Uggie takes top honors at the first annual Golden Collar Awards.
Awards for The Artist just keep on coming. Uggie, the silent film’s canine star, took home top honors at the Golden Collar Awards in Los Angeles on Monday.
Despite a successful campaign mounted by Hugo director Martin Scorsese, his dog star, Blackie the Doberman, lost out to the 10-year-old Jack Russell terrier. Scorsese’s editorial in the Los Angeles Times prompted Blackie to become a last-minute addition to the nominees. But she couldn’t convince the 14 judges that she deserved the Swarovski crystal-studded award for Best Dog in a Theatrical Film.
Scorsese might have amunition for another fight. Golden Collar Judge Steve Pond revealed on The Wrap he never recieved an updated ballot with Blackie’s name on it. But he also admits that he was fully aware Blackie was nominated and he didn’t vote for either Blackie or Uggie, instead casting his ballot for Cosmo from Beginners.
Accepting on Uggie’s behalf, owner-trainer Omar Von Muller told the crowd, “he’s great performer, but he’s also a great family member,” the Telegraph reports.
(VIDEO: Great Performances: Uggie)
The awards, created by web-based dog magazine Dog News Daily, honored the best performing pups on the large and small screen. In the biggest surprise of the night, there was a tie in the Best Dog in a Reality Series category with Giggy from the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” sharing the spotlight with Hercules from “Pit Boss.”
Broadcast via livestram on the Hollywood Reporter website, Dog News Daily editor Alan Siskind expects the Golden Collar Awards to be televised next year.
(MORE: The Artist Silences the Competition at the BAFTAs)
Best Dog in a Theatrical Film: Uggie as the Dog in The Artist
Best Dog in a Foreign Film: Koko as Red Dog in Red Dog
Best Dog in a Television Series: Brigitte as Stella in Modern Family
Best Dog in a Reality Television Series: (tie) Hercules in Pit Boss and Giggy in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Best Dog in a Direct-to-DVD Film: Rody as Marley in Marley & Me: The Puppy Years