Glenn Close’s Dog Pip Was the MVP at the Independent Spirit Awards

Last night the Independent Spirit Awards were held on a beach in Santa Monica, where the best independent films were celebrated at the final awards show before tonight’s Academy Awards. The ISAs are always a fun, lively show, celebrating oft-overlooked films that weren’t funded by major studios. The event was filled with fun moments, but the undisputed star of the night was Glenn Close’s Havanese pup Pip.

Pip has been an awards season staple, following Close as she has picked up several trophies for her performance in The Wife, including a Golden Globe and a SAG award. She is also favored to win the Oscar for Best Actress tonight. As Close took to the stage to accept her award, she was followed by Pip, who proceeded to stare at his mom and roll around on his back like the cutest little ham.

During her speech, Close said of Pip, “He’s my date”, and following his rolling said “What’s better than that? I brought him up for this very reason. It’s called ‘in the moment.’” After his appearance, Plaza quipped that Pip just “scored a three-picture deal at Amazon.” For more of Sir Pippin of Beanfield’s adventures, I highly recommend following his Instagram.

Hopefully Pip will be on Close’s arm for the Oscars tonight, and if he doesn’t take the stage, we riot #BringAllTheDogsToAwardsShows. The ISAs were hosted by Aubrey Plaza, and featured several surprise guests including John Waters and RuPaul’s Drag Race and A Star Is Born queen Shangela making up a medley about the best picture nominees. Please watch and enjoy as she sings about chicken nuggets for Eighth Grade.

If Beale Street Could Talk was the night’s big winner, taking home trophies for Best Feature, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress for Regina King (who will likely win the Oscar tonight). Boots Riley’s wildly inventive and original Sorry to Bother You won Best First Feature, and Can You Ever Forgive Me? won Best Supporting Actor for Richard E. Grant as well as Best Screenplay for its writers Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty.

Other big winners included Eighth Grade‘s Bo Burnham for Best First Screenplay, Roma for Best International Film and Ethan Hawke for Best Actor in First Reformed.

Other highlights from the show included a FYRE Festival documentary spoof starring Plaza’s former Parks and Recreation co-star Jim O’Heir, as well as a hilarious opening sketch where Plaza and a cabal of indie actresses summon the Independent Spirit through the virgin sacrifice of Stranger Things actor Finn Wolfhard. The coven included Marcia Gay Harden, Christina Ricci, Roseanna Arquette, Sharon Stone, Marissa Tomei, and a brief cameo from Brian Tyree Henry.

Did you watch the Independent Spirit Awards? Will you be watching the Oscars tonight? And who else should bring their dogs along to awards shows?

(via Entertainment Weekly, image: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)

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