“The People’s Choice” with Cleo, the Talking Basset Hound!
Before Mr. Ed, a forgotten show of the 1950’s called The People’s Choice starred Jackie Cooper but the real attraction was a basset hound called Cleo who appeared to be talking or at least projecting her thoughts to the human characters…
Now Jackie Cooper was one of the few child stars who actually found work as an adult actor once his 1930’s role in The Little Rascals was over. In The People’s Choice (1955-1958), he played an aspiring politician who initially was secretly married to the mayor’s daughter. Cooper would later go on to play Perry White in the first three Superman movies…but this post is about Cleo, who would offer sardonic commentaries upon the human actions about her.
This was hokey 1950’s comedy, but the concept of a talking dog was innovative for its time, and Cleo often did steal the show, paving the way for Mr. Ed and future anthropomorphic animal characters. Hard to find now, some full episodes of The People’s Choice may be viewed free of charge on YouTube…Woof!
Explore posts in the same categories: absurdities, alternative realities, anthropomorphic, comedy, cool things, furry, furry television, VintageTags: Cleo the Talking Dog
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FOXSYLVANIA 
June 10, 2025 at 9:46 pm
Sounds like Shakespeare-in-the-park compared to “My Mother, The Car” (which starred Dick Van Dyke’s younger brother, Jerry).
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June 10, 2025 at 11:02 pm
“My Mother the Car,” a show generally regarded as one of the worst ever made! 😣
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June 11, 2025 at 1:29 pm
Well, let’s face it. As “Bewitched” bandwagon-mates go, it wasn’t exactly up there with IDOJ starring Barbara Eden. But, then again, Barbara Eden did have the advantage of a wardrobe supplied by Frederick’s of Baghdad!*
*Arsenio Hall’s old joke.
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June 26, 2025 at 9:03 pm
Let us all now sing, “The Shriek of Araby!“
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June 28, 2025 at 4:50 pm
With the words “without pants on” interspersed between verses? 😉
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