Fred Willard will host Nickelodeon dog contest

[Brian Damage]

Fred Willard is going to the dogs -- again. Willard, whose film roles include dog-show color commentator Buck Laughlin in the mockumentary "Best in Show," is the host for the first "Worldwide Fido Awards," which Nickelodeon will air at 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5.

A blues-singing beagle, a bull dog who can skateboard and flush the toilet on command and a Jack Russell terrier who can jump rope and walk up steps backward are among the semifinalists as the final round of online voting begins.

The hour special will showcase the six "Fido" finalists and the best user-generated videos posted at www.worldwidefido.com, where votes can be cast in six categories: cutest dog, best dressed, best voice, most outrageous, best trick and dog-owner look-alike.

Willard teamed with Martin Mull, who grew up in North Ridgeville, for the syndicated comedy series "Fernwood 2-Night." He earned three Emmy nominations for his guest appearances as Hank MacDougall on CBS' "Everybody Loves Raymond," which starred Bay Village native Patricia Heaton. He reunited with Mull for episodes of ABC's "Roseanne." He reunited with Heaton last year for "Back to You," the Fox comedy canceled after one season.

Willard's many films include the comedies "Roxanne" and "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," as well as director Christopher Guest's mockumentaries "This is Spinal Tap," "Waiting for Guffman," "A Mighty Wind" and, of course, "Best in Show."

http://www.cleveland.com/tv/index.ss...t_nickelo.html

[JulieSomoski]

It's a great role for Fred Willard, going back to his movie "Best in Show" That was one very underrated movie - but, anything with Fred in it is great!