Although the Pets.com Sock Puppet has become the new "Taco
Bell Chihuahua," it hasn't been all kibble and gravy for Pets.com. Company execs
recently filed a lawsuit against Robert Smigel, the writer and puppeteer of
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog who appears on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
The lawsuit claimed that Smigel defamed the Pets.com Sock Puppet. Smigel
countered that the Sock Puppet character was a rip-off of Triumph. I called
Pets.com, but they said they couldn't do any interviews. Hmmm. So, I emailed the
Sock Puppet. Although he can't comment on pending litigation, I did get the dirt
on his humble beginnings.
ET: I was wondering what your background is. If you had to go to school for
broadcasting or if you were "discovered."
SP: I was discovered in a cattle call for casting acting puppets.
ET: Is there a Mrs. Sock Puppet at home? Do you have any Sock kids?
SP: There's no mrs...I'm playin' the field.
ET: What do you do for fun? Frisbee? Fetch? Chase cats?
SP: For fun, I hang out with Oodles the punk rock parrot. (3 inch Mohawk on
him.)
ET: Do you like dog parks, or do the other dogs all want to sniff your butt
because you are a canine celebrity?
SP: I LOVE dog parks. That's all I'm gonna say about that.
ET: How old are you?
SP: I'm about 2.
ET: Is that in dog years?
SP: What's that in dog years? Let's see...(2 take away the 9 add a 6 divided by
my chest size and what I bench)....I'm a size 7!
ET: Who are your role models? Scooby? Astro? Lassie?
SP: Scooby and Shaggy forever.