This past spring, the podcast host and entertainment journalist Josh Horowitz was interviewing Ryan Gosling forProject Hail Marywhen the star interrupted with an important request.
“Can I come on the dog cast?,” Gosling asked, on behalf of himself but really his black-haired Doodle named Magic.
He’s hardly the only one.
Since it debuted in February, the podcast — an, ahem, bite-sized video pod in which Horowitztalks toboldfaced names (and their pups) at a dog-friendly house in Los Angeles or near their homes — has become something of a favorite among entertainers.
Stars ranging from Bob Odenkirk to Ginnifer Goodwin to Dylan O’Brien, Johnny Knoxville and Zoey Deutch and Patrick Wilson, have brought their pup on the show for a protein-based treat and the Mike Wallace treatment (but really the first one).
O’Brien had a notable episode with his “megamutt” Tony, the fastest chihuahua in Tribeca. Goodwin showed off her English Springer Spaniel Digby and his reading proclivities (but odd discomfort with windshield wipers). Johnny Knoxville’s chosen topics of conversation … you don’t want to know.
A new season of Good Guest will launch July 22, with Jake Johnson, Chase Stokes, Alexandra Daddario and their adorably imperfect canines among those scheduled to appear.
Bark, a dog lifestyle company that is in the business of everything from sending custom toy-and-treat packages to chartering a roster of dog-friendly flights, believes the podcast helps get the message out about not just its services but the value of dog bonding and ownership generally. The company has leaned in to the idea that a pet company should try to see the world as much as possible from the animal’s perspective and has even created an (honorary?) advisory board of dogs while letting a dog direct a commercial. The pod has a particular point of view in which dogs are shown in their beautiful, messy glory — a contrast to the sanitized portraits on the likes of the Westminster Dog Show.
Horowitz says he’s gratified by what he has seen from both the audience response as well as the celebrities themselves. “What I found out very quickly was it really opened up a new side of people I was talking to, because you can’t help but be yourself around your dog,” the longtime MTV film correspondent and Happy Sad Confused host tells The Hollywood Reporter. “They unlock something in you.”
Horowitz, who with his wife became a dog parent during COVID courtesy of a Connecticut rescue named Lucky Dog, actually shot a pilot for a dog pod with Rachel Zegler about a year ago; it soon morphed into Who’s A Good Guest? with Bark.
To mark the occasion of the new season,THR asked Horowitz (Lucy) and two of this past season’s guests, Goodwin (Digby) and Wilson (Mabel, Eddie and Louise), some um, important questions. Here are their responses:
If you could have your dog read one book and understand it, which would it be and why?
Wilson: Probably one of those scientific books on dog behavior and just ask if any of it is actually true.
Goodwin:The Wind in the Willows. I feel Digby could benefit from this calming state when people come to work in our yard.
Horowitz: Any dog training book. I didn’t read any hence my dog’s charmingly unique self.
If AI could enable your dog’s thoughts to be translated to speech, would you want to hear them? What’s the most surprising non-treat-related thing you’d expect them to say?
Horowitz: This would be a disaster because Lucy would immediately confirm my fears that I come in a distant second to my wife.
Goodwin: The other shoes look better with that.
What would be the hallmarks of a dog presidency?
Wilson: EVERYONE can pee outside.(But ONLY pee)
Goodwin: Executive orders for nap times.
What’s one thing you learned from your dog today?
Horowitz: Every day Lucy reminds me to find joy in the little things – a nice walk, good food (ok ANY food), and a nap.
What’s the Hollywood movie that could most benefit from a dog character and why?
Horowitz:Fast & the Furious. They’ve been to space. It’s time for a driving dog.
Wilson:Raiders of the Lost Ark. It would make up for the monkey dying. OrWaterworld.
People names or silly names for dogs, and why is the other side wrong?
Horowitz: All are acceptable but I’m partial to an old timey human name.
Goodwin:There are no wrong names for dogs.
Wilson: I’d like to make a pitch for dog names for humans. There IS a UFC fighter named Fluffy, but I don’t know many people named Spot or Peanut.
What’s the one thing you say to a non-dog person to show them the error of their ways?
Wilson: You have no heart.
Goodwin: I’m sorry.