intended to write about and instead look into what I just learned: Rolling Stone magazine named the 15 Best Movie Dogs of All Time.
It was easy enough to find the list on my smartphone and what hit me first is that I really don’t know my movie dogs.
Of the 15, I have only seen two in the movies (one of which I don’t remember), two others that started in the movies, but I know only from TV, one whose name I know but whose movie I’ve never seen, and get this, one that I met “in person” but did not see on the big screen.
Let’s start with him. No. 8 on the list is Jack, the adorable Jack Russell Terrier in the 2011 Academy Award winning movie “The Artist.” That year my wife and I received an invitation to attend the White House Correspondents Dinner. Well, we did not have tickets for the dinner itself, but we were on the list for every pre and post party. Being an arms-length away from some of the most recognizable people in America was a thrill. So was finding a lost Ted Koppel in a hallway and directing him back to the parties.
But the biggest thrill — or maybe surprise is a better word — may have been stepping into one of the parties and discovering that Kevin Spacey was largely being ignored in favor of another actor. The terrier Jack (real name: Uggie) was sitting on a chair wearing a little tuxedo with partygoers fawning all over him.
I knew who Jack was despite not having seen “The Artist.”
The only dog on the list I remember is Toto (“And your little dog too”) from the “Wizard of Oz,” who somewhat surprisingly lands at only No. 3.
No. 1, the “Top Dog” if you will, is Lassie from “Lassie, Come Home,” released in 1943. I know Lassie only from the TV shows. The same for Rin Tin Tin, who lands at No. 7.
The pooch I am sure I saw but don’t recall is Einstein from 1985’s “Back to the Future,” 14 on the list. The one whose name I know but from a movie I have not seen is Hooch from “Turner & Hooch.” He’s No. 10. My son questions why he is not No. 1.
Here are the others, none of whom I know: 15, Bruiser from “Legally Blonde;” 13, Dog from “John Wick;” 12, Winky from “Best in Show;” 11, Apollo from “The Friend;” 9, Baxter from “Anchorman;” 6, Snoop from “Anatomy of a Fall;” 5, Asta from “The Thin Man;” 4, Brandy from “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood;” and 2, Buddy from “Air Bud.”
I wonder how many of you are thinking what I’m thinking.
Where’s Old Yeller?
And, no Beethoven?
Consulting Editor Ed Ackerman writes The Optimist blog Wednesdays and Fridays. His column, The Optimist, is published every week in Greater Pittston Progress.
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