The TV series, Madam Secretary, debuted in 2014 and ran for six seasons. The series followed Elizabeth “Bess” Adams McCord, the character played by Téa Leoni, as she drove international diplomacy, duked it out with office politics, and at the beginning of the sixth season, faced her life as America’s first female president. In episode 3 of that season, President McCord is trying to decide if she should get a dog, and if she does, what kind? In an emotion many of us understand, she is conflicted as she is still loyal to her old dog that died years before.
Playing first her advisor, and later her Chief of Staff, Kevin Rahm’s Michael Barnow was an interesting character, but it was his “sidekick,” Gordon, who is our focus in this post. Mike was rarely seen without Gordon, an Australian Cattle Dog, and in our view, one of the best exchanges of dialogue in the series was provided by Gordon; it gave Madam Secretary McCord an opening for the insult you suspected she’d been wanting to launch for a long time:
Elizabeth: Looking up at Mike pacing, she asks about his dog. “Where’s Gordon?”
Mike B: “He’s with my ex-wife. We share custody. It’s actually a painful subject.”
Elizabeth: “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you felt pain.”
In fact, Mike’s character felt a good deal of pain in the episode in which Gordon is sick. It’s a wrenching episode for dog lovers to watch as we all understand:
Thanks to an NPDD reader, we can share that Gordon was actually played by a bitch named “Alli” owned by Loren Manzell. Ms. Manzell has a successful and extensive career in training and handling of animals for movies, theater and television, and her credits include Sex and the City, the Conan O’Brian Show, David Letterman, Sesame Street, Saturday Night Live, White Collar, Law & Order, and Damages. We caught up with Loren to ask more about her work and the interview follows:
I’ve been training, rescuing and rehabilitating small animals since 1970. In 1984 I began working in film, TV and print advertising with animals. I’ve raised and rescued monkeys, tortoises, birds of all kinds, fish, dogs, cats and had horses.
My first Australian Cattle Dog, Corey was a rescue from my local shelter. He was my first introduction to this marvelous, quirky breed. He was smart, athletic, courageous and bold. After an intense year of dealing with physical issues and training, I began working with him on print sets and movies. Eventually he became Glenn Close’s dog on the series, “Damages,” which ran for about 6 years. When it was clear that Corey was ready to retire, and yes, I always make sure my dogs enjoy the work, I began looking for a red male replacement!
I was unable to find one that was comfortable enough on a set to perform under the stresses and long hours. Movie work requires very forgiving dogs since movie people tend to be unpredictable and often change the actions that they initially required of the dogs or animals on sets. In addition, crucial elements of behaviors are often left out of their requests, often lost in the grapevine of communications that eventually land with the trainer/handler. Getting to a foreign set, exposing the animals to the environment in between the actual machinery, lifts, set builders, etc., then the actors and their interpretations of what they believe the dog is performing, the director’s vision of the animal’s action and changes to them, all makes for exhilarating, stress filled hours while getting a shoot completed. Trainer/ handlers work very diligently choosing the right animal, with the right personality for a job. Action shots need athletic animals. Long, lazy scenes need animals that are patient and relaxed. It is such a joy when you find both in one animal, one dog!
My search continued. I was fairly new to Facebook and after scrolling around I met Ewa (Eva) Osuch, a breeder in Poland who had just bred her wonderful blue female to a wonderful male. We began long conversations about the breed and how to build puppies confidence within days from birth. Ewa was open and honest and soon I was giving into the temptation of procuring one of her pups. I wanted a red male. I got a blue female! “Allied Intelligence Bugari” (Alli) flew the long trip to the USA in June 2011 and she was everything I’d hoped for in a pup’s temperaments and behavior.
The rest is history.
“Alli.” Shared with consent of the copyright holder, Loren C. Manzell
Alli has been on ads for Ralph Lauren, and appeared in a Novartis heart health ad where she had to remain on a couch as the set was slowly and noisily submerged into water.
She’s been on many TV series and films such as, “Elementary,” “The Affair,” “The Leftovers,” “The Knick,” “Louie CK,” “The Get Down” and her most famous role as Gordon in, “Madam Secretary.” She’s been herding several times, though my schedule and citified location made it difficult to keep up with the work. In between shots on sets, she is happy picking up dropped garbage and thoughtfully places it into trash bins. Such a funny girl! She has been my household companion and helper and had a wonderful litter of pups that have continued to make me and their families proud in agility, rally and trick training. Last week, my handyman dropped something on the floor and Alli ran and grabbed it. He was quick to try to stop her. I calmed him and said, “Don’t worry, she’s helping.” She promptly brought the bag over to me, releasing it into my hands, to his surprise.
At age 10 and a half, she is full of life and love, my best friend and still my little Australian Cattle girl from Poland.
Thank you, Loren, for sharing your story and photos with us!
Top image shared with consent of the copyright holder, Loren Manzell
Lovely article!
Thank you for giving us your insights and wonderful photos, Loren!