Recap: Greatest American Dog, Episode 101
I love reality TV. I love dogs. So it’s no surprise I was all over the new reality competition series The Greatest American Dog, which debuted last Thursday night on CBS, and airs every Thursday night at 9 PM ET/PT.
Elan and Kenji
The first episode begins, as all good reality television does, with interviews of the cocky contestants, who all have one thing in common: they love dogs. Well, they all love their dogs, and like most dog owners, and parents in general, each contestant seems to be convinced that everyone else is doing it wrong. I couldn’t agree more. They are.
Beth Joy and Bella Starlet
Of course I'm biased, since I don't actually care about the people. I'm there for the dogs. But in this series, they come as a package deal.
J.D. and Galaxy
All the contestants and their people live together in a mansion. The teams compete in a different training competition each week, at which point, one of the twelve dogs and his person is sent home. The ultimate winner receives $250,000.
The Canine Academy Mansion and host Jarod Miller
For added fun, there are rounds that don’t include elimination but win the dogs luxuries such as the super perfect suite -- which has a huge bed but also a grass floor, so I guess their people have to be careful where they walk in the morning. The winner of the luxury accomodation has to choose another team to live in the doghouse, (a small shack in the backyard to house both dog and human), and this week the loser is Manhattanite David and his Jack Russell Terrier, Elvis.
David and Elvis in the Doghouse
Watching a game of musical chairs should be about as interesting as watching paint dry, but as owners franticly screamed at their dogs “shut up,” “sit,” “stay," "right there," "I said stay!” I got sucked in. It’s refreshing to see people who made it to this level still unable to get their dog to sit or stop barking.
Each dog shines in some area. Tillman skateboards!
The Amazing Tillman
And Ezzie, "comedic performer" Michael’s dog, steals his skateboard and gnaws on it! In the end, Ezzie and his person went home, because, as the host said, “The show is The Greatest American Dog, not the Greatest American Michael.”
Goodbye, Michael and Ezzie
If I had to guess, I’d say Brandy, the ditzy blonde and her untrained schnauzer Beacon will hang on longer than we expect, because what’s more fun than watching a train wreck?
Brandy and Beacon
Oh yeah: watching dogs in disco outfits dance with their people.
Team Disco
So let your dog up on the sofa, get a bowl of popcorn, or snausages, or both, and enjoy feeling superior to these people and the dogs who love them.
Bill and Star, who saved his wife's life
Laura and Preston
Laurie and Andrew
Ron and Tillman on their way to the Canine Academy
David and Elvis, definitely not in the Doghouse
Michael and Ezzie at a happier moment
