Tag: Bill Berloni

Rescue Dog (Very Briefly) Steals the Show as Sandy in ‘Annie Live!’

Sure, 12-year-old Celina Smith was amazing in the title role of “Annie Live!” that aired on NBC last night. But for dog lovers like me, equally adorable was Macy, the pooch playing the part of Sandy. Unfortunately, Macy got to strut her scruffy stuff in just a couple of heartwarming scenes.

This wasn’t Macy’s first rodeo, er, live theater production. Since being rescued from Rocky Spot Dalmatian Rescue in Oklahoma and adopted by dog trainer Bill Berloni, Macy has appeared in more productions of “Annie” than any other four-legged actor.

And if Berloni’s name rings a bell, it’s because he rescued and trained the very first Sandy for the original Broadway production of “Annie” 45 years ago. Ever since then, Berloni has continued to train the dogs for all “Annie” revivals, Broadway World reports.

Seven years ago, Berloni trained the rescued gray Poodle mix named Bowdie who stole the show as Nana in “Peter Pan Live,” also on NBC. It was the first time that a dog rather than a human played the part of Nana.

Besides the wrinkly bald cap that Harry Connick, Jr. wore as Daddy Warbucks, the main criticism by viewers and reviewers was that the production needed more Sandy. A lot more Sandy.

“Note to TV producers: You cannot introduce an absolutely adorable and well-behaved dog in the first half-hour and then have the dog just … disappear,” wrote Emily Yahr in the Washington Post. Amen to that!

“Live animals are notoriously hard to wrangle for these types of things, so the fact that Sandy didn’t cause any hiccups is an early Christmas miracle,” Maureen Lee Lenker and Lauren Huff wrote in Entertainment Weekly. “Our only complaint? The fact he wasn’t in every frame of the show.” Right?!

“‘Annie’ benefited from its sheer unpretentiousness, offering the can’t-miss (or at least miss entirely) combination of cute kids, buoyant dance numbers, a little girl with a big voice, that trademark red dress, and of course a very well-trained dog who shows up just long enough to make everyone swoon,” Brian Lowry noted on CNN. True, but it definitely wasn’t long enough!

Well, if they gave Emmy awards for special appearances by dogs in live musical productions, Macy would surely be honored. Brava, Smith and Macy!

Photo: NBC/YouTube

Bill Berloni, Trainer of Dog Actors, Stars in New Reality Series

As part of its month-long “Pawgust” dog-themed programming event, Discovery Family is debuting the new reality series, “From Wags to Riches with Bill Berloni.”

Each hour-long episode will show Berloni working as a dog actor trainer as well as in his role as the director of animal training and behavior for the Humane Society of New York.

Berloni has trained dogs for Broadway shows, movies and television ever since he was 19, when he trained Sandy — a rescued pound pup — for the original 1977 Broadway production of “Annie.” Coming full circle, Berloni trained another Sandy (also a rescued pound pup) for the 2014 “Annie” movie remake.

He also trained his own Poodle mix, Bowdie, for the part of Nana in “Peter Pan Live” on NBC last December. It was the first time an actual dog, not a costumed actor, played the role. And according to most social media users and some critics, Bowdie pretty much stole the show from the rest of the cast — including much-talked-about Christopher Walken as Captain Hook.

Every dog Berloni has ever worked with has been rescued from a shelter.

“When I was assigned to find the first Sandy, there was no budget for it, and somebody said they have cheap dogs at the pound,” he told Classicalite. “The day I went looking was an eye-opening experience. I had never been to an animal shelter. I never knew that animals were abandoned and abused and had an expiration date when they’d be put to sleep. That day, I made a promise to myself that if I ever got a dog I would get a rescue dog.”

Berloni “is truly a unique breed: a brilliant trainer with a big heart,” said Tom Cosgrove, general manager of Discovery Family Channel, in a press release. “This new series will charm the entire family with adorably gifted animals, larger-than-life characters and the amusing chaos that comes with owning a veritable backyard zoo.”

The “backyard zoo” Cosgrove refers to is the sanctuary for retired dog actors at Berloni’s home in Connecticut. Berloni, his wife Dorothy and daughter Jenna currently have 26 dogs as well as 15 other pets, including ducklings and a donkey.

“From Wags to Riches with Bill Berloni” premieres Aug. 6 at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. Central Time) on Discovery Family.

Photo: PR Newswire

This story was originally posted March 30, 2015.

Betty White Hosts Discovery Family’s Month-Long ‘Pawgust’

As the dog days of summer arrive, so does Discovery Family’s month-long salute to pets, appropriately called “Pawgust.”

Also appropriate is the host of Pawgust. In what a press release calls “pawfully exciting news,” the lovely and ubiquitous Betty White is hosting the event, which will include animal-themed series, specials and movies. White and her Golden Retriever, Auggie, will also appear in Pawgust promos throughout the month, like this one.

“August traditionally finds the country embroiled in the dog days of summer, so we’re bringing the pawsitively best in programming about pets — and of course, man’s best friend — to help audiences beat the heat,” said Tom Cosgrove, general manager of Discovery Family.

In addition to the programming, DiscoveryFamilyChannel.com will be streaming “Pawesome Paws” microsodes featuring animals from the network’s shows. Discovery Family has also created an Instagram account and launched the social-media campaign, “Show Us Your Paws!” People are encouraged to take photos of their pets’ paws and post them with the hashtag #Pawgust.

Curl up with your pooch and enjoy the following programs during Pawgust. (All of the times are Eastern/Pacific; the shows start an hour earlier in Central Time.)

From Wags to Riches with Bill Berloni

This new hour-long reality series provides a look at the life of Bill Berloni, who trains rescued shelter dogs for Broadway shows, movies and television shows. At 19, Berloni trained his first dog for the role of Sandy in the original 1977 Broadway production of “Annie.” Coming full circle, Berloni trained another Sandy for last year’s “Annie” movie remake. Each episode of “From Wags to Riches” will show Berloni working as an animal trainer and rescuer, and relaxing at home with his two-legged family members as well as 41 pets, including ducklings and a donkey. Premieres Aug. 6 at 9 p.m.

Yappy Hour

This 60-minute programming block will include the show, “Funniest Pets and People,” and repeats of previous Pawgust programs. Premieres Aug. 3 at 5 p.m.

Secrets of the Dog Park

This special premieres Aug. 6 at 10 p.m.

Pets Make You Laugh Out Loud

This series debuts Aug. 7 at 8 p.m.

Movie Nights

Movies will air on Monday, Saturday and Sunday nights, kicking off with “101 Dalmatians” on Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. Other pup-themed movies to be shown during the month include “All Dogs Go to Heaven” and “Hotel for Dogs.”

Photo: YouTube

Trainer of Shelter Dogs-Turned-Actors to Star in New Reality Show

As part of its month-long “Pawgust” dog-themed programming event, Discovery Family is debuting the new reality series, “From Wags to Riches with Bill Berloni.”

Bill Berloni has been training dogs for Broadway shows, movies and television ever since he was 19 and trained Sandy — a rescued pound pup — for the original 1977 Broadway production of “Annie.” Coming full circle, Berloni also trained another Sandy for the 2014 “Annie” movie remake.

He also trained his own Poodle mix, Bowdie, for the part of Nana in “Peter Pan Live” on NBC last December. It was the first time an actual dog, not a costumed actor, played the role. And according to most social media users, Bowdie pretty much stole the show from the rest of the cast — including Christopher Walken.

Every dog Berloni has ever worked with has been rescued from a shelter.

“When I was assigned to find the first Sandy, there was no budget for it, and somebody said they have cheap dogs at the pound,” he told Classicalite. “The day I went looking was an eye-opening experience. I had never been to an animal shelter. I never knew that animals were abandoned and abused and had an expiration date when they’d be put to sleep. That day, I made a promise to myself that if I ever got a dog I would get a rescue dog.”

Each hour-long episode of “From Wags to Riches” will show Berloni working as an animal trainer, as well as in his role as the director of animal training and behavior for the Humane Society of New York.

Berloni “is truly a unique breed: a brilliant trainer with a big heart,” said Tom Cosgrove, general manager of Discovery Family Channel, in a press release. “This new series will charm the entire family with adorably gifted animals, larger-than-life characters and the amusing chaos that comes with owning a veritable backyard zoo.”

The “backyard zoo” Cosgrove is referring to is the sanctuary for retired dog actors at Berloni’s home in Connecticut. Berloni, his wife Dorothy and daughter Jenna currently have 26 dogs, as well as some pigs and llamas.

“From Wags to Riches with Bill Berloni” premieres Aug. 6 at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. Central Time) on Discovery Family.

Photo credit: PR Newswire

This story was originally posted March 30, 2015.

Nana in ‘Peter Pan Live’ Played by Real Dog, Not Costumed Actor

Christopher Walken as Captain Hook is expected to steal the show tonight when “Peter Pan Live” airs on NBC. But one of his fellow actors might very well upstage him.

In previous productions of the musical — including the first televised version in 1955 — Nana, the dog belonging to the Darling children, has been played by an actor in a dog suit. And Peter Pan has been played by a woman

Tonight, as per usual, Peter will be played by a woman, Allison Williams of HBO’s “Girls.” But instead of an actor, and despite it being a live production, executive producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan decided to go with a real dog for the role of Nana.

Making his debut is 20-month-old Bowdie, a rescued gray Poodle mix whose pet parents happen to be theatrical animal trainers Bill and Dorothy Berloni. (Bowdie has a lookalike understudy, just in case.)

When he was 19 years old, Bill trained the original Sandy — a rescued pound pup — for the Broadway production of “Annie.” Coming full circle, he also trained the Sandy for the new “Annie” movie musical.

Bill only uses rescue dogs. “When I was assigned to find the first Sandy, there was no budget for it, and somebody said they have cheap dogs at the pound,” he told Classicalite. “The day I went looking was an eye-opening experience. I had never been to an animal shelter. I never knew that animals were abandoned and abused and had an expiration date when they’d be put to sleep. That day, I made a promise to myself that if I ever got a dog I would get a rescue dog.”

Bowdie is already prepared for his next role. He will appear in a new musical version of the movie “Because of Winn-Dixie,” opening in April 2015 at the Delaware Theatre Company.

As with the live production of “The Sound of Music” last year, a lot of people are expected to “hate watch” the broadcast of “Peter Pan Live” tonight and trash it on social media. Don’t be like Peter Pan and grow up, people! (Those haters may turn into lovers once they see Nana.)

Break a paw, Bowdie!

“Peter Pan Live” airs on NBC tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT (it’s not exactly “live” on the West Coast).

Photo via Twitter

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